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What is an ESL Teacher?

Teaching English as a Second Language, ESL degree is a field of study focused on teaching the English language to individuals with a different native language. Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) are synonymous terms that represent the same discipline.

EFL is a learning tool used for English language learning and speaking for individuals to learn English in a locale or country where English is not commonly spoken.  As a point of clarification, the term English as a Second Language (ESL) should not be interpreted to mean that English is of secondary importance but rather it is used to denote the order in which languages are acquired.

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best ESL Degree

University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA) is a private Ivy League research university, internationally recognized for its academic excellence. The university fosters an interdisciplinary approach to learning allowing college students to gain more knowledge and skills. Penn has ESL teaching programs for undergraduate and graduate degrees. The school also offers continuing education, and courses designed for distance learning. English Language Program ESL at Penn is highly recognized with a CEA-accredited Intensive Program. The ESL master teaching program is focused on developing students’ skills on English across academic, business, or general purposes.

Acceptance Rate

7.66

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) is a private institution that offers a variety of ESL teaching education degrees for English language learners related to the legal profession, social sciences, business and marketing, interdisciplinary studies, and health. VU has 70 majors in addition to ESL that are organized in its four undergraduate colleges and six graduate schools. The university has very active research programs outside the ESL degrees, too. Vanderbilt offers both online and on-campus learning modes. VU manages an ESL teacher English Language Center that offers a wide range of teching programs focused on learning ESL English as a Second Language. The center offers discipline-focused programs, academic writing, workshops, and more. The university also competes at the NCAA, under baseball, basketball, and track & field.  

Acceptance Rate

9.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) is a public university that is recognized for its academic programs, research works and medical health practices. JHU is a college that offers a variety of teaching degrees, academic disciplines and has multiple degrees available for all undergraduate and graduate colleges. The Center for Language Education offers non-credit advanced ESL language degrees allowing non-native speakers to develop their skills in the language. English language learners and ESL courses are offered to both master students, undergraduate students, teachers, and professionals. The university maintains campuses across the Baltimore-Washington area. JHU also maintains international exposure through campuses located in China and Italy. Academic excellence is maintained by JHU, thus, it is one of the most selective universities in the country.  

Acceptance Rate

11.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Georgetown University (Washington, D.C) is a private university and the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher education in the United States but managed independently from church. Georgetown has ten colleges that offer undergraduate teaching and graduate teacher programs. The college gives undergraduate students the opportunity to design their courses of study. Georgetown is a teaching college that exposes its students to a variety of learning experiences. Study abroad programs are available for qualified students and students are encouraged to participate in the program.  The ESL English Language Center offers a wide range of teaching programs that help students, teachers, and business professionals develop their English language skills.  Designated education language degrees are designed for current teachers and interested ESL English language learners as future teaching professionals. 

Acceptance Rate

14.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) is a private university offering programs mostly focused on sciences, medicine, and liberal arts. These college programs for teachers are described as “balanced arts & sciences/professions”. Most USC degrees are given across two campuses but there are programs that are taught on different locations in Southern California. USC attracts many international students and also provides opportunities to study abroad and international internships.  The university offers an Intensive ESL education English Program that develops a student’s language proficiency from beginner to advanced.  Master level courses are focused on teaching reading, writing, listening, speaking, and pronunciation. USC boasts a strong and award-winning faculty, robust education, and notable alumni. 

Acceptance Rate

11.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

University of California - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) is a notable public university in the United States.  The university has top-notch undergraduate education with equally the best graduate opportunities for master and doctorate students. UCLA is considered as a “Public Ivy”. The university has a long list of college education programs from arts and sciences, to engineering and medicine. ESL, English as a Second Language, is a course offered to ESL students and ESL professionals who aim to develop their skills on the language. The Summer ESL education language program is open to any international visitor who is interested in learning ESL from the nation's top teachers. In addition to ESL language teaching, the campus has several recreational facilities fostering a well-balanced and healthy student life. 

Acceptance Rate

12.32

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Boston University (Boston, MA) is a highly recognized private institution that offers quality education. The education university has been ranked locally and internationally for its academic programs, teachers, services, and research activities.  BU opts to maintain small class sizes with a ratio of one teacher to 13 students and 27 for undergraduate classes. The university has a diverse student population from various states across the United States and several foreign countries. BU offers a Global ESL Program including some that are under the Center for English Language & Orientation. It offers ESL language teacher courses from 4 weeks to 12 weeks of Intensive English language program. Professionals and teachers can also take a career-focused English education program.  BU has a long list of notable alumni in journalism, science, entertainment, and many notable education programs.  

Acceptance Rate

18.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

University of Rochester (Rochester, NY) is a private research university that has more than 200 academic majors allowing students to have a variety of options. Schools and colleges in UR are widely recognized for its contributions to specific fields. UR is one of the “New Ivies”, these are schools that are considered rivals of the traditional Ivy League members.  ESL and English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) is offered at the graduate level. This master education program is designed to help English language learners and international students to gain advanced knowledge about the language. The university has several ESL scholarships programs for interested teachers and deserving ESL students.  

Acceptance Rate

29.71

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA) is a non-profit private institution. The university has various education degree programs for teachers giving interested student applicants to choose which major is right for them. The College of Education offers a program specialist certification for ESL or English as a Second Language. The ESL language program is open for elementary teachers or secondary education teachers and to those who are pursuing ESL certification to become certified ESL teachers. The ESL certificate is an education program can be earned within at least 18 months. On-campus education and online language courses are available outside the ESL program. Compared to other universities, LU has a fairly low population with an average of 7,000 students enrolled per year.

Acceptance Rate

32.1

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA) is a private university that offers undergraduate and graduate programs. ESL courses offered in Pepperdine are accessible in several parts of the United States and across the world for teachers and ESL language specialists. The university has satellite schools in Southern California, a center in Washington D.C. and campuses in Argentina, China, and several parts of Europe. A large percentage of the student population are taking Pepperdine’s study abroad programs and may or may not be English language learners. The Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a language fit for students, a teacher, and professionals who aim to teach English at every academic level across the globe. MA in TESOL is a full-time language program fostering a scholar-practitioner model of language teacher education. 

Acceptance Rate

31.72

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

New York University (New York, NY) is a private research university, popular for being the largest higher learning institution in the U.S. NYU also takes pride in its academic excellence in a variety of fields of study. The university is known to international ESL language students and it also manages several study abroad ESL facilities located around the globe. The university ranked 22nd of the world's top ESL universities according to the Global University Ranking. The English Language Institute offers a variety of ESL master programs that are designed to develop the student’s English language skills. It provides courses for ESL English language learners, ESL career advancement and ESL teacher courses that focus on a particular industry. The university has more than 350 clubs and organizations for students on campus allowing a well-balanced student life. 

Acceptance Rate

16.2

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

University of Georgia (Athens, GA) is the flagship public university of the state. It is also recognized as one of the oldest public universities in the United States. The university offers a wide range of ESL teacher programs offered from humanities, communications, sciences, education, law, up to health and medicine. UGA has a large number of master and ESL continuing education students focused on public service and technology transfer related programs. UGA is a highly diverse university that attracts significant ESL students with language goals from bachelor to master levels. It educates both ESL local teachers, ESL teachers, and international ESL students. English as a Second Language (ESL) is offered across several USG campuses at the master level and lower levels. The ESL teacher language master program allows international students to maximize their educational opportunities and become a teacher domestically or internationally. 

Acceptance Rate

45.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

SUNY at Binghamton (Vestal, NY) is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The university fosters a liberal arts curriculum allowing teachers and students to explore more areas of study. It has comprehensive academic ESL language programs and it is also active in research works. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a master level ESL graduate teacher program that grants MSED or MA degrees, or a certificate for a future teacher. The MA language ESL teacher program allows graduates to teach ESL around the globe while the MSEd program is for teacher professionals who aim to learn ESL and teach English to K-12 students. 

Acceptance Rate

40.53

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

George Washington University (Washington, D.C.) provides several opportunities for ESL students to work on projects alongside government leaders, science and law professionals, and ESL individuals from other disciplines. It was ranked first for “Top Colleges or Universities for Internship Opportunities”. GW offers both on-campus and off-campus modes of learning allowing flexibility for students. GW University has hundreds of ESL degree programs for both undergraduate and graduate levels. ESL and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is offered at the graduate level and awards a graduate certificate for English language learners. The English language learners degree program prepares ESL professionals to teach English in the U.S. and around the globe. ESL courses are delivered online and on-campus. The university has a diverse student population, educating American students and international students from more than 130 countries. 

Acceptance Rate

40.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY) is a public research university offering recognized degree programs for both undergraduate and graduate levels. Among the top programs in SU are information studies and library science, architecture, communications, business administration, and engineering. ESL and English Language Institute is a program designed for ESL adults who aim to advance their English language skills. The ESL institute offers Academic English program and English for Specific Purposes, this is for English language learners and ESL professionals who aim to develop their skills within a particular industry. In addition to the ESL degree, SU is also known for its study abroad programs. Middle East and Florence, Italy are just two of the many locations for the school’s study abroad programs. Syracuse University has an excellent faculty and notable alumni. 

Acceptance Rate

44.38

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Fordham University (Bronx, NY) is a private Catholic university. The university still fosters a curriculum that follows the Jesuit educational principles. Fordham has a comprehensive study abroad program managed by the International and Study Abroad Programs (ISAP) Office. The university has over 130 study abroad opportunities. The ESL programs’ focus may vary from cultural and language immersion to internship and ESL service learning. English as a Second Language or ESL is offered in the university.  ESL Students can take ESL courses and custom programs on ESL. The ESL education provided is designed to prepare individuals who are planning to earn a degree, apply for a new job, or enrich their day-to-day lives. Overall, the university emphasizes the liberal arts as a basis of education. 

Acceptance Rate

45.88

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

The College of New Jersey (Ewing, NJ) is a notable public university organized into seven schools. Programs lead to bachelor’s degrees and some to master’s degrees. TCNJ focuses on its liberal arts curriculum giving students the opportunity to learn a wide range of topics and areas of study. TCNJ offers an ESL master’s degree program and ESL certification programs on Teaching as a Second Language. All ESL certification programs conform with the national guideline and the ESL K-12 standards by TESL organization. The university also offers graduate ESL programs in Education at a number of international locations. Students with good academic standing and enough credits are encouraged to apply for ESL study abroad programs. 

Acceptance Rate

49.28

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

American University (Washington, DC) is a private research university offering a wide range of programs across eight schools and colleges. The school offers about 160 programs from bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral. The United Methodist affiliation of AU is a great contributor to its history, education, and curriculum. The ESL and English Language and Training Academy offers an intensive full-time English as a Second Language program for students who want to develop their English language skills. The ESL program also offers courses about the U.S. culture. AU’s ESL study abroad program is among the top 10 in the country. The university offers premier ESL programs to partner schools and universities across the globe. 

Acceptance Rate

36.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

University of Washington - Seattle Campus (Seattle, WA) is a public research university and considered one of the oldest universities on the West Coast. UW has competitive academic programs for undergraduate and graduate levels across various fields of study. The university offers ESL and International & English Language programs. These are ESL programs that are designed to help international students to learn more about the English language and adapt ESL across a variety of settings. The university is recognized as a “Public Ivy” and also a leading university in research. UW has notable alumni in science, engineering, and leadership.  

Acceptance Rate

51.76

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Ohio State University-Main Campus (Columbus, OH) is a public university and is considered the largest single-campus university in the United States. The university is the top university in academics and research in the state. It is recognized as one of the Public Ivies of some publications. Before being a comprehensive university, Ohio State used to focus on offering various agricultural and mechanical disciplines. Today, it is also listed among the leading research and teaching institutions in the United States. The university also offers top ranked ESL degree program for qualified OSU students. The wide variety of program concentrations help international students and non-native speakers to develop their English language skills. 

Acceptance Rate

53.74

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

University of San Diego (San Diego, CA) is a private university recognized in the United States for providing a quality education and services to students. The university has several undergraduate and graduate schools offering a wide range of programs to choose from. USD is among the top universities listed under the “Most Popular Study Abroad Program”. The university houses the English Language Academy. It offers a range of English language programs focused on offering a variety of learning outcomes. The programs are offered to learners of varying ages, levels of English proficiency and personal/career goals.  The school has award-winning and notable alumni in different industries. 

Acceptance Rate

48.69

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY) is a public university known for its academic programs related to medical and health professions. The university was named as one of the “top 100 best national universities” in the country according to U.S. News and World Report. It is popular for its cutting edge facilities, research activities, and quality education. It manages the International English Center. Classes in the center as recommended to students who already had at least two years of English experience. Courses are designed to develop students’ academic language skills. 

Acceptance Rate

44.15

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

State University of New York at New Paltz (New Paltz, NY) is a public institution for higher education offering several degree programs for students to choose from. SUNY College also provides adult education for professionals and individuals who want to enhance or further their education. The New Paltz campus is just one of the several universities and colleges under SUNY College. Intensive English Programs and English as a Second Language degree programs are offered across several SUNY campuses. Interested students can take IEPs as year-round, full-time programs.

Acceptance Rate

45.18

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

San Diego State University (San Diego, CA) is a public university and one of the oldest members of the California State University system. It was once an institution focused on teacher training before it became a highly-regarded research university today. It offers programs covering almost 200 areas of study for students taking up undergraduate and graduate degrees. SDSU houses the American Language Institute is a Global Campus that offers a wide range of English Language programs. ALI students can take several courses offered at SDSU without undergoing the traditional admission process. Most of the programs at ALI lead to certificates.  Students from the two campuses have the opportunity for study abroad programs across more than 50 countries. San Diego State emphasizes the importance of higher education among younger students. 

Acceptance Rate

34.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

27:1

University of South Florida-Main Campus (Tampa, FL) is a public university under the State University System of Florida. The university offers programs for all degree levels and it is also very active on its research initiatives. This public university has been recognized as the “Harvard of the South”. The university offers graduate and postgraduate certificates in the English Language. A professional certificate in ESOL is open to students who already have a bachelor’s degree or a teaching certification. This program is offered fully online. USF faculty, staff, students, and alumni collectively have over 2,000 patents. The Greek society in USF is fairly big with a solid reputation for community outreach and on-campus activities. 

Acceptance Rate

47.63

Student to Faculty Ratio

22:1

Top ESL Degree for Teachers

The degree programs available for students wanting to teach ESL in a secondary or primary education setting lead students to a graduate or undergraduate degree. The degree program you select will be wholly dependent upon your personal goals, career aspirations, teaching objectives, school district preference, and degree programs available.

In an effort to help you determine which path is best for you, we have assembled an overview of a bachelors degree and masters teacher certification degrees in ESL below. You can connect with top ranked colleges simply by requesting information from the schools that fit you best.

Bachelor ESL Degrees

Bachelor degrees for English as a Second Language can generally be completed within 4-years based on full-time matriculation. A student attending school on a part-time basis should anticipate a longer period of time to earn an ESL bachelors degree given the schools requirements, the pace of your courses, and any other teaching endorsements you add to the program.

ESL online bachelor degrees for teachers or their classroom-based equivalent can be conferred as a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA). A school will determine how a particular degree will be conferred based on the curricular design of the program and its overall emphasis

In addition to general education courses such as economics, psychology, history, sociology, and creative writing, you will take a series of core classes. A typical set of courses you may register for in an ESL, English as a Second Language, program include a combination of the following:

  • English Composition
  • Psychology
  • Biology
  • Technology in Education
  • Chemistry
  • Foreign Language
  • Exceptional Learners
  • Student Assessments
  • Communications
  • Philosophy
  • Methods and Techniques in ESL
  • Teaching in Diverse Environments
  • History
  • Economics
  • Classroom Management

Master ESL Degrees in Teaching

Being accepted by a college or university into a graduate ESL master degree program in ESL will require you to have met all applicable lower-level requirements and other criteria established by the school. The academic requirements of ESL teachers at your school of choice may include the coursework completed, grades, extracurricular activities, and teaching experience. Students studying a master degree on a full-time basis can expect to move towards completion quicker than attending part time. As a point of reference, many full time students can expect to complete a master degree in about two-years. A Master degree can be conferred by colleges and universities as a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Arts (MA).

The core ESL courses you will take can vary by school and area of emphasis. In other words, students intent on teaching at a high school level will take different classes than a K-8 teacher. You will likely see an overlap in classes that are worth noting. Common ESL classes you will find in an ESL degree program may include:

  • Methods for Teaching English
  • Models of Instruction
  • Literacy Development
  • Curriculum Development & Design
  • Child Psychology in Education
  • Teaching Practicum
  • Media and Technology in the Classroom
  • Childhood & Adolescent Development
  • Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction
  • Clinical Teaching

How to Become an English Language Learning Teacher

ESL teachers can help primary or secondary school students effectively communicate in the English language. Teaching English language includes the ability to write, read, speak, and hear English with acuity. Steps to become an ESL English language teaching are broken down below to help you understand the process involved in teaching in a public institution. The process includes the following phases:

Phase 1: Earning an Undergraduate or Graduate Degree

Phase one in your journey to becoming an English as a Second Language teacher is to earn a formal degree from an accredited college. A bachelors degree will be sufficient in most states but make sure to check with your school district and states department of education for variations to this rule of thumb. You will likely qualify to teach ESL by earning a degree in a related teaching discipline depending on your state of residence. In addition, you may be able to earn a valid teaching certification in your state as set forth by the United States Department of Education (DOE) by earning a college degree in an unrelated field of study.

Phase 2:  State & School District ESL Requirements

To teach in many schools, school districts, or states you will need to hold specific credentials. These credentials may include an approved combination of a teaching certificate, endorsement, and teaching license. Private schools, on the other hand, may not require teachers with a degree to hold a license but may be highly recommended by the school administration. The process to earn your English ESL teachers certificate and/or teaching license will include a formal application plus fingerprinting forms, and a background check

Phase 3:  English Language Learner Work Experience

Gaining relevant teaching experience is the final phase in the process to become an ESL teacher.  Your home state will set forth a minimum number of supervised teaching hours or require schools to include this requirement in a degree program.  Hours will need to be invested in a classroom setting to gain mastery over the subject matter and get comfortable working with students.

Schools Other Students Requested Information From:

Teaching English Language ESL Jobs

Teaching positions in the United States are expected to remain robust. For ESL teachers, it is important to know the trends in secondary and higher education are looking strong. Publications by the U.S. Department of Labor and the BLS reveal job outlook data that is encouraging for teachers. Average job growth for college professors is forecast to jump 13% and high school teachers should see a 7% rise during the same timeframe.

Total compensation for ESL teachers will depend on the district, job experience, education level, scope of responsibilities, and work ethic. ESL teachers may choose to work as a middle school teacher, translator, curriculum designer, interpreter, or research analyst after earning a teaching degree.

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