- Professional Learning
- ESL Specialist Certificate
Certifications and Endorsements
- Advance Your Career
- Autism Spectrum Disorders Endorsement
- ESL Specialist Certificate
- Instructional Coaching Endorsement
- Integrative STEM Endorsement
- Masters of Science Degree in Technology & Innovation
- Online Instruction Endorsement
- Reading Specialist Certificate
- School Social Worker Educational Specialist Certification
- Speech and Language Certification
- Superintendent Letter of Eligibility
- Higher Education Partnerships
-
Chester County Intermediate Unit’s ESL Specialist program is a post-baccalaureate certificate program for individuals that hold a PA Instructional I or II teaching certificate. The goal of the ESL Specialist Certificate program is to develop candidates that will be able to demonstrate the five ESL Competencies outlined in the PA Department of Education’s key domains consisting of Language Culture, Observing, Planning, Implementing and Managing Instruction, Assessment and Professionalism.
Program Information
-
All courses are delivered in a blended format. Each course will have three in-person sessions. The first three courses will each include 10 hours of observation, community and collaborative job embedded field hours. The fourth course will include 10 hours of practicum hours and the final course, will include 20 practicum hours.
Logistics:
All in-person sessions will take place at the CCIU Educational Service Center in Downingtown from 4:30 - 8:30 PM., unless scheduled as virtual meetings.
All field placements will occur within Chester County School Districts and Charter Schools.
Timeline:
Each course is completed in approximately nine weeks. Finish the program in ten months!
Course of Study
-
Language Acquisition (July 5 - September 6, 2022)
This course is designed for teachers of English Learners (ELs). Educators taking this course will develop knowledge and skills in the areas of the structure of the English language, including grammar (syntax), pronunciation and semantics, as well as morphological, phonological and pragmatic components of the language.
Educators taking this course will develop knowledge of the process of first and second language acquisition, including developmental issues in verbal and non-verbal skills and accompanying strategies to help ELs overcome difficulties with verbal and non-verbal communication.
-
Cultural Diversity in the Classroom (September 19 - November 21, 2022)
This course is based upon knowledge of behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes of a multicultural approach to learning. Cultural awareness is a basic level on a scale from concrete or visible culture to deep culture for promoting school staff understanding about other cultures. Course participants will be required to demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts and practices of English as a Second Language instruction as related to cultural awareness based on the course learning outcomes.
-
Instructional Materials (November 28 - January 30, 2023)
This course is designed for teachers of English Language Learners. Because ELL students come to us with a variety of backgrounds and at diverse levels of language acquisition, it is important for ESL teachers to have the knowledge and skills necessary to create and implement a developmentally appropriate curricular program for all students.
-
Assessment and Support for EL's (February 6 - April 10, 2023)
This course is based on effective assessment practices for English language learners. It will cover the purposes of assessment, assessment tools, assessment scaffolds and strategies for assessing English language learners with disabilities. This course will cover large scale and classroom based assessments. Course participants will be required to demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental concepts and practices of English as a Second Language instruction as related to assessment.
-
Field Experience (April 17 - June 19, 2023)
After having completed the four pre-requisite courses, the participants are ready to engage in the field experience practicum. This practicum offers an opportunity to engage students, teachers, administrators, parents and family, and the community. As the participants engage with the students, so they will continue to acquire the target language, English, remember the whole child. This experience will be very rewarding for you as well as for the students who will always remember you.
Cost
-
Cost and Graduate Credit Opportunity:
- Cost of program: $2750
- Optional Graduate Credit: $150 per course (5 courses, 3 credits each course), through Neumann University
- Cost of program with Graduate Credit: $3500
