Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate (Graduate) Overview

Are you passionate about teaching English, and ready to advance your career? At the University of Southern Indiana, we offer flexible teaching English as a second language courses to get you started on your professional goals.

USI’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is an online intensive program that you can complete quickly and conveniently — from wherever you live. Our TESOL online courses prepare you to teach in person and online — at home or abroad — so you can apply your skills and teach English language learners.

In your teaching English as a second language courses, not only will you learn methods of instruction and theories of language acquisition, you will also get hands-on teaching practice. USI’s immersive teaching English as a second language courses will give you the tools for success.

USI’s English as a second language certification faculty have hosted workshops at home and abroad. You’ll find your professors are not only knowledgeable, capable teachers, but also open, dedicated and approachable. All our faculty have PhDs in their fields from universities including UCLA, Indiana University, University of Kentucky and Washington University in St. Louis and hold Cambridge University’s Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

You will have the opportunity to work closely with them in lively, interactive, synchronous sessions and be fully prepared to pursue jobs teaching English as a second language.

The TESOL certificate offers:

Methodological and theoretical training on second language acquisition
Instruction in teaching methodologies
Online experience in the classroom

Summer Intensive TESOL online courses

Immerse yourself in hands-on learning that blends second language learning preparation, theoretical foundation lectures and TESOL teaching practice sessions led by Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) trained faculty. Conveniently scheduled as a four-week intensive summer course, you can quickly complete your English as a second language certification online.

In addition, you will enjoy interacting with peers and faculty in our small teaching English as a second language courses — at USI our student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.

Online Learning

USI faculty and staff are dedicated to giving you the support you need no matter the modality for which you're taking classes. Check out our robust resources for online students including what online learning is, technology requirements and frequently asked questions.

Online Student Resources

100% Online

Complete in 4 Weeks

6 Credits

College & Department Contacts

Dr. A. David Hitchcock

Professor of Spanish

Chair of World Languages and Cultures Department

Co-Director of Master of Arts in Second Language Acquisition, Policy and Culture

Career Outlook

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By pursuing teaching English as a second language courses and certification at USI, you will have ample career options — no matter where you live. Your English as a second language certification courses prepare you to teach students in your community or around the world, either online or in person.

Once you complete your TESOL online courses and pursue jobs teaching English as a second language, it may inspire you to continue your education with a master’s degree in second language acquisition or policy and culture, or a certification in cultural awareness training. Our second language learning graduates have also pursued advanced degrees at Georgetown University, Illinois University and the University of New Mexico.

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Top Regional Occupations by Income

*income information provided by O*NET Online. Occupation opportunities vary by region and experience.

The University of Southern Indiana is committed to making college accessible to those wishing to further their education by providing numerous scholarships, grants, and financial aid options to assist students in managing tuition expenses.

Tuition and Fees

Scholarships and Aid

Grants

Marcia Mishler, USI TESOL Certificate, 2016

“The English as a second language certification courses were some of the most challenging and rewarding classes I’ve taken. The knowledge gained through the program changed my approach to ELL methods and influenced my entire pedagogical view of language instruction. I initially enrolled in a second language learning course for certification purposes. After experiencing the quality and vision of the course, I decided to pursue the entire MA program. This raw immersion in the awareness of worldview has been beneficial in my career and is of crucial importance to global competency in today’s interconnected world.” -Marcia Mishler, World Languages and Cultures Educator

Out-of-State Licensure Information

Requirements for licensure and certification vary by profession and by state. USI has reviewed the educational requirements for each state and licensing agency to determine if the academic program here at USI meets the educational requirements to be eligible for licensure/certification in each state or not. Please note that some states may have additional requirements for licensure, such as residency requirements, additional non-academic certifications, etc. that USI cannot determine. We encourage you to check with your state's licensing agency for all requirements needed to obtain licensure.

Licensing Information

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