[request a revision or addition for this page or section]

Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL)

Endorsement / Approval Program

The Bilingual and English as a Second Language Approval is for undergraduate or graduate students pursuing (or in possession of) a standard Illinois teaching certificate, making them eligible to teach in a Bilingual and/or English as a Second Language (ESL) setting. The Approvals consist of five courses in theory, methods, and assessment of English Language Learners. Upon completion of the course sequence, students will receive an English as a Second Language Approval and, if they pass the state language proficiency test, a Bilingual Approval. Students do not need to be admitted to a degree program to take these courses. They are offered all three semesters and are available to non-degree students and to those taking continuing education courses.

Other courses are taught in the Bilingual/ESL area covering topics such as: issues of classroom discourse and the teaching of math, collaboration in school settings, family literacy, and socio-cultural factors that affect the schooling of Spanish/English bilingual students.