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Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language - Graduate Certificate

The graduate certificate in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language offers specialized training to help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to teach English to non-native speakers. With experienced faculty and flexible course options, you'll gain the tools needed to succeed as an ESL or EFL teacher.

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Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language

Â鶹´«Ã½'s Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (TESL/TEFL) provides educators and professionals with the specialized training needed to teach English to non-native speakers in both domestic and international settings. The program covers key areas such as language acquisition, instructional methods, and curriculum development, offering practical skills for creating effective and engaging language learning environments.

Program Information for Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language - Graduate Certificate

Coursework

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements
ENG 63001METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 3
ENG 63033THEORIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION 3
ENG 63041DESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR OF ENGLISH 3
ENG 63391SEMINAR: LINGUISTICS 3
Certificate Electives, choose from the following:6
ENG 63034
SOCIOLINGUISTICS
ENG 63038
TEACHING LITERATURE AND CULTURE
ENG 63039
SECOND LANGUAGE CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT
ENG 63040
LINGUISTICS FOR THE LANGUAGE PROFESSIONS
ENG 63043
SECOND LANGUAGE WRITING
ENG 63044
SECOND LANGUAGE READING
ENG 63045
ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES
ENG 63046
SECOND LANGUAGE LISTENING AND SPEAKING
ENG 63047
HERITAGE LANGUAGES AND SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING
ENG 63049
SECOND LANGUAGE RESEARCH METHODS
ENG 63391
SEMINAR: LINGUISTICS
ENG 68492
PRACTICUM IN TEACHING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
3.000 3.000
  • Students declared in a doctoral degree should enroll in the doctoral-level version of these courses, if offered.
Admissions for Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language - Graduate Certificate

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language - Graduate Certificate

Graduates of Kent State’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language are well-prepared for advanced roles in language instruction, both in the U.S. and abroad. The program’s emphasis on linguistics, language acquisition, and innovative teaching methodologies equips educators with the skills to effectively teach English to non-native speakers. Graduates often pursue roles as ESL/EFL instructors, language program coordinators, and curriculum developers, contributing to global education and fostering language learning in diverse cultural contexts.

Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and English as a Second Language instructors

-10.4%

decline

59,300

number of jobs

$55,350

potential earnings

Tutors and teachers and instructors, all other

7.4%

faster than the average

406,200

number of jobs

$40,590

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Community college ESL instructor
  • Curriculum designer
  • Educational consultant
  • Educational materials writer/editor
  • Language assessment writer/editor
  • Language school instructor (in the U.S. or abroad)
  • Teacher of English as a foreign language
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.