Prospective Students
The Center for International Foreign Language Teacher Education (CIFLTE) at Teachers College, Columbia University currently offers three programs for enrollment: the TCSOL Certificate Program in New York, the TCSOL/TESOL Dual Certificate Summer Program in Osaka Japan, and the CIFLTE Online Foreign Language Learning Program (COF).
The first two programs are designed to offer state-of-the-art training to students and professionals interested in learning how to teach Chinese and/or English. The COF Program, meanwhile, provides one-on-one and small group language tutoring for a variety of languages. Tutoring is offered in a blended format, allowing for both face-to-face and online interactions. In addition to our teacher trainer and tutoring programs, the Center also periodically offers workshops on research methodology and/or best instructional practices. You can view upcoming events on our program calendar.
Please feel free to browse our site to see current and former TCSOL events, newsletters, past student projects, testimonials from students and alumni, and other features of the programs offered at the Center. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
All Certificate Programs
The TCSOL Certificate Program in New York
Note: The TCSOL New York Program will not be offered during the 2025–2026 academic year.
2025-2026 AY Schedule: September 2025 - May 9, 2026
Note: All current TC, Columbia, and Barnard students are exempted from most application requirements, and are required to submit just the TCSOL application, statement of purpose, and application fee.
Duration: One academic year
Location and Modality: (1) In-person in New York City, or (2) online via Zoom
Application Deadlines (2025-2026):
- Early Bird Deadline: January 15th, 2025 (Discounted application fee of $80)
- Priority Deadline: March 15th, 2025 ($100 application fee)
- Final Deadline: June 14th, 2025 ($ 150 application fee)
Application guidelines: Application form, statement of purpose, English and/or Chinese language score reports*, academic transcripts, two letters of recommendation, resume, application fee
Tuition: $12,500 for the academic year
Documentation: A certificate of completion issued by Teachers College Columbia University
*We accept scores from TOEFL/IELTS/TOEIC for English and from HSK for Chinese. See the individual program pages for more details.
The TCSOL/TESOL Dual Certificate Summer Program in Osaka, Japan
2026 AY Schedule: July - Aug. , 2026 *
Duration: Three weeks
Location and Modality: In- person in Osaka, Japan, or online
The application deadline depends on the format of the program for which you apply.
Online program
For the online program, the application deadlines are as follows:
- Early bird deadline: January 1, 2026
- Regular deadline: March 1, 2026
- Late deadline: May 15, 2026
In-person program
For the in-person program in Osaka, the application deadlines are as follows:
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- Early bird deadline: February 1, 2026
- Regular deadline: April 1, 2026
- Late deadline: June 15, 2026
Application guidelines: Application form, statement of purpose, English and/or Chinese language score reports*, academic transcripts, two letters of recommendation, resume, application fee
To confirm your acceptance of the offer and to hold your place in the program, you must make a $1,000 deposit within one week of receiving your acceptance letter. To make a payment, please click here. A $100 late fee will be incurred for any late payments.
Tuition and Fees
Application Fee (non-refundable)
For the online program, the application fee is as follows:
- Early Bird: $50 (On or before January 1, 2026)
- Regular: $80 (January 2 to March 1, 2026)
- Late: $100 (On or after March 2, 2026)
For the in-person program in Osaka, Japan, the application fee is as follows:
- Early Bird: $50 (On or before February 1, 2026)
- Regular: $80 (February 2 to April 1, 2026)
- Late: $100 (On or after April 2, 2026)
Tuition Fee (non-refundable)
The tuition fee varies depending on the track to which you apply:
- TCSOL only: $3,000
- TESOL only: $3,000
- Dual: $6,000
Deposit
Admitted students are required to pay a deposit of $1,000 within one week of acceptance; this deposit is non-refundable, unless the program is cancelled. A late fee of $100 will be incurred for any late payments.
Payment Portal
To make a payment, please click here.
Late Fee
To secure your place in the program, the deposit must be submitted within one week of receiving your acceptance letter. Failure to do so will result in a $100 late fee.
Additionally, the full tuition must be paid within two weeks of acceptance or by the program start date, whichever comes first. A $100 late fee will also apply if full payment is not received by that deadline.
Program Policies
Certificates
Students who successfully complete the program of study, which entails earning a minimum of B- for every course, will receive a Certificate of Completion. The following provisions apply:
- If a student misses three sessions of a given course (e.g., three sessions of Foreign Language Pedagogy or Educational Linguistics) throughout the program, or less than three but does not perform satisfactorily in one or more courses, they will receive a Certificate of Attendance, NOT a Certificate of Completion.
- If a student misses four or more sessions of a given course (e.g., three sessions of Foreign Language Pedagogy or Educational Linguistics) throughout the program, they will NOT receive any type of certificate.
Students' testimonials for the TCSOL Certificate Program in New York:
The TCSOL program stands as an epitome of knowledge, experiential learning, and innovation, taking learners through the nuanced aspects of the Chinese language, its pedagogy, acquisition, assessment, and Chinese educational linguistics. The curriculum of this program is meticulously designed, covering a broad spectrum of theoretical knowledge and practical applications. The faculty deserves the highest praise for their expertise, passion, and commitment. They were not just educators; they were mentors who guided us at every step and fostered an environment of mutual respect and learning.
--- Davynn Xu
Though called a ‘certificate program’, the naming is too humble for the quality of the teaching and the dedication from every professor, instructor, staff, and even guest lecturer!
---Justin Zhao
I’m glad I decided to join the program because the knowledge I gained from the courses is extraordinary. The experience was invaluable which enlightened me to consider how teaching effectively cultivates the language skills of L2 learners and how practices promote teachers to validate and improve relevant theories in the future.
---Jiaxuan Yu
The top-notch updated instructions, introduction to traditional teaching, and modern methodologies made me a more professional language instructor and educator. I have more confidence in front of my Gen Z college students and language conferences. It also helped me to create more engaging & thorough curricula. I have a more profound understanding of connecting theories to practice. I have more knowledge of my role in language teaching and facilitating my students to achieve their real-world communicative goals.
---Pui Shan Fiona Hui
For additional insights into our alumni network within the TCSOL field, kindly visit our Alumni page.
Below Are Our Non-Certificate Programs
CIFLTE Online Foreign Language Learning Program (COF)
CIFLTE Online Foreign Language Learning (COF) offers state-of-the-art learning of foreign languages primarily online.
CIFLTE Fellow Program
The CIFLTE Fellow Program provides state-of-the-art training in Chinese pedagogy and guidance on foreign/second language research.
Continuing Professional Development
CIFLTE periodically offers workshops on research methodology, language acquisition, and/or best instructional practices. Learn more about our Continuing Professional Development workshops as well as past workshops.