“Texas schools have added more than 300,000 bilingual students in the past decade,” according to research by the Texas Tribune. Many of these students may only be familiar with their native language. ESL teachers are needed to help develop and enhance a child’s English language skills.
Shortage of ESL Teachers
There has been a shortage of bilingual teachers in Texas since 1990 and many school districts in the state are actively recruiting bilingual teachers. Teachers in Texas who are certified ESL teachers statistically earn higher annual salaries, and it is commonplace for ESL teachers in Texas to receive stipends and ESL certification education reimbursement.
To become an ESL teacher in Texas you will need to work through the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification requirements established by the Texas Education Agency and implemented by the State Board for Educator Certification.
Becoming a bilingual teacher in Texas does involve a rigorous certification process. There are additional tests that bilingual teachers must take that are not required of other teachers, including the appropriate ESL tests that correspond to the grade you intend to teach. Requirements vary for teachers in grades PK through 5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12.
ESL Teachers Learning a Second Language
Many teachers find that studying a second language is also advantageous when preparing to become an ESL teacher. According to the ESLTeacherEDU.org website, the five most common languages among Texas’s ELL students are:
- Spanish.
- Vietnamese.
- Chinese.
- German.
- Korean.
Certified teachers in Texas who wish to teach ESL may find that the most effective way to prepare to add the ESL certification to their teaching certificate is to earn an ESL-focused master’s degree in education in teacher leadership. These programs equip teachers with the skills they need to successfully teach English language learners and to meet the requirements necessary to add the ESL certification to their teaching certification.
Typically, applicants to the M.Ed. program must submit documentation of a valid, state-issued teaching certificate and must have at least two years of teaching experience. In addition, a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 is also typically required.
Lamar University Master of Education in Teacher Leadership with a Specialization in ESL Online
The M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership with a Specialization in ESL online program from Lamar University, a member of the Texas State University System, can be completed in as few as 18 months. This is a 36 credit-hour program that “prepares teachers with the motivational, management and assessment skills to help English language learners succeed in the classroom and beyond. It is designed to meet the requirements for adding an additional ESL specialization to your teaching certification.”
Participants learn how to support student learning while gaining insight into the educational needs of English language learners. This fully online program also teaches educators how to develop instructional programs that will assist, instruct and support these learners.
Courses cover areas such as Current Issues in Education, School Community Relations, School Law, Diverse Learners, Methods and Approaches in Teaching ESL, Literacy for English Language Learners and more.
Learn more about the Lamar University M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership with a Specialization in ESL online program.
Sources:
The Texas Tribune: Texas School Districts Struggle to Recruit Bilingual Certified Teachers
ESLTeacherEDU.org: Texas ESL Teacher Job Description and ESOL Certification Requirements
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