ESL Additional License (K-12)

English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers fill many roles, providing both language and academic support to their students. They are crucial in advocating for their students within the school system and in educating their colleagues about English language learners (ELLs).

A career as an ESL teacher is challenging because of the complex issues that ESL students face in the schools, yet rewarding because ESL teachers have such a significant impact on students' lives.

The Minnesota Board of Teaching rules outline the outcomes that all ESL licensure candidates must fulfill to obtain an ESL license. Hamline’s program will guide you in fulfilling those outcomes and help you prepare a portfolio to document competencies. Upon your successful completion of the program, Hamline will recommend you for licensure.

Why Hamline?

-- Courses are conveniently scheduled for
    working adults. 

-- Online courses are available. 

-- The program covers topics such as
    linguistics, second language acquisition,
    developing literacy in a second
    language, teaching methods, grammar,
    testing and evaluation, and
    sociolinguistics.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

ESL licensure courses are offered with the working adult in mind. In the fall and winter, courses are offered in the evening or on Saturdays. During the summer we offer both day time and evening classes. All licensure courses are also available online.

CREDITS

The ESL K-12 licensure program requires 25 semester credits, plus completion of an advanced practicum (student teaching) of 1-6 credits. All coursework is offered in semester credits. All ESL coursework is at the graduate level.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
• A cumulative GPA of 2.5 from your bachelor’s degree coursework.
• A 3.0 GPA is required in ESL coursework in order to student teach.
• If English is your second language, a TOEFL score of 90 on the internet-based test, 233 on the computer-based, or 577 on the paper-based; a 5.0 on the TWE; or 80 on the MELAB. Degree completion from a U.S. university can be substituted for the TOEFL. A score of 6.5-7 on the IELTS is equivalent to these TOEFL scores.
• You must already hold a teaching license.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE

• Students must have completed one year of college level or two years of high school-level foreign language, or the equivalent.
• A student teaching experience in ESL at both secondary and elementary levels is required for this license. Previous teaching experience in ESL in a K-12 setting is taken into consideration when determining the length of time for this practicum. For more information about ESL student teaching requirements please click here.
• A passing score on the Praxis II ESL subject area exam. It is recommended that you take this exam after completing the required coursework. For more information about this exam or to register please go to www.ets.org.

REQUIRED COURSES

View ESL K-12 license course descriptions, schedules, and registration >
Visit Piperline to view additional course availability.

Interested in other ESL programs? Visit the Center for Second Language Teaching and Learning >

Programs through the Center for Second Language Teaching and Learning are accredited through: