"Mini-Guide" to ESL Education Degrees Online

• "ESL (English as a second language), ESOL (English for speakers of other languages), and EFL (English as a foreign language) all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with a different native language. These terms are most commonly used in relation to teaching and learning English, but they may also be used in relation to demographic information."

– Wikipedia

• "ESL means "English as a second language". People usually use the word ESL to talk about teaching English to people who do not speak English. Usually, ESL teaching happens in an English-speaking country. Often, ESL students are people who came to live in an English-speaking country, and do not speak English very well. If we talk about teaching or learning English in a country where English is not spoken, we usually use the word "EFL", but "ESL" is sometimes used, too."

– Antimoon.com definition

• "The fundamental duty of a teacher of adult ESL is to facilitate the development of communication skills in English, either in a classroom setting or in a one-on-one tutoring structure. In many program settings, teachers must also include substantive content beyond language instruction, such as employment skills, survival skills, cultural information, or American history and citizenship facts. Teachers must also take into consideration the implications of the learners' cultural differences and cultural adjustment processes."

– ERIC Digest

Think about an online ESL teaching degree if you:

• Enjoy traveling abroad and learning about other cultures, and want to teach English in another country
• Are a current ESL teacher looking to upgrade your skills
• Are interested in teaching ESL to adults or children from other countries in the United States
• Plan to create and/or implement an ESL program in your community

In the U.S., teaching requirements vary from state-to-state, but an ESL teacher is required to hold a bachelor’s degree in English, at a minimum, with additional coursework or a graduate degree in Teaching English as a Second Language or Teaching English as a Foreign Language. A graduate degree is required event for entry level positions at colleges and universities. In the K-12 grade levels, ESL teachers will also need teacher certification. If teaching ESL overseas, a bachelor degree will be helpful in obtaining an ESL teaching position in academic settings.

Here are some courses you might take to earn a degree in English-as-a-Second-Language instruction:

• Contemporary Semantic Theory
• Structure of English
• Special Topics in Linguistics
• Research Methods in Language Studies
• Sociolinguistics
• Psycholinguistics
• Corpus Linguistics
• Pragmatics and Teaching Oral Skills
• Bilingualism and Language Acquisition Research
• Methods of Teaching Multilingual Students
• Assessment of Language Learners

Here are just a few types of jobs in the ESL teaching field:

• Adult Education
• Teaching ESL in public schools in the U.S.
• Teaching ESL at schools and universities abroad
• Teaching for social service organizations
• Teaching at private language schools
• Teaching employees at businesses, both in the U.S. and abroad

Teachers of English as a Second Language help students learn to speak, read and write the English language. Much of this is done in the context of real-life situations to promote learning, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Along with teaching grammar and writing, ESL teachers also assist their students in adjusting to American culture, if they are teaching in the U.S. ESL teachers work with students from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, and need to be prepared to work with students from many different age groups and English language skill levels. Students may have significant educational experience in their home countries to little or none at all. Some students may progress further in their studies than others as a result, and ESL teachers must tailor their approach for each student. ESL teachers must prepare lesson plans, stay current in their field and learn the latest computer applications for computers in the classroom.

With an increasing number of immigrants coming to the United States, those who teach English as a Second Language are expected to have an increasing number of job opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is expected to grow faster than average, and many job openings are expected due to the need to replace people who leave the occupation or retire. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 15 percent through 2018. From 1989 to 2000, the number of non-native English speakers in the United States grew by almost 105 percent, according to a survey by the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition. Nearly 1 in 4 people in California alone is currently learning English.

Part-time ESL teachers were paid a median average wage of $22.26 per hour in 2008. The middle 50 percent earned $16.65 to $29.78 per hour. Part-time ESL teachers are paid by the hour for each class that they teach, and receive few or no benefits. Part-time ESL teachers usually supplement their income with full-time jobs. Full-time K-12 ESL teachers earned a median salary of $41,400-$45,920 in 2004, according to the BSL. Some states are finding ESL jobs difficult to fill, and offer financial incentives, such as “signing bonuses.”

Those who work as English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language instructor abroad usually do so on a contract basis. In academic settings, the contract typically does not extend beyond an academic year. Demand for ESL and EFL teachers is especially keen in South America, Africa and Asian countries such as South Korea, China and Japan. Even in countries where salaries are generally low, ESL teachers can typically earn enough to live a middle class lifestyle in their host country. Compensation may also include living quarters and air fare to the country of employment.