Accredited Online Master Degree in Teaching with an emphasis in ESL

Online Master Degrees in ESL

ESL masters degree Do you already have a bachelor's degree or a teaching degree? Do you want to be able to work with adults eager to live the American dream and master the English language? A master's degree in the ESL field would allow you to teach English to adults, who need to learn to speak, understand, write, and read the English language to be able to function, live, and work in this country. ESL stands for English as a Second Language. Many ESL teachers work part-time and are paid on a per class basis. Much of the funding for ESL programs comes through federal and state tax dollars.

ESL Teaching Jobs

ESL teachers can make excellent hourly wages. ESL teaching is especially appealing to someone who is looking for part-time teaching work or evening and weekend work. ESL classes are often scheduled when working adults can attend courses. According to theOccupational Outlook Handbook, the middle 50 percent of ESL instructors in the United States had average hourly wages between $16.78 and $29.75 per hour in 2008. Part-time ESL instructors are paid by the class via an hourly wage and usually receive no benefits. Full-time ESL teachers are often employed by state and federal agencies or schools and generally receive benefits.

ESL Teachers Job Outlook

As the number of immigrants coming in to the United States increases, so does the need for skilled ESL teachers. Most employers want ESL teachers to have at least a bachelor's degree. However, high end ESL teaching jobs generally require a master's degree and colleges and universities are beginning to offer a master's degree specifically in the ESL teaching field. If you wish to do ESL teaching in public schools, all states require public school teachers to have a teaching degree, teaching license, and an ESL endorsement to teach in the public schools. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the ESL teaching field is expected to see an increase in job growth of nearly 15 percent through 2018 as more employers need skilled laborers who speak English and as more immigrants need help learning the English language to function in our nation. The need for skilled ESL instructors is dependent on federal funding and also the economy. A strong economy generally boosts the need for skilled ESL teachers because employers have a harder time finding skilled laborers. This also often helps boost federal funding for adult literacy and remediation education. However, when the economy is poor and federal budgets are being cut, funding for adult literacy can also be diminished and the demand for ESL teachers will decrease.