Who is the TESL Certificate program for?
The Certificate Program in TESL Linguistics provides a basic introduction to issues in the teaching of English as a second language to adult learners in the Canadian context. It includes courses in general linguistics, phonetics, English grammar, and second language learning and teaching. The program is designed for undergraduate students who are pursuing a first degree and who have little or no previous teaching experience. It is not recommended as an “in-service” program for students who are currently teaching ESL. Applicants are reminded that the TESL Certificate is not a teaching credential. Because standards for ESL/EFL teacher training vary greatly around the world, it is not possible to identify in advance employers who will recognize the SFU Certificate. However, graduates of the program have gone on to teach English in Canada and in a number of other countries, including the United States, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and China.
