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    Study tesol abroad

    An in-depth guide to studying tesol as an international student.

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    Explore tesol programs abroad

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    Tesol degrees abroad

    TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) degree programs aim to give you all the skills you’ll need to teach people from all over the world how to speak English.

    They are designed for educators who want to expand their expertise and travel the globe teaching English to speakers of other languages. You’ll study the four main areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening, and focus on grammar and vocabulary. You will also look at the theoretical and practical requirements of teaching those who don’t speak English.

    TESOL programs are mainly available in the UK and the US, but there are other counties you can study in like China or Cyprus. By studying TESOL abroad in an English-speaking country, not only will you get a first-class education, but you’ll be able to hone your own language skills.

    Tesol program structure

    Although it is possible to study TESOL programs at the undergraduate level, most programs are offered as a master’s. The bachelor’s programs that are available are usually joint-honors degrees where you will study TESOL alongside another related subject like a language, English, or linguistics.

    Master’s programs are designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field like education, English or modern languages, and want to start a career teaching English to non-native speakers. Most master’s are available as an MA qualification and take one or two years of study to complete.

    TESOL programs are usually taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. You’ll also spend a lot of time doing independent study and have one-to-one sessions with professors where you can discuss your research and dissertation.

    The modules and topics you’ll cover will vary depending on the TESOL program you choose and the university you attend. Some common areas of study include:

    • English language teaching
    • Language teacher education
    • Key issues in TESOL
    • Pedagogical grammar
    • Psychology of language learning
    • Materials development
    • Language variation and acquisition
    Tesol program structure

    Although it is possible to study TESOL programs at the undergraduate level, most programs are offered as a master’s. The bachelor’s programs that are available are usually joint-honors degrees where you will study TESOL alongside another related subject like a language, English, or linguistics.

    Master’s programs are designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field like education, English or modern languages, and want to start a career teaching English to non-native speakers. Most master’s are available as an MA qualification and take one or two years of study to complete.

    TESOL programs are usually taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. You’ll also spend a lot of time doing independent study and have one-to-one sessions with professors where you can discuss your research and dissertation.

    The modules and topics you’ll cover will vary depending on the TESOL program you choose and the university you attend. Some common areas of study include:

    • English language teaching
    • Language teacher education
    • Key issues in TESOL
    • Pedagogical grammar
    • Psychology of language learning
    • Materials development
    • Language variation and acquisition

    Best countries to study tesol

    Best universities to study tesol

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    How to study tesol abroad

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      Get help after application, all the way to your first day at university

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    Tesol study abroad programs

    Tesol undergraduate programs

    Bachelor's in tesol

    • false

      Early Childhood Education and TESOL - BSc Long Island University Post, USA

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      5 years
      Annual tuition fee
      35,736 USD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      September, January
      Show program overview about Early Childhood Education and TESOL
    • false

      Elementary Education (Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language) - BAEd Arizona State University, USA

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      4 years
      Annual tuition fee
      29,834 USD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      August, January, May
      Show program overview about Elementary Education (Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language)
    • false

      English: TESOL Non-Certification - BA Murray State University, USA

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      4 years
      Annual tuition fee
      13,920 USD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      August, January
      Show program overview about English: TESOL Non-Certification
    • false

      Ethnic Studies: Teachers in Bilingual Education - BA California State University, Sacramento, USA

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      4 years
      Annual tuition fee
      16,800 USD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      January, August
      Show program overview about Ethnic Studies: Teachers in Bilingual Education
    • false

      Japanese & TESOL - BA York St John University, UK

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      3 years
      Annual tuition fee
      12,750 GBP

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Japanese & TESOL
    See all bachelor's degrees in tesol

    Certificate in tesol

    • false

      TESOL - Cert Trinity Western University, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate certificate
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      22,260 CAD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about TESOL
    • false

      TESOL - Cert California State University, Sacramento, USA

      Program type
      Undergraduate certificate
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      16,800 USD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      January, August
      Show program overview about TESOL
    See all undergraduate certificates in tesol

    Tesol graduate programs

    Master's in tesol

    • false

      Applied Linguistics: TESOL - MA TESOL York St John University, UK

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      12,750 GBP

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Applied Linguistics: TESOL
    • false

      Bilingual Education - MEd Eastern New Mexico University, USA
      • Online

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      2 years
      Annual tuition fee
      7,314 USD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      August, January
      Show program overview about Bilingual Education
    • false

      Bilingual Education - MBEd UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, Spain

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      4,800 EUR

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      January, February
      Show program overview about Bilingual Education
    • false

      Education Studies and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - MSc University of Stirling, UK

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      15,950 GBP

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Education Studies and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
    • false

      TESOL (Accelerated) - MA Murray State University, USA

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      1 year
      Annual tuition fee
      13,920 USD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      January, August
      Show program overview about TESOL (Accelerated)
    See all master's degrees in tesol

    Doctorate in tesol

    • false

      TESOL - PhD University of Nicosia, Cyprus

      Program type
      Doctorate
      Duration
      3 years
      Annual tuition fee
      4,500 EUR

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      September, June, February
      Show program overview about TESOL
    See all doctorates in tesol

    Certificate in tesol

    • false

      Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) - PGCert Sheridan College, Canada

      Program type
      Postgraduate certificate
      Duration
      8 months
      Annual tuition fee
      18,237 CAD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      September, January
      Show program overview about Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL)
    • false

      TESOL - PGCert Westcliff University, USA

      Program type
      Postgraduate certificate
      Duration
      6 months
      Annual tuition fee
      6,300 USD

      Fees are displayed in the university's local currency

      Start date
      October, August, June, May, March, January
      Show program overview about TESOL
    See all postgraduate certificates in tesol

    Future tesol careers

    Most students that graduate with a TESOL degree do so with the aim of becoming an English teacher. If this is your aim, be aware that you may need additional teaching qualifications before you are able to teach professionally.

    Some of the roles TESOL graduates achieve include:

    • English teacher
    • Education administrator
    • Education manager
    • Teacher trainer
    • Materials developer
    • Education researcher
    • Publisher

    Use your university’s careers service if it has one, as they’ll be able to help you with your job search after graduation.