Frequently Asked Questions
How much do the courses at EL/Civics Online cost?
Who is EL/Civics designed for?
Is EL/Civics Online best for experienced teachers or new teachers?
What does "EL/Civics" mean?
What are the technical requirements of EL/Civics Online?
Will my registration information be shared with anyone?
What happens after I register?
Will the EL/Civics Online remember what courses I have already completed?
Are the EL/Civics Online courses live?
How long do I have to finish a course or all of the courses?
Do I have to take all of the courses at EL/Civics Online?
How long does it take to complete a course?
What if I only want to complete one course?
Which course should I take first?
Should citizenship teachers only take the Naturalization Process Course?
How can I tell my colleagues about EL/Civics Online?
Do I get professional development credit for the course?
Do I get a certificate of completion?
What if I only want to look through and use ELCivics Online but I don’t need a certificate?
How much do the courses at EL/Civics Online cost?
The courses are free!
Who is EL/Civics designed for?
EL/Civics Online is designed for teachers and volunteers of adult education English as a Second Language, EL/Civics, or Citizenship classes. For more information, click on the top tab that says "Is EL/Civics Right for You?"
Is EL/Civics Online best for experienced teachers or new teachers?
All teachers can benefit from EL/Civics Online. Experienced teachers can learn new methods while getting a valuable review in lesson planning. Newer teachers can learn ways to integrate ESL methods with EL/Civics content, and can learn to build effective lesson plans.
What does "EL/Civics" mean?
EL/Civics stands for English Literacy/Civics. It is also sometimes referred to as EL/CE for English Literacy/Civics Education. It refers to teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) while teaching information about U.S. history, government, civic engagement, and the naturalization process. In a regular ESL class, the goal is to teach English. In an EL/Civics class, there are two goals: to teach ESL and to teach about the United States. In other words, ESL is taught within the context of civics education.
What are the technical requirements of EL/Civics Online?
This course is designed to work on most computers that have an Internet connection. It uses basic applications that may be already installed or can easily be downloaded. You will need a computer with an Internet connection and speakers. You should also enable cookies on your Internet Browser, and have JavaScript, Adobe Flash Player, and Adobe Acrobat Reader. Many computers already come with these features installed, but if yours does now, you can download Adobe Flash Player here: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/ and Adobe Acrobat Reader here: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
Will my registration information be shared with anyone?
The registration information allows the EL/Civics Online Web site to keep track of your journal entries, lesson plans, and which courses you have completed. The only data collected is general statistics about the number and location of registrants, not names or identifying information.
What happens after I register?
After you register, you will be taken to My Home Page which is your own personalized space that shows all of the courses and tutorials on EL/Civics Online. You will be directed to take the brief ESL Foundations component first. After completing that, you will be able to start any of the four courses: U.S. History, U.S. Government, Civic Engagement, or the Naturalization Process.
Will the EL/Civics Online remember what courses I have already completed?
Yes, from My Home Page, you will see which courses you have completed and which one you are currently taking. The components of the course you are currently taking must be taken in order. When you re-enter the course, you will be taken to the point at which you left off last time.
Are the EL/Civics Online courses live?
No, the courses are all self-paced. You can work through each course at your own pace. You can log in and log out as many times as you would like.
How long do I have to finish a course or all of the courses?
You may take as long as you need or wish.
Do I have to take all of the courses at EL/Civics Online?
No, you may take just one course or several. It's completely up to you.
How long does it take to complete a course?
The time to complete a course depends on your speed in reading, how much you write in your journal entries and lesson plans, and how many of the links, resources, and handouts you examine. A general estimate for the completion of a course is between three to six hours.
What if I only want to complete one course?
You may complete as many courses as you decide you need.
Which course should I take first?
This is up to you and what you teach in your class. For example, if your program's curriculum focuses on getting students involved in their communities, you may want to start with the Civic Engagement Course. If your students are very interested in U.S. Holidays and customs, you may want to start with the U.S. History Course. If your students are lawful permanent residents who wish to gain their U.S. Citizenship someday, you may want to start with the Naturalization Process Course.
Should citizenship teachers only take the Naturalization Process Course?
Citizenship teachers should start with the Naturalization Process Course, but part of the Naturalization Interview tests citizenship applicants on U.S. history and government. Therefore, the information and teaching techniques in the U.S. History and U.S. Government Courses will be very helpful for citizenship teachers. Additionally, the Civic Engagement Course shows how students can become an active part of their new community, state, and country, which is also something citizenship students need to learn.
How can I tell my colleagues about EL/Civics Online?
Please feel free to share the EL/Civics Online flyer and bookmark below. Also, should you feel you want to help teachers in your program with EL/Civics Online in a more formal way, you may want to look into the Master Teacher Course which shows the requirements and duties involved in becoming a Master Teacher for EL/Civics Online.
EL/Civics Online Flyer
EL/Civics Online Bookmark - Front
EL/Civics Online Bookmark - Back
Do I get professional development credit for the course?
Professional development credit depends on the state and the program where the teacher is employed. If this is of interest to you, talk with your administrator about the possibility of professional development credit for EL/Civics Online before you begin.
Do I get a certificate of completion?
Yes. You will receive a certificate of completion if you have selected the Certificate option. Once you complete each course, which includes writing in the journal, writing reflective pieces, and creating lesson plans, you will receive a downloadable certificate.
What if I only want to look through and use ELCivics Online but I don’t need a certificate?
You may choose the Browse option. This allows you to freely explore any part of the site. You will still have the online journaling and My Info Center available to you.
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