The Spadoni College of Education (SCOE) at Coastal Carolina University is now offering five graduate courses that meet the South Carolina English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) add-on certification requirements.

A growing K-12 population in U.S. schools, English Language Learners (ELLs) learning characteristics may vary and require adaptations to traditional curriculum, instruction and assessment practices.

Teachers who have South Carolina ESOL preparation or certification are better equipped to reach the needs of this student population. The number of ELLs in mainstream classes is increasing, and all teachers, not only ESOL teachers, would benefit from educational instruction in ESOL theories and methodologies.

The five ESOL courses meet the coursework requirements of the South Carolina ESOL add-on certification and follow the standards for ESOL teacher education required by Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation standards. The five courses target ESOL teachers who have incomplete ESOL certification and mainstream teachers who are interested in teaching ELLs effectively.

The course schedule and offerings listed on the website (coastal.edu/education/esol_certification/) are adjustable to meet the needs of teachers. Courses can be offered in various modalities depending on the needs and preferences of the students: online, face-to-face or hybrid.

For information about customizing this sequence of course offerings to meet specific needs, contact Elena Andrei, assistant professor of literacy, at 843-349-2409 or eandrei@coastal.edu.