TESL Field Experience *Updated 05/01/07*

Under state requirements, students seeking Endorsements, to their teaching certificate, are required to demonstrate their competence as teachers in the specified Endorsement area. Therefore, upon finishing the coursework outlined above, teachers planning to apply for the State of Washington Endorsements in both English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education, are required to pass the Praxis 2-0306 Exam with a score of 580 or above, and complete a 5-credit practicum course (EDCN 5730) teaching ESL or Bilingual students in the K-12 environment.

This work is completely field-based and the achieved competency is demonstrated through 2 WAL instructor observations, mentor recommendations, and a portfolio submitted for review to Washington Academy of Languages. The instructor of record then makes a recommendation for the Endorsement approval to the Office of Certification at Seattle Pacific University.

NOTE: The Field Experience is not required for those students who plan to teach at the post-secondary level or overseas.

Important Field Experience Instructions:

  1. You need to have all courses completed and have taken the Praxis exam before you may register for the Field Experience.

  2. Download the application and SPU registration form to the right. Once the forms are submitted and the tuition is recieved you will then be sent an informational package, outlining the field experience process.The tuition for the field experience is $675 to WAL and $200 to SPU for the 5-credit course (EDCN 5720).

  3. Prior to registering for your field experience to WAL, you must have already submited your Endorsement application to SPU.

    Endorsement Application and Endorsement Application Instructions Please contact SPU School of Education at (206) 281-3505 regarding endorsement application questions.

    NOTE: These are two different processes. ENDORSEMENT APPLICATIONS go to SPU. FIELD EXPERIENCE applications and portfolios go to WAL.

  4. You are required to teach a unit of 15 hours in an ELL or Bilingual classroom. This can be at your current school or any other school. "Mentor teacher" refers to an ELL endorsed teacher who has taught for at least three years.  The mentor should be available to advise you and to observe you at least once.  They must also complete an evaluation of your teaching (the forms are in the Field Experience package that is given to you after registration).

  5. You need to schedule 2 observations with WAL during your scheduled field experience lasting at least 1 hour each. These evaluations should be scheduled to coinside with lesson plans included in the developed unit of study.

  6. Please do not use sheet protectors for regular text pages in your portfolio (notes are written directly on the paper).

  7. Don't forget to include student work (tests/worksheets/drawings/writing assignments) in your portfolio. This work serves as "other evidence" and as part of the analysis section.

  8. Make sure you have well-thought through lesson plans. Include objectives and goals in your lesson plans.The Field Experience packet will have WA State guidelines for lesson plan development.

  9. If you have questions, contact Dr. Paul Schneider by phone at (206) 682-4463.

  10. The Field Experience provides an opportunity to work on a unit you can later use in the classroom.

Useful links: