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Certification Programs and Course Descriptions |
In conformity with the national guideline and the ESL K-12 standards by TESL organization, the ESL/Bilingual programs at the College of New Jersey are designed to educate teachers, professionals and future leaders in the fields of ESL/Bilingual education both in the United States and international settings. All the certification programs meet the new requirements for certification of teachers of bilingual/bicultural education and ESL implemented by the New Jersey State Board of Education in 1992. The programs are formulated to develop students' competency in the application of the theoretical foundations of second language learning and acquisition and bilingual education. The main objective is to enable students to practice ESL and bilingual methodologies, to design and implement appropriate instructional strategies and activities, to develop curricula and select materials, and to perform proper assessment procedures for ESL and bilingual programs respectively. Degree: Master of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language Total graduate credits required: 30 credits Graduate study toward the Master of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is done concomitantly with study toward the New Jersey certificates in ESL and or Bilingual Education. Candidates completing all program requirements and State of New Jersey requirements will receive the M.Ed. degree and will be eligible for either ESL or bilingual certification issued by State of New Jersey. (In addition, a certification of completion will be issued by the College of New Jersey to all candidates.) Required Courses: ESLM 700 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION Certification: Teaching English as a Second Language The English as a Second Language Endorsement (15-18 cr) Required courses: The English as a Second Language Initial Certification (21 cr) The English as a Second Language Initial Certification provides the necessary courses for provisional certification as a teacher of English as a second language in the State of New Jersey. General requirements for issuance are: (1) proven proficiency in the English language and (2) Twenty-one semester hours in the designated areas. Required courses: Certification: Bilingual Education Total graduate credits required: 12-15 credits The Bilingual Endorsement program provides the necessary courses for certification as a bilingual teacher in the State of New Jersey. General requirements for issuance are: (1) a teaching credential or eligibility thereof in a subject area (general elementary or secondary math, science, or social studies); (2) proven proficiency in English and in another instructional language; and (3) twelve to fifteen semester hours in the designated areas (depending upon teaching experience). Required courses: Course Descriptions EDFN 508 Introduction to Research: A course which examines basic research design, library and computer search strategies, and certain statistical concepts. Emphasis is on understanding and interpreting research studies. EDFN 520 Social Problems in Education: This course will examine the role of the school in the context of the perennial societal concerns of diversity, equal opportunity, democracy, and individual and social justice. The issues of evaluation, classification, and curriculum are considered within the historic and ideological foundations of education. This course fulfills the requirements for multicultural education. EDFN 521 Cultural Foundations of Education: This course will examine education as a cultural phenomenon and will focus upon culture, its relationship to language and school achievement, and the implications for teaching, learning, and counseling. There is an emphasis upon the multicultural curriculum, second language instruction, and critical pedagogy. This course fulfills the requirements for multicultural education. ENGL 507 Applied English Linguistics: Studies in structrulasim, transformationalism, stylestics, prosody, and other topics in modern linguistics. This course is approved for bilingual certification. ENGL 510 The Structure and Phonology of American English: This course is a study of models of the nature of American English, with the special focus on the critical phonological and structural elements as awareness of its important traditions and themes. ENGL 544 Language and Culture: Analysis of all forms of language variation across speech communities within a culture, and analysis of the language culture relationships across populations. This course is approved for bilingual certification EPSY 513 Psychology of Learning: Prerequisite: A reasonable recent course in introductory psychology. The purpose of this course is to examine leading theories of learning and their experimental basis. Applications of the role of learning to real life situations pertaining to perceptions, motivation, and personality development are also explored. EPSY 524 Adolescent Development and Education: Consideration of physical, intellectual, personality, and social development during the stages of adolescent and youth. Particular emphasis is placed on the roles of the family, peers, and schools as contributors to development. EPSY 623 Advanced Child Growth and Development: An overview of concepts of theories of child development with emphasis placed on the elementary school aged child. Developmental issues are examines from socio-cultural and educational perspectives. ESLM 525 Second Language Acquisition: An overview of some of the major themes and issues in second language acquisition and how this impacts on learning in an academic setting. Consideration will be given to topics such as research methodology, the role of the native language, morpheme acquisition orders, differential success, the linguistic environment, theories of second language acquisition. ESLM 577 Foundations of Bilingual-Multicultural Education: The rationale, history, philosophy, goals, objectives, and existing research in the area of bilingual-multicultural education. ESLM 578 Theory and Practice of Teaching English as a Second Language: This course covers the theoretical foundations of second language acquisition, the unique aspects of the process of second language teaching, and the necessary practical application of those theories as required in the ESL classroom. ESLM 579 Theory and Practice of Teaching the Bilingual Person in Content Areas: Theories and practices of teaching the bilingual-bicultural person in specific content areas, including the identification and preparation of materials for the elementary and secondary school classroom. Consideration will also be given to testing the bilingual-bicultural child. ESLM 688 Practicum for Second Language Teachers: On-site; experiences arranged for students in government and related institutions and agencies in the community. Covers fourteen-week period arranged to fit the schedule of the participating student. ESLM 587 Curriculum and Methods for Multilingual Populations: This course is designed to develop the student's competency in the application of the theoretical foundations of second language learning and acquisition and bilingual education in teaching multilingual populations. The emphasis is placed upon ESL and /or bilingual methodologies, instructional strategies and activities, curricula development, and evaluation procedures for ESL and bilingual programs respectively. ESLM 597 Advanced Topics in English as a Second Language: ESLM 645 Sociolinguistics and TESOL: This is an introductory course in sociolinguistic research with theoretical application of major principles to concerns in the teaching of English language. Topics addressed include the notion of speech community, dialect variation, cross-cultural communication, gender versus functionalist paradigms of language, speech act theory, etc. ESLM 697 Independent Study in Bilingual Education or ESL: An in-depth exploration of a topic within a specific are of the discipline involving supervised reading, research, and regular conferences with the faculty adviser. RDLG 571 Language and Teaching of Reading: The place of language in culture; linguistics and psycholinguistics as academic disciplines; examination of concepts significant for reading program; analysis of American English; implications of cultural, linguistic, and psycholinguistic data for instructional practice and for selection of instructional materials. Frequently asked Questions on Certifications What is the nature of the certification? When you finish your certification program at TCNJ, you are eligible for Teacher of ESL or Teacher of Bilingual Education certifications issued by the State of New Jersey. They are for K-12. After you are hired by any public school in NJ and work successfully for one year, you can apply for your standard certification, a permanent one. This type of certification is normally recognized by ESL/EFL programs beyond the public school domain, such as those in higher education, adult education, and special programs both at home and abroad. Detailed information on New Jersey ESL and Bilingual certification is on the homepage of New Jersey Department of Education http://www.state.nj.us/njded/educators/license/1110.htm.) What is ESL initial certification? Initial certification is for persons who hold a Bachelor's degree but who are not certified to teach in any field (did not major in education). Initial certification requires 21 credits (or seven courses). They are ESLM 578 Theory and Practice of Teaching ESL, ESLM 587 Curriculum and Methods for Multilingual Populations, ESLM 525 Second Language Acquisition, EDFN 521 Cultural Foundations of Education, RDLG 571 Language & the Teaching of Reading, and Educational Psychology class, and a Practicum. Candidates receive a one-year provisional license and after successful completion of the induction year they can apply for the permanent one. The ESL certificate is for K-12. Candidates' English language proficiency must be assessed through an oral English Language Proficiency Interview (no NTE is required at this time). What is ESL endorsement certification? An ESL endorsement certification is for persons who hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in education and are therefore certified in a field such as elementary education. The following five courses are required in this case: ESLM 578 Theory and Practice of Teaching ESL, ESLM 587 Curriculum and Methods for Multilingual Populations, ESLM 525 Second Language Acquisition, EDFN 521 Cultural Foundations of Education, one linguistics elective (e.g., Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Phonology), and a Practicum(if a candidate has less than three years teaching experience in a multilingual setting). Candidates receive a permanent K-12 ESL license after passing an oral English Language Proficiency Interview (no NTE is required at this time). What is Bilingual endorsement certification? A bilingual certificate cannot stand alone meaning that a person must already hold a teaching credential in another field (i.e., elementary education or secondary math, science, English, social studies). The bilingual certificate requires four courses EDFN 521 Cultural Foundations of Education, ESLM 578 Theory and Practice of Teaching ESL or ESLM 579 Theory and Practice of Teaching the Bilingual Person In Content Areas, ESLM 525 Second Language Acquisition, and ESLM 587 Curriculum and Methods for Multilingual Populations. A practicum is required if a candidate has less than three years teaching experience in a multilingual setting. Candidates must prove proficiency in another language. What is the licensure process in New Jersey? The following is from the homepage of: The regulations established a sequential three-step licensure process as follows:A. CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY: These certificates provide the opportunity to seek employment. These are NOT teaching licenses.
B. PROVISIONAL LICENSE: This one year license allows the holder to begin working in the classroom and legalizes employment. It signifies that the applicant holds a CE or a CEAS and has accepted an offer of employment. In addition, it signifies that the employing school district or approved nonpublic school has registered the applicant in the Provisional Teacher Program and has agreed to provide the required support and supervision. Do I have to renew my ESL certification? No, when you get your standard certification no renewal is necessary. How can I apply for the standard certification? A. CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY: These certificates provide the opportunity to seek employment. These are NOT teaching licenses.
B. PROVISIONAL LICENSE: This one year license allows the holder to begin working in the classroom and legalizes employment. It signifies that the applicant holds a CE or a CEAS and has accepted an offer of employment. In addition, it signifies that the employing school district or approved nonpublic school has registered the applicant in the Provisional Teacher Program and has agreed to provide the required support and supervision. What is the certificate of eligibility? CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY: These certificates provide the opportunity to seek employment. These are NOT teaching licenses What is the certification of advanced standing? CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY WITH ADVANCED STANDING. (CEAS): The CEAS is issued to all graduates of state approved college teacher training programs. Teacher candidates who can document one year of full time teaching experience under a valid state license will be issued standard licenses. What is the certificate of qualification? CERTIFICATES OF QUALIFICATION. (CQ): The CQ is issued to all graduates of state approved college teacher training programs, who are non-American citizens. Teacher candidates who can document one year of full time teaching experience under an approved mentoring program will be issued standard licenses. Do I have to take NTE or any other examination to get my ESL or Bilingual certification? No, no standard test is required at this moment, however, all the candidates must have an oral Language Proficiency Interview (LPI). For ESL certification candidates, English language proficiency must be assessed by a certified native speaker and a notarized LPI form must be submitted. For Bilingual certification candidates, both English and other instructional language must be assessed through LPI. What documents do I need to apply for my certification? The following items are needed: All the above items must be sent to the following address: How long does it take to get my certification after completing all the requirements? If all of the required documents are in order it approximately takes about 3-4 weeks to get your certification. However, the Office of Certification at TCNJ only submits applications for certification to the State Licensing Office a few times each semester. For overseas candidates the process takes much longer time. Please contact Dr. Yiqiang Wu, your advisor (wuyiqian@tcnj.edu) or Ms. Roberta Conjura (rconjura@tcnj.edu, 609-771-2396), the certification officer, for your certification status. What is Language Proficiency Assessment and LPI? It is required by the State of New Jersey Licensing Office to assess the applicants' oral English proficiency for ESL certification and both English and another language for bilingual certification. The requirement of demonstration of oral language proficiency for bilingual and 1. Completion of an in state or out of state approved college program in which oral language proficiency was demonstrated and assessed as an integral part of the program. |