Bachelor's in Teaching English as a Second Language

Pursue Your Passion for Travel and Education by Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language at Home or Abroad!

Do you dream of traveling around the world but are worried that you may never be able to afford it? Maybe you want to spread God’s Word to people in other countries while teaching them a valuable skill. If this sounds like you, and you like working with people, then you should consider earning a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (TESL/TEFL) from Liberty University.

As you pursue your TESL degree, you will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of second language acquisition and teaching methods and materials. You will learn about syntax and phonology of the major languages of the world and develop solutions to various problems involved in oral and written communications in mixed language and culture settings.

Teaching English as a second language is a rewarding career field that can allow you to learn about new cultures and share your own with people around the world. Liberty University is proud to offer this degree taught by professors who are grounded in their Christian faith and experienced in the field. Our bachelor’s in teaching English as a second language is a pathway to a career that will challenge and excite you.

Award-Winning Campus

At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank among Niche.com’s Top 3 college campuses in America. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.

Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language Degree?

The great thing about our Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language is that there are so many opportunities for first-hand experience inside and outside of the classroom. We offer a 2-month summer internship at the Liberty University Spanish Institute in Guatemala where you can receive credit for the course TESL 499 and up to 12 credits in Spanish. We also have a program in Brazil where you can work at an ESL school using a Bible-based curriculum.

In addition to our programs in South America, there are other chances to teach in China, where a Christian worker will mentor you on site. If you are thinking of traveling to Africa, you could work in Guinea. We have other programs in Japan, Jordan, Pakistan, and Austria working in English camps teaching various subjects while using other skills such as French or computer information. If you want the opportunity for both practical application and long-term employment, then these programs can provide you with the pathway to both.

What Will You Learn in Our Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language Degree?

Our Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (TESL) can provide you with all the training, knowledge, and skills you need to be successful in the classroom. You will learn about phonetics and syntax and other parts of language acquisition as you study linguistics. English is a constantly evolving language, and our course in modern grammar will emphasize the modifications and transformations that come from modern culture and the influence of new generations upon the traditional structure and rules of English.

Understanding how students acquire a new language is very useful in the instruction of English. Learning how to teach in the four language areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing across cultural and linguistic barriers is another skill you will gain. The knowledge you gain in these courses will be reinforced through practical application. Begin your journey as a teacher here at Liberty and start a career that will change your life.

View the Degree Completion Plan, and check out the featured courses below for more on what you’ll be studying!

Featured Courses

LING 301 – Introduction to Linguistics

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Introductory descriptive study of language including syntactic, morphological, phonological, semantic, and pragmatic analysis of language
Choose one area of study like psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, or language acquisition

TESL 333 – Modern Grammar

Here’s what you’ll learn:

The nature, structure, and modifications of the English language
Traditional, structural, and generative-transformational grammars

TESL 403 – Second Language Acquisition

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Strategies for second-language acquisition and assessment
A historical approach to perspectives on second language acquisition and proficiency

TESL 405 – Issues and Practices in TESL

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Classroom practices in teaching English as a second or foreign language
Assessment, error analysis, interlanguage, and teaching in the four language areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing for a broad variety of TES/FL contexts
Global context issues that inform these practices

Highlights

Degree Information

Careers

Admission Requirements

Highlights of Our Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language Degree

Enjoy career and teaching opportunities on almost every continent
Get a chance to complete a two-month internship at the Liberty University Spanish Institute in Guatemala
Other teaching programs are available in Brazil, France, China, Guinea, Japan, Pakistan, Austria, and Columbia, as well as internship opportunities in Jordan, West Africa, and Thailand