TESOL Certificate Program
About TESOL
The TESOL Certificate Program is a hands-on learning experience for those who will pursue employment in the field of TESL/TEFL in adult or college programs, in the not-for-profit or proprietary sectors in the USA or abroad. The program is also suitable for those with some teaching experience but no formal training in TESOL, or for teachers who wish to advance their knowledge of ESL methodologies and technology. Participants will examine fundamental principles of language teaching and learning and their practical classroom applications. This is a non-credit program that offers 126 hours of classroom instruction and extensive supervised teaching.
Admission Requirements:
- A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is generally required.
- Advanced level of English proficiency. Assessment may be required for non-native speakers
- I-20 available to international students; additional course work may be required
Certification Requirements:
Students must satisfactorily complete:
- All course work
- All class observations and reports
- A teaching practicum, lesson plans and reflections
- A teaching portfolio
The Program at a Glance
- 36 class sessions meeting Monday/Wednesday/Thursday from 6:00 to 9:30 pm or 9 am-12:30 pm. Either in-person or online.
- 3 – 12-week sessions per year: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
- 126 hours of classroom instruction and 30 hours of classroom practice.
The program consists of three required modules and a Teaching Practicum, which includes an additional 12 hours of classroom observations and 18 hours of supervised teaching practice.
- Module 1: English Language: Sounds and Structure
- Module 2: The Classroom Experience
- Module 3: Principles of Language Learning and Teaching
Participants will learn to:
- Lead student-centered classes
- Use a variety of materials and techniques
- Effectively manage classes for adult learners
- Plan dynamic lessons in areas of grammar, conversation, reading, and writing
Summer 2025
Applications are now being accepted for the Summer 2025 TESOL Certificate Program. This summer, the TESOL Certificate Program will be offering a morning in person schedule in addition to our regular evening online course. Applicants can now opt to take the morning in-person course or the evening online course
The program requirements of classroom observations and the student-teaching practicum can be completed either in person or remotely depending on the participant’s preference. All fieldwork placements are conveniently done through the English Language Institute ESL classes and organized by the TESOL Program Coordinator. Applications will be accepted until the cohort reaches its maximum capacity.
The program’s experiential approach to teaching and learning provides participants with opportunities to use their skills both for in-person and remote instruction. The current situation presents an increased opportunity for professionals in the field of language education and the delicate balance of theory and practice and the emphasis on hands-on applications that is at the heart of our certificate program equips learners with the tools they need to succeed in any teaching modality, be it in-person, remotely, in the U.S. or overseas.
The Certificate program was designed to give participants a supported and mentored learning and teaching experience, and our commitment to language education has never been stronger. New doors have been opened for language educators around the world and the growing demand for qualified ESL instructors is growing.
The program requirements of classroom observations and the student-teaching practicum can be completed either in person or remotely depending on the participant’s preference. All fieldwork placements are conveniently done through the English Language Institute ESL classes and organized by the TESOL Program Coordinator. Applications will be accepted until the cohort reaches its maximum capacity. Please apply online here.
Option 1:
Morning in-person program:
Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays
Times: 9:00-12:30 pm.
Dates: May 19th-August 14th (Skip May 26th, June 19th, July 4th)
OR
Option 2:
Evening online program:
Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays
Times: 6:00-9:30 pm.
Dates: May 26th- August 21st (Skip May 26th, June 19th)
Fall 2025
Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2025 TESOL Certificate Program. This Fall, the TESOL Certificate Program will be offering a morning in person schedule in addition to our regular evening online course. Applicants can now opt to take the morning in-person course or the evening online course
The program requirements of classroom observations and the student-teaching practicum can be completed either in person or remotely depending on the participant’s preference. All fieldwork placements are conveniently done through the English Language Institute ESL classes and organized by the TESOL Program Coordinator. Applications will be accepted until the cohort reaches its maximum capacity.
The program’s experiential approach to teaching and learning provides participants with opportunities to use their skills both for in-person and remote instruction. The current situation presents an increased opportunity for professionals in the field of language education and the delicate balance of theory and practice and the emphasis on hands-on applications that is at the heart of our certificate program equips learners with the tools they need to succeed in any teaching modality, be it in-person, remotely, in the U.S. or overseas.
The Certificate program was designed to give participants a supported and mentored learning and teaching experience, and our commitment to language education has never been stronger. New doors have been opened for language educators around the world and the growing demand for qualified ESL instructors is growing.
The program requirements of classroom observations and the student-teaching practicum can be completed either in person or remotely depending on the participant’s preference. All fieldwork placements are conveniently done through the English Language Institute ESL classes and organized by the TESOL Program Coordinator. Applications will be accepted until the cohort reaches its maximum capacity. Please apply online here.
Option 1:
Morning in-person program:
Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays
Times: 9:00-12:30 pm.
Dates: Sept. 17 – Dec. 17 (skip Nov. 26)
OR
Option 2:
Days: Mondays, Wednesdays 6:00-9:30 p.m. & Saturdays
Times: 9:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
Dates: Sept. 17 – Dec 13 (skip Nov 26 & 29)
Fees:
Tuition: $2025.00 (FSA & Registration fees not included. Textbooks not included.)
Books: Approx. $100
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable 2 business days prior to the start of the class. No refund after that time.
Contact Information:
Lesley Painter, TESOL Certificate Program Coordinator
Office: (914) 606-7743
Email: [email protected]
Meet the TESOL Program Director
Lesley Painter, who co-ordinates and teaches in the TESOL Certificate Program at Westchester Community College, has extensive classroom experience as an English language instructor as well as a teacher trainer and author in many countries abroad and the USA. For fourteen years, the program has successfully trained hundreds of students in teaching English as a second or foreign language and has seen the transformational impact it has had on their lives. The program’s experiential approach to learning to teach is a delicate and unique balance of careful observation, practice, and reflection.
“There is something so very special about guiding others to find their own voice and identity as teachers.”
