EAL Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the trainer?
Dr. Virginia P. Rojas, a well-known EAL consultant to international schools for over twenty-five years and who has recently retired from school-based site visits, is the architect of the course content and the primary trainer. Additional trainers are selected by Dr. Rojas and the PTC collaboratively.

How often are these courses offered?
Each course is offered once every calendar year. You may take courses in any order, though EAL in the Mainstream Classroom is considered foundational.

How many hours per week will the online courses require?
Each asynchronous online course requires 3-5 hours of work per week. The intensive EAL in the Mainstream Classroom course takes place over 5 days with an expected daily commitment of 7-8 hours.

Is there a time limit in which to complete the three courses required to receive the EAL Certificate?
All three courses must be completed within five years to satisfy the criteria for the certificate. You may take courses in any order during that time.

Can I earn college / university credit for these courses?
University Credit or Certification Application may be obtained through TCNJ (The College of New Jersey) with an additional fee for each course.

Can I use these courses for certification in my own country?
A university transcript is essential if a candidate wishes to use any of the courses for certification application in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia or New Zealand. The three courses have been aligned to the requirements of TESOL, Ontario, CELTA (UK), and ACTA (Australia and New Zealand) teacher standards.

What happens if I miss an assignment?
Contact Dr. Rojas directly at gini.rojas@gmail.com

What technology is necessary to take the online courses?
The platform is web-based, so a reliable internet connection is necessary.

What online platform will be used in the online courses?
Moodle is the online platform. Assignments, discussions, resources, and the course syllabus will be found on Moodle. Participants will receive an email with an access code before the course begins with instructions about how to join the course online and how to navigate the system. The course material and networking ability will be available during and after course completion.

Can I become a certified tutor of EAL?
Participants taking TTC’s course, EAL for the Mainstream Classroom, will not become 'tutors’. The course is designed for classroom teachers and was not designed for tutors. Participants in the course are from international schools around the world and will practice the key teaching strategies that significantly add to learning for a wide range of ESL learners in a classroom setting.

Can I obtain EAL/ESOL certification from TTC?
Certification requirements for ESOL vary from country to country and from state to state within the US. Acquiring 'certification' will vary depending on where you intend to eventually use it. All TTC/TLI courses, including the EAL courses, may be taken for 3 graduate credits with TCNJ (The College of New Jersey). These credits can then in turn be applied to a general teacher or ESL certification in just about any state in the US.

Do you offer any tuition discounts for the courses?
The EAL offers a unique discount to faculty of schools who are members of the Principals Training Center (PTC). Contact your school to inquire on their membership status, or check our list of current members.

 International EAL Certificate FAQs

1. Can I use the course from the summer of 2017 to meet the 5-day requirement? Yes, but we will not accept any participation before the TTC course of 2017.

2. Can I use a course that I took with Dr. Gini Rojas somewhere else? No. We will only accept TTC courses towards the International EAL Certificate.