Frequent Asked Questions

• Can I embed ESOL coursework in my M.A.T. program?
  Yes. We offer a track of our ESOL endorsement program (normally for inservice teachers) that allows M.A.T. students to embed a significant amount of endorsement coursework into their preservice program. For program details, see Track II of the ESOL Endorsement in our current catalog.
• What is the best way for me to embed ESOL endorsement coursework into my M.A.T. program?
  Ideally, students will take two ESOL endorsement courses during their M.A.T. program:
  - ESOL 535 or ESOL 535A/ESOL 535B
  - CORE 505 or CORE 568 (either of these courses fulfills your 2 semester hour M.A.T Core requirement)
  - Note: Course descriptions available in the course catalog
  If you do not take two endorsement courses prior to completing your M.A.T. degree, you will still be able to take them after you graduate. After completing your degree, you will also be able, if you want, to replace the Core class with ESOL 502.
• How do I get admitted to the ESOL Endorsement? When do I apply?
  Current preservice students interested in the ESOL endorsement are eligible for an abbreviated admissions process. Students can apply to the program after successfully completing their student teaching (ED 516 or ED 546).
  
  Students must complete a Request to Add Program form, which is available from the Graduate Admissions office. The completed form is returned to the Admissions office who then submits the request form and any required documentation to Teacher Education faculty for review and an admissions decision. The Admissions office will notify the student of the faculty decision.
  
  Important note: Contact the Financial Aid Office to determine whether or not ESOL courses taken during the second summer of your MAT program are eligible for financial aid.
• What is the ESOL portfolio?
  The ESOL portfolio is a compilation of assignments from each of the ESOL endorsement courses and the evaluation from the practicum. It must be successfully completed in order for Lewis & Clark to recommend you to the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission for your ESOL endorsement. It is important that you download the portfolio requirement from the ESOL website so that you can remember to keep the assignments for each session.
• Can I take the ESOL practicum any time?
  To be able to register for ESOL 505 (ESOL/Bilingual Practicum) you must have first successfully completed your preservice internship/practicum (student teaching) experience. (For students in the Early Childhood/Elementary program, this is ED 516. For students in the Middle-Level/High School program it is ED 546.) You must also have completed the Theory and Practice courses (for students in the Early Childhood/Elementary program, this is ESOL 535. For students in the Middle-Level/High School program it is ESOL 535A and ESOL 535B.)
• What are the requirements for selecting an ESOL endorsement practicum site?
  The ESOL practicum, whenever possible, should be done in an ESL pullout or push-in setting. If the practicum is done during summer school or in a sheltered classroom it is the candidate’s responsibility to teach ESL as part of the practicum experience. The practicum must be held in a classroom where the teacher of record holds an ESOL endorsement. Before starting the practicum the site must be approved by the ESOL advisor.
• How do I know if I am selecting the right grade level (elementary, middle, high school) for my practicum placement? What grade is my endorsement valid for?
  Teachers holding an Initial or Continuing teaching license, must complete their practicum in either the early childhood/elementary (pre-K through 8th grade) OR the middle level/high school (5th through 12th grades) authorization levels. Most often, the endorsement practicum is completed in the grade range for which you are already authorized to teach on your existing teaching license.
  
  The ESOL/Bilingual endorsement will be granted for teaching in the paired authorization level in which you complete their practicum (in other words, either early childhood/elementary OR middle-level/high school).
  
  In order to earn the endorsement at BOTH paired levels (i.e., pre-K through 12th grade), you must enroll in and complete an additional practicum at the second paired level.
  
  Teachers holding Basic or Standard Teaching Licenses only need to complete one practicum in order to be recommended for the endorsement in grades pre-K through 12. (These license categories are no longer available for newer teachers.)
• Can I use my student teaching site for my ESOL practicum?
  No, you cannot use your student teaching site as the practicum site.
• What is the process once the ESOL practicum site has been approved?
  Once the site has been approved you will be assigned a Lewis & Clark advisor who will go out to observe you three times during the semester. The advisor will evaluate you and will provide you with a copy of these evaluations. A copy of the final practicum observation will be included in your file and will be part of your portfolio.
• Are any tests required to earn the ESOL endorsement?
  You must take and pass the NES/ORELA: ESOL test.
• What is the Bilingual ESOL endorsement? How do I get one?
  Students have two options to add the bilingual portion of the ESOL endorsement, which is intended for speakers of Spanish. For details, please click on the blue highlighted question above.
• When am I eligible for the ESOL endorsement?
  You are eligible to apply to TSPC for the ESOL endorsement once you have successfully completed all program requirements including the required course work, the practicum, the NES/ORELA: ESOL test, and your portfolio has been approved by your advisor. Instructions for how to begin the application process are available at: http://www.lclark.edu/graduate/career_and_licensing/k-12/licenses_endorsements/TSPC_for_teachers/
• What are the sequential steps to completing the ESOL endorsement?
  There are seven steps to successful completion of the ESOL endorsement while in your MAT program. To read them, please click on the blue highlighted question above.