Teaching and Learning
ESL/Bilingual Education Licensure
In many areas of the United States, a growing number of K-12 teachers in public school settings are becoming English as a Second Language (ESL) certified to meet the growing demand coming from English Language Learners (ELLs) in the area.
The Department of Education defines ELLs as students enrolled in an elementary or secondary school:
- Who were not born in the United States and whose native language is not English
- Whose level of English proficiency may deny them the ability to succeed on state tests and in English-led classrooms, or otherwise prevent them from fully participating in society
Licensed educators seeking ESL certification may have a license in elementary education or a secondary education subject. Although many teachers seeking an ESL add-on endorsement at the secondary level are licensed in English or Language Arts, it is common for teachers of other subjects to seek ESL certification so as to best serve their multilingual classrooms.
BY THE NUMBERS
English Learners represent 9.5% overall school population in the U.S. and 5.8% of the overall school population of Wisconsin. The top five most common home languages spoken by Wisconsin English Learners are:
ENGLISH LEARNERS IN WISCONSIN
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SPOKEN
- Spanish 80%
- Hmong 14%
- Arabic 2%
- Somali 1.8%
- Mandarin Chinese 1.4%
SIX DIFFERENT AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGES
Hoocąk (spoken by the Ho-Chunk Nation)
Mahican (spoken by the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation)
Menominee (spoken by the Menominee Indian Tribe)
Ojibwe (spoken by the six bands of Ojibwe)
Oneida (spoken by the Oneida Nation)
Potawatomi (spoken by the Forest County Potawatomi)
Teachers of bilingual education are one of the areas of highest need in Wisconsin
Course Requirements
| ESL Licensure (minor) | Bilingual Education Licensure (minor) |
|---|---|
| Elem/Sec 346* (3cr) Every Fall | Elem/Sec 346* (3cr) |
| Elem/Sec 348 (3 cr) Even Year Spring | Elem/Sec 348 (3 cr) |
| Elem/Sec 352 (3 cr) Odd Year Spring | Elem/Sec 352 (3 cr) |
| Elem/Sec 351 (3 cr) Odd Year Fall | Elem/Sec 351 (3 cr) |
| ENG 383 (3 cr) Every Summer 1 and Fall | ENG 383 (3 cr) |
| Elem/Sec 353 (3 cr) Every Fall OR 377 (3 cr) Every Spring | Elem/Sec 353 OR 377 (3 cr) |
| Electives (6 cr)** | Elem/Sec 349 (3 cr) Every Summer 1 |
| Elective (3 cr)** | |
| Elem/Sec 300 (0 cr) Bilingual Fluency | |
| Total: 21 credits | Total: 21 credits |
*Elem/Sec 346 ESL Methods does not count toward minor.
**Electives chosen from among the following: Anthropology 122, 232, 274, 312; Geography 111, 316; History 358, 382; International Studies 321; Political Science 304; Religious Studies 102; Spanish 334, 335; Elem/Sec 353, 377; or by approval of department chair.