Help meet the rising demand for second language teachers in the US and abroad. This master of arts program prepares you to teach English to speakers of other languages. You’ll learn pedagogical strategies; build a strong foundation in language, literacy, and linguistics; and gain valuable classroom experience through student teaching placements in New York City schools, preparing for a wide range of career options.
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Degree Details
Official Degree Title
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Grades K–12, Initial Certification
Licensure or Certification
Format
Full-time or Part-time
Credits
39
Start Date
Fall
Application Deadline
The MA in TESOL combines core foundation classes and content electives with fieldwork and student teaching. You’ll study teaching methods, the second-language classroom, second language research, foundations in linguistics, the structure of American English, intercultural or multicultural perspectives in education, teaching students with special needs, and adolescent learners in urban contexts, and complete a culminating project.
Elective courses focus on topics such as language assessment and evaluation, teaching second language in a technological society, and teaching second language across content areas.
Throughout your curriculum, you’ll learn:
- Second-language teaching approaches that can be adjusted to suit the needs of learners from diverse linguistic, educational, and ethnic backgrounds
- An understanding of urban educational environments and the social, cultural, and economic factors that influence learning
- Second language pedagogy, second language acquisition research, linguistics, English grammar, and intercultural or multicultural studies
- How to develop and implement innovative classroom strategies and curricula
- An appreciation for cultural diversity in global educational settings
Student Teaching in New York City Schools
You’ll complete two semesters of student teaching English to speakers of other languages in New York City schools at the elementary and secondary grade levels while simultaneously taking a student teaching seminar. Cooperating teachers and NYU faculty will offer feedback and guidance so you can develop and refine your teaching techniques.
A Community of Scholars
As a graduate student in our program, you’ll be welcomed into a strong, supportive learning community that takes an additive view of language and culture development, and believes that multilingualism is a valuable resource. Our faculty members are recognized leaders in the field, and are always available to students both through the courses they teach as well as through individual advisement.
Study Abroad Opportunities
You'll have unique opportunities to study the interrelationship among language, culture, and learning from an intercultural perspective in the Dominican Republic and China and Hong Kong, or take part in other NYU Steinhardt global study programs.
This program leads to eligibility for New York State initial teaching certification for teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), grades K–12, and prepares you for careers including:
- Teacher of English to speakers of other languages in elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, universities, community organizations, and immigrant resettlement agencies
- Curriculum developer, specialist, or evaluator
- Researcher, teacher educator, trainer, or program coordinator in governmental and nonprofit educational agencies and multinational corporations
Learn more about teacher certification and our degree's accreditation.
A non-teaching-certification option is also available.
Questions
If you have any additional questions about our degree, please feel free to contact the Program Director at language.education@nyu.edu.
Take the Next Step
Advance your personal and professional journey – apply to join our community of students.
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