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A certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is available to undergraduate students who wish to teach English as a second language, normally in positions abroad.

Please see the How to Get in section for the qualifications for declaring this certificate.

How to Get in

Fill out the online application and submit to the ESL office. Students should apply as early as possible (after the sophomore year if they are undergraduates) to allow enough time to complete the requirements.

Download the Undergraduate Application.

Academic requirements for the program are:

For Undergraduates:  Enrollment in any one of the required certificate courses and a degree program at UW–Madison.

Native English speakers must show completion of four college-level semesters of one language (prior to or completed concurrently with certificate coursework).

Nonnative English speakers are required to show English language proficiency in the following ways:

  • A minimum score of 50 on TSE or SPEAK or an iBy score of 26 on the speaking section of the TOEFL
  • A minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL iBT or 600 on the paper-based version of the TOEFL or 7 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) can be substituted for the TOEFL.

Requirements for the Certificate

15 credits of course work include:

Foundation Courses
ENGL 314 Structure of English3
ENGL 415 Introduction to TESOL Methods3
Second Language Acquisition and Teaching Courses
ENGL 318 Second Language Acquisition3
ENGL 515 Techniques and Materials for TESOL3
Students must take 3 credits of TESOL Workshops.3
ENGL 613
 TESOL: Pedagogical Grammar I
ENGL 614
 TESOL: Pedagogical Grammar II
ENGL 615
 TESOL: Teaching Listening and Speaking
ENGL 616
 TESOL: Teaching of Reading
ENGL 617
 TESOL: Teaching of Writing
ENGL 618
 TESOL: Teaching Pronunciation
Total Credits15

Residence and Quality of Work

  • Minimum 3.000 GPA in all courses approved for the certificate
  • At least 8 certificate credits must be completed in residence

Undergraduate/Special Student Certificates

This certificate may be completed within the context of an undergraduate degree or as a Special student after an undergraduate degree has been awarded from any institution. The certificate may be completed in its entirety while enrolled as a Special student. Candidates are encouraged to contact the certificate coordinator to discuss course enrollment and the sequencing of certificate requirements. 

Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate knowledge in the historical trends in the field, the theoretical underpinnings and the role of English in society and as an international language.
  2. Become familiar with the sound and grammatical systems of English.
  3. Understand an apply basic principles in the teaching of reading, writing, listening and speaking.
  4. Understand the principles of second language acquisition.
  5. Construct and execute well-crafted lesson plans.

Advising and Careers

Undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate can contact asktesol@english.wisc.edu for general advising issues.

For current certificate students, please contact Joseph Nosek, TESOL Program Advisor (joseph.nosek@wisc.edu) or Vivian Ye, TESOL Program Coordinator (jye83@wisc.edu).

SuccessWorks

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.

Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.