TESOL
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate Program
The world is your classroom!
Spring 2025 registration is open!
View the schedule and register now
NC State’s Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate program is made up of three components — online courses, Saturday workshops, and an internship — that complement each other to give students in-depth training and teaching experience to fit a variety of schedules and lifestyles.
- Limited enrollment for individualized instruction.
- Experienced instructors with expertise in their content area.
- Online coursework to accommodate work and school schedules.
- Saturday practice sessions to solidify online content.
- A 30-hour internship at a variety of English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching locations.
This certificate is perfect for anyone interested in teaching English overseas, instructors who wish to develop skills in working with English learners, those interested in teaching at the community college level, or anyone looking to teach English in immigrant communities.
“This is a fantastic, comprehensive program that combines theory and practical application of the critical areas required to teach English to non-native speakers. Each instructor was an expert in their field and cared about our learning.”
- Jill Lamb, Adjunct Instructor in the Center for Global Learning at Durham Technical Community College
Courses
- Context and Culture in English Language Teaching
- English Linguistics
- American English Pronunciation
- Modern English Grammar
- Teaching Reading, Writing, and Vocabulary
- Methods of Teaching ESL
- Language Learning Strategies and Curriculum
Saturday Workshops
- Held five times during the semester at D.H. Hill Jr. Library.
- Jan. 4, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Feb. 8, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Mar. 7, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- April 12, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- May 3, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- The Saturday face-to-face workshops with the instructors are required. Applicants should make sure they can attend these Saturday sessions before enrolling into the program.
Internship
- The 30-hour internship consists of 20 hours of observing and 10 hours of teaching to give you a chance to sit among ESL learners at all levels and then practice the strategies you’ve learned.
- Students will be placed in one or two ESL classrooms based on their availability and location.
Flexibly Designed to Fit Your Schedule
The TESOL Certificate program is 135 total hours — 52.5 are in-class hours (the Saturday workshops and the internship) and 82.5 are online.
Learn More
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Frequently Asked Questions
- All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or currently be working on completing a bachelor’s degree. All applicants to the TESOL certificate program must send Robin Kube a copy of their undergraduate transcripts showing a minimum GPA of 2.5 before being allowed to enroll.
- Non-native speakers of English must provide a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score (current within the last three years) of at least 100 with a minimum of 28 on the speaking section of the TOEFL or an 8 on the speaking part of International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Non-native speakers of English who have lived in the U.S. since the age of 8 and demonstrate native-like proficiency in all four skills may petition to have the TOEFL score requirement waived.
- The TESOL Certificate program is not a North Carolina English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12 Teacher Licensure Program. The TESOL Certificate Program does not offer continuing education units (CEUs). If you are interested in getting K-12 certification, please visit NC State Online ESL Add-on Licensure Program page.
- We meet at D.H. Hill Jr. Library located at 2 Broughton Drive in Raleigh.
- The early bird registration price is $1,895. After the early bird deadline, the program costs $1,995. For the fall 2024 program, early bird registration ends July 26, 2024, at noon.
- You have the option of paying a $500 deposit in advance of the course to ensure your space, rather than paying the full amount. The balance is due by noon the Friday before the program orientation.
- No refunds will be issued after seven days of class. Cancellations made within five days of the start date of class will be subject to a $50 cancellation fee.
- To remain in the TESOL certificate program, all courses and individual coursework requirements within the program must be completed on the due dates posted on Moodle within the time frame of the course.
- Students are asked to notify the instructor immediately if extenuating circumstances, such as documented personal or family illness or a death in the family, should prevent them from completing or redoing an assignment before the course ends. Failure to complete all assignments within the time frame of the course and/or failure to attend the Saturday session will result in the student having to retake and pay for the course the next time it is offered.
- For personal/family or medical emergencies, students can be granted a leave of absence and continue the program the next semester it is offered as long as the reason for the leave is documented and sent to the program director within a month of the emergency.
- Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will be grounds for dismissal from the program without a refund.
Check out the Funding Sources and Financial Assistance webpage to view your options.
Contact the NC State Office of Professional Development at continuingeducation@ncsu.edu or 919.515.2261 with any questions or for more information about the TESOL Certificate program.
For more information about ESL programs at NC State, contact Robin Kube by email at rmkube@ncsu.edu or phone at 919.515.9277.
Instructors
Jennifer Despain, TESOL Coordinator and Senior Lecturer, has taught English to Speakers of Other Languages in the Raleigh area and globally since 2006 and has taught Spanish at NC State since 2002. Jennifer is a teacher trainer and teaches the Context and Culture course and the Linguistics course for the NCSU TESOL Certificate Program and is the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) minor advisor. Her specialty is developing and implementing needs-based curriculum.
Robin Kube, Senior Lecturer, has been an ESL teacher trainer at NC State since 2002. She has coordinated and supervised hundreds of internships in the TESOL Certificate Program. She has overseen innovative outreach programs such as free ESL Conversation and Pronunciation classes and ESP courses for housekeepers and groundskeepers. Her area of expertise is cross-cultural awareness and communication. She is currently a senior lecturer teaching WLEN courses to international students.
Dr. Alison Turner, Assistant Professor, has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in a variety of contexts including community colleges and universities. She has also done teacher training for a number of years including in her work with the TESOL Certificate Program and the ESL Add-On Program. She specializes in working with teacher candidates to develop pedagogy and culturally responsive teaching strategies to engage learners. Dr. Turner is a member of the Carolina TESOL Executive Board.
Carolyn Quarterman has extensive teaching experience both in the US and abroad. She currently teaches oral communication skills and writing skills to international graduate students at Duke University and teaches the pronunciation class for the TESOL Certificate program at NC State. Carolyn also taught in Japan for more than seven years, in both academic and corporate environments.
Carolyn has an M.A. in TESOL from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her professional interests include using online resources and technology applications to enhance student learning. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exercising, reading, and outdoor activities.
Paula Wilder, Director of International Programs, Greensboro College, serves as the director of international programs at Greensboro College where she also teaches in the MA in TESOL program. She received her MA in TESOL from Greensboro College and her BA in English from Guilford College. Paula is an English Language Specialist and is currently working on a project in Vietnam, and in 2022, she worked with Sri Lankan university lecturers in Colombo and Jaffna. In addition, Paula teaches with NC State University in the Global Training Initiative, working with teachers and embassies around the world, with focus in Argentina, Colombia, and Azerbaijan and teaches in NCSU’s TESOL Certificate program. Paula served as the director/instructor of the CEA accredited English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program and Continuing Education for Non-Native English Speakers from 2014- 2024 where she created and implemented both programs and currently serves as a consultant for the program. She has also taught at Harvard University’s Institute of English Language. In her free time, Paula enjoys hiking, kayaking, yoga and gardening. She is an avid reader and enjoys all genres