Curriculum FAQ
1) Do I need an undergraduate degree to apply for this course?
No, an undergraduate degree is not required. However, most employers will expect prospective ESL/EFL teachers to have an undergraduate degree as well as their ESL teaching certification. It may be difficult to find employment as an ESL/EFL teacher if you do not have an undergraduate degree in addition to your TESL Certificate.
2) Do I have to find my own practicum situation?
The TESL Centre's Practicum Coordinator will make a placement for you at the beginning of the course. Most practica are arranged with students learning English in the TESL Centre's Intensive English Program although participants may arrange their own practica in consultation with the course instructor. The practicum arranged by the TESL Centre will be with a tutor group of 4-5 volunteer students from the Intensive English Program. The Practicum Coordinator will match them as closely as possible in terms of their proficiency level and language learning focus. Please note that the practicum takes place outside of IEP class time; i.e., after 3:30 pm Monday to Thursday and after 12:00 pm on Friday afternoon. It is up to each individual TESL Certificate Tutor to establish a time and place for weekly meetings with their students.
3) Who teaches TESL Certificate courses?
All TESL Certificate instructors are dedicated professionals with graduate degrees in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) or Applied Linguistics. Many speak a second language and have lived and worked overseas. They have extensive experience in second language teaching, as well as in teacher training.
4) Do you offer a Job Placement Service?
Although we do not have a Job Placement Service, the TESL Centre has the finest self-access TESL/TEFL Employment Resource collection in Eastern Canada. In addition, we subscribe to a large number of journals and other periodicals that regularly list jobs teaching ESL in Canada/the US and EFL abroad. We keep a posting of worldwide TESL/TEFL job openings on our Job Board at 980 Tower Road.
5) Are textbooks included in the tuition fee?
Textbooks, which may be found at the Saint Mary's University Bookstore, are purchased separately. The TESL Centre does have a limited number of course texts which participants can borrow on 24 hour loan. For information on the University Bookstore, please click here .
6) What does it take to successfully complete the TESL Certificate?
To successfully meet the requirements of the TESL Certificate, students must complete the practicum, attend at least 80% of the classes, and perform satisfactorily on all course assignments. There is no final examination in this course.
Assignments in the TESL Certificate course include, but are not limited to, the following:
- A 15 hour practicum and practicum journal reflecting on the experience
- A journal recording responses to the readings, class discussions, training videos, etc.
- A mini-ethnography
- A short micro-teaching unit
- A content-based materials unit based on the needs of the practicum students
Course work includes both individual and group activities. However, the majority of assignments are done individually.
7) Will I be assessed on my own knowledge of the formal aspects of English grammar and structure?
The TESL Certificate does not include a grammar test. However, throughout the course you will be expected to provide the highest model of correct usage in both your writing and speaking. For this reason, you will lose marks in your written assignments for grammar and/or spelling mistakes.
8) Is the TESL Certificate a credit course?
The TESL Certificate is a non-credit course. Therefore, it would not normally qualify you for a Canada Student Loan.
9) As a student in the Certificate program, am I allowed to use the Tower and computer labs or borrow books from the Patrick Power library?
The TESL Certificate is a non-credit, part-time course. Therefore, access to the Tower, computer labs and borrowing privileges at the University library are not included in the tuition fee. Students in the TESL Certificate course do not receive a Saint Mary's identification card.
10) Do you have any other courses in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language?
The TESL Centre at Saint Mary's is currently developing other courses in TESL/TEFL such as Teaching Reading and Writing , English Grammar for ESL/EFL Teachers , and Introduction to Language and Linguistics . Please contact us for further information. We currently do offer a full Diploma in TESL/TEFL. For information on that program click here.
11) Can non-native speakers of English register for the TESL Certificate?
Yes. Non-native speakers are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English by having an undergraduate degree from a recognized English medium post-secondary institution or a score of at least 4.500 on the CanTEST or 80 on the TOEFL iBT (550 PBT; 213 CBT). Contact us about other acceptable standardized English language examinations.
12) What is the TESL Centre's refund policy for the TESL Certificate?
Refund of course fee, less C$25 for administration will be made to students who notify our office of withdrawal prior to the first class. After this time, refunds will be made on an incrementally decreasing basis. There are no refunds after 50% of the course time has been completed. Notification of withdrawal must be accompanied by receipt of payment, and the return of any books or materials provided for the course.
Here is the withdrawal and refund schedule for 2012:
| Withdrawal Date | Amount Withheld | Refund |
| Before course begins | C$25.00 | C$825.00 |
| After the first class | C$113.00 | C$737.00 |
| After the second class | C$227.00 | C$623.00 |
| After the third class | C$340.00 | C$510.00 |
| After the fourth class | C$453.00 | C$397.00 |
| After the fifth class | C$567.00 | C$283.00 |
| After the sixth class | C$680.00 | C$170.00 |
| After the seventh class | C$793.00 | C$57.00 |
| After the eighth class | C$850.00 | C$0.00 |
This page last modified Tuesday, 17-Jan-2012 12:12:45 AST