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6 TESOL Specialisations

Posted by Sarah Fudin - 17:00 on 04 August 2011

 This post was submitted by Sarah Fudin who currently works in community relations for the University of Southern California's Master’s in Teaching degree program, which provides the opportunity for international students to earn their Masters in TESOL and teaches them the fundamentals of how to become a teacher. Outside of work Sarah enjoys running, reading and Pinkberry frozen yogurt.

Once you get your TESOL certification, you have a number of options that you can pursue. The traditional route entails teaching English as a second language at home or abroad. But one of the lesser-known facets about obtaining a TESOL certification is that it also allows you to work in a variety of specialised areas. Some of these special interest areas include: adult education, bilingual education, computer-assisted language learning and much more.

Here are six special routes you might want to consider after obtaining your TESOL certification:

1. Adult Education

Adult education can be one of the trickier fields for TESOL teachers. TESOL classes for adults are bound to be much more diverse than their typical grade school counterparts. Adult students tend to differ much more from one another in terms of English proficiency, educational background, native tongue, literacy, age and culture. When differing attributes such as these exist in the classroom, a teacher’s ability to generalise instruction decreases and the situation calls for more individualised attention. Also, adult students typically have a set of goals going into these classes. For examples, some adult students may seek to improve their English proficiency specifically to advance their careers, and you as a teacher must ensure that your instruction will help them to that end.

2. Computer-Assisted Language Learning

The mass implementation of technology into our society has allowed for a relatively new form of TESOL specialization: computer-assisted language learning, which allows teachers to utilise software and web-based programs to educate their students. Although these tools can be very helpful in teaching students English, they are certainly not a replacement for a teacher. In classrooms that implement computer-assisted language learning, the teacher becomes more of a guide, facilitating relevant computer activities and aiding students with their work.

3. Elementary Education

Research confirms that language skills and fluency are best developed when learned at a young age. This is precisely why elementary education can be the most influential form of TESOL. Teachers use various forms of narratives, vignettes, dialogues, tests and other materials to help build the young students’ cognitive abilities. A good TESOL elementary educator can make one of the biggest differences in a growing individual’s life. The benefit of learning a new language at such a young age becomes most apparent later in life, when a student becomes able to pursue options that may not have been available without their early childhood TESOL education.

4. Higher Education

The higher education specialization involves teaching the English language to undergraduate and graduate school students. A professor in this field is mainly responsible for lecturing students, organizing workshops and programs, and completing other administrative or departmental tasks. Higher education TESOL professors are responsible for more off hours work than the typical elementary school teacher. These professors typically designate a significant portion of their time to applying for scholarships, writing papers and conducting research in order to obtain tenure.

5. Material Writing

These writers work to provide essential content for TESOL course material. Material writers create instructional material for students by designing and writing textbooks, workbooks, magazine articles, websites and exams. These writers are expected to keep their content up to date while also blending together a combination of knowledge and real world tasks. While material writers are necessary, there are only a limited number of opportunities for individuals to pursue this particular specialization. These writers are usually called upon when a particular subject needs expounding that goes beyond the literature that is available.

6. Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication may be one of the most diverse specializations of TESOL. It is not only beneficial to the education world at large, but the business world as well. Intercultural communication works to evaluate how people from different societies communicate, interact and comprehend the world. One roadblock teachers in the field of education may face is a cultural bridge formed due to the fact that students and teachers are often from different locations in the world. Intercultural communication helps eliminate this gap. With globalization being so prevalent throughout today’s society, it is very important to be able to understand foreign cultures and life styles from a business and teaching standpoint, thus an intercultural communications specialist may play a large role in international business.
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As one can see, there are plenty of opportunities for TESOL-certified teachers. It is vital for these new teachers to examine each option carefully and choose the career path that best suits their skill set and ambition.

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