Teaching English as a Second Language (Certificate)
Domestic applications
Fall 2025: Applications are closed.
Note: A reference will not be required for admission to Fall 2025.
Winter 2026: Apply Now!
International applications
Please visit the International Application Deadline page to find out when applications may be available.
Overview
Get a career teaching English as a second language to adult learners in Canada and abroad. In the one-semester Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certificate program, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills needed to teach English as a second or foreign language in a classroom setting. Courses are offered in a hybrid format, meaning some are online and some are in person, giving you more flexibility with your education.
A practical, flexible education
You’ll gain theoretical and practical knowledge including designing tutorials, delivering courses and managing a classroom. You’ll also learn how to tutor English to adult speakers of other languages, a course that is unique in B.C. to Douglas College’s TESL program. With the program’s 25-hour teaching and tutoring practicum, you’ll graduate with experience in the field.
Get certified
By the end of your studies, you’ll be ready to apply for the TESL Canada Standard Level One certification (if you have a bachelor’s degree). This certification is an important step in being able to teach English as an additional language in Canada and can make you a competitive candidate if you choose to teach abroad.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
- General College Admission Requirements (excluding English Proficiency Requirement).
- English Studies 12 minimum final grade "B" or approved substitution*.
- One reference from a former/current instructor, employer, or volunteer coordinator who can attest to good character, temperament, willingness to learn, oral communication skills, ability to cooperate with others, and appropriateness for undertaking TESL studies.
*Please see FAQ’s for a list of approved substitutions and reference form.
Cost
Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more.
For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts.
Program Requirements
Graduation Requirements:
- Successful completion of 15 credits
- Minimum Grade Requirement: “C” or higher in all courses
- Must be in good academic standing.
- 50% (7.5 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College.
- Time limit to complete the program graduation requirements: 4 years. Any courses completed outside of that time limit will not be usable. Students may seek the permission of the Department/Program to complete a credential outside the approved time limits.
Course Requirements:
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|
Foundations of Teaching English to Adult Speakers of Other Languages |
3.00 |
|
|
Teaching English Listening, Speaking, and Pronunciation to Adult Speakers of Other Languages |
3.00 |
|
|
Teaching English Reading, Vocabulary, and Writing to Adult Speakers of Other Languages |
3.00 |
|
|
Tutoring of English to Adult Speakers of Other Languages |
3.00 |
|
|
Practicum in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages |
3.00 |
|
|
Total Credits |
15.00 |
Program Guidelines
Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
FAQs
The reference form is available here. Please note that the reference form is to be submitted AFTER you have applied for admission to the program.
- TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This refers to teaching English in a country where English is NOT the native or official language.
- TESL = Teaching English as a Second Language. This refers to teaching English in a country where English IS the native or official language.
- TEAL = Teaching English as an Additional Language. This recognizes that for many of our students, English is not their second language - it is often their third, fourth, or more. This is also why the acronym EAL is now more common than ESL. TEAL is also the acronym used by the BC-based professional organization for teachers of ESL.
- TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. This now seems to be the industry standard for EAL teacher education programs in BC. It is also the name of the U.S.-based professional organization for teachers of EAL.
Our TESL program offers instruction in skills that you can use to teach English as an Additional Language in any context.
- The program is one semester (13.5) weeks long.
- There are 230 hours of coursework and 25 hours of practicum.
- Starting 2024-2025 academic year, the program will be offered:
- Fall Semester (beginning of September - mid-December)
- Winter Semester (beginning of January - mid-April)
- For exact start dates, please click here
The list of approved substitutions for English Studies 12 with a grade of B can be found on the Limited Program information page.
Below is a typical class schedule.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||
| Douglas College, Room S1614 | 9:00 – 13:30 |
Observation (10 hrs./term). teaching practicum (10 hrs./term), and tutoring practicum (5 hrs./term). | ||||
| Douglas College, Room S1614 | 14:30 – 16:20 | TESL 1102
| TESL 1101
| TESL 1103 | TESL 1104
| Free day |
| 16:30 – 18:20 | TESL 1105
| |||||
Additional 8 hours/week (2 hours/week in TESL 1101, TESL 1102, TESL 1103, and TESL 1104) are delivered online asynchronously → tasks can be completed at any time outside of this schedule.
Coursework, as well as teaching and tutoring practicum, are located at the Douglas College New Westminster Campus.
Working full time during the program is not recommended. The program involves 10 hours/week of in-person class time, 8 hours/week of asynchronous online work, and 25 hours over the semester of practicum time. Students will also need to spend time during most weeks reflecting on and planning lessons for their teaching practicum and completing assignments and projects for the courses in the program.
The coursework will be practical and emphasize bridging of theory and practice.
Yes, it is. You can obtain further information at Douglas College Financial Aid.
Also, students in this program may be eligible for a bursary. Please check the information about these on the Bursary page. TESL students should check the General bursaries.
Yes. If you will require services from Accessibility Services, start planning early! You should complete the steps to request services as soon as possible before the semester start date, in some cases several months ahead of the start date. For more information, please see the Accessibility Services website.
No. The program can only be taken full time.
Our instructors are members of our ELLA faculty. All instructors have at least Master's degrees and extensive experience teaching English as an additional language in Canada and abroad as well as facilitating teacher training. They are also currently teaching EAL academic preparation classes.
You can read more about them on the TESL Faculty page.
Practicum hours are organized by the Douglas College TESL program. You will complete your 10 hours of teaching practicum with two groups of community EAL learners, at lower and higher levels of proficiency, under the guidance of an experienced EAL teacher. You will complete your 5 hours of tutoring practicum with a volunteer student from one of the two groups.
All practicum hours are completed at the Douglas College New Westminster Campus.
No. The practicum is organized by the Douglas College TESL program.
A criminal record check is not required for this program.
- Come to an information session.
- By email, ask the Coordinator specific questions about the program or make an appointment to meet with the Coordinator.
- For students new to Douglas College, sign up for a campus tour.
Yes. However, Canadian residents get priority access to this program. For more information, contact Douglas College International.
Grades will follow the standard Douglas College Credit Grading System. See the Douglas College grading and other educational policies such as appeals.
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a Douglas College TESL Certificate. It is recognized as a TESL Canada Teacher Training Standard One program. If you already have a Bachelor's degree, and you successfully complete the program, you will be qualified to apply for TESL Canada Professional Certificate: Standard One [Interim]. If you complete a Bachelor's degree after successfully completing the TESL program, you can apply for your TESL Canada Professional Certificate: Standard One [Interim] then.
For more information on TESL Canada Professional Certification Standards, go to:
https://www.tesl.ca/certification/tesl-canada-professional-certification.html
Note: If you do not have a four-year (Bachelor’s) degree, you will not be eligible for any level of TESL Canada Federation National Professional Certification. However, you will still receive a Douglas College TESL certificate if you complete our program.
Follow the instructions on the TESL Canada Website
We will provide you with the knowledge you need to prepare an EAL teaching resume and apply for the kind of jobs you are looking for, whether here or abroad. EAL industry job finding strategies are part of one of the courses in the program, TESL 1105.
Private schools: All recognized private EAL schools in the Lower Mainland require their teachers to have or be qualified for a TESL Canada Professional Certificate [Interim or Permanent]. With a Bachelor's degree and our certificate, you will meet this requirement.
Public programs: Federally funded programs (LINC) for immigrants also require TESL Canada certification.
Other programs: Other opportunities include professional tutoring and volunteer EAL teaching in, for example, community centres, faith-based settings and libraries. For these types of programs, a Bachelor's degree is generally not required.
70% of graduates from our TESL program who responded to a survey in 2021 were employed in a teaching or tutoring position related to their training. Almost three quarters of those positions were held in Canada.
Yes. Success in this thorough program will give you confidence in facing a teaching/tutoring situation abroad. Most reputable schools require a Bachelor's degree and at least a TESL certificate. Nonetheless, each country (and even each city) has a wide variety of teaching positions and requirements. It's best to do your own research into the requirements of the country where you are interested in teaching, although your instructors will also help you with this during the TESL program.
No. This program focuses on teaching English to adult learners. For information on getting certified to teach in an elementary or secondary school, please see the BC Government’s page regarding training and professional development for K-12 teachers.
Students who successfully complete all 5 courses, including the practicum, can apply to graduate.
- For the Winter Semester program, the graduation ceremony will be in June.
- For the Summer Semester program, the graduation ceremony will be in February.
Gordana Sokic, TESL Coordinator, can be reached by email or by phone at 604 527 5673.
Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Career Pathways
- Language Schools for Adult International Students
- Government-Funded Language Classes for Immigrants
- Private English Tutoring to Non-Native Speakers