Contact

Zaline Roy-Campbell, 200 Huntington Hall, 315-443-8194, zmroycam@syr.edu

The Teaching English Language Learners (TELL) program prepares teachers to help students develop proficiency in English for academic and social purposes in integrated and free-standing services, compatible to current school programs, and to become effective advocates for integrated, fully inclusive classroom-based programs that draw on student strengths and address student needs. The program is grounded on the principles that the linguistic and cultural backgrounds of English language learners are valuable resources and that students best acquire and develop English language literacy - speaking, listening, reading and writing-in rich language contexts.

Through academic work, TELL degree candidates gain knowledge of theories, strategies, and methodologies in teaching English language learners and become conversant in socio-cultural and socio-linguistic issues that impact acquisition of English as an additional language. The combination of coursework and practical experience prepares teachers as specialists in educating English language learners by providing them a thorough understanding of how theory is connected to effective practice in promoting second language acquisition and developing literacy for social and academic purposes.

This program is designed for those who have met all requirements for NYS certification in another teaching area by the time of entry, and is a 30-credit course of study.  It can be pursued full-time over a year, in a fall-spring-summer sequence, or part-time over a several-year period.  The program meets the academic requirements for the New York teaching certificate to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages (for all grades, PreK-12).  

The program also requires a minimum of 12 credits in one language other than English, or equivalent.  This requirement must be met before taking ELL 655.  Equivalency would include such things as passing the Level II CLEP examination in a foreign language; or completing one or more college courses at a level beyond introductory, such that the college credits earned plus the credits represented by the lower level courses that were waived would equal 12 or more semester hours.