ESL Certification

Certification Requirements

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Effective September 1, 2004, all teachers teaching English as a Second Language in Pennsylvania are required to hold valid ESL Program Specialist Certification. To obtain this certification teachers must master competencies in cultural awareness; English usage and language acquisition; instructional materials; and language and support services. The curriculum consists of the following courses and totals 12 credits:

How To Apply for ESL Certification

ESL training is available through the intermediate units and all courses are available online from Intermediate Unit 1. Upon completion of the course work, candidates must apply to Pennsylvania Department of Education for certification.

Applications for the add-on ESL certificate must be made through the school district for which you work, through the Intermediate Unit for which you work, or a teacher can apply himself/herself.

Applicants must complete the General Application, Form PDE 338 G and the Program Specialist Form PDE 338 PS and the "Attestment of Program Specialist-ESL Training Component Completion" form. These forms can be downloaded from the Pennsylvania Department of Education website (along with instructions for completing the forms).

Direct questions about ESL teacher training to:

Su Verma
Curriculum Specialist
Intermediate Unit 1
724-938-3241 ext. 268

Charlotte Diehl
724-938-3241 ext. 212

Course Schedule — Winter 2008/Spring 2009
Course Credits/Cost Dates Textbook
Developing Cultural Awareness/Sensitivity II Diversity in K–12 Classrooms Online 2 credits, $270.00 January 17 to March 2, 2009 None
Handouts mailed to you by IU1
Assessment and Support for English Language Learners Online 3 credits, $345.00 February 14 to April 13, 2009 Authentic Assessment for English Language Learners, Practical Approaches for Teachers
(ISBN 0-201-59151-0)
Order yourself from Amazon.com
Instructional Materials I: Program Design Online 1 credit, $160.00 March 21 to April 20, 2009 Teaching English Language Learners — Cultural Implications, Comm. Connections & Curriculum
Mailed to you by IU1
Instructional Materials II: Online 2 credits, $235.00 March 28 to May 11, 2009 Authentic Assessment for English Language Learners, Practical Approaches for Teachers
(ISBN 0-201-59151-0)
Order yourself from Amazon.com
Developing Cultural Awareness/Sensitivity I Diversity in K–12 Classrooms Online 1 credit, $160.00 April 25 to May 25, 2009 Diversity in the Classroom New Approaches to the Education of Young Children
Mailed to you by IU1
Course Schedule — Fall 2008
Course Credits/Cost Dates Textbook
Language Acquisition Part I English Usage and Developing Linguistic Awareness Online 1 credit, $125.00 September 20 to October 20, 2008 None
Handouts made available online
Language Acquisition Part II English Usage and Developing Linguistic Awareness Online 1 credit, $125.00 October 4 to November 3, 2008 None
Handouts made available online
Language Acquisition Part III English Usage and Developing Linguistic Awareness Online 1 credit, $160.00 October 25 to November 24, 2008 Second Language Learning Theories
(ISBN 0-340-80766-0)
Order yourself from Amazon.com
Instructional Materials I: Program Design Online 1 credit, $160.00 November 8 to December 8, 2008 Teaching English Language Learners - Cultural Implications, Comm. Connections & Curriculum
Mailed to you by IU1
Developing Cultural Awareness/Sensitivity I Diversity in K-12 Classrooms Online 1 credit, $160.00 November 29 to December 29, 2008 Diversity in the Classroom New Approaches to the Education of Young Children
Mailed to you by IU1

To register for any of the ESL courses listed here, click on the course name in the schedules above. If you need help with registration or have any questions, please call Su Verma, ext. 268 or Charlotte Diehl, ext. 212. Phone: 1-800-328-6481.

Check periodically for updates in the ESL Winter/Spring schedule.

Course Descriptions

Developing Cultural Awareness/Sensitivity I: Diversity in K-12 Classrooms Online

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.
Prerequisites: Pennsylvania Level I Certificate
One CPE Credit = 30 ACT 48 hours

Instructional Materials II Online

This course requires a demonstration of knowledge of the fundamental concepts and practices of ESL instruction, with emphasis on instructional materials and strategies.
Two CPE Credits = 60 ACT 48 hours

Developing Cultural Awareness/Sensitivity II: Diversity in K-12 Classrooms Online

(Required for those enrolled after April 16, 2003)

Participants will examine socio-linguistic aspects of U.S. and world cultures, sources of cross-cultural conflict, and approaches to cross-cultural conflict resolution as they relate to K-12 settings, their communities and the communities in which they teach.
Prerequisites: Pennsylvania Level I Certificate
Two CPE Credits = 60 ACT 48 hours

Language Acquisition Part I: English Usage and Developing Linguistic Awareness Online

Educators taking this course will develop knowledge and skills in the areas of structure of the English language, grammar, and pronunciation, including lexical, morphological, syntax, phonological and pragmatic components.
Prerequisites: Pennsylvania Level I Certificate
One CPE Credit = 30 ACT 48 hours

Assessment and Support for English Language Learners Online

Participants will learn the availability of school support services to assist ELLs in language acquisition and content learning and ways to promote parental/family involvement with their children's educational program.
Prerequisites: Pennsylvania Level I Certificate
Three CPE Credits = 90 ACT 48 hours

Language Acquisition Part II: English Usage and Developing Linguistic Awareness Online

Educators taking this course will develop knowledge of the process of the first and second language acquisition, including developmental issues in verbal, non-verbal skills, and vocabulary. They will also develop knowledge and skills to assist ELLs to communicate using verbal and non-verbal language.
Prerequisites: Language Acquisition Part I: English Usage and Developing Linguistic Awareness Online
One CPE Credit = 30 ACT 48 hours

Instructional Materials I: Program Design Online

Upon completion of this course, teachers will be expected to be able to: design and implement an ESL program tailored to meet the needs of each student. Participants will be able to identify appropriate materials and resources to be used with children at each level of English Proficiency.
Prerequisites: Pennsylvania Level I Certificate
One CPE Credit = 30 ACT 48 hours

Language Acquisition Part III: English Usage and Developing Linguistic Awareness Online

Educators taking this course will develop knowledge of the process of literacy development for second language learners and strategies to ELLs in the different states of second language usage.
One CPE Credit = 30 ACT 48 hours

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