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Studies & Degrees in Teaching English as a Second Language

Teaching English as a second language (TESL) is the training of teachers who work with learners whose first language is not English. The field uses several overlapping names. ESL usually refers to learners who live in an English-speaking country, EFL (English as a foreign language) to learners in countries where English is not the everyday language, and TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) covers both.

What students learn

Supervised teaching practice with real learners is the core of most recognised courses. The syllabus of the Cambridge CELTA, one of the standard initial certificates, shows the usual content:

  • Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context
  • Language analysis and awareness
  • Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
  • Planning and resources for different teaching contexts
  • Developing teaching skills and professionalism

The Trinity CertTESOL adds a unit in which trainees take lessons in a language unknown to them, so that they experience a beginner's position themselves. University programmes go further into applied linguistics, second-language acquisition theory and research methods.

Qualifications and levels

  • Initial certificates. The CELTA, awarded by Cambridge English, includes at least 120 hours of contact with course tutors and six hours of assessed teaching practice. It can be taken full time, usually over four to five weeks, or part time over a few months to a year, at more than 280 authorised centres. There is no final examination: candidates are assessed on their teaching and on written assignments. The Trinity CertTESOL, from Trinity College London, has a total qualification time of 200 hours, at least 130 guided learning hours and a minimum of six hours of teaching practice. It is a Level 5 qualification on the Ofqual Regulated Qualifications Framework in England, and more than 100 validated providers teach it.
  • Diplomas for experienced teachers. The Cambridge DELTA is aimed at teachers with at least one year of experience and consists of three modules that can be taken in any order. Trinity offers the DipTESOL at the same stage.
  • Bachelor's degrees. In systems where English is taught as a second language in state schools, the subject can be a full teaching degree. McGill University in Montreal offers a B.Ed. in Teaching English as a Second Language that prepares specialist ESL teachers for elementary and secondary schools.
  • Master's degrees. The University of York teaches an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages that lasts one year full time and is designed for students with little or no formal teaching experience. In Spain, the Universidad de Alcalá offers the Máster Universitario en Enseñanza del Inglés como Lengua Extranjera, an official master's degree of 60 ECTS credits that takes one academic year full time, is taught in English and combines classroom and online teaching.

Many private providers sell their own TEFL certificates, often described by the number of hours. These are not all assessed in the same way. Before enrolling, ask the school which body validates the certificate, how many hours of observed teaching practice it includes and what recognition it has in the country where you want to work.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 27 active schools for this subject. Spain has 12, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom three each, Ireland and South Africa two each, and New Zealand and Chile one each.

In Spain most of the schools are teacher training centres in Barcelona and Madrid. Oxford TEFL in Barcelona states that its CELTA and DipTESOL courses are accredited and externally moderated by Cambridge English and Trinity College London. TEFL Iberia, also in Barcelona, runs the Trinity CertTESOL course. In Madrid, Canterbury Consulting Spain SL (Canterbury TEFL) offers a 120-hour TEFL course linked to teaching work with the school. Universities on the list include the Universidad de Alcalá and Universitat Jaume I in Spain, The University of York and the University of Sunderland in the United Kingdom, McGill University and the University of British Columbia in Canada, and Massey University in New Zealand.

Careers

Graduates teach in private language schools, in schools and universities, in companies, in adult education and online. An initial certificate is the usual entry point for language schools abroad. State schools set their own rules: in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, adult education and ESL teachers who work in public schools typically need at least a bachelor's degree and a licence or certification, and some community colleges prefer a master's degree.

The Bureau counted 41,100 jobs for adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers in the United States in 2025. It projects a decline of 14 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,800 openings a year, all from replacing teachers who leave. These figures cover adult education inside the United States only, not the international market for English teachers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between TESL, TEFL and TESOL?

TESL refers to teaching English in a country where it is the main language, TEFL to teaching it where it is a foreign language, and TESOL covers both. The courses teach largely the same skills, so the awarding body and the teaching practice matter more than the name.

Do I need a university degree to take a TEFL certificate?

Not for the CELTA or the Trinity CertTESOL. Both ask for a minimum age of 18 and an education that would allow entry to higher education. Employers and visa rules in some countries may ask for a degree as well.

Can I train as an English teacher if English is not my first language?

Yes. Cambridge asks for a high C1 level of English or above for the CELTA, and Trinity normally asks for C1 for the CertTESOL.

How long does it take to qualify?

A full-time CELTA usually takes four to five weeks. A master's degree takes one year full time at The University of York or at the Universidad de Alcalá.