Master Degree: English as a Second Language Degree and Programs

The United States has always been a nation of immigrants, and that remains the case today. Many immigrants come to the U.S. with little or no understanding of English, and a huge number of children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents reach school age without learning to speak English. The result is a growing demand for qualified teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL).

Learn to Teach English with a Master's Degree in ESL

This demand extends into the corporate world as well: the emergence of a global economy hasn't changed the fact that English is the language of global commerce, resulting are plentiful prospects in the corporate world, both in the U.S. and abroad, for ESL teachers. A master's degree in ESL can give you a leg up in taking advantage of these opportunities.

Learning to Teach English

It is a big jump from being able to speak English to being able to teach it to non-English speakers. As a student in an ESL master's degree program, your coursework will include classes in teaching people from different cultures, language acquisition theory, linguistics, and teaching adults. The ability to speak a second language is helpful, but not necessary, for ESL teachers. The job market for ESL teachers is strongest in states with high immigrant populations such as New York, California, and Florida, but job opportunities exist nationwide as well as abroad.