Option Two - Teacher Education Endorsement
There is a great demand for English as a Second Language (ESL) in the public school setting. Having a secondary endorsement in ESL will provide an advantage in securing a teaching position in the public school system. Many states are anxious for teachers with an ESL endorsement. Some will even pay moving expenses and bonus pay for such an applicant.
This track is available for both undergraduate and graduate credit. The Teacher Education Endorsement option supplements a regular state teacher certificate and qualifies a student to teach English as a Second Language in the public schools at the level of his/her standard certification (elementary or secondary). Both those who are already certified to teach and those who are in the certification process (including Lincoln's TEP students) are qualified to seek this endorsement. (A standard certificate means that one has a degree in, for example, science, and has completed the education classes and student teaching required for state certification. TESOL endorsement is added as a second teaching area.)
Teacher Endorsement requires five TESOL courses (Teaching ESL Grammar and History and Development of the English Language is not required) plus the three credit-hour practicum (100 clock hours) for a total of 18 credit-hours. At least fifty of the practicum clock hours should be completed in a public school setting. After completion of the course work and practicum, students should apply to the Regional Superintendent of schools or ISBE for the ESL teacher endorsement. A copy of your transcript will be required. TEP students may apply through Illinois State University when applying for the standard teaching certificate. Others who do not yet have a standard teaching certificate will also apply for the TESOL endorsement when applying for the standard certificate. A content-area test in TESOL is not required for the endorsement.
The practicum guidelines include 100 clock hours in teaching English to speakers of other languages. The first fifty clock hours are more flexible, but the second fifty must be in the public school classroom setting in the grade level one is or will be certified to teach (elementary or secondary), assisting an ESL teacher. The first fifty clock hours should be documented by recording time spent and types of learning and teaching activities used. The second fifty clock hours should be completed while registered for the TESOL Practicum, documented according to specific requirements, and supervised by the practicum supervisor. Both those with a standard teaching certificate and those in process must complete the 100 clock hours of TESOL practicum. ESL classes are offered at area public schools in Springfield, Bloomington, Peoria and Champaign-Urbana. The TESOL program director can direct you to one or more public school ESL teachers who are anxious to work with you.
This endorsement qualifies an individual to teach ESL in Illinois' public schools as well as the public schools of the thirty-eight states which are members of the Interstate Certification Agreement.