Certificate in Teaching English Language Learners (TELL)

A student writing on the board while a teacher smiles in the background

For teachers and professionals teaching and working with English language learners.

As the population for whom English is a second or third language continues to grow, there is a critical need for educators, school professionals, and other health and human service professionals to possess the skills to effectively support English language learners.

Loyola University Maryland’s 15-credit fully online synchronous certificate in Teaching English Language Learners (TELL) program is designed to address that need, assisting professionals—such as teachers, special educators, school administrators, school counselors, psychologists, reading specialists, or anyone working with English language learning clients or students—to develop practical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary for effective expertise in bilingual teaching, learning, and assessment.

Program Overview

  • Illustration of a stack of books Credits: 15
  • Illustration of a calendar Class Duration: 8 weeks
  • Illustration of a computer with charts and graphs on the screen Delivery: 100% online
  • Illustration of an analog clock Format: Part-time
  • Illustration of a classical building with columns Next Admission Term: Spring 2022
  • Illustration of a graduation cap Time of Completion: 1 year
  • Illustration of a calendar Application Deadline: Dec. 15

Upcoming Virtual Events

Join Loyola's School of Education this fall as we host a series of live and informational virtual events. You'll have a chance to learn more about the School of Education and our program offerings, meet our admission team and award winning faculty, or gain insightful resources and strategies on trending topics in education.

Register for an Event Today:

Virtual Information Session: Wednesday, December 8 at 5:30 p.m. EST.

Educator Perspectives: Reckoning with our Past in Schools: Wednesday, December 15 at 5 p.m. EST.

Explore the Curriculum

The certificate in Teaching English Language Learners (TELL) program focuses on both the practical and theoretical aspects of the field. The program is classroom oriented with a strong focus on sociolinguistics, literacy, intercultural communication, and the interaction of language learning and use. The TELL program is based on a reflexive practitioner model that includes case studies, field experiences, and in-depth examination of the theories and practices that support EL students’ learning. Together, these form a dynamic backdrop against which to study English language learning in today's 21st century context.

Program participants will learn to:

  • identify and effectively use research-based best practices in bilingual/ESOL instruction
  • articulate an understanding of the evolution of ESOL programming
  • articulate an understanding of second language acquisition and literacy development
  • design instruction reflecting effective assessment and learning strategies
  • demonstrate sensitive and innovative instruction respecting cultural differences

These courses are all offered online. Explore the curriculum in more detail.

Program Requirements

Prerequisite: bachelor's degree
Program Requirements: 15 credit hours of course work and maintain a 3.0 GPA cumulative. Students take one 8 week course at a time. 

Fall 
 RE602   Second Language Development: Theory and Practice
 RE604 Methods for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 
 Spring 
 RE606 Assessments in Bilingual and Second Language Education 
 RE525 Reading and Writing in the Linguistically Diverse Classroom
 Summer 
 RE603 Language, Literacy, and Culture 

Students can begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. The program consists of five fully online synchronous courses.

Site-based Cohorts

This program is also offered through site-based cohorts in the fall and spring semesters to employees of local school systems. Our cohorts are a lockstep format. Participants benefit from a 15% tuition discount. Scholarships opportunites are available up to $5,000 for completed applications. For more information about programs, locations, and upcoming information sessions, visit our cohort website.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the certificate program, students will be able to:

  1. Receive a certificate in Teaching English Language Learners (TELL).
  2. Independently apply for MSDE ESOL endorsement upon passing the ESOL English to Speakers of the Other Languages Praxis II #5362 exam (for students who currently possess teacher certification in Maryland). 

This program is designed to be completed in 12 months (late August - July).

Program qualifies students to sit for licensure exam in Maryland.

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/.