English as a Second Language (ESL) and Bilingual Endorsements

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. Rather than require additional coursework, our programs target and integrate understandings and practices for candidates to learn to support 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 bilingual students. The following coursework develops your understandings and skills as an educator for this important student sub-group: 

• TLSC 120 [Linguistics] 
• TLSC 210 [Theoretical foundations of Teaching ESL] 
• TLSC 222/320 [Assessment of Bilingual Students] 
• TLSC 310/330 [Methods & Materials for teaching ESL] 
• TLSC 130/140/160 [Cross-Cultural Studies for teaching Emergent Bilingual Students] 
• TLSC 340 [Elective] 

Candidates can receive a bilingual endorsement by taking one additional course. This endorsement is available to any 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: 

1. Take TLSC 240 Language, Culture, and Pedagogy in Bilingual Classrooms (offered fall semester) 
2. 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  
3. Pass the ISBE target language proficiency exam in the language you are seeking the endorsement. ISBE now offers the exam in 36 different languages. For more information on the exams, see this page: https://www.il.nesinc.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Tests.html under the heading “Language Proficiency Tests for an Educator License with Stipulations Endorsed as Transitional Bilingual” 

WHY SEEK A BILINGUAL ENDORSEMENT? 

• Bilingual teachers are in high demand in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), throughout Illinois, and 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 240/410 and gain pedagogical knowledge and skills to be able to teach in dual language programs. 
• You will increase your ability to thoughtfully and effectively teach bilingual students, advocate for their needs, and work with their families across grade levels and content areas. 

For educators already holding licenses and looking to add one or both endorsements, Loyola’s School of Education has graduate-level courses approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, which also transfers to states with reciprocity agreements. We also recommend first at our Master’s program in Language, Culture, and Curriculum, where practitioners can earn the endorsement (6 courses) while working toward a full degree (4 additional courses). 

We offer the endorsement-only program for school or district cohorts with a minimum of 12 participants. This involves a 1-year course sequence that can be held on one of our Chicago area campuses, within your district, or online. If you are interested in starting a cohort for your school or district, please contact Dr. Amy Heineke at aheineke@luc.edu. 

PREREQUISITES

The ESL endorsement must be added onto an existing teaching license. Teachers seeking the endorsement as an additional qualification will have it applied to the grade range of their initial teaching license. 

CURRICULUM

The State of Illinois ESL Endorsement requires 18 semester hours (6 courses). Endorsement only program course requirements may be modified only by departmentally approved equivalents. A minimum of 15 credit hours must be taken at Loyola. 

Continuous Enrollments 
Students in certificate/endorsement only programs are required to maintain the status of continuous enrollment during their program of studies. This means that during each semester of each academic year (excluding Summer Sessions), each student must enroll in at least one course. A formal leave of absence may be granted upon request and the approval of the School of Education’s Assistant Dean of Student Academic Affairs. 

COURSE OFFERINGS 

You can learn more about each course on our Course Syllabi page. 

• CIEP 471: Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL/Bilingual Education 
• CIEP 472: Methods and Materials of Teaching ESL 
• CIEP 474: Assessment of Bilingual Students 
• CIEP 503: Culturally Relevant Literature for Children and Adolescents 
• CIEP 504: Applied Linguistics for Teachers 
• CIEP 506: English Language Learning Practicum 
• TLSC 410: Language, Culture, and Pedagogy in Bilingual Classrooms (bilingual only) 

COURSE SEQUENCES

The ESL Endorsement program comprises one year of coursework (fall, spring, summer; 18 total hours) that is completed in a specific sequence (subject to change).

CLINICAL EXPERIENCES

Students will complete clinical experiences integrated within individual courses. For students who are not currently teaching in a classroom with English learners, additional clinical hours may be required outside of coursework to meet ISBE requirements for the ESL endorsement.