What is an ESL certification?
By Laura Tough
If you’ve ever thought about teaching English to speakers of other languages, studying overseas or even working remotely, chances are you’ve come across the term “ESL certification”. But what exactly is it and how do you get one?
In this guide, we break down what an ESL certification is, how to become an ESL teacher and how a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) course at UC can help you get there.
What is an ESL certification?
An ESL (English as a Second Language) certification is a qualification that prepares you to teach English to non-native speakers. These qualifications typically cover the fundamentals of language teaching, lesson planning, classroom management and how to apply these in different education settings.
Oone of the most common ESL qualifications is a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) degree. TESOL is one of the most widely recognised pathways to becoming ESL certified in both Australia and internationally.
What does an ESL certification qualify you to do?
An ESL certification, such as TESOL, can open the door to teaching opportunities in a wide range of settings, both within Australia and globally. Graduates may work as teachers of languages other than English in adult education or community contexts or they can take their skills into related roles including teaching support, curriculum development, policy design and more.
It’s worth noting that some roles, particularly those involving formal classroom teaching, may require additional study or registration beyond a TESOL certification.
How long does it take to get an ESL certification?
The length of time it takes to become qualified depends on the course structure and your study load. At UC, we offer three TESOL qualifications to suit different study goals and time commitments:
- Graduate Certificate in TESOL and Foreign Language Teaching: 4 months full-time or 1 year part-time
- Graduate Diploma in TESOL and Foreign Language Teaching: 1 year full-time or up to 2 years part-time
- Master of TESOL and Foreign Language Teaching: 2 years full-time or up to 4 years part-time
Depending on the qualification you choose, they include up to 60 hours of Work Integrated Learning (WIL), giving you the opportunity to gain meaningful, supervised teaching experience while you study. The hands-on experience helps you gain real-world practice teaching in different language learning settings so you graduate feeling confident and ready to step into the teaching space of your choosing.
Ready to start your TESOL journey?
If you’re ready to start your journey to teaching English to speakers of other languages, a flexible TESOL course at UC is a practical first step. Our Future Students Team can help break down which option might be best for you.
