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Bilingual and English as a Second Language ESL Endorsement / Approval

Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement / Approval Program

The Bilingual and English as a Second Language approval is for undergraduate or graduate students who are pursuing, or who have earned, a standard Illinois teaching certificate. The endorsement enables students to teach in a Bilingual and/or English as a Second Language (ESL) setting. Students do not need to be admitted to a degree program to take these courses.

The bilingual approval requires fluency in a language other than English. An additional test administered by the state must be completed in order to achieve this certification.

Students who are interested in receiving the Bilingual/ESL Endorsement to teach in grades 5 to 8, must also complete the Middle Grades Endorsement courses (CI 484 and EPSY 446).

For more information contact the Office of Student Services at 312-996-4532 or email Aria Razfar, Coordinator Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL), at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Outcomes

The bilingual approval supplements teacher certification by allowing a certified teacher (or a teacher in the process of achieving certification) to teach English Language Learners. Bilingual educators are in high demand in classrooms in Chicago and around the United States.

Requirements

Approvals in English as a Second Language (ESL) and bilingual education are valid only if you currently hold a standard teaching certification: Type 03, Type 04, Type 09, or Type 10. The approval in ESL requires 20 semester hours for graduate students - 18 semester hours for undergraduate elementary or 19 semester hours secondary education students - including the following courses:

CI 481 Foundations and Current Issues in Educating English Language Learners (ELLs) (4 credit hours), OR ED 346 Sociocritical Foundations of English Learning in Urban Elementary Classroom (3 credit hours) only for undergraduates in the Elementary Education program. For graduate students in the ATTACH and TATAT program you can take CI 594 Special Topics Seminar: Teaching All Teachers About Transitioning (4 credit hours) or CI 575 Seminar in Research Issues with English Language Learners (4 credit hours).
CI 482 Assessment and Instruction: A Multilingual/multicultural Perspective (4 credit hours)
CI 472 Language Proficiency Assessment and ESL Instruction (4 credit hours)  
CI 464 Bilingualism and Literacy in a Second Language (4 credit hours)  
CI 540 Linguistics for Teachers (4 credit hours) OR LING 150 Introduction to the Study of Language (3 credit hours) for undergraduate students in elementary or secondary education.

Students who are interested in receiving the Bilingual/ESL endorsement to teach in grades 5 to 8, must also complete the following middle grades endorsement courses:

CI 484
EPSY 446

To qualify to teach in bilingual classrooms, teachers who receive the ESL approval must pass a Target Language Proficiency (TLP) test offered as part of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) testing system. Visit www.icts.nesinc.com for more information. Students will also work with the Council on Teacher Education as part of the certificate approval process

FAQS

When are the courses offered? 

In the fall and spring courses are offered once a week from 5-8 p.m. The schedule is as follows:

Monday - CI 464, CI 540

Tuesday - CI 472

Wednesday - CI 482

Thursday - CI 481

The courses meet twice a week during the second summer school session for 6 weeks in June and July from 4:30-8:30 p.m. The schedule is as follows:

Monday/Wednesday - CI 464, CI 482, CI 540

Tuesday/Thursday - CI 472, CI 481

What is an Approval? 

An approval (or statement of approval) is a letter from the Illinois State Board of Education that is given to already certified teachers in order to instruct students in the content area of the approval. This approval is only applicable to grade levels and age groups specified by the teacher's ISBE certificate.

What is the English as a Second Language (ESL) Approval and what can I do with it? 

The ESL Approval supplements teacher certification by allowing a certified teacher (or a student in the process of achieving certification) to teach English language learners.

What coursework do I need in order to complete the ESL Approval? 

What is the Bilingual Approval and what can I do with it? 

The Bilingual Approval supplements teacher certification by allowing a certified teacher (or a teacher in the process of achieving certifications) to teach English language learners. The Bilingual Approval also requires fluency in a language other than English and an additional test administered by the state must be completed in order to achieve this certification. All individuals who receive a Bilingual Approval have already completed the necessary requirements to attain the ESL Approval and will receive this as well.

What is the difference between the ESL and Bilingual Approvals? 

The Bilingual Approval requires fluency in one (or more) of an approved language in addition to English . An additional test administered by the state must be completed in order to achieve this certification.

What coursework do I need in order to complete the Bilingual Approval? 

Candidates must complete a series of 5 classes (18 to 20 hours, depending on your status at UIC) related to ESL and bilingual education methods and theory along with 30 hours of in-classroom practicum per class. An additional test administered by the state must be completed in order to achieve this certification.

If I am a teacher of English language learners, can I apply my classroom work towards my practicum? 

Yes.

I am already a certified teacher but would like to pursue the ESL and/or bilingual endorsement through a master's degree, which should I pursue?

The Educational Studies Master's Degree through the Curriculum and Instruction department will allow you to focus your coursework on the endorsement with just 4 additional courses needed for the degree.

Can I obtain this approval if I'm not presently enrolled in a Degree program at the College of Education?

You do not need to be enrolled in any University Program, this program can supplement your existing education and training. These courses can be taken through the Office of Continuing Education.
Non-degree applicants can enroll in the five courses required for these Approvals (applicants must meet the non-degree application deadlines for these courses).

Can I complete these approvals in one term? 

All five (5) courses are offered in every term (Fall, Spring, and Summer), however, all five courses cannot be completed in one term.

UIC College of Education - University of Illinois at Chicago