Graduate Certificate Teaching English as a Second Language

Teaching English as a Second Language (Gr. Cert.) (15 credits)

Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed (Faculty of Education)    
Program credit weight: 15

Program Description

This 15-credit certificate is designed as professional development for in-service teachers and candidates with a background in education, language studies, linguistics, or a related field, or as preparation for application to our M.A. in Second Language Education. The five courses that comprise the certificate provide a solid background and offer in-depth study in the field of second-language education from a range of perspectives and with a focus on research and applications to teaching. Please note that this certificate does not lead to teacher certification.

The Graduate Certificate in TESL is designed to be available to students worldwide. Courses are offered in a combination of online and face-to-face formats, and sequenced in such a way that students can complete the certificate in one year. The maximum time for completion is five years. The first three courses are offered online, and can be undertaken anywhere an Internet connection is available. The final two courses are offered face-to-face either on-site at McGill or at off-site locations with collaborative partners, if numbers warrant.

Please click here for information on additional requirements for students pursuing this online program:
https://www.mcgill.ca/study/university_regulations_and_resources/graduat...

Required Courses (6 credits)

Complementary Courses (9 credits)

3 credits from: 

Or any 600-level EDSL course (500-level course may be taken with approval of the Graduate Program Director)

0 or 6 credits from: 

Note: These two courses are taught on-site at McGill in an intensive (6-week) summer institute with a practicum component.

0 or 6 credits from: 

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

1. Possess an undergraduate degree.
2. A minimum CGPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, or a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.2 out of 4.0 in the last two years of full-time studies. International applicants can look up grade equivalencies on McGill’s Future Graduate Students website.
3. Formal or informal teaching experience.
4. Proficiency in English. Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, or from a recognized institution in Canada or the US (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of proficiency in oral and written English.

• IELTS with a minimum overall band of 7.0; (with a minimum writing score of 7.0); or
• TOEFL:iBT (Internet-based test) – total score of 92 with a minimum score of 22 each for the Writing and Speaking sections and a minimum of 20 each for the Reading and Listening sections and PBT (paper-based test) – 580

(The Department reserves the right to evaluate the applicant's language proficiency before initial registration and at the time of application.)

All applications are done through McGill's Graduate Applicant Portal. The application steps and instructional video are on the University's Future Graduate Students website. The following documents must be part of your application: (Note that all uploaded documents to the portal must be in PDF format.)

1. A complete application form (accompanied by your application fee payment).
2. A current working CV/resume.
3. A copy of your unofficial transcripts from all previous university-level studies (undergraduate and graduate).  Official transcripts are required to be submitted by those who gain admission to the program. (Instructions on sending official transcripts will be sent upon acceptance.)
4. Letters of Reference: Within the online application, applicants must provide valid institutional e-mail addresses for two (2) references (past or current); one from a university-level instructor and the second from a professional who has supervised you in a formal or informal education or youth sector position. If you have experience working in a formal school setting, one letter must be from a school or school board administrator qualified to assess your professional abilities. McGill University will contact the referees directly to submit their letters of reference.
5. Personal Statement (2-page maximum, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt font, 1 inch margins). Applicants should demonstrate a clear motivation for pursuing their graduate certificate. Moreover, this letter of intent should specify your relevant academic and professional experience, the importance of subject matter expertise, as well as your commitment to the teaching profession and its societal impacts.
6. English Language Proficiency Test Score (if applicable): Please arrange for test scores (TOEFL, IELTS) to be sent to McGill directly from the testing agency. You must indicate the McGill University institution code: 0935.

•  Fall admission (Canadian applicants): June 1 

Due to the part-time nature of the Graduate Certificate TESL, this program is not offered to international students.

Recommended candidates will receive a "Recommendation of Acceptance" email according to the schedule below, confirming that their application has been reviewed and is being transmitted to McGill's Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Successful candidates will be contacted via email with an official offer of admission. Candidates are then required to confirm their acceptance via their Graduate Applicant Portal. Fall Semester admissions can expect a confirmation in July.