IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) Syllabus 2026: Course-wise Subjects, Credits and Study Blocks
Part of IGNOU Syllabus: IGNOU Syllabus 2026: Programme-wise Course Structure
IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) syllabus structure: 2 parts, 16 credits
The IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) syllabus has two parts and totals 16 credits. It includes three compulsory courses and one optional course. The programme fee is Rs.2,900/- per semester for the July 2026 session.
The three compulsory courses are CTE 101 The Language and the Learner, CTE 102 The Structure of English, and CTE 103 Teaching Strategies, each carrying 4 credits. These total 12 credits. Students select one optional course from CTE 104 Teaching English-Elementary School or CTE 105 Teaching English-Secondary School, which adds another 4 credits. The minimum duration for the programme is 6 months, with a maximum duration of 2 years. Admissions are open in the January and July cycles. The eGyanKosh study blocks, such as Block 1: The Language Learner for CTE 101, provide detailed content for each course.
Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) structure at a glance
| Semester / group | Courses | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| I) Compulsory Courses | 3 courses | 12 |
| II) Optional Courses | 2 courses | 8 |
Syllabus for other programmes: IGNOU syllabus, programme by programme.
IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) I) Compulsory Courses subjects: The Language and the Learner, The Structure of English
The IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) programme includes three compulsory courses. CTE 101, “The Language and the Learner,” carries 4 credits and introduces foundational concepts. This course covers the language learner, the nature of language learning, and the varieties of English, as detailed in its four eGyanKosh blocks.
CTE 102, “The Structure of English,” also carries 4 credits and builds on this foundation by examining the nature of text, sentence types, word formation strategies, and the sounds of English across its four eGyanKosh blocks. The third compulsory course, CTE 103, “Teaching Strategies,” is also worth 4 credits. It focuses on practical application, covering the role of the teacher, skill integration, materials, resources, and language testing for the ESL classroom,
IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) I) Compulsory Courses: courses and credits
| Course code | Course title | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTE 101 | The Language and the Learner | 4 | Compulsory |
| CTE 102 | The Structure of English | 4 | Compulsory |
| CTE 103 | Teaching Strategies | 4 | Compulsory |
CTE 101 The Language and the Learner: study blocks
- Block 1: The Language Learner
- Block 2: The Nature of Language Learning
- Block 3: The Multilingual World of the Learner
- Block 4: English and Its Varieties
CTE 102 The Structure of English: study blocks
- Block 1: The Nature of Text
- Block 2: Sentence Type: Form and Function
- Block 3: Word Formation Strategies
- Block 4: Sounds of English
CTE 103 Teaching Strategies: study blocks
- Block 1: The Teacher in the Classroom
- Block 2: Integration of Skills
- Block 3: Materials and Resources for Language
- Block 4: Language Testing for the ESL Classroom
IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) II) Optional Courses subjects: Teaching English-Elementary School
The Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) programme includes optional courses that focus on teaching English at different school levels. CTE 104, Teaching English-Elementary School, is an optional course worth 4 credits. It covers four eGyanKosh blocks: Pupil and Teacher, Listening and Speaking, Reading Skill, and Writing Skill.
Another optional course is CTE 105, Teaching English-Secondary School, also worth 4 credits. This course has four eGyanKosh blocks: The Role of the Learner and the Teacher, Teaching-Learning Listening Comprehension and Speaking, Teaching-Learning Reading Comprehension, and Teaching-Learning Writing and Grammar.
Take Select any one.
IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) II) Optional Courses: courses and credits
| Course code | Course title | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTE 104 | Teaching English-Elementary School | 4 | Optional |
| CTE 105 | Teaching English-Secondary School | 4 | Optional |
CTE 104 Teaching English-Elementary School: study blocks
- Block 1: Pupil and Teacher
- Block 2: Listening and Speaking
- Block 3: Reading Skill
- Block 4: Writing Skill
CTE 105 Teaching English-Secondary School: study blocks
- Block 1: The Role of the Learner and the Teacher
- Block 2: Teaching-Learning Listening Comprehension and Speaking
- Block 3: Teaching-Learning Reading Comprehension
- Block 4: Teaching-Learning Writing and Grammar
IGNOU student services
IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) assessment: assignments, term-end exams and pass marks
The IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) programme assesses learners through compulsory assignments and term-end examinations. Assignments are mandatory for all courses. Learners must submit their assignment responses before appearing for the Term-End Examination (TEE) for that course.
Learners submit Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) to the Coordinator of their Learner Support Centre. Assignments for the current session are available for download from the IGNOU website. If an assignment is failed, it must be re-submitted. Once an assignment is passed, it cannot be re-submitted to improve the grade.
Term-end examinations are conducted twice a year, in June and December. The examination fee is Rs. 200 per theory course (December 2026 TEE). Hall tickets are uploaded on the University website and are not sent by post. Learners may write the exam in Hindi, even if registered in English medium, except for language programmes (December 2026 TEE). There are two daily exam sessions: 10 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM (December 2026 TEE).
Exam and assignment guides: IGNOU assignment format; IGNOU TEE date sheet and IGNOU result and grade card.
IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTE) study material: printed blocks and eGyanKosh
Printed self-instructional study material is provided for the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language. Learners receive this material as a print book or an e-book. A 15% discount on the programme fee is available for learners who opt for soft copy instead of printed material for the July 2026 admission cycle.
The self-learning material for over 384 programmes is also available on eGyanKosh. For CTE 101 The Language and the Learner, study blocks include ‘The Language Learner’ and ‘English and Its Varieties’. CTE 102 The Structure of English covers ‘The Nature of Text’ and ‘Sounds of English’. CTE 103 Teaching Strategies includes ‘The Teacher in the Classroom’ and ‘Language Testing for the ESL Classroom’.
For optional courses, CTE 104 Teaching English-Elementary School study blocks are ‘Pupil and Teacher’ and ‘Writing Skill’. CTE 105 Teaching English-Secondary School covers ‘The Role of the Learner and the Teacher’ and ‘Teaching-Learning Writing and Grammar’. Counselling sessions are held as per the schedule drawn up by the Learner Support Centre. Technology-enabled support is also available through Gyan Darshan, Gyan Vani, Swayam Prabha, and web-based support.
Study support: IGNOU study material status; IGNOU previous year question papers and IGNOU regional and study centres.
Notices and Documents from IGNOU
Common IGNOU Questions
What is the total fee for the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language programme?
The total programme fee for the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language is Rs. 2,900/- per semester, according to the July 2026 prospectus. This does not include the non-refundable Rs. 300 registration fee and Rs. 400 University Development fee paid at admission.
How many credits are required to complete the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language?
Learners must complete 16 total credits for the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language. This includes 12 credits from compulsory courses and 4 credits from one optional course.
Which courses are compulsory in the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language?
The compulsory courses are CTE 101 The Language and the Learner, CTE 102 The Structure of English, and CTE 103 Teaching Strategies. Each of these courses carries 4 credits, making a total of 12 compulsory credits.
Are there any optional courses in the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language?
Both optional courses are worth 4 credits each.
Where can I find the study blocks for the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language courses?
The study blocks for all courses are available on eGyanKosh. For example, CTE 101 The Language and the Learner has four blocks: The Language Learner, The Nature of Language Learning, The Multilingual World of the Learner, and English and Its Varieties.
What is the minimum and maximum duration to complete the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language?
The minimum duration to complete the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language is 6 months. Learners have a maximum duration of 2 years to finish the programme.
Does the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language programme have practicals or projects?
The programme description does not mention any practicals or projects. The courses focus on enhancing understanding and innovating teaching strategies through theoretical study.
What are the eligibility criteria for the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language?
Eligibility requires graduation, or 3 years of B.EL.ED, or 2 years PTT/ETT. Alternatively, 10+2 with 2 years of teaching experience is also accepted for admission.
Can I get a discount if I choose digital study materials for the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language?
Yes, learners who opt for soft copies of study materials instead of printed books receive a 15% discount on the programme fee. This option is available during the admission process.
What is the medium of instruction for the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language?
The medium of instruction for the IGNOU Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language is English.