English Language Learner/Bilingual Endorsement Program

The Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education offers teachers and teacher-candidates the opportunity to complete the coursework for their endorsement program in English Language Learner (ELL) and/or Bilingual Education. While an undergraduate can add both an ELL and a Bilingual endorsement, there is only one minor, the Multilingual Education Minor  .

This program leads to an additional endorsement in English Language Learner and/or Bilingual Education based on Washington State English Language Learner endorsement competencies and Washington State Bilingual Education endorsement competencies, when accompanied by a professional teacher education program and a first endorsement in another content area. A passing score on the ELL WEST-E is required by the state for the ELL Endorsement, and a passing score on the Bilingual Education WEST-E along with a passing score on the ACTFL language proficiency exam is required for the Bilingual Education endorsement.

Why Consider an English Language Learner Endorsement?

Students who are English learners (ELs) are the fastest growing student population in the public school system. Statewide, approximately 10% of all P-12 students are ELs, but in some districts that percentage is much, much higher. In order to meet the needs of this diverse population in the regular classroom and as an ELL specialist, we need teachers at all grade levels and content areas who have the ELL endorsement. For many schools, this is a highly recommended endorsement.  

Teachers with the endorsement in English Language Learners from Western Washington University possess in-depth understandings of the role of cultural and linguistic diversity in each student's education. Our program focuses on developing the mainstream P-12 classroom teacher's ability to shelter and support the instruction of language learners in mainstream classrooms, who are at all levels of fluency, as they work to achieve state expectations in subject matter content. Some teachers with ELL endorsements go on to become school ELL Specialists. ELL Specialists are usually experienced teachers who have taught language learners successfully for several years and have previously earned the ELL endorsement. Many earn a master's degree or National Board certification in ELL prior to becoming a school or district ELL Specialist.

The ELL endorsement program prepares you to:

• Obtain the WA state endorsement for English Language Learners
• Teach a range of language learners in a mainstream classroom.
• Work with families from various cultures and home languages.
• Serve as a resource for other teachers.
• Plan instruction using the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP).
• Instruct using effective methods including strategies from the Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD).
• Thrive in culturally and linguistically diverse settings.

Why Consider a Bilingual Education Endorsement?

Teachers with the endorsement in Bilingual Education from Western Washington University possess in-depth understandings of the role of cultural and linguistic diversity in each student's education and the demonstrated ability to use research-based instruction when teaching in English and also in a non-English target language. The numbers of bilingual schools continue to grow across the United States as research documents the benefits of quality programs. Our program includes study of a variety of models for bilingual education, including two-way, dual, one-way, and early exit models. In addition, current issues related to bilingual education are explored. Teachers who earn the Bilingual Endorsement can also apply for the English Language Learner Endorsement.

The Bilingual Education endorsement prepares you to:

• Obtain the WA state endorsement for Bilingual Education.
• Teach standards-based content in a target language other than English.
• Work with families from various cultures.
• Serve as a resource for other teachers.
• Instruct using effective methods including strategies from the Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD).
• Thrive in culturally and linguistically diverse settings.

Classroom teacher P-12 | ELL specialist | Language Teacher/Bilingual Coach