English as a Second Language (ESL) Certification

The English as a Second Language (ESL) certification prepares candidates to teach children from all cultural and language backgrounds (speakers of Spanish, Vietnamese, etc.), and it is required for those teachers working with students in grades K-12 whose first language is not English. (No foreign language background is required for ESL certification.) The ESL certification may be added to any valid Texas teacher certificate. Students are required to take the following four courses (in any sequence). Candidates must also complete a practicum in an ESL classroom or one year of successful teaching experience in an ESL or Bilingual Education Program approved by the Texas Education Agency. These four courses may be applied to the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed. with Literacy emphasis, or to the Reading Specialist's Certificate. All of the coursework for the ESL Endorsement is available online (see Current Course Rotation).

LIST 5345 Content Area Reading and Writing
LIST 5354 Multicultural Literature for Children
LIST 5361 Language Learning: Educational Perspectives
LIST 5362 Literacy Instruction in ESL and Bilingual Settings
Teaching Practicum or Experience