Teaching English as a Second Language to Adults (TESLA) Certificate
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With the support of the Office of the Mayor, the New York City Council, and the Department of Youth and Community Development, the Literacy Assistance Center offered the TESLA Certificate Program at no cost to all participants who were selected for 2019-20.
We have made the difficult decision not to offer TESLA in 2020-21. Our feeling was that the course would not be suited to remote learning, and we do not have the ability to offer it as a live program. The information below is for your reference. Click here to be informed about future TESLA courses. Program Description The TESLA certificate program provides in-depth training in teaching English to adult speakers of other languages. The course serves as a rigorous foundation for anyone: • considering a career teaching English to adult speakers of other languages (ESOL) in New York City • already teaching ESOL without formal training or qualifications • wishing to develop an additional specialization in teaching ESOL to adult immigrants Objectives & Outcomes In this program, participants gain a solid foundation in the theories of teaching ESOL to adults as well as hands-on application. 50 hours of classroom-based learning provide opportunities to put theories into practice and receive support and guidance from the instructor and peers. 120 hours of online learning enable participants to reflect on assigned readings and material presented in class. Both components prepare participants for the culminating experience: a 42-hour internship in an actual adult ESOL classroom. By the end of the course, participants will be able to create and deliver evidence-based English language instruction for adult speakers of other languages. Topics covered include:
Class sessions and Practicum dates 2019-20
Class sessions will be followed by a 42 hour practicum described below. Class meeting dates and times are: Friday, September 13 9:30 - 12:30 Fridays, September 20 and 27 10:00 – 2:30 Friday, October 11 1:00 - 5:30 Friday, October 18 10:00 – 2:30 Friday, October 25 10:00 - 4:30 Friday, November 8 10:00 - 4:30 Fridays, November 15 and 22 10:00 -5:00 Fridays, December 6 and 13 10:00 - 1:00 Friday, January 3 9:30 - 5:00 (BEST Plus Training) Friday, January 17 10:00 - 1:00 Practicum dates 2019-20 : Between January 2 and March 31, 2020. Participants must be willing to travel to the assigned site, which may be anywhere within the five boroughs. The practicum will consist of two parts: The first section will consist of participating in the classroom of a mentor-teacher for 18 classroom hours (plus pre- and post- class discussion each day with the instructor). Part two of the practicum will consist of a team of two TESLA participants leading 24 hours of classroom instruction and reflecting on their experience in an online forum. Note: selected applicants who are currently teaching in an ESOL classroom may be able to fulfill part of their practicum requirement within their current classroom with the permission of the instructor. Participant Expectations and Eligibility
All prospective applicants must: • Submit a completed application • Complete an in-person interview • Submit a professional reference Potential applicants are also strongly encouraged to attend an information session. TESLA participants must attend all in-person sessions, participate in online forums, complete all required activities and assignments, and complete a teaching practicum as described above. What recent graduates are saying about TESLA: "The TESLA program was excellent, particularly in that it provided so much modeling of activities that we could bring to our own classrooms. The program offers not only a theoretical framework, but concrete strategies to create dynamic and engaging lessons for our students ." --Elizabeth Kane, teaching at Queens Community House " Participating in the TESLA program has been incredibly beneficial to myself as an educator, my organization, and most importantly to my students. The skills, techniques, and theory I learned from the program have enabled me to create more effective and fun lessons. The programming offered by the Literacy Assistance Center is an invaluable NYC resource, and I strongly encourage all those with an interest in adult education to take advantage of the offerings, especially the TESLA program." --Paul Tynan McKenney, teaching at Arab-American Family Support Center Instructor Bios Judy Trupin is the lead ESOL professional developer for the LAC and has been teaching in the TESLA certificate program since 2009. An ESOL adult educator for more than 25 years, she has worked as a teacher, curriculum developer, teacher educator, and administrator. She has taught all levels of ESOL from basic literacy through advanced. A nationally certified trainer for the BEST Plus assessment, she holds New York State K-12 ESOL certification and an M.S. in Teaching ESOL. William Linn has been teaching ESOL in community organizations since 2008. He earned his MA in TESOL from SIT Graduate Institute in 2011 and he has worked as a teacher trainer since 2015. William is currently the ESOL Professional Development Associate at the LAC and is an instructor in the TESLA certificate program. |
Attend an Info SessionNo info sessions are currently scheduled. Click the interest button below to be informed of info sessions in 2021.
Info about TESLA 2021Please click the button below to be informed about next year's TESLA program (Fall 2021).
Also offered: TEALLThe Literacy Assistance Center also offers Teaching English to Adults with Limited Literacy (TEALL). This course is open to those who already have a TESOL/TESLA certificate or degree. For more information, click the button below.
TestimonialsDigital LiteracyThe LAC Academy's online learning platform, Moodle, offers participants the opportunity to build on their digital literacy skills. Skills covered in Modules 1, 2, and 4 of this assessment are particularly important in an online learning environment. Each module begins with very basic tasks, but stick with it, they get more challenging! Assess your Digital Literacy skills here
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