Skip Navigation, Jump to Content

ESL/TESOL Certificate Program (CITE)
[English as a Second Language Program Specialist]

Program Description:

The ESL certificate program is designed to enable teachers to work effectively in schools with children learning English as a second language. It creates a foundation in language theory to guide practice and helps teachers develop familiarity with multiple literacies, an understanding of pedagogy, experience with multicultural communication and mastery of a variety of instructional practices.

Temple University is an approved provider for the Pennsylvania ESL Program Specialist Certificate. This certificate is described as an “add-on,” designed for teachers with a valid Pennsylvania Instructional I or II certification who are currently working with or plan to work with ESL students in public schools in Pennsylvania.

Program Requirements:

The graduate-level coursework for the Program Specialist ESL Certificate is comprised of 4 courses, TESOL8611 (610), 8614 (614), 8616 (616), and 8621 (620). (Please see course descriptions below). The courses may be taken in any order.

Required Core Courses:

  • TESOL 8611(610) Applied Language Study I: Assessment of English learners' language and literacy development
  • TESOL 8614 (614) Approaches to Teaching English Language Learners
  • TESOL 8616 (616) Teaching Second/Foreign Language Skills: Curriculum and Assessment in TESOL
  • TESL 8621 (620) Contexts for Teaching & Learning Language

For detailed course descriptions, see the Graduate School Bulletin/Course Listings.

Admissions Requirments:

Applicants must submit:

  • A copy of a Pennsylvania level I or level II teaching certificate or evidence that the candidate is enrolled in a certification program;
  • Two letters of recommendation, one from a professor and one from a professional supervisor
  • Applicants seeking endorsement for the Pennsylvania ESL certificate should download and submit the ESL Credential Evaluation Form [PDF]*
  • To apply to the ESL Certificate Program, download the ESL application form [PDF]*.

Contact Information:

ESL Certificate Program Coordinator:
Jill Swavely Ph.D., Assistant Professor of TESOL
phone: (215) 204-6120;
e-mail: jmswav@temple.edu

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) Program Coordinator:
Aneta Pavlenko, Ph.D., Associate Professor of TESOL
phone: (215) 204-3792
e-mail: apavlenk@temple.edu

College of Education
Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology in Education
Temple University , Ritter Hall 361
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091

 

 

*PDF documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF viewer.