TESOL & Bilingual Education Programs

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Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳’s TESOL Program is both nationally and RIDE-accredited – providing in-service teachers with the knowledge to support Multilingual Learners (MLL)/emergent bilingual students.

Our TESOL Offerings

These programs yield educators that know how to implement strategies that appropriately serve MLL/emergent bilingual students:

  • MLL Endorsement Pathway
  • ESOL Certification via a TESOL CGS or MED
  • Bilingual/Dual Language Certification via a Bilingual/Dual Language CGS or MED
  • ESOL Specialist/ Consultant Certification
  • MLL Endorsement and ESL Certification via a Special Education MED

View Details for All Programs

FAQs on TESOL & Bilingual Education Programs

Educators earning the MLL endorsement will better understand the process of second language acquisition and design effective instruction for English language development strategies across grade levels and content areas. Educators earning the ESOL certification will have comprehensive knowledge of sociocultural, theoretical, and pedagogical practices and are able to serve MLL students at all levels of English language proficiency.

The MLL is an appropriate fit for all teachers who hold a valid teaching certificate and who work in general education classrooms across all grade levels and content areas.

The pathway to an MLL endorsement is a two-course sequence of TESL 401 followed by TESL 402 at the undergraduate level or TESL 501 followed by TESL 502 at the graduate level.

TESL 401/501: Introduction to teaching emergent bilinguals (4 credits)
Students learn methods and techniques for supporting Emergent Bilingual students in regular education classrooms. Students experience observation and practice through early clinical preparation. Concurrent enrollment in a practicum is recommended.

TESL 402/502: Applications of Second Language Acquisition (3 credits)
Students examine theories and research relating to second-language acquisition, which are examined from a pedagogical perspective. Emphasis is on variables affecting language learning and language teaching.

The MLL endorsement immediately provides in-service general education teachers with a working theoretical knowledge of second language acquisition which they can operationalize into inclusive and contextualized pedagogical practices. Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳’s MLL Endorsement pathway focuses on developing teachers who can support English language acquisition and sustain multilingualism.

The MLL endorsement is available to both graduate and undergraduate students. As long as you have taken a general methods course you are welcome to register for the class. If you are not currently a student at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳, you can register as a non-degree student.

If you have never attended Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳, you will need to create an account to obtain a username, password, and appointment time in order to register for classes. Students applying to the college should not use this process

Create a MyÏã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ Account to Register

 and you will receive an email confirmation. You will also be emailed instructions about your MyÏã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ username and password for future or return use if it is not yet your appointment time.

Registration times are assigned first to degree students, then current non-degree students, followed by new non-degree students. Non-degree registration for fall is in late August; for spring, early January; and early March for summer. Registration dates are listed in the academic calendar.

Please note: If an existing account is found for you, you will be directed to request reactivation of your account through the Registar's Office at 401-456-8213 or records@ric.edu.

Applications are completed online via our . We accept applications by November 1 in the fall semester and March 1 in the Spring semester, but teachers can also begin by taking up to two classes before officially matriculating into the program. 

The admissions requirements for the CGS and MED include 3 letters of recommendation, a personal statement, transcripts, a resume, and an admissions form. Note that the GRE/MAT is no longer required for any of our programs. Nor is a performance evaluation. Note for Bilingual Education candidates: Because the Bilingual Education Concentration is housed under TESOL programs, you should apply to TESOL. Proficiency in a language other than English is required for admission to the Bilingual Education concentration.

The MLL endorsement is 7 credits, while ESOL certification is 21 credits.  Please see Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳’s website for current per-credit tuition rates.

Courses in the two-course endorsement sequence will be offered fall, spring, and summer.

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Take a Look at These Helpful Materials

TESOL and Bilingual Education Program Details

MLL Endorsement Pathway

Diagram of the TESOL Pathway to MLL Endorsement

We have recently designed a RIDE-approved MLL Endorsement pathway for pre and in-service teachers, and it is available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

This endorsement includes 2 courses: TESL 401 and TESL 402, which were intentionally designed to blend elements of second language acquisition theory from TESL 539 and pedagogical strategies from TESL 548. 

Candidates who successfully complete TESL 401 and TESL 402 can then shorten the graduate-level pathway to full certification because they will have met the requirements of TESL 539 and TESL 548.

Get ESOL Certification with a TESOL CGS or MED

Diagram of the ESOL Certification Pathway

The Certificate of Graduate Study (CGS), which is a 7-course sequence, and the MED, which is a 10-course sequence with a Comprehensive Assessment Portfolio, both lead to ESOL Certification in RI.

In-service teachers (across grade levels and content areas) are encouraged to pursue ESOL certification, which has an in-depth focus on equity-based language development theory and practice. Courses for ESOL Certification will prepare teachers to work with students across all levels of English proficiency and to more comprehensively consider instructional design, delivery, and assessment for multilingual learners.

Get Bilingual/Dual Language Certification with a Bilingual/Dual Language MED or CGS

Diagram of Bilingual/Dual Language Certification Pathway

If you are bilingual in a language spoken in Rhode Island and/or used in Bilingual Education programs in Rhode Island, you could be a perfect candidate for Bilingual Education Certification! 
 
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳’s TESOL program offers pathways to both ESOL and Bilingual/Dual Language Certification. 

ESOL Certification

ESOL certification prepares teacher candidates to work in ESOL settings, including push-in, pull-out, collaborative teaching, and self-contained ESOL models (If acting as the classroom teacher of record, a base certification in that area is needed as well.)

ESOL Specialist/ Consultant Certification

ESOL-certified teachers that hold a Master’s degree and at least three years’ experience working with emergent bilingual learners can apply to enroll in the TESL 600: ESL Program Supervision course, which is the course required to apply for RIDE’s ESOL Specialist/Consultant Certification. 

TESL 600 is an intensive course which requires candidates complete a 300-hour field experience. To apply to take this course, please email your resume to the program directors: Dr. Sarah Hesson or Dr. Alia Hadid.

Get an MLL Endorsement and ESL Certification with the Special Education MED

The Special Education MED with Urban Multicultural concentration offers an MLL endorsement and ESL certification. Program participants will explore the unique needs of MLLs from diverse background and apply sound theory-, research-, and evidence-based practices in teaching MLLs.

More on the Special Education MED

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Contact Us

Department of Educational Studies

In the Department of Educational Studies, we teach you how children grow and develop and help you to use that knowledge to create learning environments and experiences that will benefit children for life.

Sarah Hesson

Dr. Sarah Hesson

Associate Professor

Alia Hadid

Alia Hadid

Assistant Professor