Why TESOL?
Marketplace Opportunity
The growth of the use of the English language worldwide has been remarkable, presenting English teachers with unprecedented opportunities for intercultural service. Consider these realities:
- In the last fifty years, English has rapidly become a global language, particularly for international politics, business, transportation, science and technology, the media, and higher education.
- Although English is the principal mother tongue in less than a dozen nations, it has significant or official status as a means of communication in over 70 countries. Nearly a quarter of the world's population, more than 1.2 billion people, are already at least reasonably competent in English. This surpasses the spread of any other language in history.*
- English is now taught as a foreign language in over 100 countries, making it the most widely taught foreign language in the world. In most of these countries, it is becoming the primary foreign language in the educational system.* Consequently, almost every nation in the world is demanding competent English teachers to help develop their professional labor force.
- Those who hold master's degrees in TESOL are among the most sought-after
professionals in the world today. TESOL instruction represents an extraordinary
opportunity for a meaningful career in education, both at home and abroad.
As a field of practice, TESOL is unparalleled in its ability to provide:
- A natural platform for cultivating intercultural relationships.
- Opportunities for initiating self-supporting business ventures.
* David Crystal. English as a Global Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Career Opportunities
Opportunities for teaching English abound both within and outside the U.S., in both private and public sectors. In the U.S., ESL teachers work with newcomers at all levels of the education system as well as in community or church based programs; they also work with international students in higher education settings. However, schools prefer to hire trained professionals. While teachers with minimal training are hired for many classroom-teaching positions, those with graduate degrees hold an advantage and command higher salaries. In addition to teaching posts, they are considered for jobs in teacher training, curriculum and materials development, and program administration.
"The staff has always been willing to go the extra mile to make us feel special and welcome. The strengths of the program are the integration of technical and cultural aspects of teaching, the ability to complete this program while teaching overseas, and the experience and beliefs of the professors in shaping our worldview. Overall, the program has allowed me to grow in confidence as a teacher."
Robert Brownrigg ’01
"The teachers are professionals, experts in their fields, love their subjects and jobs, and are convinced of their call to enable us."
Bethany Phillips ’01
Why TESOL at Azusa Pacific University?
- APU's TESOL programs combine an orientation toward compassionate Christian service with strong academic preparation and practical preparation for language teaching.
- The programs represent a blend of course work and practical experiences which equip graduates to respond to the wide range of language needs, sociocultural differences, and program requirements they will encounter.
- Qualified faculty share their professional and cross-cultural experiences while adapting course work to the unique needs and interest of students. Personal advisement and practice teaching supervision nurture close faculty-student relationships.
- APU is located in the greater Los Angeles area, where more than 150 languages are spoken. This diverse linguistic and cultural environment offers students an unmatched variety of multicultural practice-teaching and research opportunities.
- Graduates of APU's TESOL program are currently serving both internationally and in the U.S. — in public schools, colleges and universities, private institutes, and businesses. Others have gone on to complete doctoral work in such fields as applied linguistics, international education, or intercultural studies.
