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ESL/EFL Teaching

Requirements

Enrolling in the Program

Students may begin the program during any semester. In order for classes to count towards the certificate, students must be enrolled in the program. You may take one class before enrolling and still count that toward the certificate, but any subsequent classes taken prior to enrolling will not count or will have to be repeated. Once enrolled in the Certificate program, students can expect to be able to complete the program in approximately one year. This is a dynamic program which relies heavily on hands-on experience, so students should plan to register in one or more classes each term in order to keep current. Students may skip one term during the completion of their Certificate.

How can I enroll and earn the Certificate?
To earn the Duke Certificate in ESL/EFL Teaching, participants must:
1) complete an application, short essay and pay a nonrefundable enrollment fee of $60 ($100 for late applications). Applications must be submitted prior to the assessments.
2) Take and pass the English assessment test (non-native speakers only).
3) Enroll in and complete twelve courses -- ten core and two electives.
4) Complete twenty hours of practice teaching (ESL) or tutoring (EFL).

Program Requirements

Every new student is required to attend a free Information Session offered each term prior to the start of classes. These sessions explain the program requirements and help you plan out your studies in a coherent manner.

There are no academic prerequisites for entry into the program except English proficiency. We do not require high school or college transcripts. We ask for a short description of your personal goals to ensure they match the program. Non-native English speakers are required to sign up for an English assessment, which is offered at the beginning of each term. We use this assessment to confirm that the student will be able to successfully complete the program. To see how you will be evaluated, click here.

Twelve classes are required to complete the program, ten core and two electives. Most classes are offered at night and on the weekends except during June when we offer an intensive program during the day. We do not give grades or exams, but we do require students to participate fully and complete assignments in order to count the class. In addition, attendance at each class is mandatory.

Teaching Practica Requirement

The opportunity to practice what you have learned in the classroom is critical to your success as a teacher. The required minimum of twenty hours of practice teaching is designed to give you actual teaching experience while at the same time providing guidance and feedback. Our teachers and staff will be glad to help you locate teaching opportunities if assistance is needed. Students will complete these hours as they progress through the program. Many courses will have a minimum number of hours and specific activities you must accomplish. You will begin your hours by observing experienced teachers and progress to teaching on your own. You can teach in any environment you choose or with any population.

Once you have completed all of your coursework and your practice teaching, you should notify our office and request your certificate. We will verify your transcript and send the certificate to you.

Requirements for finishing the program are:
10 core classes
2 elective classes of your choice
20 total hours of practice teaching (ESL) or tutoring (EFL)

Required Courses for Certificate Students

There are nine required courses that must be taken in order to complete the program. We suggest starting with ESL Teaching: In A Nutshell. Following this course, we suggest you take ESL Teaching Methods, Classroom Dynamics or Four Skills. Role of Grammar may be taken any time. Course Development should be taken after Methods and Four Skills. The Capstone Practicum is the final course of the program and therefor should be taken in your final term. All other classes may be taken as you wish.

1. ESL Teaching: In a Nutshell
2. Four Skills: How to Teach Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking
3. ESL Teaching: Methods
4. Classroom Dynamics: Theory & Practice
5. The Role of Grammar in ESL Teaching
6. Key Concepts for Teaching Pronunciation (required for all students who applied on or after July 1, 2008)
7. Course Development: Putting it All Together
8. Crosscultural Understanding: Values
9. Cross Cultural Understanding: Communication Styles
10. ESL Teaching: Capstone Practicum (or Internship)

Capstone Internship    

In addition to the traditional Capstone Practicum, we also offer an Internship, which will fulfill the classroom and teaching requirements for the Practicum.

Once accepted into the program, the prospective intern will be interviewed by a specially-trained mentor teacher somewhere in the Triangle. After being selected by a mentor, the intern attends a minimum of six ESL class sessions (at least 12 hours) during which the intern observes, participates, and finally, teaches ESL students under the close supervision of the mentor.

Enrollment is limited and competitive, and restricted to those within the ESL track. Interested students should apply for a Capstone Internship using this form.

Attendance Requirement

Classes are offered in a compressed, intense format and therefore, attendance at every session is required before a course can be counted toward the Certificate. It is up to the discretion of the teacher to allow a student to make up one absence from a multiple-session course. Teachers will take attendance at each class and provide the information to the program office.