Prospective Students

Program Overview

Whether pursuing a certificate in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL), Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), or both, participants in the Online TCSOL/TESOL Dual Certificate Program engage in research-informed professional development. This intensive program provides a strong foundation in educational linguistics alongside second language pedagogy. Delivered entirely online, learning takes place through interactive live sessions, guided independent study, and project-based coursework within an international cohort.

Ideal for:

• Graduate students in language education fields;
• Senior undergraduates in Chinese, English, or multilingual education;
• Current language teachers seeking professional development; and
• Career changers or professionals gaining new skills.

Program Schedule

May 24–June 11, 2027

Location and Modality

Fully online via Zoom

Application Deadlines  

• Early Bird: January 15, 2027 (Discounted application fee of $50)
• Priority: March 15, 2027 ($80 application fee)
• Final: May 15, 2027 ($100 application fee)

Application Requirements

Email the following materials to our team at ciflte@tc.columbia.edu: 

• Application form 
• Statement of purpose 
• Proof of language proficiency* 
• Academic transcripts 
• Two letters of recommendation** 
• Résumé/CV 
• Receipt of application fee payment

*Required for non-native speakers only; see details here. 

**Please have your references email their letters directly to us at ciflte@tc.columbia.edu.

Note: All current students and graduates from Columbia University, Teachers College, and Barnard are exempt from most application requirements, and are required to submit just the application form, statement of purpose, and receipt of application fee payment.

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee varies depending on the track to which you apply:

• TCSOL only: TBD
• TESOL only: TBD
• Dual (TCSOL + TESOL): TBD

Applicants who apply on or before May 1: 

The full tuition must be paid within one month of receiving your acceptance letter or by the program start date, whichever comes first. 

Applicants who apply after May 1: 

The full tuition must be paid within two weeks of acceptance or by the program start date, whichever comes first. 

The tuition fee is non-refundable, unless the program is cancelled. A $100 late fee will apply if full payment is not received by the respective deadline.

Deposit

Admitted students are required to pay a deposit payment within two weeks 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.

Certificate Policy

Students who successfully complete the program of study, which entails earning a minimum of B- for every course, will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Teachers College, Columbia University. The following provisions apply:

• If a student misses three sessions of a given course (e.g., three sessions of Foreign Language Pedagogy) 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) throughout the program, they will NOT receive any type of certificate.

Program Overview

The TESOL Certificate Program in Osaka offers research-informed professional development in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). This intensive program builds a strong foundation in English educational linguistics and second language pedagogy. Held in person at Osaka Gakuin University, the program combines interactive seminars and project-based learning, enabling participants to apply course concepts while learning alongside educators from diverse backgrounds.

Ideal for:

• Graduate students in language education fields;
• Senior undergraduates in English, or multilingual education;
• Current language teachers seeking professional development; and
• Career changers or professionals gaining new skills.

Program Schedule

July 26–August 6, 2027

Location and Modality 

In-person at Osaka Gakuin University in Osaka, Japan

Application Deadlines 

• Early Bird: March 15, 2027 (Discounted application fee of $50)
• Priority: May 15, 2027 ($80 application fee)
• Final: July 15, 2027 ($ 100 application fee)

Application Requirements 

Email the following materials to our team at ciflte.osaka@ogu.ac.jp:

• Application form 
• Statement of purpose 
• Proof of language proficiency* 
• Academic transcripts 
• Two letters of recommendation** 
• Résumé/CV 
• Receipt of application fee payment

*Required for non-native speakers only; see details here.
**Please have your references email their letters directly to our team at ciflte.osaka@ogu.ac.jp.

Note: Current students and graduates from TC, Columbia, and Barnard are exempt from most application requirements, and are required to submit just the  application, statement of purpose, and application fee.

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee varies depending on the track to which you apply:

• TCSOL only: TBD
• TESOL only: TBD
• Dual (TCSOL + TESOL): TBD
  
  

Applicants who apply on or before June 1: 

The full tuition must be paid within one month of receiving your acceptance letter. 

Applicants who apply after June 1:  

The full tuition must be paid within two weeks of acceptance or by the program start date, whichever comes first.

The tuition fee is non-refundable, unless the program is cancelled. A $100 late fee will apply if full payment is not received by the respective deadline.

Deposit

Admitted students are required to pay a deposit payment within two weeks of acceptance or by the program start date, whichever comes first; 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.

Certificate Policy

Students who successfully complete the program of study, which entails earning a minimum of B- for every course, will receive a Certificate of Completion jointly issued by Teachers College, Columbia University and Osaka Gakuin University. The following provisions apply:

• If a student misses three sessions of a given course (e.g., three sessions of Foreign Language Pedagogy) 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) throughout the program, they will NOT receive any type of certificate.