The teacher seeking certification to teach ESL in Texas must take a course that examines the relationship between schools, families, and communities in various cultures. The course focuses on the methods used to provide culturally appropriate instruction to students from diverse backgrounds. The ESL teacher only instructs students in English as a second language and is not required to teach in the student's native language.
This required course introduces Texas teachers seeking certification to the teaching of English to speakers of other languages. The course focuses on skills such as listening, speaking, reading and writing with regard to theory and practice. Even though this course is intended for teachers who plan to teach only English, the concepts could apply to foreign language teaching as well. This course usually involves classroom observations, textbook reviews and research.
Those seeking to teach non-English-speaking students in Texas review some of the current knowledge regarding how second languages are learned. Teachers are taught the relationship between theories of learning a second language and teaching practice. They also learn about different teaching approaches, evaluation and comparison of methods. Traditional and technological materials are reviewed and examined.
Before a teacher can be certified to teach English as a second language, an enrichment course in English grammar must be taken at an accredited college or university. The course should include a comparison of different theories of language and what language teachers must know about these theories. A major component of this course should be a study of the current trends in language teaching and grammar instruction. The most effective method of teaching grammar is studied as well as how to evaluate instructional materials used for ESL students.
This course focuses on the approaches used with students from various ethnic, cultural and racial backgrounds. Teachers study strategies that have been effective when working with diverse student populations of all ages, including adult language learners. Unlike certification for bilingual instruction, certification for ESL does not require proficiency in another language.