IPFW Department of English & Linguistics

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The Graduate Certificate in
Teaching English as a New Language

The graduate certificate in teaching English as a new language is intended primarily for students working toward a graduate degree in English and for practicing teachers who wish to be trained in teaching English to non-native speakers. Other potential students include people who are preparing to live or work abroad, and those who have technical or business expertise and wish to work with ENL students in professional settings. With the expansion of English as the international language of commerce, education, science and technology, the need for qualified teachers continues to increase.

The required courses will familiarize students with the major theoretical foundations of teaching English as a new and additional language. Students will become acquainted with ENL pedagogy and resources and will acquire experience by teaching ENL learners in classroom settings. The TENL certificate can stand alone as a separate credential or be integrated with the requirements of the M.A. or M.A.T. program in English.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the certificate program, you must have completed

a bachelors degree, from an accredited college or university, with at least a 2.5 of 4.0 grade point average (gpa)
at least 3 credit hours of coursework in linguistics, with at least a 3.0 of 4.0 gpa
at least 3 credit hours of coursework in college-level writing (or the equivalent), with at least a 3.0 of 4.0 gpa

Students who do not meet these requirements may be admitted conditionally.

Frequently Asked Questions (.pdf file)

Courses Required for the Graduate Certificate in TENL:

To earn this certificate you must complete at least 18 credits. No course with a grade below B will count toward either the M.A. or the M.A.T. in English; no course with a grade below C will count toward the Certificate.

Course Number and Title	Credits

Grammar ENG G500 Introduction to the English Language*	3
Methods LING P511 Methods and Materials for TESOL I LING P512 Methods and Materials for TESOL II	6
Language Acquisition LING L532 Second Language Acquisition	3
Sociolinguistics LING L619 Language and Society	3
Practicum LING L535 TESOL Practicum	3

* SPAN S428 may, in conjunction with other linguistics courses, meet the grammar requirement.

How to Apply

To apply for admission to the TENL certificate program, you must submit the following materials:

An Application for Admission to the TENL Certificate Program. (An application is available from the main office of the department of English and Linguistics.)
Official transcripts from all other colleges and universities at which you have studied.
References:

For students who completed their undergraduate degree at IPFW: The names of three IPFW professors who would be willing to serve as a reference.
For students who completed their undergraduate degree elsewhere: Three letters of reference from people who can comment on your strengths as a student in general and your preparation for pursuing a TENL certificate in particular.

A one- to two-page statement of purpose in which you describe your reasons for pursuing the certificate.

All materials should be sent directly to the department of English and Linguistics at:

Department of English and Linguistics
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499

Note: Admission to the certificate program in Teaching English as a New Language does not guarantee admission to the masters program in English & Linguistics. Students who wish to pursue a masters will be asked to submit a separate application.

Note:

Although this page provides a generally accurate description of a degree program in English & Linguistics, it should not be considered authoritative. Please be sure to consult with Prof. Hao Sun (260-481-6775) with questions regarding the program.