English as a Second Language (ESL) and Bilingual Endorsements
At Loyola University Chicago, we recognize the imperative for all educators to have expertise to serve and support the growing number of students labeled as English learners, also referred to as emergent bilinguals. For this reason, the School of Education is proud to offer multiple avenues to English as a Second Language (ESL) and bilingual endorsements in Illinois, as well as states with reciprocity agreements.
Teaching, Learning, and Leading with Schools and Communities (Undergraduate Programs for Pre-Service Teachers)
The ESL endorsement is woven into all of Loyola’s undergraduate teacher preparation programs, including Bilingual/Bicultural Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, and Early Childhood/Special Education. Our teacher education programs target and integrate understandings and practices that support multilingual students’ language development simultaneous to learning in PK-12 settings.
TLLSC programs embed ISBE requirements and ESL/bilingual professional teaching standards into your coursework. Each course outlines the standards and objectives addressed to develop your expertise for multilingual students. The following coursework develops your understandings and skills as an educator for this important student population:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| TLSC 120 | Bringing Language, Learning & Development Theory into Practice (Linguistics) | 2 |
| TLSC 130 / TLSC 140 / TLSC 160 | Sequence One: 130 Community Immersion (Cross-Cultural Studies for teaching Emergent Bilingual Students) | 1 |
| TLSC 210 | Educational Policy For Diverse Students (Theoretical foundations of Teaching ESL) | 2 |
| TLSC 222 / TLSC 320 | Authentic Assessment and Instruction for Bilingual Learners (Assessment of Bilingual Students) | 2 |
| TLSC 240 | Language, Culture, and Pedagogy in Bilingual Classrooms | 3 |
| TLSC 310 / TLSC 330 | Language and Literacy for Diverse Students (Methods & Materials for teaching ESL) | 2 |
| TLSC 340 | Teaching and Learning in an Area of Specialization (Elective) | 2 |
This endorsement is available to any teacher education candidate (i.e., Elementary, Secondary, Early Childhood/Special Education, Special Education) who is fluent and literate in a language other than English.
Additional Requirements for the Bilingual Endorsement
- Complete 50 additional clinical hours in your bilingual target language. Examples include:
- Tutoring bilingual PK-12 students using their heritage language at one of our partner schools.
- Tutoring children, youth, or adults at an area community organization to support clients’ heritage language.
- Pass the IL Target Language Proficiency Test in the language for which you are seeking the endorsement. The IL Licensure Testing Service now offers the exam in 36 different languages. For more information on the exams, please review the Language Proficiency Tests for an Educator License with Stipulations Endorsed as Transitional Bilingual section on the Illinois Licensure Testing System website.
Why Seek a Bilingual Endorsement?
- Bilingual teachers are in high demand in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), throughout Illinois, and across the United States. Having this endorsement will increase your marketability to all schools regardless of your major.
- In the Chicago Public Schools, almost 1 in 5 students are emergent bilingual learners, with more than 110 different languages spoken by children and their families in this school district.
- Special education teachers who also have the bilingual endorsement are in extremely high demand.
- An increasing number of schools and school districts are implementing dual language programs (a type of bilingual education program model) in both elementary and secondary school settings. You will learn about this program model in TLSC 240 Language, Culture, and Pedagogy in Bilingual Classrooms/TLSC 410 Language, Culture and Pedagogy in Bilingual Classrooms and gain pedagogical knowledge and skills to be able to teach in dual language programs.
- You will increase your ability to effectively teach bilingual students, advocate for their needs, and work with their families across grade levels and content areas.