Graduate Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages |
| Deakin course code | E504 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Campus | Offered Burwood (Melbourne), Online For students who commenced prior to 2025 only. |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 0.5 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS course code | 089292C Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
The final intake to this course was in Trimester 2 2024. Students should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central for course and enrolment information. Further course structure information can be found in the handbook archive. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Become qualified to teach English as an additional language with the Graduate Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Get an introduction to the specialised skills and pedagogical knowledge required to lead TESOL programs, and graduate as a confident, in-demand TESOL and EAL teacher.
Primary or secondary teachers eligible for teacher registration in Australia can claim RPL (Recognition for Prior Learning) for this course for direct entry into the Master of TESOL E704; they may either complete the Masters (8 units) or exit the Master of TESOL after four units with the Graduate Diploma in TESOL E604. Please see the relevant course sites for course structures.
Want to develop sought-after teaching skills that lead to career progression?
The Graduate Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is an internationally recognised degree designed for current educators looking to build specialised skills, as well as professionals from other backgrounds with a passion for teaching and language. A high demand for English teachers worldwide puts graduates in a strong position to unlock new career pathways in Australia and abroad.
Under the guidance of accomplished academics with global experience in language teaching, you will be trained to teach English as an additional language in schools and adult-learning contexts. Key study areas include:
- principles and approaches to TESOL, including curriculum design and evaluation
- the structure of the English language and how to analyse features of written and spoken text
- linguistic and pedagogical aspects of language learning
- how languages are learned and in what contexts
- contemporary issues relating to language curriculum development.
The course takes an interactive, problem-based approach to teaching. This allows you to develop practical skills that translate directly to the classroom. It also focuses on research-led learning, ensuring course content is evidence based, and the skills you learn reflect the modern challenges of the field.
Upon completion of the course, you'll have the option of pursuing rewarding roles in TESOL education, or continuing your studies into the Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The Masters program builds on skills learned at the graduate certificate level, and broadens your industry experience with even more professional development opportunities.
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period for each credit point undertaking required teaching, learning and assessment activities.
Career opportunities
There is a high demand for English teachers worldwide. Employment opportunities for teachers of English as an additional language are growing in Australia and overseas. So too are leadership positions in language teaching institutions. With an internationally recognised qualification, you will have the freedom to build a career without borders.
Locally, there are opportunities to work at private language schools or language teaching institutions for migrants.
Please note: To teach in primary and secondary education in Australia you will need to complete an accredited program, such as the Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary).
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Participation requirements
Students are required to participate actively in the weekly class and tutorial activities provided in CloudDeakin, and complete the scheduled learning tasks.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Pathways
This course can be a pathway to:
Master of Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (E704)
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Critically analyse and apply advanced and specialist knowledge of the principles of contemporary curriculum design, pedagogy and assessment practices and their application for the teaching of English across a range of diverse professional learning and educational contexts |
| Communication | Employ a range of oral and written communication skills and standards required of professional educators and learning professionals to be able to transmit complex knowledge in one or more languages to students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and in professional and scholarly contexts. |
| Digital literacy | Apply a range of digital technologies and data sources to create, search, analyse, report, evaluate and communicate within the practice and scholarship of teaching and learning of languages. |
| Critical thinking | Critically review, analyse and synthesise complex ideas and make informed judgements to improve teaching and learning approaches in languages education and applied linguistics. |
| Problem solving | Apply specialist knowledge of relevant learning theories to identify, analyse and evaluate authentic problems of practice, and generate informed and innovative solutions. |
Approved at Faculty Board August 2020
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages students must pass 4 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 4 credit points of core units
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Course structure
Core units
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) |
| ETL702 | Linguistics for Second Language Teachers |
| ETL703 | Intercultural Communication in Language Classrooms |
| ETL708 | Language Teaching in Practice |
| ETL715 | Internationalising the Curriculum |
International student requirements
International students are required to study full-time to complete their course within the duration registered on CRICOS.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.