TESOL Certificate Program
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
Spring 2025
Applications are now being accepted for the Spring 2025 TESOL Certificate Program. Applicants can 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: January 15th-April 9th
OR
Option 2:
Evening online program:
Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Times: 6:00-9:30 pm.
Dates: January 15th-April 9th
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: TESOL@sunywcc.edu
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.”
