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.