Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
A professional qualification in English language teaching, taught online and assessed on practice as well as theory.
Preparation for the Language Classroom
The certificate prepares students to teach English to speakers of other languages in a range of settings: language centers, schools, community organizations and online. It combines the theory of second language acquisition with the practical craft of planning, teaching and assessing a lesson.
Course materials were prepared under the supervision of Prof. Paul Whitaker, who taught English across Southeast Asia and Latin America for eighteen years before moving into teacher training. The material is drawn from classroom practice in settings with few resources as well as from well-equipped ones.
The program concludes with a supervised practicum. Students plan and deliver lessons, receive written feedback on their teaching, and revise their practice in response to it.
Key Facts
- Award
- Professional certificate
- Credits
- 30
- Indicative duration
- 1 year Self-paced; no fixed terms
- Delivery
- Online Studied from any country
- Assessment
- Coursework and supervised practicum
- Entry
- Rolling Applications accepted throughout the year
- Tuition
- Tuition and financial aid
What You Will Study
Eight required courses and two electives, totalling thirty credits.
| Required courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| TSL 101 — Introduction to TESOL | 3 |
| TSL 201 — TESOL Methodology | 3 |
| TSL 202 — Language Acquisition Theory | 3 |
| TSL 301 — Grammar for TESOL Teachers | 3 |
| TSL 302 — Teaching Reading and Writing in ESL | 3 |
| TSL 210 — Language and Cross-Cultural Communication | 3 |
| TSL 311 — Materials Development for ESL | 3 |
| TSL 490 — TESOL Practicum | 3 |
| Elective courses (choose two) | Credits |
|---|---|
| TSL 312 — Technology in Language Teaching | 3 |
| TSL 313 — Teaching Young Learners | 3 |
| TSL 314 — English for Specific Purposes | 3 |
| TSL 315 — Assessment in Language Teaching | 3 |
Where the Certificate Leads
Language Centres
Teaching adults and young learners in private and public language schools, in the United States and abroad.
Schools
Supporting English language learners within mainstream and international schools.
Community Provision
Language programs run by community organizations, charities and churches for immigrant and refugee populations.
Online Teaching
Independent and platform-based teaching, where a recognized certificate is frequently a condition of engagement.
Employers vary in which qualifications they accept. Applicants intending to teach in a particular country or for a particular employer should confirm the requirement before enrolling. Please also read the institutional status statement.