Teaching English Language Learners (TELL) Certificate

GRADUATE CERTIFICATES

Get the Skills You Need Now

Amplify the effectiveness of your teaching with the online Graduate Certificate in Teaching English Language Learners (TELL) program from Purdue University. It’s a fast-paced way for you to broaden your professional skillset and gives you confidence to meet your students’ needs.

The Teaching English Language Learning Graduate Certificate Program (TELL) provides teachers with the professional preparation to assist English language learners in developing their English language and academic skills in K through grade 12. The certificate does not constitute a teaching license, but posts to the student’s transcript as a program of study. Certified Indiana educators who wish to earn the add-on license in English Language Learning (ELL) should choose the licensure path.

For more information, view the
Application Admissions Checklist

Purdue quality. Flexible schedule.

Online students enjoy the same rigorous academic programs as on-campus students, but with a much more flexible class schedule. Assignments, discussions, and other coursework are posted each week in the virtual classroom.

The Graduate Certificate in Teaching English Language Learners consists of five 3-credit hour courses. This can be completed in a year for students staying on track and with acceptable grades.

Purdue University believes in stackable credentials. The TELL Certificate provides a pathway to Dual Language Bilingual Education Graduate Certificate with just two additional classes or the MS in Curriculum and Instruction with a Concentration in English Language Learning. Once you complete the graduate certificate only 18 credit hours are needed to complete the masters.

Request Information – TELL Certificate

This program does not lead to licensure in the state of Indiana or elsewhere. Contact the College of Education Office of Teacher Education and Licensure (OTEL) at licensure@purdue.edu before continuing with program application if you have questions regarding licensure or contact your state Department of Education about how this program may translate to licensure in your state of residence.

Career Outlook

ESL educators are some of the most in demand teachers. The demand for ESL teachers will only increase as more students from non-English-speaking homes enter school.

The demand for ESL teachers throughout the world increases each year and teaching ELL/ESL – online or in a classroom – has become a popular career among English speakers. The good news is: It’s not difficult to become an ELL teacher. However, being a great ELL teacher certainly is.

The Purdue ELL Program strives to create a learning environment that is academically challenging for students at all levels. Because of the special needs of their students, ELL teachers may meet more frequently with parents and administrative teams to measure student progress and achievement as part of each student’s individual education plan.

Job Titles

ELL Specialist
Director of ELL
Teacher
Tutor
Adult Education Teacher
Curriculum Coordinator

Courses

Students spend an average of 15 hours a week on homework.

The program uses an online delivery format of five courses. Each course is 8 weeks long; this means that two courses are offered consecutively each semester. Additionally, one course is offered during the summer. Each course also requires students to complete field experiences in a K-12 classroom that enrolls English Language Learners.

15 Credit Hours of Coursework

EDCI 55900 – Academic Language and Content Area Learning
(Spring course, 1st 8 weeks)
This course focuses on the linguistic challenges faced by English language learners in the content areas of science, language arts, mathematics, and the social studies. The course links these challenges to English language instruction and subject-matter instruction in English for ELLs who are in mainstream classrooms. The course emphasizes assessment tools designed to assess content knowledge and links these to issues of language development. This course requires field experiences in schools.

EDCI 51900 – Teaching English Language Learners
(Spring course, 2nd 8 weeks)
This course addresses second language instruction and subject-matter instruction in English for ELL students who are in mainstream classrooms. The purpose of this course is to provide students with information necessary to the design of materials and instructional strategies for English language learners P-12. The course considers the nature of immigrants’ experiences of a new country and school context, focuses on the current issues and techniques in instruction for students who are at the beginning or intermediate stages of English language acquisition in the school context. This course requires field experiences in schools.

EDCI 55700 – Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
(Summer course, 4 weeks)
This 4-week online summer course will provide a critical review of research and practice in language proficiency and content-area assessment of English Language Learners (ELLs) and other culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students in K-12 education. We will explore the sociocultural dimensions of standardized testing, academic achievement, and accountability. Students will conduct critical analyses of standardized testing instruments and learn to develop alternative classroom-based language, literacy, and content-area assessments appropriate for ELL and CLD students.

EDCI 53000 – English Language Development
(Fall course, 1st 8 weeks)
This course focuses on knowledge about how second languages are learned and on the educational basis for second language teaching and learning. The course links English language development to teaching and learning strategies. In addition to a case study and final report, students will collaborate in small groups to create online multimedia poster presentations that summarize key points and issues. This course requires field experiences in schools.

EDCI 52600 – Language Study for Educators
(Fall course, 2nd 8 weeks)
Students will gain information about central concepts from descriptive and applied linguistics, applying these to analyze language and interaction between teachers and ELs for effective teaching. The major assignments for the course are two classroom observations and the planning, teaching, and evaluation of two lessons conducted with small groups of ELs. This course requires field experiences in schools.

Participation in a Professional Conference

In addition to successful completion of the above courses, candidates are also required to attend and to participate in a state, national, or international conference on English Language Learning (e.g., TESOL, NABE, AAAL, INTESOL, IN K-12 ESL) during enrollment in the program. Candidates will write a reflection on their participation. Participation includes (a) giving a professional presentation (paper presentation, colloquium, poster, demonstration, or round table discussion); and (b) volunteering to work on a conference committee or to moderate or chair a session.

Content Specialty Exam

Beginning June 1, 2014, all licensure students are required to pass the Indiana CORE Assessment for Educators that applies to teaching English Learners. Information about this test can be obtained at: www.in.nesinc.com. Candidates will register for test code 019: English Learners.

Online Portfolio

At the end of the licensure program, candidates will complete an online portfolio. Portfolio sections correspond to Purdue’s ELL Licensure Program Teacher Outcomes and Standards. Products to be included in each section will be developed throughout the program, in each course. Candidates will also include their reflection on participation in a professional conference as part of the portfolio. Portfolio components will be assessed by means of rubrics that correlate with the TESOL/CAEP Standards. Portfolio components will be compiled in alignment with each course completed for the program, also correlated with the TESOL/CAEP Standards.

Program Completion

To complete the ELL Licensure Program and obtain your ELL license, make sure that you have:

Completed all 5 courses
Obtained a passing score on the Pearson content test for English Learners (#019)
Uploaded all assessments to the English Language Learning Online Portfolio

Cost

The Teaching English Language Learners Graduate Certificate is affordable and competitive in cost.

	In-State	Out-of-State
Total Cost Per Credit	$580.00	$600.00
Credit Hours	15	15
Total Costs	$8,700.00	$9,000.00

_{*Tuition and fees are charges on a per credit hour basis and are subject to annual increase. Annual increases may change the total program costs.
*Note: Purdue faculty and staff fee remissions may not be applied this program.}
_{* The program costs includes text books.}
_{*International fee may be applicable}

Questions?

Admissions:
edgrad@purdue.edu
Course Content Information:
Contact Dr. Trish Morita-Mullaney
Course Registration, payment, drops/withdraws, and removing holds:
Purdue Online purdueonline@purdue.edu
Career accounts:
ITaP (765) 494-4000