English as a second language (ESL)

Additional licensure

The English as a second language (ESL) additional licensure program prepares teachers to assist students in developing their English language and academic skills in grades kindergarten through secondary school.

This program is for teachers who hold a current Minnesota teaching license, but are not licensed in ESL and wish to add ESL licensure. Candidates for this program must be licensed in Minnesota to teach at the elementary level or to teach subject matter (e.g., social studies, English, world language) at the middle-school or high-school levels prior to enrollment in the additional licensure program.

This program is also for candidates who wish to extend a restricted ESL licensure, for example, a candidate who has a restricted 7-12 license in ESL and wishes to obtain the K-12 licensure that is required in Minnesota.

The ESL additional licensure program is offered by the second languages and cultures (SLC) faculty in the college’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I).

Candidates without a Minnesota elementary or secondary licensure should not apply to this program but should seek initial ESL licensure through the master of education (M.Ed.)/initial licensure program in second languages and cultures (SLC) education in the college’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I). Under specific and special circumstances, some candidates may be eligible for the Alternative Pathway to Initial Licensure Program.

Additional licensure in ESL may be completed in conjunction with the M.Ed. Professional Studies degree in Second Languages and Cultures Education. Individuals who wish to complete the additional licensure in ESL while working towards their M.Ed. may plan their coursework to meet both requirements simultaneously.

Program requirements for the additional licensure in ESL

• At least two years are generally needed to complete the requirements for ESL additional licensure. This time frame will vary, depending upon the rate at which a student completes coursework, the scheduling of required courses, and the availability of student teaching placement experiences in any given year. Students should plan coursework carefully as some courses are only offered once during a two-year period.
• Candidates may pursue more than one additional licensure at the same time (e.g., ESL and French).
• Coursework must be taken within seven years to be acceptable for use toward the ESL additional licensure.

• To transfer credits from another institution, all non-University of Minnesota coursework must be evaluated and approved by a faculty adviser. Students are advised to seek adviser approval prior to enrollment in a non-University of Minnesota course.

• A minimum GPA of 3.00 must be maintained in all licensure coursework.

Prerequisites

Candidates interested in obtaining an ESL additional licensure must:

1. Have a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree
2. Have a current Minnesota license in one of the following areas:
   1. elementary education
   2. a secondary subject matter (e.g., social studies, world language, science), or
   3. ESL, with restricted status (e.g., for grades 7-12 only)
3. Have a second-language background. Note that American Sign Language (ASL) qualifies as a second language for this requirement. A second-language background may be represented by one of the following:
   1. Four years of high school second (foreign) language study or
   2. Two years of college or university second (foreign) language study or
   3. A non-English language background and bilingualism in English and another language (note that nonnative English speakers must demonstrate proficiency in English at the "Superior" level according to American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages [ACTFL] guidelines—see language proficiency page) or
   4. Significant experience in a second-language community setting or a foreign country with a primary language other than English
4. Apply to and meet admission requirements for the additional licensure program

Application materials

Applicants must submit the following items to:

Student Services
250 Education Sciences Building
56 River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455

1. A completed Application for Admission to Additional Licensure Programs. The form is also available at the college's office of Student Services, 150 Williamson Hall, 231 Pillsbury Dr. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-6501; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu.
2. Application fee: Make check, money order, or bank draft payable to the University of Minnesota in the amount of $55 for up to two additional licensure areas. Application fee for each additional area is $25.

   Note: Fee does not apply to current master of education (M.Ed.) students or applicants or to those who have completed the M.Ed. at the University of Minnesota within the past three years.

3. Official transcripts from all undergraduate or graduate colleges or universities where the applicant completed 12 or more semester credits and all colleges or universities attended after completion of the undergraduate degree, except the University of Minnesota. Official transcripts must be received from the issuing school in a sealed and stamped envelope.
4. Professional résumé
5. A copy of the applicant's current or previous Minnesota teaching license(s)
6. Documentation describing prior experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse students
7. A statement that expresses the applicant’s desire and ability to work in urban settings with linguistically and culturally diverse learners and that explains how ESL additional licensure fits in with the applicant’s professional goals and plans. (Information regarding the district where the candidate is employed may be helpful.)

Application deadlines

Additional licensure applicants are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Submission deadlines for each academic term are listed below:

• Fall semester - June 1
• Spring semester - October 1
• Summer session - February 1

Applicants’ files will be reviewed for admission by SLC faculty. Based on each individual candidate’s background, experiences, and prior coursework, a list of requirements is determined and is then forwarded to Student Services, where a formal contract is issued and sent to the applicant. Prior coursework that is 7 or more years old is not considered for transfer. The contract identifies the faculty adviser and stipulates all requirements that must be met in order for the candidate to be recommended to the state for the licensure in a world language. Any alternatives to courses on the contract must be approved by the adviser and communicated via email to Student Services.

Applicants can expect to receive written notification of the admission decision and the formal contract outlining program requirements within eight to ten weeks after the application deadline.

Additional licensure requirements

The competencies for ESL licensure were established by the Minnesota Board of Teaching and can be met through coursework and teaching experiences available at the University of Minnesota.

Following are the state-required competency areas and the corresponding U of M course requirements. Alternatives to these courses must be approved by the adviser.

General linguistics

LING 5001 or LING 3001—Introduction to Linguistics (4 cr)

English grammar

CI 5646—Understanding and Teaching English Grammar (3 cr)

Language acquisition

LING 5501—Introduction to Language Acquisition (3 cr)

Language and culture

CI 5641—Language, Culture, and Education (3 cr)

Second-language teaching methods

CI 5656—Reading and Writing in a Second Language (3 cr)
CI 5657—Speaking and Listening in a Second Language (3 cr)
CI 5662—Issues in Second Language Curriculum Design (3 cr)

Student testing and assessment

CI 5642—The Assessment of Learners with Limited English Proficiency (3 cr)

Teaching students with limited English proficiency (LEP)

CI 5697—Practicum: ESL in the Elementary School (2 cr)
CI 5698—Student Teaching in Second Languages and Cultures (2 cr)

Practicum (student teaching) experiences

Because ESL is a K-12 license, candidates must complete student teaching practica involving observed teaching experiences in both elementary and secondary settings (CI 5697 and CI 5698).

Scheduling the practicum/student teaching experience:

1. Practicum/student teaching experiences are scheduled for fall (September-December) and spring (January-May) terms. For candidates who are teaching full time during the school year, SLC staff works to make it possible for candidates to complete practicum requirements in the school where they are teaching or in nearby schools.
2. Practicum experiences are arranged with SLC faculty or staff on a space-available basis after the candidate has:
   • completed at least 80 percent of the required coursework
   • maintained a minimum 3.00 GPA in courses required for the additional licensure
   • passed the OPI oral proficiency test if a nonnative English speaker (see language proficiency page)
3. Candidates must submit a request to arrange each required practicum experience for additional licensure the semester before completing the practicum. Candidates may request a particular school or that they be permitted to complete the practicum in their current teaching setting, but all requests must be approved by SLC staff.
4. All candidates are assigned a cooperating teacher (MN licensed language teacher) and a university supervisor for each placement.
5. Credits for CI 5697 and 5698 cannot be applied toward the M.Ed.

Practicum (student teaching) requirements

Each practicum experience requires the following:

1. Course registration for CI 5697 and/or 5698: candidates must register for CI 5697 (elementary practicum) or 5698 (secondary practicum) during the semester in which they plan to complete the practicum experience. It is possible to register for both in one semester if placements are available.

2. Pre-practicum observation: candidates observe the cooperating teacher for a minimum of 10 hours.

3. Classroom teaching: candidates conduct a minimum of 30 hours of classroom practice (actual contact hours with students). The length of the practicum is negotiated with SLC staff, the cooperating teacher, and the candidate. However, each practicum typically involves at least three continuous weeks of classroom teaching and observation. Longer time frames (up to 10 weeks in a semester) are recommended.

4. In-depth reflection: candidates engage in some in-depth written reflection throughout the observation and teaching experience. The reflection should be about 10 pages and can be in the form of a journal. This is an opportunity for candidates to contemplate and set some short- and long-term professional goals. Candidates submit this at the end of the placement to their assigned university supervisor.

5. Self-observation: candidates engage in some focused self-observation, using audio and/or videotape, on an issue of interest (e.g., eliciting student talk, providing corrective feedback, guiding student writing, etc.). Include 2-4 pages of written reflection on this self-observation in the in-depth reflection (see #4 above).

6. Scheduled visit(s) with university supervisor: candidates arrange via email or phone with the assigned university supervisor a date/time for at least one supervised visit. The candidate is required to provide the supervisor with a copy of the lesson plan the day(s) s/he visits. After an initial visit, the university supervisor determines whether additional observation is necessary.

Applying for the additional licensure

Once candidates have completed the course requirements and testing requirements, they can proceed with their application for the additional license. The application packet must include the following:

• The Application for Minnesota Education License (Teaching/Administrative/Related Services). The application is available from the Minnesota Department of Education’s web site.
• The Conduct Review Statement. This form is also available from the Minnesota Department of Education’s web site.
• A copy of the current Minnesota teaching license.
• A check made payable to the “Commissioner of Education”. The current fee is $57.00.
• Official transcripts, in a sealed envelope, from other Colleges/Universities, if candidates have taken coursework elsewhere towards the additional license.
• Official Praxis test score results sheet, if candidate did not have them reported to the University of Minnesota. Official score reports will be returned to candidates.
• Letter from the faculty adviser verifying completion of all requirements for the additional licensure. (This may also be sent via email directly from the faculty adviser to Pam Matti.)

Once the application packet is complete, it should be mailed to:

Pam Matti
CEHD Student Services
250 Education Science Building
56 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455

If candidates have further questions, they may contact Pam Matti at p-matt@umn.edu or 612.625.8042.

M.Ed./professional studies program in second languages and cultures education

In conjunction with the additional licensure program in ESL, students may choose to apply for admission to the separate M.Ed./professional studies program in second languages and cultures (SLC). Additional licensure in world languages is also available.

For more information on these programs, contact Student Services at 612-625-6501, e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu.

Program faculty

Martha Bigelow, associate professor
246 Peik Hall
612-624-7087; e-mail: mbigelow@umn.edu

Kendall King, Ph.D., associate professor
228 Peik Hall
612-625-3692; e-mail: kendall@umn.edu

Susan Ranney, Ph.D., lecturer
270A Peik Hall
612-626-0319; e-mail: ranne001@umn.edu

Diane Tedick, associate professor
254 Peik Hall
612-625-1081; e-mail: djtedick@umn.edu

Constance Walker, associate professor
250 Peik Hall
612-625-4828; e-mail: walke002@umn.edu

Updated August 2009