Admission to the Certificate Program

Certificate Application, Writing Test and Grammar Test (pdf)

Please read general policy information about New School certificate programs. See Certificates on the main website of The New School.

Eligibility

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university is normally required. However, applicants with at least 60 semester credits of college-level coursework may be considered for admission at the discretion of the program. Non-native speakers of English must have a minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet-based test or 250 on the computer-based equivalent.

Have college transcripts (and test scores if applicable) sent to The New School, English Language Studies, 68 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011.

Application and Registration Procedures

Submit the Certificate Application, Writing Test and Grammar Test (pdf). Once the application materials have been received and reviewed, you will be contacted for an interview. An interview can be conducted either in person or on the phone.

Registration for Certificate Students

Certificate students must have their courses approved by the department every term before they can register. Advising and registration may be done in person at 68 Fifth Ave. (by appointment); over the telephone, 212.229.5372.

Frequently Asked questions

Is there a need for English teachers?

There is ever-growing demand for native or near-native English speakers trained to teach the language both in the United States and abroad. Community colleges, universities, private language schools, adult education language programs, and private businesses all need qualified English teachers. Individuals from all walks of life in the United States and in other countries also hire trained personal tutors to help them learn English.

What is the reputation of the New School ELT program?

The New School had one of the first certificate programs to be offered in New York City and has established an excellent reputation, especially for its emphasis on practical classroom skills. Many institutions in the New York City area that at one time hired only people with master's degrees in TESOL have hired our alumni. One administrator told us recently, "If I get a job application from someone with a New School ELT Certificate, I always interview that applicant."

Overseas, where The New School program is not as well known, our students report that when they describe their course syllabi and requirements, prospective employers are always impressed that this program gives participants twice as many classroom hours, (198 hours) and three or four times as much student-teaching time (a minimum of 50 hours) as other better-known certificate programs.

Does The New School offer job placement?

To help students and alumni find positions, the English Language Studies office maintains a list-serve on which all job announcements received by the department are posted. The department also hosts a job networking event once a year. Most alumni of the program are currently working in the field.

Could I take just one or two courses without being admitted to the certificate program?

With permission from the department, students not enrolled in the certificate program may take individual courses (except the Teaching Practicum).

Note: Certificate approval will not be awarded for any course retroactively. It is best to apply for the certificate program even if you are not sure you want to take the entire curriculum. That way, a permanent record will be maintained and transcripts will be available whether or not all certificate requirements are completed.

Some Comments from Our Students and Others

"The quality of the CTE courses and teachers is outstanding. The information and ideas generated in my New School CTE coursework was instantly applicable to the real world of my classroom. There is a consistent message throughout the New School CTE program: that the emphasis must be on students learning, not simply on a teacher teaching."--Ian C. Blair, 2008

"I am returning to school as a mature adult with other degrees but a desire to start a new page in my work life. I have found the classes in the certificate program to be challenging, exciting as well as practical. The program is efficiently well-designed to turn out effective and enthusiastic teachers."--Ann Sparanese, 2008

"I love the program, the teachers are engaging and extremely knowledgeable, the work is challenging but doesn't overwhelm. I've made some new friends, I love teaching ESL students and I'm very pleased with the experience of being part of the New School Community."--Dorothea Colligan, 2008

"The teachers so far have been great. The courses have been very hands-on, very practical, very applicable."--Marian Nachman, 2004

"I've used a lot of what I learned already in my work here at Scholastic. It has helped me so much in my job, making me more valuable to my team. The whole program is great...."--Tina Posner, 2004 (editor, Scholastic, Inc.)

Course Descriptions

Methods and Techniques of Teaching ESL/EFL NELT3411
Persons interested in or currently teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language learn the basics of student-centered teaching in this practical workshop. Emphasis is on communicative, contextualized learning, in particular how to plan lessons that integrate grammar and vocabulary with the four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). Constructive techniques of error correction and classroom management are explained. Participants are required to observe at least three hours of ESL classes and teach an ESL/EFL class for a minimum of 20 hours during the course.

English Grammar for ESL Teachers NELT3412
Even teachers with excellent language skills may have limited formal knowledge of the structures and rules of English. This course is designed to improve technical understanding of English grammar to facilitate teaching the language to non-native speakers.

Teaching the Sound System of English NELT3414
The phonetic system of English is studied with special attention given to those characteristics that learners of English as a foreign language often find difficult. Participants develop contextualized pronunciation exercises and incorporate them into an ESL syllabus.

Using Authentic Materials to Teach ESL NELT3432
Effective language teachers incorporate TV and radio broadcasts, films, songs, newspapers, magazines, brochures, flyers, and other media into their lessons. Learn how to find and select appropriate materials and prepare classroom exercises that incorporate them. As time permits, the class experiments with selected exercises prepared by participants.

ESL Teaching Practicum NELT3416
Students who have completed the prerequisites teach an ESL class for at least 30 cumulative hours and participate in a 12-session seminar. Student teaching is at an offsite location, which must be arranged in advance. Prerequisites: Methods & Techniques of Teaching ESL/EFL, English Grammar for ESL Teachers, and one materials class. Students planning to do the practicum must notify the English Language Studies office in advance; notification should be made during the advising period for the preceding academic term.

ESL Teaching Practicum Abroad
In summer, the practicum is offered abroad, most recently in Wroclaw, Poland. There is a six-hour preparatory seminar at The New School. Once abroad, after a two-day orientation, students typically teach three hours a day and meet in seminar twice a week for three weeks. Accommodations are normally arranged at affordable rates with the sponsoring institution, but students must make their own travel arrangements.

Courses and Programs
	MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
	English as a Second Language
	Teaching English
	Curriculum
	Admission to the Certificate Program
Contact Us

Quicklinks

Overview

Information Sessions

Curriculum and Course Descriptions

Faculty