The demand for English as a Second Language instruction is soaring—are you prepared to serve these students in your classroom? Teachers working in classrooms with English as a Second Language learners are quickly growing in numbers in Michigan and across our country. As the numbers of English learners continue to grow, so does the demand on teachers to provide effective instruction. We understand what it means to be in the classroom every day, and want to add to your teacher toolbox and offer the opportunity for you to share concerns and ideas with other teachers looking for similar support for their teaching. CUAA offers teachers choices and graduate programs that fit into working lifestyles. Each of the 7 ESL-endorsement courses are online and just 8 weeks long. The demand is evident, so why chose Concordia? We’ll give you five reasons:
5. CUAA boasts a 100% Graduate ESL Endorsement pass rate
CUAA boasts a 100% pass rate among our graduate ESL endorsement candidates taking the MTTC for English as a Second Language. Class size and a sense of community contribute to our students’ success. Classes in our program are of reasonable size, usually between 6 and 14 students. Students tend to move through our program with other students, having several of their classes together as a cohort.
At the end of the ESL endorsement program, graduates are eligible to sit for the MDE exam for ESL. Each course in our program addresses specific objectives that add to the candidates’ preparedness for the MTTC for ESL. Courses are highly focused on practical application of concepts learned in the program. We want our graduates to be able to prepare their English learners for real-life use of their newly learned language. Instructors give guidance to candidates in how to prepare for their endorsement exam.
4. The ESL Endorsement program can be worked right into a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction
Applicants of the ESL program can choose: “Do I want to take just the 21-credit ESL Endorsement program, or do I want to take the full ESL Endorsement with a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction program at 30 credits?” These options give teachers the flexibility to pursue whichever program best fits their goals. It’s nice that teachers have to option to just work toward the endorsement, or for other teachers who want to get a master’s degree, it’s a nice way to get not only the master’s degree they are seeking, but also add a much-needed skill and Michigan endorsement. It’s like you’re getting two programs for the time and effort it would take to get one.
3. The program is offered completely online
Online courses offer flexibility and convenience for working teachers. Each online course is 8 weeks long and earns 3 credits. The courses are asynchronous, meaning instead of a cohort model you operate on your own schedule, yet students have easy access to their instructors for any needed support.
2. Instructors are local, Michigan experienced teachers who care
CUAA’s program offers personal connections with staff and classmates. The professors have worked in Michigan schools and have experienced first-hand what it’s like to be teaching in a classroom with ESL students. All of our instructors hold Michigan ESL Endorsements, and have an average of 20 years of K-12 classroom teaching experience.
One of our instructors is an MDE-certified SIOP trainer. Another has been a college instructor in the field of ESL methodology for many years. All of our instructors understand the demands on classroom teachers and what an important and rewarding job it is to prepare English learners to succeed in their content-area classes.
1. Teachers may apply for Uncommon Scholarships, on top of very reasonable tuition rates
Tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year for the ESL program is: $596 per credit. There is a one-time $50 application fee for the program and one technology fee per semester depending on part or full-time status. Once a student is in a program, there is no “registration fee,” “online fee,” “graduate-level fee.”
CUAA offers 4 Uncommon Scholarships. To read more about these opportunities, to see if you qualify, and review the policies and disclaimers, please go to the Uncommon Scholarships page. There you will find disclaimers and policies, how to submit your application, and who qualifies.
The professors have worked in Michigan schools and have experienced first-hand what it’s like to be teaching in a classroom with ESL students. All of our instructors hold Michigan ESL Endorsements, and have an average of 20 years of K-12 classroom teaching experience.
To check if your school is a Preferred Educational Partner (PEP) of CUAA, please visit the CUAA PEP page.
Please note that the scholarship application must be submitted once per academic year. The scholarship application must also be submitted before the first day of the class you are applying for. Students need to be sure to fill out this form each academic year for the duration of aprogram, as long as they are still employed by a qualifying organization. Academic years run from the first week of July to the last week of June each year.
To find out more information about the ESL program at CUAA, go here for more information.
—
If this story has inspired you, why not explore how you can help further Concordia's mission through giving.