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Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Advanced Certificate

Non-Degree

  • Program Overview

    Deepen your ability to teach students learning English as a new language in your classroom or as a specialist.

    The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Advanced Certificate program is designed for teachers who are interested in deepening their skills in working with students learning English as a new language in grades pre-K-12. Grounded in a developmental-interaction approach, our program is steeped in the belief that through careful observation, culturally sustaining pedagogy, inquiry learning, and assessment, teachers are able to respond to students’ shifts in development and interests. This is a certificate program and requires 12-21 credits.

    As a student in this program you will:

    • Acquire a rich teaching repertoire to understand the intellectual, linguistic, and emotional needs of emergent bilingual students.
    • Develop a strong voice as an ENL teacher, and as an advocate, critical thinker and innovator of language instruction.
    • Deepen your literacy foundation through coursework and inquiry projects.
    • Validate students’ authentic use of language by incorporating students’ diverse linguistic resources into your planning.
    • Collaborate and make decisions with a range of colleagues and families around curriculum development, assessment, and program planning for emergent bilingual students.
    • Learn to work practically and effectively in a field that requires proficiency with state/national standards, rigorous instruction, assessments, and data analysis.
    • Develop an ability to react flexibly to the needs of students by adapting instruction to linguistic, academic, and special needs.

    Did you know we also offer a teacher residency program for TESOL?  No prior certification is needed! Here’s what you need to know:

    • Be hired as a teacher apprentice at one of the DOE’s International High Schools
    • Earn a a stipend of up to $30,000
    • Be eligible to be hired as a full-time teacher in Year 2
    • Receive discounted tuition 

    Learn more about our TESOL Residency program.

     

    Graduate student and child reading a book

  • Admissions & Tuition

    This program has options to begin in the fall and spring.

    The fall application is currently open.

    Application Deadlines

    • Applications are reviewed in rounds to ensure you receive a timely decision.
    • You will have five business days after the application deadlines to finish providing any missing required materials. Incomplete applications will be moved to the next round for consideration.
    • In some cases, applications submitted after the final deadline will be reviewed on a space available basis.
    • We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. This guarantees the most timely admissions decision and the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid.

    Fall

    Round Application Deadline Materials Deadline Decision Release
    1 February 1, 2026 February 6, 2026 March 2, 2026
    2 March 1, 2026 March 6, 2026 April 2, 2026
    3 April 1, 2026 April 6, 2026 May 4, 2026

    Admissions Criteria

    In addition to meeting other admissions requirements, to be eligible for admission to the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Advanced Certificate program you must:

    • Have a master’s degree in education with a 3.0 GPA or higher from an accredited institution of higher education.
    • Hold a valid New York State initial/professional teaching certification in early childhood, elementary or childhood, middle childhood, secondary or adolescent education, literacy, or special education.
    • To fulfill New York State certification requirements, applicants must have at least 6 semester hours or the equivalent of study (i.e. passing CLEP exam scores) in a language other than English at the time the program begins, but must fulfill a total of 12 semester hours in order to complete and graduate from the program.

    Please review How to Apply for full details on the application process, admissions criteria, and application requirements.

    Tuition

    At Bank Street, tuition is charged per credit. The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Advanced Certificate program requires 12-21 credits for completion, depending on your prior experience. Read more on our Tuition page

    Financial Aid

    The majority of Bank Street students receive some type of financial aid. We strongly recommend applying early and submitting your FAFSA at the time you apply for the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid. Read more on our Financial Aid page

  • Curriculum & Courses

    View the coursework for this program.

  • Supervised Fieldwork

    Depending on your prior teaching experiences with ENL students, you may have one semester of supervised fieldwork. At Bank Street College, we believe that what sets us apart in the field of education is using theory to inform practice and practice to inform theory. During supervised fieldwork/advisement you apply theories of language, human, and literacy development to your practice while also critically examine how social, political, and economic factors frame your students and their use of language in schools.

    The addition of supervised fieldwork to the program is determined with guidance from the program director. Students can complete supervised fieldwork as student or working teachers:

    • As a student teacher, you will be placed in an ENL setting in either grades pre-K-6 or grades 7-12. Student teachers work three full days a week in their classrooms.
    • As a working head or assistant teacher, you will use your own classroom as your fieldwork, provided it will allow you experience with ENL students.

    Taken concurrently with coursework, supervised fieldwork is designed to foster the integration of theory and practice. You will:

    • Be supervised by your advisor, a core graduate faculty mentor and experienced teacher.
    • Participate in a weekly conference group of 5-7 students and your advisor.
    • Discuss challenges and successes that arise in your school, strengthen your instructional practices, and come to a better understanding of your needs as an ENL educator.
    • Reflect on a lesson with your advisor once each month.
    • Meet individually with your advisor once each month.
    • Complete projects to help you take a deeper look at the setting and students you work with.

  • Certification & Careers

    Certification

    Upon successful program completion, you will be eligible for New York State certification in English to Speakers of Other Languages (all grades), provided you complete all other State certification requirements. Read more on our  Certification page

    Careers

    Students at Bank Street have full access to our robust Career Services, including the CareerConnect job site, opportunities to attend job fairs and workshops, and connections to our alumni network nationwide.

  • Faculty

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