In Texas, a growing number of families do not speak English as their primary language. As a result, teachers who have the training to teach English as a second language (ESL) classes are especially in demand. An online ESL master’s program can give you the specialized knowledge you need to teach ESL classes and make you more marketable to school districts.
Benefits to having an ESL certification
Many school districts in Texas have ESL programs on their campus for students who come to the United States with limited understanding of the English language. The ESL programs are in place to help these students transition into the regular classroom and provide support for teachers who have ESL students in their normal classes. Students will eventually be placed in normal English classes with the expectation of performing to state standards.
The value of having an ESL background through a master’s program is considerable. You are taught strategies to help these students including cross-cultural communication, linguistics fundamentals and teaching pronunciation. Another benefit is being marketable to school districts. Many districts are beginning to require English teachers to take the supplemental ESL certification test as part of their English certification. Gaining an ESL master’s degree can give you a leg up when searching for a job, since demand for highly qualified ESL teachers will increase as the number of ESL students increases.
The ESL student
ESL students typically have to adjust very quickly to the American culture while trying to understand a language the other students have known for years. For Texas teachers especially, having a specialization in ESL can give you the tools to help these students succeed in the classroom. Even understanding simple cultural norms can be the difference between a happy student and a parent-teacher conference.
As the number of ESL students increase in Texas, it is more important than ever to have an ESL background when looking for a teaching job. Even if you find ESL students in your regular classroom, a master’s with an ESL specialization can help give you ideas and strategies you can use to help make your students successful.
Sources:
http://work.chron.com/advantages-tesol-21054.html
http://www.masters-education.com/teaching-english-as-a-second-language-esl/
