For ESL Teachers

Each workshop provides 8 hours of practical instruction on foundational topics for English language teachers and volunteers. Basics 101, Basics 102, and Basics 103 can be combined (with 6 additional hours of out-of-class assignments) for a 30-hour TESOL certificate that we call “Reach out with English” (ROWE). While we offer each of the Basics workshops yearly, our other workshop options vary year-to-year to provide teachers with new, ongoing professional development.

• Basics of ESL Teaching 101, 102, and 103
• Essentials of Teaching Vocabulary 401 
• Essentials of One-to-One ESL Teaching 402

All of these workshops are only offered via Zoom.

“Reach Out with English” (ROWE) 30-hour certificate

This 30-hour course provides a strong, basic foundation in ESL / EFL teaching and includes topics such as needs analysis, lesson planning, ESL methodology, materials selection, and many more topics.

In the past, ROWE could be taken as a 1-week intensive in June or through the Basics Workshop Series offered on Saturdays in the Fall and Spring terms.

Starting in 2024, ROWE will be offered only through the Basics Workshop series (Basics 101, 102, and 103). Typically, Basics 101 is offered in the fall and Basics 102 and 103 are offered in the spring.

It fulfills a 30-hour certificate and may be optionally taken for graduate credit.  This course is offered online only via Zoom.

This course provides a foundational understanding of the English pronunciation system and equips participants with the skills necessary to diagnose pronunciation errors and assist learners in improving their listening and production of the various elements of English pronunciation. It fulfills a 30-hour certificate but is for non-credit only. This course is offered online only via Zoom.

New Format--10-week course; one 3-hour session per week

This new format was piloted in Winter 2022, and participant response was very positive. Those participants who had previously taken the course as a 1-week intensive felt that the new format provided more opportunities for application through the completion of homework assignments as well as time for review of new concepts and an opportunity to engage with the instructor between classes to ask questions and seek assistance.

Next Offering: Winter 2024

Dates: Tuesdays, January 23-March 26

Times: Tuesday morning from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. CT; Tuesday evenings from 7-10 p.m. CT.

This course provides a foundational understanding of the English grammar system and equips participants with the skills necessary to introduce grammatical concepts to their English learners in clear, uncomplicated ways. It fulfills a 30-hour certificate but is for non-credit only.  This course is offered online only via Zoom.

New Format--10-week course; one 3-hour session per week

This new format was piloted in Winter 2023, and participant response was very positive. The participants felt that the new format provided more opportunities for application through the completion of homework assignments as well as time for review of new concepts and an opportunity to engage with the instructor between classes to ask questions and seek assistance.

Next Offering: Winter 2025 (tentative)