- Teacher Certification Map
- TESOL
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
Learn. Teach. Inspire.
Become a transformative educator when you earn your Master's or EdD online at the USC Rossier School of Education
Sponsored Program
English as a Second Language (ESL)
With non-native English speakers regularly moving to the United States for better opportunities and an ongoing demand for English instruction around the globe, it is an excellent time to pursue a career as a teacher of English as a second language (ESL). It is never too late to become certified as an ESL teacher, and career opportunities abound in the public and private sectors.
What is ESL?
English is the most popular language spoken as a second language all over the globe. In the past, ESL teachers did most of the curriculum instruction (science, math, social studies, language arts) to groups of students that all spoke different languages. Since inclusion with native English speakers offers great benefits to students learning English, the teaching style changed so that today’s ESL teachers help students become more fluent in speaking English, preparing them to attend regular classes. Unlike foreign language teachers, ESL teachers may instruct groups of students that speak multiple languages, which offers unique challenges but rich diversity. ESL teachers instruct in English from beginning to advanced levels, with a focus on vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
For more information on what it means to be an ESL teacher, please visit our page for ESL teachers.
Demand for ESL Teachers
According to the U.S. Department of Education, most states have identified ESL — or English as a foreign language (EFL) — as a critical teaching shortage area. ESL teachers are needed in all grade levels in public and private schools, from preschool to adult. Besides the opportunities in the United States, many foreign countries actively recruit American teachers to instruct students to become fluent in English. There are opportunities in almost every region of the world, and some of the high demand areas include China, Japan, the Middle East, South Korea and Southeast Asia.
ESL Program Opportunities
Depending on whether you want to teach abroad or in the United States, the certification process varies. For any program, you should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. To teach abroad, you do not always need an ESL certificate, but it will certainly give you an advantage when applying for positions. For positions abroad, you can complete one of the TEFL courses, which range greatly in cost and duration. Dave’s ESL Cafe, an excellent resource for teachers and English learners, has information on different TEFL courses that are offered.
To teach in the United States, you need to go through the teacher certification process, which includes passing certification exams, fulfilling education requirements and applying for a state teaching license. ESL certification requirements vary from state to state, so you will want to check with your state’s department of education.
For more information on the certification process, please visit ESL Teacher Certification.
ESL Career Options
If you receive state certification for ESL, you can teach in grade levels from preschool to 12th grade. However, becoming an ESL teacher does not limit you to teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Explore some of the alternative options by following the links below.
- Adult ESL Education
- Applied Linguistics in TESOL
- Bilingual Education
- Computer-Assisted Language Learning
- Elementary ESL Education
- English as a Foreign Language
- English for Specific Purposes
- Higher ESL Education
- Intensive English Programs
- Intercultural Communication
- International Teaching Assistants
- Materials Writers
- Non-native English Speakers in TESOL
- Second Language Writing
ESL Resources
Once you have entered this rewarding career, there are numerous Internet resources that offer teaching strategies, lesson plans and even job banks. Besides Dave’s ESL Cafe, there are ESL Party Land and English as a Second Language, which are all free resources.
Learn. Teach. Inspire.
Become a transformative educator when you earn your Master's or EdD online at the USC Rossier School of Education
Sponsored Program
{"admissionsEmail": "admissions@rossieronline.usc.edu", "degreeOffering": "usc-mat", "fields": [{"hidden": false, "label": "Which program are you interested in?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "Master of Arts in Teaching", "value": "MAT"}, {"label": "Master of Arts in Teaching - TESOL", "value": "MAT TESOL"}, {"label": "Master of Education in School Counseling", "value": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"label": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership", "value": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}]}}, {"hidden": true, "label": "", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent", "required": true, "type": 9, "value": {"gdprOnly": "false"}}, {"hidden": false, "mountPoint": 2, "name": "", "type": 7, "value": {"text": "Your personal data will be used as described in our [--link:https://rossieronline.usc.edu/legal/privacy-policy/ target:blank]privacy policy[link--]. You may opt out of receiving communications at any time."}}], "grouping": "usc-mat", "id": 333, "published": "2019-10-08T16:50:44.243Z", "screens": [{"allFields": [1, 0], "conditional": {}, "out": {"0": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}], "version": "1.0.1"}
{"admissionsEmail": "admissions@rossieronline.usc.edu", "degreeOffering": "usc-mat", "fields": [{"hidden": false, "label": "Which program are you interested in?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "Master of Arts in Teaching", "value": "MAT"}, {"label": "Master of Arts in Teaching - TESOL", "value": "MAT TESOL"}, {"label": "Master of Education in School Counseling", "value": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"label": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership", "value": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}]}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": true, "label": "Degree Offering: usc-mat", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree_offering", "required": false, "type": 12, "value": {"degreeOffering": "usc-mat", "programId": "82"}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": true, "label": "Degree Offering: usc-msc", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree_offering", "required": false, "type": 12, "value": {"degreeOffering": "usc-msc", "programId": "83"}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "Are you a teacher?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "teacher", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "Yes", "value": "Yes"}, {"label": "No", "value": "No"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "What is your highest level of education completed?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "level_of_education", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "High School", "value": "High School"}, {"label": "Associate\u0027s", "value": "Associates"}, {"label": "Bachelor\u0027s in progress", "value": "Bachelors In Progress"}, {"label": "Bachelor\u0027s", "value": "Bachelors"}, {"label": "Master\u0027s in progress", "value": "Masters In Progress"}, {"label": "Master\u0027s", "value": "Masters"}, {"label": "Doctorate", "value": "Doctorate"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "What was your undergraduate GPA?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "stated_gpa_range", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "4.00 and above", "value": "4.00 And Above"}, {"label": "3.99 - 3.50", "value": "3.99-3.50"}, {"label": "3.49 - 3.00", "value": "3.49-3.00"}, {"label": "2.99 - 2.50", "value": "2.99-2.50"}, {"label": "2.49 and below", "value": "2.49 And Below"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "First Name", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "first_name", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Last Name", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "last_name", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Email", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "email", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "US Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00b8- MAT", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 11, "value": {"checkboxText": "Please contact me about these educational programs.", "defaultChecked": true, "defaultRadio": "none", "disclaimer": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, 2U, Inc., and its family of companies, work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields.", "format": "checkbox", "optInValue": "USC-MAT Marketing", "smsHiddenConsent": false}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "US Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00b8- MSC", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 11, "value": {"checkboxText": "Please contact me about these educational programs.", "defaultChecked": true, "defaultRadio": "none", "disclaimer": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, 2U, Inc., and its family of companies, work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields.", "format": "checkbox", "optInValue": "USC-MSC Marketing", "smsHiddenConsent": false}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "GDPR Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00aa\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba- MAT", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 8, "value": {"disclaimer": "This personal data is collected and processed by [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc.[link--], USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner.", "leadShareOptIn": {"email": "Please email me about these educational programs.", "leadShareValue": "USC-MAT Marketing", "phone": "", "sms": "", "text": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc., and its family of companies[link--], work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields."}, "retailOptIn": {"email": "Email", "phone": "Phone", "sms": "", "text": "Yes, I want to receive additional information about the USC Rossier Master of Arts in Teaching online. Please contact me via:"}}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "GDPR Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00aa\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba- MSC", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 8, "value": {"disclaimer": "This personal data is collected and processed by [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc.[link--], USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner.", "leadShareOptIn": {"email": "Please email me about these educational programs.", "leadShareValue": "USC-MSC Marketing", "phone": "", "sms": "", "text": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc., and its family of companies[link--], work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields."}, "retailOptIn": {"email": "Email", "phone": "Phone", "sms": "", "text": "Yes, I want to receive additional information about the USC Rossier Master of Education in School Counseling online. Please contact me via:"}}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "How many years of work experience do you have?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "work_experience", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "0", "value": "0"}, {"label": "1", "value": "1"}, {"label": "2", "value": "2"}, {"label": "3", "value": "3"}, {"label": "4", "value": "4"}, {"label": "5", "value": "5"}, {"label": "6", "value": "6"}, {"label": "7", "value": "7"}, {"label": "8", "value": "8"}, {"label": "9", "value": "9"}, {"label": "10+", "value": "10+"}]}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "Which industry are you currently employed in?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "industry", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "K-12 Teacher", "value": "K-12 Teacher"}, {"label": "K-12 Admin", "value": "K-12 Admin"}, {"label": "Higher Education", "value": "Higher Education"}, {"label": "Private Sector", "value": "Private Sector"}, {"label": "Government / Non-profit", "value": "Government / Non-profit"}, {"label": "Other", "value": "Other"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Country of Residence", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "country", "required": true, "type": 6, "value": {}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "Phone", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "phone", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Zip / Postal Code", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "zip_code", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "State", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "state", "required": true, "type": 5, "value": {}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "Country of Citizenship", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "country_of_citizenship", "required": true, "type": 6, "value": {}}, {"hidden": true, "label": "", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent", "required": true, "type": 9, "value": {"gdprOnly": "false"}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "US Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00b8- EDD", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 11, "value": {"checkboxText": "USC Rossier\u0027s partner and its affiliates work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields. I would like to learn more about these additional programs and other programs offered by USC Rossier.", "defaultChecked": true, "defaultRadio": "none", "disclaimer": "By pressing submit, I consent to USC Rossier and its partner contacting me using the above information. I may opt out of receiving these messages any time.", "format": "checkbox", "optInValue": "USC-MAT Marketing", "smsHiddenConsent": false}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "GDPR Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00aa\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba- EDD", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 8, "value": {"disclaimer": "This personal data is collected and processed by [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc.[link--], USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner.", "leadShareOptIn": {"email": "Please email me about these educational programs.", "leadShareValue": "USC-MAT Marketing", "phone": "", "sms": "", "text": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc., and its family of companies[link--], work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields."}, "retailOptIn": {"email": "Email", "phone": "Phone", "sms": "", "text": "Yes, I want to receive additional information about the USC Rossier EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership. Please contact me via:"}}}, {"hidden": false, "mountPoint": 2, "name": "", "type": 7, "value": {"text": "Your personal data will be used as described in our [--link:https://rossieronline.usc.edu/legal/privacy-policy/ target:blank]privacy policy[link--]. You may opt out of receiving communications at any time."}}], "grouping": "usc-mat", "id": 333, "published": "2019-10-08T16:50:44.243Z", "screens": [{"allFields": [20, 0], "conditional": {}, "out": {"1": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14], "conditional": {"1": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]], "13": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}]], "14": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}]], "2": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"op": 0}]], "3": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]]}, "out": {"2": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 9, 11, 10, 12, 21, 22, 23], "conditional": {"10": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 7}]], "11": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"op": 7}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 8}]], "12": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 8}]], "16": [3, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]], "19": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]], "21": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 7}]], "22": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 8}]], "9": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 7}]]}, "out": {"-1": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}], "version": "1.0.1"}