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  • Berkeley Global

Certificate Program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

"I feel competent and educated in the field and have a lot to offer people."

Nora Mitchell

Certificate Program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

 

Getting Started

Choose any course that piques your interest.

 

Online Availability

This certificate can be completed fully Live Online.

 

Duration of Study

Most students complete the curriculum in 1.5–2 years.

 

Estimated Cost

$4,875

The increasing use of English throughout the world means career opportunities for teachers of English as a second language (ESL). But teaching ESL well requires more than fluency in English and a lesson plan. UC Berkeley Extension's Certificate Program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages provides a foundation in linguistics and second-language acquisition—along with classroom methodologies and curriculum-design skills—so that you can be an effective teacher in a variety of environments.

You receive training in language pedagogy, materials development, assessment and evaluation, and cross-cultural communication. The certificate curriculum is overseen by an advisory board of TESL and education leaders and approved by the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Education, ensuring your education is relevant and up to date. This certificate does not award a California teaching credential, but all courses in the curriculum apply toward a master's degree at the University of San Francisco.

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Courses

Required Courses

Expand or collapse Required Courses
Minimum Required

7 Course(s)

Maximum Allowed

0 Course(s)

Students generally find it helpful to take Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language closer to Practicum in Course Design for ESL/EFL Teachers. Please review the course descriptions for prerequisites.

  • EDUC X339.4 Cultural Responsiveness in TESOL
    Units / CEUs

    2

    Status

    Not Available

  • LINGUIS X416 Fundamentals of Linguistics for ESL Teachers
    Units / CEUs

    3

    Delivery Options

    Online

    Status

    Available

  • EDUC X338 Grammar Fundamentals for ESL Teachers
    Units / CEUs

    2

    Delivery Options

    Online

    Status

    Available

  • EDUC X334 Second-Language Acquisition
    Units / CEUs

    3

    Status

    Not Available

  • EDUC X339.7 Teaching Pronunciation as a Communicative Skill
    Units / CEUs

    1

    Delivery Options

    Online

    Status

    Available

  • EDUC X339.1A Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language
    Units / CEUs

    3

    Delivery Options

    Online

    Status

    Available

  • EDUC X327.1 Practicum in Course Design for ESL/EFL Teachers
    Units / CEUs

    3

    Status

    Not Available

ESL Teacher Dana Neufeld Works Toward a More Inclusive Bay Area

Photo of ESL Teacher Dana Neufeld in the forest wearing a rainbow shirt

English as a Second Language teacher Dana Neufeld had majored in Community Studies at UC Santa Cruz, with a minor in Latin American and Latino Studies. She was offered admission to a master’s and... continue reading ESL Teacher Dana Neufeld Works Toward a More Inclusive Bay Area

Continue Reading this Post

Certificate and Program Policies

  • Substitutions and Waivers
  • Transfers
  • Financial Aid
  • Transcripts and Records

Contact Information

To contact the department office, email extension-education@berkeley.edu.

Prerequisites

Enrollment in individual courses is open to anyone who meets the stated prerequisites. To participate in the certificate, you must hold at least a baccalaureate degree (B.A.) or the equivalent from an accredited institution. If you completed your undergraduate studies outside of the United States, you must have your transcripts evaluated by an accredited evaluation organization. The most basic evaluation is acceptable; you do not need a class-by-class report. Fluency in a second language is not required to enter the field of TESL, but it is beneficial, in general, to have experience in learning another language and to have knowledge of another culture.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum comprises 7 required courses for a total of 17 semester units (255 hours of instruction). All courses emphasize practical applications of theoretical material for classroom use. Candidates must pay a nonrefundable certificate registration fee.

All courses must be taken for a letter grade. To receive the certificate, you must maintain an overall minimum 3.0 grade point average, with a grade of C or better in each course. All coursework must be completed within five years.

How to Register

By registering, you declare your intention to complete the curriculum. To register online for the Certificate Program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, complete these three steps:

 

  1. Submit the one-time, nonrefundable $150 online registration fee, and complete your student account profile if you are a new student. 
  2. Please allow 3–5 business days for the registration to appear in your student account.
  3. Evidence of a bachelor's degree is required of all new applicants. Once you register for the certificate, send official e-transcripts to extension-education@berkeley.edu. We cannot accept forwarded PDFs fro students. The Education department must be the direct recipient of official transcripts.

    All non-U.S. transcripts must be accompanied by a foreign transcript evaluation. The most basic evaluation is sufficient; there is no need for the class-by-class report.

You should register for the certificate before you begin your third course in the curriculum. It is not necessary to send your transcript, application and fee if you are enrolling in an individual TESL course.

Estimated Cost

Each course is priced individually, and you pay the course fee at the time of enrollment. The certificate has an estimated cost of $4,875 (not including course materials or one-time certificate registration fee). Course fees are subject to change.

Certificate and Award Request

Once you have completed the certificate coursework, notify UC Berkeley Extension that you have completed the curriculum and request your certificate. Send an email to extension-education@berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-1172. After your records have been reviewed, verified, and approved, your certificate will be sent to you in the mail. The review of your records is usually completed within six to eight weeks after you request the certificate.

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Additional Information

Professional Organizations

  • Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Inc. (TESOL Inc.)
  • California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL)
  • California Council for Adult Education (CCAE)
  • Outreach and Technical Assistance Network for Adult Educators (OTAN)
  • Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)

What Are Your Teaching Goals?

Teaching at a public adult school requires an adult education teaching credential. Teaching at the community college level requires either an M.A. in TESL or an M.A. in a related field and the TESL certificate. All courses in the Certificate Program in Teaching English as a Second Language can be applied toward the M.A. in TESL at the University of San Francisco.

Continue Your Studies With a Master's Degree

You may apply 17 semester units earned from this certificate toward the University of San Francisco's (USF) Master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. If admitted, you will need to complete an additional 15 units (or 5 courses) to earn the USF degree.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

When an application is made for certificate candidacy, nonnative speakers of English will be required to submit an official international or UC Institutional TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) report. Applicants must receive a minimum score of 250 for the computer-based exam (600 for paper) or a minimum total score of 100 for the iBT TOEFT exam. In addition, a minimum score of 25 is required on each of the four sections of the iBT (reading, listening, writing and speaking). The TOEFL must be taken within two years of application to this program. Registration forms for the TOEFL may be obtained by contacting:

Test of English as a Foreign Language
Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
toefl@ets.org

For more information about the TOEFL, visit ETS.

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Berkeley, CA 94704-7000

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