Teaching English and Additional Languages (TEAL) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

The Teaching English and Additional Languages (TEAL) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (12-credits) is for students interested in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), teaching English as a second language (TESL), teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), or teaching other additional and heritage languages to learners in a wide range of contexts.

It is designed to prepare students who are new to teaching as well as offer professional development for current teachers or those who have previous experience working with additional language learners in Canada or abroad. The certificate is open to applicants with a degree or current undergraduate students with a minimum of third-year standing.

Students completing this certificate may wish to teach English as an additional language (EAL) in another country after their undergraduate degree, work in adult or post-secondary contexts teaching EAL or other languages in Canada, develop their instructional skills for teaching in heritage language schools, or hone their current EAL teaching practice in K-12 classrooms. EAL is also sometimes known as EFL, ESL, or ELL, depending on the context.

The TEAL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offers experience and understanding in lesson planning, teaching methods, instructional strategies, language awareness, reflective practice, classroom leadership, curriculum and materials development, evaluation and assessment, educational technology, additional language learning theory and research, intercultural understanding, motivational design, socio-cultural and developmental factors, community building, and teacher development.

Please note that this certificate does not lead to teacher certification to teach in public K-12 schools in British Columbia. In B.C., a Bachelor of Education is required to teach in public K-12 schools.

Program Highlights

  • Our instructors are qualified English as an additional language teachers with experience providing high quality face-to-face and web-based education
  • Gain experience teaching in front of a class during a supervised practicum
  • Earn a globally recognized post-baccalaureate certificate from the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan School of Education

TEAL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Courses

The TEAL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate consists of four three-credit courses, representing a minimum of 144 hours of instruction and including a supervised practicum with 10 hours of observation and 10 hours of teaching.

Courses take place online and on-campus.  The TEAL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (12 credits) is awarded after successful completion of LLED 494, LLED 495, LLED 496, and LLED 497.  These courses may be taken in any order or sequence. Generally, one course is offered in each term (W1, W2, S1, S2), with students able to complete all four courses in a 12-month period.

Language teaching methods, instructional skills in English, and motivational design are examined. Sociocultural factors and language acquisition are explored with a focus on teaching and assessing listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. Pass/Fail.

Grounded in English and additional language teaching and learning across age and proficiency levels, sociocultural considerations are taken into account while exploring curriculum, lessons, materials, technology, interaction, and classrooms. Professional development and social justice are examined, with an emphasis on language teachers as scholar-practitioners. Pass/Fail.

Intended for a wide range of educators, this course conceptualizes additional language acquisition theory from multiple angles in child, adolescent, and adult contexts. Key issues, concepts, and theoretical perspectives are evaluated and explored with emphasis on current empirical research. Pass/Fail.

Professional development as an additional language educator through a supervised 20-hour practicum including guided lesson observations (10 hours) and focused teaching practice (10 hours). Concurrent seminars develop skills in lesson planning, instructional strategies, reflective practice, classroom leadership, interculturality, and community building. Pass/Fail.

Admission Requirements

  • Students who wish to enroll in the certificate program must have obtained their first degree or a minimum of third-year standing.
  • Applicants who speak English as a second language and have not previously been enrolled at UBC or another Canadian university must demonstrate English language proficiency to meet UBC’s English Proficiency Requirements.
  • Current UBC students are welcome to enrol in individual TEAL courses.  Students who are not in a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate or Diploma program require a minimum of third-year standing.

How to Apply

Please complete and submit the Student Information Form to begin the application process. Once we have reviewed your student information form, if you meet the admission requirements, we will send you the appropriate next steps to completing your application.

Applications to the TEAL post-baccalaureate certificate program are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, with accepted students able to start their studies in the term following their acceptance into the program.  Winter Term 1 and Winter Term 2 generally start in September and January, respectively.  Summer Term 1 and Summer Term 2 generally start in May and July, respectively.

If you are a current UBC student who wishes to enrol in just one or two courses, and not complete the post-baccalaureate certificate, you do not need to complete and submit the student information form.

For more information please contact postbac.education@ubc.ca.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar* for full admission and program requirements; the calendar is a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services and academic policies at the University of British Columbia.

* In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.

Registration & Course Selection

Once your eligibility to register has been established, you will receive an email from Access Studies. Students may then register for each course online via the Student Services Centre (SSC).

Upcoming courses can be viewed on the Certificate & Diploma Student Resource page.

Tuition & Fees

Students will be assessed tuition and student fees at the prevailing undergraduate rate.

In 2023/2024, tuition fees for domestic students were estimated at $650 per three-credit course,* approximately $2,600 to complete the 12-credit TEAL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, plus any applicable student fees, textbook, and other associated costs.

* In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.

Details and the most up-to-date information are available in the Academic Calendar.

WELCOME TO UBC’S OKANAGAN CAMPUS

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world.  In our TEAL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally respected university while studying in a close-knit learning community.

UBC Okanagan campus accommodations during sunrise

UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of more than 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.

More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the Top 10 busiest airports in Canada.

UBC Okanagan is situated within the unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.

Explore the Okanagan lifestyle.

  • Get a glimpse into life on UBC’s Okanagan campus at you.ubc.ca.
  • Take a virtual tour of our state-of-the-art labs, modern facilities, campus residences.
  • Visit the campus for a personal guided tour led by a student ambassador.
  • Attend an orientation that’s tailored to your needs as an aboriginal student, domestic student, international student, or a student living in residence. You can even register your parents for an orientation that includes a workshop and campus tour.
  • Tour the campus, city and lake with this interactive 360-degree Kelowna From Above* video.
    * Best viewed in Chrome and Firefox 
  • UBC’s Okanagan Library is the go-to place for books and media, databases, journals, public computers, printing and scanning, writing and research services, and much more.
  • Familiarize yourself with resources designed to help you succeed. Student Services offers a variety of academic supports, from study sessions to tutoring and writing workshops.
  • Peer mentors are a great resource — ask questions and learn from students who’ve been there, done that.