ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Certificate Program

OVERVIEW OF THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM:

The certificate of completion in teaching English as a second language is offered through Humanistic Studies as an 18-credit program of study. It can be a useful complement to training in other areas such as foreign languages, communication, community and regional development, science and technology, or international business—wherever English is an important access language or a medium for training or cross-cultural communication.

 

Although this certificate is not equivalent to a four- or five-year teacher licensure program (for students intending to qualify as teachers in public elementary or secondary schools in Wisconsin), it can be a first step toward obtaining that qualification. To be eligible for the certificate of completion, students must either be candidates for a B.A. or B.S. degree or have already completed such a degree.

 

TIPS FROM THE PROFS:

(Russell Arent)

A certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language is an excellent first step toward becoming an ESL professional and can lead to a rewarding career working with language learners from a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

 

WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS CERTIFICATE :

• Students intending to teach English overseas, in adult literacy programs, or in ESL programs sponsored by community service organizations or private companies.

• International students who need credentials to teach English at home or abroad.

• Students who want to find a way to visit and work in other cultures, including ethnic cultures within the United States as well as other countries.

WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM UW-GREEN BAY :

• The ESL certificate of completion is open to students from any academic major. It is not a major or a minor in itself, but links up to many majors and minors.

• It overlaps required courses for a major in Linguistics/Teaching English as a Second Language and Wisconsin public school certification—no wasted credits if you decide to complete a major and/or public school teaching licensure (major or minor).

SKILLS & ABILITIES GAINED WITH THIS PROGRAM:

• Students learn about the structure of language, the relationship between language and society, principles of second-language acquisition, ESL teaching methods and second-language assessment. They also get hands-on experience teaching English in tutorial or small group settings on or off campus.

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS CERTIFICATE :

You can teach English as a second or additional language in many different teaching situations outside the public schools, including a number of countries around the world where credentials and experience in teaching English are valued and needed for international trade, economic development, and education.

 

LINKS TO GRAD PROGRAMS :

• Graduate School Guide. The comprehensive on-line guide to doctoral, masters, and professional programs. http://www.schoolguides.com

• Gradschools.com. The most comprehensive online source of Graduate School Information. http://www.gradschools.com/

• The Writing Web. Some great tips and advice on writing graduate school application essays. http://www.writingweb.com/

• Peterson’s.com. The most comprehensive and heavily traveled education resource on the web. http://www.petersons.com/

• Or you can try any of the following search engine sites for information on the graduate school program of your choice! http://www.yahoo.com, http://www.infoseek.com, or http://www.snap.com

LINKS TO WEB SITES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• EMBARK.COM- ESL Programs. A great resource! Find the right program, information on careers, and so much more! http://www.embark.com/esl/

• EFL Web. Online magazine for those teaching and learning English as a foreign language . http://www.u-net.com/eflweb/

• ESL International. Information for ESL teaching job in global and useful categorized listing for ESL teachers/students. http://www.eslint.com/

• Dave's ESL Cafe. A fun site with a lot of great resources for students and teachers!
  http://www.eslcafe.com/

• The American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL). This is one of the most important professional organizations concerned with many different aspects of applied linguistics and second language teaching and learning. http://www.aaal.org/

• Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). The most well known international professional organization which specifically focuses on Teaching English as a Second Language. http://www.tesol.org/

• Modern Language Association. The style for preparing scholarly manuscripts and student research papers concerns itself with the mechanics of writing, such as punctuation, quotation, and documentation of sources. http://www.mla.org/

LINKS FOR MORE HELP:

• For course listings & descriptions for ESL and other disciplines, check out UW-Green Bay’s Programs of Study page @ http://www.uwgb.edu/catalog/undrgrad/programs.htm

• More help is available on-campus at the Career Services Office at SS 1916, 465-2163. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/careers

• Contact Academic Advising at SS 1930, 465-2362. http://www.uwgb.edu/advising

• Another service for UW System students on the Web is UW HELP On-Line. This service provides in-depth information on the programs of the UW System. You can find them at @ http://www.uwhelp.wisconsin.edu

 

Maintained by the Academic Advising Office, SS 1930, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI. 54311-7001