TESOL Certificate Program in Los Angeles CA area

Azusa Pacific University, Los Angeles County:
The Department of Global Studies, Sociology, and TESOL in Azusa Pacific University (APU), located in Los Angeles County, California, offers a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program. This graduate TESOL certification program is offered in two distinct formats: a 12-month on campus program and a field based program. The on-campus program maintains an international focus with about half of the students coming from abroad to take classes on the Azusa campus. The field-based program is tailored to meet the needs of Christian professionals teaching abroad.

Azusa Pacific University receives accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Features of APU TESOL Programs:
APU's TESOL programs blend compassionate Christian service with strong academic preparation and practical training in language teaching. Project-based coursework engages the student in a variety of practical tasks, allowing students to:

- Formulate a working philosophy of language learning and teaching.
- Teach English grammar and pronunciation.
- Organize student interactions, activities, and tasks.
- Understand the influence of social and cultural differences on language development.
- Engage in practice-teaching experiences and student-teacher observation
- Plan, implement, and assessstudent achievement.
- Develop a teacher portfolio that demonstrates their competence in teaching English as a second language.

Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program. This TESOL certification program is offered in two distinct formats: on campus (12-months) and field based.

On-Campus TESOL Certificate Program:
The on-campus Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) prepares post-baccalaureate students who desire specialized skills in TESOL but do not wish to pursue the graduate degree. Ideal for supplementing and enhancing traditional ministry (e.g., translation, literacy, and friendship evangelism) within multicultural or cross-cultural environments, this program incorporates work which may lead to a Master of Arts in TESOL. Students study on APU's campus in Azusa, California.

Field-Based TESOL Certificate Program:
The field-based Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) offers in-service teachers the opportunity to earn a certificate in TESOL while concurrently teaching abroad. This program incorporates work which may lead to a Master of Arts in TESOL. Students study for two summer terms at APU's campus in Azusa, California, and one winter term abroad.

- APU's TESOL programs combine an orientation toward compassionate Christian service with strong academic preparation and practical preparation for language teaching.
- The programs represent a blend of coursework and practical experiences which equip graduates to respond to the wide range of language needs, sociocultural differences, and program requirements they will encounter.
- Qualified faculty share their professional and cross-cultural experiences while adapting coursework to the unique needs and interest of students.
- APU is located in the greater Los Angeles area, where more than 150 languages are spoken. This diverse linguistic and cultural environment offers students an unmatched variety of multicultural practice-teaching and research opportunities.
- Graduates of APU's TESOL programs are currently serving both internationally and in the U.S. — in public schools, colleges and universities, private institutes, and businesses. Others have gone on to complete doctoral work in such fields as applied linguistics, international education, or intercultural studies.

Applicants must possess:

- A bachelor’s degree:
A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university is required. (Applicants for the TESOL programs are not required to have undergraduate majors in fields such as English, linguistics, or education; however a strong background in one of these is recommended.)

- A minimum 3.0 GPA:
A 3.0 baccalaureate or master’s grade-point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale is required. [Applicants with a GPA between 2.5-2.99 may be considered for provisional admission.]

- A TOEFL score of 600 or above (nonnative speakers only):
Nonnative speakers of English must score 600 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), at least 250 on the computer-based TOEFL or 100 on the IBT, and must pass a test of written English. Applicants who score between 550 and 600 (213-249 on the computer-based TOEFL; 79-99 on the IBT) may be granted conditional admission, but will be required to complete TESL 500 English for Internationals (3 units) during their first semester of graduate work.