Make a Difference Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Designed for both domestic and international students alike, this full-time residency program provides students with expertise in second language acquisition, and a deep understanding of the complex relationship between language and culture. Embracing the scholar-practitioner model of professional training, rigorous coursework is conjoined with clinical practicum placements, where students gain real-world experience teaching and collaborating in multicultural and multilingual environments. This one-year program culminates in a digital portfolio capstone experience in place of a thesis.
Program Benefits
- Prestigious program at the #46-ranked university in the US* committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values.
- Classes are held at the Calabasas and Malibu campuses. The Malibu campus sits on an 830 acres and overlooks the Pacific Ocean with nearly every spot on campus featuring stunning views of the ocean. Pepperdine is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful places to study.
- No GRE or any other standardized tests required. We offer an equitable admission process that considers your ability and commitment to succeed rather than test scores.
- Doctoral pathway courses within the program curriculum.
- Access to graduate student housing and amenities at our scenic Malibu campus.
- Nationally-recognized faculty of scholar-practitioners with exemplary academic achievements, professional expertise, educational experience, and scholarly credentials.
- Small class sizes and a low faculty:student ratio provides a supportive learning environment, meaningful student-faculty interactions, and long-term professional and personal relationships.
- Cohort model designed to build upon leadership skills, peer support, and lifelong relationships with colleagues.
- Opportunities for continued participation in professional organizations and conferences
- Extensive Pepperdine alumni network creates influential business connections with more than 110,000 professionals.
- Relevant and emerging field with strong projected employment growth and attractive earning potential.
- Career Services Center dedicated exclusively to the field of education to support professional advancement.
- Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology generously offers $5,500,000 in scholarships every year, with the majority of students receiving some form of financial assistance.
- * U.S. News & Report, Best Colleges Rankings, National Universities
Campus Locations
Career Outcomes
Teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) work with non-native speakers to help them learn how to speak, read, write, and comprehend English.
They may be employed in public or private schools, language academies, or offer private lessons from their home or the students' homes. ESL teachers usually work with students in all grade levels from kindergarten to high school (K-12).
When dealing with students from various cultures, ESL teachers must be adaptable, innovative and receptive to various potential cultural differences.
English Language Instructors for Children or Adults are responsible for training adults or children who are non-English speaking students how to read, write and speak in English. English Language Instructors are also referred to as teachers of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) or ESL educators.
These professionals can often find work at elementary schools, secondary schools, community colleges, social service organizations, and universities.
Classes may sometimes be held during the evening or on the weekend to accommodate working adult students.
Curriculum specialists support teachers through the development and improvement of course instructional materials.
They can also provide positive input on how these materials are applied by teachers and how effective the materials are.
Most specialists work in an office environment. They may also spend a considerable amount of time traveling to schools within their district to monitor instruction or conduct training.
