The Teaching English as a New Language (TENL) Program is carefully designed to prepare students for teaching English to speakers of other languages in a variety of learning venues world-wide. The Program offers six required courses (18 hours) that familiarize students with the major theoretical perspectives, pedagogies, and resources of teaching English as a new or additional language. The capstone Practicum provides students with real-world experience through teaching English language learners in classroom settings.

The TENL Program, which matches most other such programs nationwide, leads to either of two career outcomes, the TENL Certificate and the ENL License. The Program also allows students to build an excellent foundation for continued academic study in linguistics and applied linguistics. 

For additional information, contact the department office at 260.481.6841, or drop by the Liberal Arts Building, room 145, during regular office hours.

The TENL certificate is offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

Undergraduate Certificate in Teaching English as a New Language

The undergraduate certificate in teaching English as a new language is intended primarily for students who are working towards a baccalaureate degree and wish to be trained in teaching English to non-native speakers. Other potential audiences include people who are preparing to live abroad or who wish to facilitate their employment abroad, and those who have creative, technical, or business expertise and wish to work with ENL students in professional settings.

With the quickening expansion of English as the international language of art, commerce, education, science and technology, the need for qualified teachers continues to increase.
The required courses familiarize students with the major theoretical foundations of teaching English as a new and additional language. Students become acquainted with ENL pedagogy and resources and will acquire experience by teaching ENL learners, with supervision, in real classrooms. The undergraduate TENL Certificate is available to any student as a stand-alone credential or it can be integrated within the requirements of the B.A. program in English as an option in the Language Concentration. Some courses also apply to a degree from the School of Education.

Certficate Requirements

The TENL certificate requires satisfactory completion of eighteen credit hours of course work in the areas of ENL pedagogy and materials preparation, second language acquisition theories, sociolinguistics and cultural issues, English grammar, and practical classroom experiences.  No course with a grade below 2.0 will count toward the TENL certificate. Satisfactory completion of LING 10300 or equivalent is a prerequisite for all courses at the 300-level and higher.

Courses Required for the Undergraduate Certificate in TENL

(LING L103 or equivalent is a prerequisite for all TENL courses, 300-level or higher.)

Credits          Course
    3               Grammar
                         ENGL 30201 Structure of Modern English
    6               Methods
                          LING 42102 Methods and Materials for TESOL I
                          LING 42203 Methods and Materials for TESOL II
    3               Language Acquisition
                         ENG 43200 Second Language Acquisition
    3               Sociolinguistics
                          LING L4600 Language in Society
    3               Practicum
                         LING L4700 TENL Practicum

Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a New Language

The graduate certificate in teaching English as a new language is intended primarily for students working toward a graduate degree in English and for practicing teachers who wish to be trained in teaching English to non-native speakers. Other potential students include people who are preparing to live or work abroad, and those who have technical or business expertise and wish to work with ENL students in professional settings. With the expansion of English as the international language of commerce, education, science and technology, the need for qualified teachers continues to increase.The required courses will familiarize students with the major theoretical foundations of teaching English as a new and additional language. Students will become acquainted with ENL pedagogy and resources and will acquire experience by teaching ENL learners in classroom settings. The TENL certificate can stand alone as a separate credential or be integrated with the requirements of the M.A. or M.A.T. program in English.

Courses Required for the Graduate Certificate in TENL

(LING L103 or equivalent is a prerequisite for all TENL courses, 500-level or higher.)

Credits          Course
    3               Grammar
                          ENGL 50000 Introduction to the English Language
    6               Methods
                         LING 51101 Methods and Materials for TESOL I
                         LING 51201 Methods and Materials for TESOL II
    3               Language Acquisition
                         LING 53201 Second Language Acquisition
    3               Sociolinguistics
                         LING 51901 Language and Society
    3               Practicum
                         LING 53500 TESOL Practicum

Certificate Requirements

The TENL certificate will require satisfactory completion of eighteen credit hours of course work in the areas of ENL pedagogy and materials preparation, second language acquisition theories, sociolinguistics and cultural issues, English grammar, and practical classroom experiences.
No course with a grade below 3.0 may be applied toward the certificate. Students must maintain a minimum overall 3.0 (of 4.0) GPA or better in all graduate courses.

Transfer of credit hours from other accredited institutions may be considered based on evaluations of materials presented by students including transcripts, course syllabi and completed assignments. 

ENL License Requirements

The ENL License program is a collaboration between the Department of English and Linguistics and the College of Education and Public Policy. This specialization in teaching English as a New Language (ENL) is intended for licensed teachers, candidates who are already licensed to teach in K-12 settings in Indiana in specific content areas at specific grade levels, or prospective teachers who are in the process of obtaining a license.

After completion of all course work in the TENL Certificate program, those seeking the ENL license must apply to the state of Indiana to have it applied to their license. Students will be assisted with applications through the Department of English and Linguistics and the College of Education and Public Policy. 

Download the PDF flyer.

Take the Accelerated TENL Certificate Survey here if you are interested in this program. 

To address the regional need of in-service and licensed teachers as well as others for credentials in teaching English language learners, Purdue Fort Wayne now offers an Accelerated TENL certificate. Here is how it works:

• Three courses are offered consecutively in the format of workshops in the summer terms.
• Each of these workshops lasts approximately two weeks.
• After successfully completing these summer courses, individuals interested in the certificate can enroll in the rest of the courses required for the TENL certificate in the fall term. 
• The certificate program can be completed in 7 months (June – December) if candidates so desire.
• It is not required that candidates finish the certificate program in 7 months.
• A one-credit workshop (LING L495) in lieu of the prerequisite for a general linguistics course is available in spring terms over weekends.

*This is in lieu of the prerequisite LING 10301.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

The existing requirements for admission as an unassigned or non-degree-seeking student apply to those who wish to earn the certificate as a stand-alone credential. Existing requirements for admission, completion, and residency, and eligibility apply to those who wish to earn the certificate as part of a degree program.

As of Fall, 2009, up to and no more than nine credit hours of required courses taken prior to formal admission to the TENL Program will be accepted as applying to completion of certificate requirements.

Please contact the Department of English and Linguistics if you would like more information on how to become part of this program. We are located in the Liberal Arts Building, Room 145 and our phone number is 260.481.6841.

Graduate Admission Requirements

**Beginning Fall of 2018, graduate applications to this program will need to be submitted via the Purdue Application Portal. For admission prior to Fall 2018, refer to the instructions below. 

Please click here to find additional information on application instructions and procedures for prospective students applying to the Fall 2018 term and all subsequent terms.

An applicant is eligible for admission to the TENL Program at the graduate level with completion of :

• a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (of 4.0);
• a 3-credit hour introductory linguistics course such as LING 10300, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (of 4.0);
• a  3-credit hour college-level writing course, with a minimum GPA 3.0 (of 4.0)

Applicants who do not meet these requirements may be admitted conditionally.

As of Fall, 2009, up to and no more than nine credit hours of required courses taken prior to formal admission to the TENL Program will be accepted as applying to completion of certificate requirements.

Please note there is a $55 application fee for the graduate level certificate. This is paid at the Office of the Bursar. The fee is non-refundable. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What will the TENL Certificate do for me?
Answer: It provides official documentation of your professional training in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and provides the credential for you to teach English as a second language in the U.S. in a number of venues (although usually not in programs within public school systems), or English as a foreign language abroad.

Question: How is the TENL Certificate different from the ENL license?
Answer: Obtaining a TENL certificate is not the same as obtaining the ENL state license.  The TENL certificate constitutes a separate document and can stand alone as your credential for teaching English to speakers of other languages. The ENL license is an endorsement added to a teacher’s license, which already specifies the subject area(s) as well as the grade levels for which a teacher is certified to provide instructions; therefore, the ENL license does not stand alone as a separate document. 

Question: When is the best time to start my study?
Answer: The best way to start your study is to begin in the fall, when the first method course (TESOL Method I), an introductory pedagogical course to the field of TESOL, is offered. However, if you have not taken one of the prerequisite courses (for example, LING 10300), it is best to take the prerequisite course in the summer, if it is available. 

Question: How long does it take to complete the program?
Answer: It is possible to complete your program within three semesters, depending on staffing. Of course, completion of the program is individual, and depends on the student’s background, and number of courses taken each semester.

Question: Is there a preferred sequence of courses?
Answer: Ideally, a student begins with the first of methods course (TESOL Method I), an introductory pedagogical course intended to lay the foundation for further work. Other courses may be taken at the same time. The more theoretical courses, such as Second Language Acquisition, may be taken in the second or third semester.

Question: How often are these courses offered and at what time of the day?
Answer: Each course is offered at least once within a three-semester rotation, and most are offered every year. Sections of the prerequisite LING 10300 are offered semester. TENL courses are typically offered as evening courses, beginning after 4:30 p.m., or as an on-line course.

Question: What do I need to do to be admitted?
Answer: Our admission requirements and the application procedures for graduate students are specified on our departments’ website.  To obtain the undergraduate TENL certificate, you must be admitted to the university to receive the certificate. Contact the Admissions Office at Purdue Fort Wayne for admission information. 

We are happy to meet and answer questions in person. Please contact the Department of English and Linguistics, (260.481.6841) for more information or to set up an appointment. We look forward to assisting you in your application to the TENL Program.
If you would like to start your study in the fall, it’s best to start your application as early as you can, since processing and approval for your application takes time and faculty members are not always on campus during the summer. 

Question: Is there an application fee?
Answer: Yes, depending on which level of the certificate you wish to obtain. For the graduate certificate, there is a $55 non-refundable fee payable at the Office of the Bursar. For the undergraduate level, there is no additional fee other than the initial application fee to the University as long as you are currently enrolled. If you wish to obtain this certificate as a non-degree seeking student, normal undergraduate application fees apply.