University of Colorado Denver College of Liberal Arts and SciencesUniversity of Colorado Denver

Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CTESOL)

PROGRAM DesCRIPTION

To meet the increasing needs of individuals seeking advanced training in teaching English as a second language, the English Department at the University of Colorado Denver (UC Denver) now offers a Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CTESOL).

The Program is designed to build the necessary skills to teach English as a Second Language. It provides a focused preparation for the teaching of English as a Second Language. It is primarily aimed at native speakers of English who want to teach overseas but may serve the needs of international students wanting to teach English in their home country or other countries.

Upon successful completion of the program, CTESOL participants will be able to:

  • Discuss the theoretical basis of second language instruction;
  • Demonstrate a variety of effective ESL teaching techniques; and
  • Explain, in pedagogically relevant ways, the linguistic structures of the English language.

CURRICULUM

The curriculum consists of 12 credit hours (9 credit hours of required courses, and three credit hours of electives). The required courses must be taken at UC Denver.

Required courses

  • ENGL 5171. Language Theory — 3 credit hrs
  • ENGL 5601. Principles and Practices of Second Language Acquisition — 3 credit hrs
  • ENGL 6220. Teaching Second Language and Second Dialect — 3 credit hrs

Elective courses

  • ENGL 5093. Rhetoric and the Teaching of Writing — 3 credit hrs or an alternative elective approved by the program advisor

Length of time

The course of study will typically last one academic year, including the summer session. 

When you may begin

You may begin in any semester. There is no fixed deadline for application for admission.

PREREQUISITES

All applicants must have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent to be accepted to the program. Graduate students at the University of Colorado Denver (UC Denver) will also be permitted to apply for the Certificate while they are concurrently completing another graduate degree. Permission may not be granted to graduate students in Applied Linguistics. 

Non-native speakers of English are required to submit an official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) report showing a score of at least 580. Those who score below 580 but above 500 on the TOEFL may be admitted conditionally to the program. Under these conditions, students will have their English language skills assessed by the Faculty of the Program immediately after they arrive on campus to determine whether further courses are needed to develop English language proficiency. After assessment, the students may be assigned to full-time language study in an Intensive English Program, permitted to take graduate-level classes on a conditional basis along with further designated language study, or permitted to begin graduate study without further restrictions.

Requirements for Receiving the Certificate

Prior to receiving the Certificate, students must have:

1.  Bachelor's degree

2.  GPA of 3.0 or better for the graduate courses.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information about the Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CTESOL) may be obtained from:

Hongguang (Ian) Ying, Associate Professor
Office: 1050 Ninth Street Park, Room 100
Phone: 303-556-6728
Email: Hongguang.Ying@cudenver.edu