Certificate for Teachers of Adult ESL

Do you face increasing numbers of adult English language learners in your classes? Are you interested in serving the growing numbers of adult immigrants and refugees in states throughout the country? Professionals who want to serve adult English language learners are in high demand.  

Why Choose Hamline?

Hamline’s program prepares individuals working in adult ESL education to make sound decisions in course design and classroom practice in a variety of settings:

• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• Technical/vocational
• College and university
• Community-based or volunteer programs

Through a hands-on, practitioner-based approach, the four-course sequence supports individuals in acquiring the knowledge, practical skills, and abilities to teach English as a second language to adults from linguistically and culturally diverse populations.

Credits earned in Hamline’s adult ESL certificate program may be applied to a master of arts in English as a second language, master of arts in education, or an adult basic education license.

Hamline’s flexible program offers a variety of classroom and online opportunities from an NCATE recognized program.

Courses are taught by leaders in adult ESL, who excel at giving you everything you need to become a skilled adult ESL professional.

How do I earn the certificate for teachers of adult ESL?

Individuals are required to take eight semester credits. For your convenience, all coursework is available online, beginning with ESL 6631. Upon successful completion of the four courses, candidates compile a portfolio of their work in the program and attend an exit interview with a Hamline faculty member.

Students new to the field of adult ESL who are planning to follow the entire sequence of courses must start with ESL 6631 or ESL 6634.

The certificate coursework may fulfill the assigned field requirements for those working in the Minnesota State Colleges and University (MNSCU) system. All ESL courses have been approved for assigned field designation by MNSCU.

CERTIFICATE COMPLETION 

If you believe you have completed all of the requirements of the Adult ESL certificate, please contact gcs@hamline.edu to request your printed certificate. Your transcript will be evaluated and your accounts checked for holds. We cannot issue certificates to people with financial holds on their accounts. Certificates are processed monthly and you can expect to receive it within four to six weeks after your request. In your request, please provide the following information: name as you would like it printed on the certificate, student ID, month and year of completion, and the mailing address where you like the certificate sent. Congratulations on your hard work!

Required courses

8 credits with a 3.0 GPA

ESL 6631: Introduction to the Adult ESL Learner: Developing Reading and Writing Skills (2 credits)

This course provides an introduction to English as a Second Language literacy development, second language acquisition theory, and issues of acculturation for adult English language learners in all ABE classrooms. Participants will explore how languages are learned and the implications for classroom instruction. The development and assessment of reading, writing, and academic skills, and the politics of literacy will also be addressed.

ESL 6634: Introduction to the Adult ESL Learner: Developing Oral Skills (2 credits)

This course covers the nature of oral communication. Gain an awareness of the form, meaning, and use of spoken English and how to present language to  learners most effectively. Learn about the principles of teaching listening and speaking, use of authentic materials, and the assessment of oral proficiency and listening comprehension. Develop a basic understanding of the sound system of English: phonetics, stress, rhythm, and intonation. Learn strategies for teaching pronunciation. Emphasis is put on developing classroom practices that maximize student participation.

ESL 6636: Course Design for Adult ESL Classes (2 credits)

Adult ELLs come to programs for a variety of reasons: some need English for the workplace, some need survival English, others may want to go on to study in a community college or university. This course will provide ESL teachers with an understanding of the principles of needs assessment and course design and give them the tools they need to develop courses which are tailored to the language and learning needs of their students. Participants will learn how to develop
different types of curricula, including English for special purposes and content-based courses.

ESL 6638 Assessment of the Adult ESL Student  (2 credits)

Learn the basic principles of testing and evaluation, and how assessment is related to curriculum. Learn how to conduct valid formal and informal assessment
of ESL learners. Develop authentic assessment tools for academic and workplace settings. Discuss entrance and exit criteria for ESL services and how to assess student progress. Explore the politics of testing and assessment.

National Accreditation

Hamline University’s School of Education programs are accredited by the Board of Teaching of Minnesota and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting body for teacher preparation programs, ensures that programs achieve national quality and meet program standards necessary for professionals in education.