Online ESL Degree Program

Online ESL Programs - What Do You Study?

ESL (English as a Second Language) refers to the teaching of English to students who speak a different primary language. It involves teaching these students both how to properly speak and write in English so that they can function at a high level in English speaking countries (such as the USA). ESL teachers often teach classes that are filled with students who speak a variety of different languages making it so that ESL teachers often have the challenge of not having a shared language in which to explain something to all students at once. Therefore, explanations usually must be made in basic English, by teaching students in simple ways with a lot of demonstration, pictures and repetition. ESL teachers often also study the language patterns of specific groups of languages so they can help understand the most common mistakes made by new English speakers and know which pitfalls to focus on with their students. ESL teachers aim to prepare their students to have a better chance of succeeding in secondary school and at the university level or in the job market.

Related ESL Degree Programs

Schools that offer ESL degree programs teach students the skills necessary to support the needs of diverse learners by creating an inclusive classroom climate. They instruct future ESL teachers in the latest ESL techniques so that they can help their students maximize their literacy level, regardless of their existing language skills and assist students through the step-by-step process of language acquisition. In most cases students will learn the historical methods and foundations used to teach English to foreign language speakers as well as the most modern practices used to teach today's newest generation of aspiring English speakers. These degrees are most often offered at the Certificate and Master's levels and ESL can also be a specialty concentration for students pursuing a Master's of Education who intend to work with foreign language speakers. Typical courses within this degree program include Multicultural Perspectives, Tools and Techniques in Assessment, Learning and Motivational Theories, Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL, Methods and Materials for ESL, Assessment of English Language Learners, Language and Culture and Linguistics and Language Development.

Career Options in ESL

With more and more immigrants coming to this country and many children not speaking English as their first language, the skills of a trained ESL teacher are in high demand at both private and public school districts throughout the United States. In fact, The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects reasonably strong job creation for teachers in coming years, particularly in high-growth areas such as ESL. Jobs aren't just available in the USA but also around the world for those interested in traveling and beginning or continuing their careers in a brand new environment.

ESL teachers are needed in primary schools (especially in school districts with large immigrant populations) but ESL degree holders can also find employment in special adult and community school programs that offer classes to non-native English speaking adults. This typically involves teaching English to adults who need to learn the fundamentals of the language or who want to improve their reading or writing skills to help them advance their careers. There are also options available as a private ESL tutor who can either be self-employed or work as a specialist at a tutoring agency. Furthermore, there are opportunities at universities for those who wish to continue to study the best techniques for teaching ESL and impart that knowledge onto future generations of ESL teachers.