Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (Advanced Certificate)
Welcome to the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (Advanced Certificate) program home page. Use this page as a guide to the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (Advanced Certificate) program from acceptance to graduation.
Academic Plan
TESFESL-AC
Total Credits
Earn at least 18 credits
Advisors
- Christine Rosalia, Faculty Advisor
- Bonnie M. Veronico, Administrative Advisor
- Ileana Infante, Clinical Placement Specialist
Newly Accepted Students
Getting Started and Orientation
New Student Checklist
Welcome to the School of Education! Visit the Newly Accepted Students page for a checklist to get you started at Hunter College.
New Student Support
If at any point you need support, please reach out to our New Student Liaison at newsoest@hunter.cuny.edu or make an appointment.
Orientations
Students will attend three orientations to cover all the information needed to start your program:
- General New Student Orientation
- Program Advising Session
- Clinical Experiences and Fingerprinting Orientation
See “Program Related Events” for details about upcoming sessions.
Financing Your Degree
Visit the Financing Your Degree page for information.
Fingerprint Clearance Requirements
All students in teacher preparation programs as well as programs in school counseling need to be fingerprinted so that they are cleared to work with children in various settings including New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools, charter networks, and other organizations. Visit the Fingerprinting page for requirements and procedures.
Program Sequences
Consult the program sequence for a suggested order of courses for the program based on start date. It also includes when to take certification exams and apply for clinical experiences in addition to other important non-course requirements. For technical registration support and troubleshooting, please visit the Register for Classes page.
Hunter College Catalog
To review descriptions of specific courses and academic progress standards for the program along with exit requirements please use the course catalog for the year you were admitted to the program.
Course Catalog Summer 2022 onward
Course Catalog prior to Summer 2022
Clinical Experiences
Students in the TESOL (Advanced Certificate) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork) in all TESOL PreK-12 courses, and one semester of supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum).
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements.
Registration, Placement and Application Processes and Procedures
All TESOL courses have fieldwork components. Students must apply and are placed by the Office of Clinical Experiences at an approved New York City Department of Education public school each semester.
Students working full-time as assistant, associate or head teachers may be eligible to complete their fieldwork requirements in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.
The following are required for eligibility:
- Teaching position must be aligned with pending certification
- The site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
- Students must submit documentation from worksite/school program director
- Fall Semester: August 1
- Spring Semester: December 1
- Summer Semester: Not applicable
Registration, Application and Placement Process
- Students register for TESOL courses with fieldwork components through CUNYfirst. Registration permission is not required.
- Students complete the fieldwork application and submit it by the deadline.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences reviews applications for eligibility.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences will place students at a partner school and notifies them via their myhunter.cuny.edu email address
Fieldwork Hours Time Record Form
Supervised: Student Teaching/Practicum
Students participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study. Student teaching and/or practicum requires five full days per week. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors throughout the semester. Students may complete practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.
Registration, Placement and Application Processes and Procedures
Required Exams
Students must pass the following New York State exams before registration permission is granted for student teaching and/or practicum:
- Educating All Students (EAS)
- Students with initial certification do not have to take the EAS exam.
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – English to Speakers of Other Languages (116)
Student Teaching
Students not working full-time as assistant, associate or head teachers complete Student Teaching. Student Teachers will teach one semester at the PreK to 5 grade level and one semester at the 6 to 12 grade level.
Students apply for student teaching for course registration permission and placement by the Office of Clinical Experience with a cooperating teacher/mentor at a Hunter College Partner School in New York City. Students teach alongside the cooperating teacher/mentor throughout the semester.
Practicum
Students working full-time as assistant, associate or head teachers may be eligible to complete Practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.
The following are required for Practicum eligibility:
- Teaching ESL or a content area in English daily with a minimum of 5 ELLs in their class
- Teaching within the NYC five boroughs
- Principal and administration agree to the following conditions: students will be supervised by a Hunter TESOL Clinical Supervisor; students must use video for course requirements; students must incorporate ESL/ENL language instruction into their lessons on a daily basis.
- The position must be in Pk-12 (note, two different grade spans are not required for students with prior certification)
A Practicum teacher will teach at the grade level(s) s/he was hired to teach.
Practicum Site Approval Form
Application and Approval Form
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences for registration permission and placement. In addition, practicum students must submit the Practicum Approval Form from signed by their school principal.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: April 1st
- Spring Semester: November 1st
- Summer Semester: N/A
Registration and Placement Process
- The Office of Clinical Experiences reviews student teaching/practicum applications for eligibility.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences grants registration permission.
- One week before each semester registration opens, the Office of Clinical Experiences will inform students of next steps through their myhunter.cuny.edu email.
- If students require placement, the Office of Clinical Experiences will place them at a Hunter College School of Education partner site in New York City.
- Students are notified of placement at mandatory Student Teaching Orientation.
- Educating All Students (EAS)
Internship Certificate
Current students who are eligible for practicum and secure a teaching position that requires NYS certification may apply for an internship certificate. Students must apply for practicum first and will only receive instructions thereafter.
Visit the Internship Certificate page for eligibility requirements and application processes and procedures.
Supervised Teaching Time Record Form
Certification and Licensure
This program leads to New York State certification in ESOL PreK-12. Visit the Certification and Licensure page for information and support.
Graduation
Graduation is the official completion of your program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines. Visit the Graduation and Commencement page for complete information.