ACP Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Our TEFL certificate thoughtfully combines current trends in language teaching pedagogy with traditional best practices in the language teaching field. Whether your aim is to teach adults, children, or both, our program content carefully addresses these unique audiences. This is a full-time, daytime program.
Program Benefits
- Choose from a 3-month program of TEFL coursework or a 6-month program of TEFL coursework plus TEFL internship
- Learn best practices of various current and traditional methodologies from distinguished teacher-trainers
- Study together with native-English speakers in integrated classes
- Attend local and/or regional professional CATESOL conferences to explore the most recent trends and developments
- Further your career as an English teacher while networking with professionals in the TESL/TEFL field
- Observe teachers in American ESL classrooms and then plan and conduct a lesson at an American school
- Practice your teaching skills in a classroom setting
- Develop the skills you need to succeed in further post-graduate studies in TEFL and related fields
- Gain a competitive edge in the global English teaching job market with opportunities for TEFL internships within our own industry-leading ESL programs
Eligibility and Requirements
- Evidence of a university degree and/or substantial academic or professional experience
- Demonstration of English language proficiency (one of the options below). Please submit scores from tests taken within the past two years.
- English proficiency tests accepted
- 71 iBT TOEFL
- 530 PBT TOEFL or 17 on each section
- 685 TOEIC
- 6.0 IELTS
- B2 CEFR or ISE
- 3.5 iTEP
- 95 Duolingo
- 50 Pearson Academic
- Advanced Cambridge
- EIKEN Japanese Test in Practical English “Grade pre-1”
- GEPT “High-Intermediate”
- Completion of English language school
- UCI 10-Week Intensive ESL: Level 5
- Kaplan International: Higher Intermediate
- FLS International: Level 16
- ELS Language Centers: Level 112
- University degree was completed in the U.S., Australia, U.K., or another country where instruction was taught in English
- English proficiency tests accepted
- Students must be at least 18 years of age or older
Students who do not meet our English requirement are encouraged to enroll in our 10-Week Intensive ESL program.
CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
To earn a certificate at UCI's Division of Continuing Education, students must complete all required courses with a grade of “C” or better.
Meet Our Graduate
*Program Tuition
Approximate Total Cost: $14,100 (reflects full estimated expenses for completing the program, tuition included)
Have Questions?
Talk to an enrollment coach
Call: (949) 824-5414
Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm (Pacific)
Curriculum
The goal of this course is to help participants understand the basic theory and principles of language assessment and how to apply them. Participants will learn to see assessment and testing as an integral part of curriculum development and classroom instruction. They will learn about appropriate types of tests for various purposes, analyze existing tests, and practice creating or adapting tests related to skills such as reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, listening, and speaking.
This course is a survey of the major methods that have been used to teach languages over the years, considering the theoretical background, historical context, strengths, and weaknesses of each. Participants will develop working criteria to determine what method is best used in a given learning context so they can intelligently implement what is needed in their classes. By discussing lesson plans and activities based on various methods, participants will begin to develop their own effective teaching style.
This course gives participants a chance to put into practice the skills and techniques they are learning throughout the TEFL program. Each participant will prepare and present microteaching lessons in a variety of skills, with their classmates acting as students. They will give peer evaluations of their classmates’ microteaching and reflect on their own presentations. Participants will also observe several ESL classes in the UCI DCE Intensive English Program, take notes, and later discuss the observations with their classmates.
In this course participants will discuss and practice a variety of teaching techniques to help their students improve their reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary skills. They will learn the importance of creating a supportive classroom atmosphere that encourages student participation and risk-taking. Participants will explore communicative teaching strategies through hands-on activities, and design and use effective lesson plans and learning materials.
This course aims to prepare participants for the practical aspects of a career teaching English abroad. Topics include assessing goals, résumé preparation, interviewing skills, and finding solutions for common language teaching problems. For participants who will be teaching in a country other than their home, issues of culture shock and successful adaptation to a new environment will be discussed. Participants will gain confidence in their ability to complete future teaching assignments competently and successfully.
This course provides participants with a basic understanding of the phonology of American English, including consonant and vowel sounds and the more musical aspects of pronunciation, such as word stress, rhythm, and intonation. Participants will learn about pronunciation problems common to many ESL students, along with practical teaching techniques and activities to help their students achieve more intelligible pronunciation.
This course is a survey of the issues and practices of teaching English to young learners, from early childhood to adolescence. Participants will learn to recognize the differences in young learner age groups and match their teaching to each group. They will learn to plan lessons that include different learning styles and multiple intelligences, and use appropriate classroom management and motivation for young learners.
This course gives participants an overview of theories of first- and second-language acquisition, including behavioral, cognitive, and constructivist perspectives. It will consider language learning from early childhood through adulthood, highlighting the differences and similarities in learning a new language at various ages. Concepts of communicative competence, fluency, and accuracy will also be discussed. The course will emphasize the practical applications of language learning theories to real-world language instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Classes are scheduled variously between 09:00 and 17:00 (California time). Students will learn their specific class times when they enroll.
Please visit Program Dates for available intakes.
All ACP students must study full-time only.
An F-1 student visa is required for this full-time, on-campus program.
Yes. ACP programs offer internship opportunities at Southern California companies.
As an optional last course and for an additional fee of $2,900, you have the opportunity to apply academic theory and gain practical experience in a variety of businesses and industries for 10 weeks. Also included in the internship is the Résumé Writing and Interviewing Skills workshop.
F-1 students who maintained their F-1 status for one full academic year (3 consecutive quarters) may apply for an OPT. Contact an international student advisor at immigrationofficials@ce.uci.edu for more information.
Please visit our Contact Us page. We are ready to support and welcome you!
Yes, we provide training for groups of teachers, professors, or administrators. Contact us about custom TEFL or English Mediated Instruction (EMI) training.