TESOL FAQs

Many people complete our certificate program in 2 semesters, but it is a flexible program and you can complete it in the time you have available.

Our TESOL Requirements page can be found here.

If you do not currently have a bachelor's degree, you need to be an admitted student at the University of Utah.  Click here for admissions requirements. You can enroll as a graduate student, an undergraduate student, or a non–degree seeking student.

If you have already earned a bachelor's degree, you have the option to earn the TESOL certificate through the Continuing Education program.  More information on the Professional TESOL certificate can be found here.

The University has deadlines for admission for future semesters, so you need to be admitted before you take classes.  There is no deadline for admission to the Certificate program itself, however.

You may enroll for the TESOL Certificate program here.

There is a $55 fee for administrative costs related to the certificate and you can pay that to the Department of Linguistics Secretary in LNCO 2300 or at the link here.

The tuition is figured at the regular university tuition rates so it depends on your residency status and how many courses you take at once. Check here for more information.

Yes, all of our TESOL certificate courses are available online and can be completed from almost anywhere in the world.  Some are available either online or in the classroom and some are available online only.

Our course offerings might vary a little each semester, but in general our undergraduate course schedule for TESOL courses looks like this:

• LING 1200 – online (fall, spring, summer) or in class (fall, spring)
• LING 3220 – online only (fall, spring, summer)
• LING 3500 – online (fall, spring, summer) or in-class (fall)
• LING 3600 – online (fall, spring, summer) or in class (fall, spring)
• LING 5810 – online only (fall, spring, summer)
• LING 5813 – online ony (fall, spring, summer)

No, if you have a degree that includes the equivalent of writing 2010, then this course is waived and it does not count as the one transferred course toward the requirements.

The course requirements for the certificate are approximately half of the courses needed to complete a linguistics major (not including the general education requirements).  Many Linguistics students receive a certificate as part of their requirements for the major.

No, the certificate can be completed as a standalone certificate or in addition to any degree you are pursuing at the University of Utah.  But once you take some linguistics classes, you will realize why so many people choose to continue with it after completing the certificate!

TESL refers to teaching English as a second language: programs in English-speaking countries for students whose first language is one other than English.

TEFL refers to teaching English as a foreign language: programs in countries where English is not the primary language and is not a lingua franca.

TESOL, which stands for teaching English to speakers of other languages, is a general name for the field of teaching that includes both TESL and TEFL.

Most TESL/TEFL jobs require at least some academic background in TESOL or a related field. The potential employer decides what is related, but examples may include education, English, and linguistics. If you have a degree in an unrelated field, you might consider supplementing it with a TESL, TEFL, or TESOL certificate.

Certificate programs provide an introduction to ESL teaching. Generally speaking, there are two types of certificate programs: graduate certificates and independent certificates. Both usually require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree, but only the individual institutions offering certificates can answer questions about their prerequisites.

Graduate certificates are taught at the university level and usually take two to four semesters to complete. The credits are often applicable to a master’s degree. Independent certificates are usually much shorter-term programs (about 2 to 6 weeks) that focus on practical training and different methods for teaching language. You usually cannot apply an independent certificate toward a state teaching license or a master’s degree. If you plan to teach in the United States, U.S. employers usually do not consider independent certificates sufficient for employment.

TESOL maintains a list of institutions that offer these types of programs. The Directory of Degree and Certificate Programs (DDCP) is an online resource featuring approximately 450 university-level academic and training programs in English as a second language (ESL) and related fields in the United States and Canada.

The directory of universities and colleges is organized for browsing by major (TESOL/TESL/TEFL, English, linguistics, education, other), degree doctoral, (master’s, post-bachelor’s, bachelor’s, certificate), location (state or province), and program type (state/province credential or distance learning). Each program listing includes profile data on admission requirements, faculty, curriculum, tuition, and financial aid. To view the DDCP go to www.tesol.org, select Career: TESOL Degree and Certificate Programs. If you are interested in learning about other education programs outside the United States and Canada contact your local affiliate.

TESOL does not evaluate teacher education programs and cannot comment on individual institutions. As an association, TESOL must be impartial and cannot direct potential students to any program or type of program. Only the individual institutions can answer questions about the types of degrees or certificates they offer.

Certainly! Some ESL/EFL employers may prefer someone who is proficient in both the students’ native language and in English or someone who has had the experience of learning English as a second language. TESOL does not tolerate discrimination that affects our members, including discrimination based on language background.

Speaking a second language is not necessarily required to enter the field of TESOL, but it is beneficial, in general, to have learned another language and to know another culture. If you are living and working in a non–English-speaking country, you may not be required to speak the host country’s language, but you will likely find your stay more comfortable and rewarding if you learn the local language.

No single degree, certificate, or license authorizes an individual to teach ESL/EFL in all fields or in all parts of the world. Job requirements are specific to the job and the employer and may vary a great deal from one job to another. Depending on the place in which one is teaching, generally speaking, the minimum qualification to teach English in private language schools throughout the world is a bachelor’s degree and some type of TESL or TEFL certificate.

Applicants must obtain a field-specific teaching license from the state where they wish to work. You may want to contact the department or ministry of education in the country where you plan to work for more information about that country’s educational system and academic requirements for teachers.

Numerous volunteer opportunities are available worldwide. Local literacy programs often include an ESL component, and aid agencies place volunteer teachers throughout the world. If you are untrained and plan to search for a paid position, you will most likely find low pay, no benefits, and long hours. These entry level positions are usually easiest to obtain by applying on-site.

Because so many kinds of ESL/EFL teaching jobs are available worldwide, this question is difficult to answer. In the United States, ESL/EFL jobs may be full-or part-time and may be paid an annual salary, an hourly wage, or a fee per class. For jobs outside the United States, the answer is even more complicated. Because no single body governs all the ESL jobs worldwide, there is no central source for salary and benefits information. You will have to search for information on a specific country.

Because no single body governs all ESL jobs worldwide, no statistics exist for which countries have the most jobs. Please visit TESOL’s Online Career Center for job listings.

TESOL does not offer placement services for teachers or recruitment services for employers. But TESOL Career Services does have many other resources available to jobseekers, including the TESOL Career Center, an online job board; the Placement E-Bulletin, a semiweekly job posting newsletter; and the Job MarketPlace, an annual job fair held at the TESOL convention.

Please check our jobs page for some helpful websites to search for jobs.

The TESOL headquarters is located in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. TESOL also has more than 100 affiliates worldwide, but these affiliates are entirely separate organizations with independent memberships and activities. Although TESOL shares a special relationship with its affiliates, membership in TESOL does not constitute membership in any of its affiliates, or vice versa.

TESOL members may contact TESOL Career Services at careers@tesol.org. Although TESOL Career Services do not include academic or career counseling, legal assistance, or legal advice, TESOL will try to help you find answers to your questions.

TESOL Career Services is a member benefit; assisting more than 14,000 members worldwide.

TESOL membership is open to anyone with an interest in the field.

For information on how to join and details about additional member benefits, please visit www.tesol.org/join.