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TENL Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Question:            What will the TENL Certificate do for me?
Answer:               It provides official documentation of your professional training in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and provides the credential for you to teach English as a second language in the U.S. in a number of venues (although usually not in programs within public school systems), or English as a foreign language abroad.

Question:            How is the TENL Certificate different from the ENL license?
Answer:               Obtaining a TENL certificate is not the same as obtaining the ENL state license.  The TENL certificate constitutes a separate document and can stand alone as your credential for teaching English to speakers of other languages. The ENL license is an endorsement added to a teacher’s license, which already specifies the subject area(s) as well as the grade levels for which a teacher is certified to provide instructions; therefore, the ENL license does not stand alone as a separate document. 

Question:            When is the best time to start my study?
Answer:               The best way to start your study is to begin in the fall, when the first method course (TESOL Method I), an introductory pedagogical course to the field of TESOL, is offered. However, if you have not taken one of the prerequisite courses (for example, LING L103), it is best to take the prerequisite course in the summer, if it is available. 

Question:            How long does it take to complete the program?
Answer:               It is possible to complete your program within three semesters, depending on staffing. Of course, completion of the program is individual, and depends on the student’s background, and number of courses taken each semester.

Question:            Is there a preferred sequence of courses?
Answer:               Ideally, a student begins with the first of methods course (TESOL Method I), an introductory pedagogical course intended to lay the foundation for further work. Other courses may be taken at the same time. The more theoretical courses, such as Second Language Acquisition, may be taken in the second or third semester.

Question:            How often are these courses offered and at what time of the day?
Answer:               Each course is offered at least once within a three-semester rotation, and most are offered every year. Sections of the prerequisite LING L103 are offered semester. TENL courses are typically offered as evening courses, beginning after 4:30 p.m., or as an on-line course.

Question:            What do I need to do to be admitted?
Answer:               Our admission requirements and the application procedures for graduate students are specified on our departments’ website.  To obtain the undergraduate TENL certificate, you must be admitted to the university to receive the certificate. Contact the Admissions Office at IPFW for admission information. 

We are happy to meet and answer questions in person. Please contact the Department of English and Linguistics, (260- 481-6841) for more information or to set up an appointment. We look forward to assisting you in your application to the TENL Program.
If you would like to start your study in the fall, it’s best to start your application as early as you can, since processing and approval for your application takes time and faculty members are not always on campus during the summer. 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

IPFW is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access University.