Education professionals have a number of options for concentrating on a specific area of teaching or educational leadership. The opportunity to specialize a Master’s in Education in English as a second language, also called ESL, is increasingly opening up opportunities in an in-demand area of elementary, secondary, and adult education.
Master of Education in ESL Degree
In many cases, a Master of Education program is designed for professional educators who are looking to advance knowledge in classroom instruction or who want to shift into a different area of education, such as leadership or intervention. The option to obtain a Master of Education in English as a Second Language offers educators the option to earn the qualifications often needed for specialized roles in both the teaching and administration areas of education.
The core of this particular graduate degree includes a variety of courses to help graduate students gain knowledge and skill in everything from classroom instruction to curriculum design. Some of the common courses in a Master of Education in ESL include introduction to teaching, supporting learning, elements of diversity in education, classroom management, technology in the classroom, and assessment of student needs. Additional information on the needs of English as a second language students and teachers can be found at the TESOL Association website.
Elementary, Secondary, and Adult ESL Learning
Often, a master’s degree in education with a concentration in ESL offers students opportunities to focus on either elementary or secondary education, as well as separate concentrations for gaining knowledge in ESL learning for adults. Many of the courses are similar or the same. These classes include teaching methods in bilingual education, instruction and assessment of ESL, bilingualism, bi-literacy, principles of educational practices, language learning and technology, and linguistics.
In an elementary-focused concentration, courses often include childhood development, literacy development in children, and supporting language development. Secondary concentrations are likely to include courses such as adolescent development, special education instruction, and second language acquisition. For programs that are focused on adults, course work includes linguistic problems in teaching English as a second language (TESOL), methods of teaching TESOL, intercultural educational foundations, phonology, and program management of language learning.
Related Resource: Master’s in Educational Leadership
Certificates in ESL Teaching
Another option for educators with a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in another area of teaching to consider is the post-graduate certificate option. Most certificates require the completion of 16 to 18 credit hours and are often sufficient for meeting qualifications preferred for teaching positions in ESL. The courses typically include linguistics issues in TESOL, syntactic theory, phonology, and second language acquisition.
English as a Second Language Education Positions
Educators have opportunities both in the United States and in other nations to work as teachers. This also requires additional certification and, in some cases, government licensing or visas. In addition to classroom instruction, graduates with a Master of Education in ESL are also prepared to create curricula, monitor and assess programs, and take on other administrative-based positions.
As a graduate student, there are options to focus on ESL. The opportunity to specialize a Master’s in Education in English as a second language helps graduates meet some of the main requirements to apply for positions in an in-demand field in the U.S. and in other countries.
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