Prospective Students
The Center for International Foreign Language Teacher Education (CIFLTE) at Teachers College, Columbia University currently offers two programs for enrollment: the TCSOL/TESOL Dual Certificate Summer Program Online and the TCSOL/TESOL Dual Certificate Summer Program in Osaka, Japan. These programs are designed to offer state-of-the-art training to students and professionals interested in learning how to teach Chinese and/or English.
In addition to our teacher trainer 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 CIFLTE 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.
Program Offerings
The TCSOL/TESOL Dual Certificate Summer Program Online
Program Overview
An intensive online summer program offering professional training in both Chinese and English language teaching. Participants may choose to earn a certificate in TCSOL, TESOL, or both.
The online program, particularly the TESOL track, will focus on English-Medium Instruction (EMI). EMI is increasingly popular worldwide with numerous institutions and nations mandating EMI, and yet professional EMI training programs—especially top-notch programs informed by theory and research like ours—remain scarce.
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
- Dual Track: May 25–June 12
- TCSOL only: May 25–29; June 8–12
- TESOL only: June 1–12
Location and Modality: All sessions conducted online via Zoom
Application Deadlines
- Early Bird: January 1, 2026 (Discounted application fee of $50)
- Priority: March 1, 2026 ($80 application fee)
- Final: May 15, 2026 ($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: $3,000
- TESOL only: $3,000
- Dual (TCSOL + TESOL): $6,000
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 of $1,000 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.
The TCSOL/TESOL Dual Certificate Summer Program in Osaka, Japan
Program Overview
An intensive summer program offering professional training in both Chinese and English language teaching. Participants may choose to earn a certificate in TCSOL, TESOL, or both.
The Osaka program, particularly the TESOL track, will focus on technology and materials development. This meets the needs of teachers in the 21st-century who must keep up with the latest developments in technology, including AI tools, to remain competitive in the global job market.
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
- Dual Track: July 13–July 31
- TCSOL only: July 13–17; July 27–31
- TESOL only: July 20–31
Location and Modality: In-person at Osaka Gakuin University
Application Deadlines
- Early Bird: February 1, 2026 (Discounted application fee of $50)
- Priority: April 1, 2026 ($80 application fee)
- Final: June 15, 2026 ($ 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: $3,000
- TESOL only: $3,000
- Dual (TCSOL + TESOL): $6,000
Applicants who apply on or before May 1:
The full tuition must be paid within one month of receiving your acceptance letter.
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 of $1,000 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.
Our Other Program Offerings
The TCSOL Certificate Program in New York
Note: Applications are not currently being accepted for The TCSOL Certificate Program in New York. To join the waitlist, please complete this form.
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.