by our College Data Analytics TeamTeaching a second language to a student can be a great way to open up their eyes to new experiences and perspectives. French and English as a second language are two fields with high demand. French teachers work in primary and secondary classrooms with students who may or may not be familiar with the language. ESL teachers have the important job of teaching students who are not native speakers of English.
Students in America who do not speak English are truly at a disadvantage. You can help students assimilate and adapt to the culture and language so that they have the necessary skills to succeed in school and in life. You will directly impact your students immediately as English is needed in every aspect of life in the U.S. You may work with students as young as Kindergarteners to adult learners.
Courses you will be required to take will include course in French or English as well as teaching courses such as literacy, contemporary issues, and educational psychology and also courses about other cultures.
In 2020-2021, teaching English or French was the 140th most popular major nationwide with 5,791 degrees awarded. This represents a small change of only 0.8% from the prior year's total of 5,744 English or French degrees awarded.
Our 2023 Best Teaching English or French Schools ranking analyzes 200 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for teaching English or French students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of English or French programs later in this article.
If you are interested in other languages and cultures and like to figure out how to effectively communicate with other people, this major is for you. You should have an open mind and be willing to learn from your students in order to help them succeed and develop.
Just like any other teacher, you should be creative, patient, and organized. These three traits will allow you to be effective and to be ready to teach. Just because you know the language doesn't mean that you'll be a good teacher. Students should work hard at improving their teaching skills and learn different instructional practices. This will allow you to connect with more students and different kinds of learners.
You should have a strong background in working with students either as a camp counselor or a coach or a tutor and you should also have strong content knowledge of French or English. You will also need to spend a semester teaching in a classroom.
teaching English or French degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific English or French careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
English or French degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in teaching English or French to the highest English or French degree, a . Teaching English or French programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to English or French, with approximately 61.3% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to English or French tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 64.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 15.7% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 12.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.4% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 1.9% |
92.6% of English or French workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in teaching English or French have received.
The education level required is different depending on the English or French career you are seeking.
Majoring in English or French Education will allow you to become an English or French as a Second Language Teacher. You will work with smaller size classrooms and be a main support system for students who do not know the language. You will work with other teachers to try to help catch the student up to his peers. This is a job that will be in high demand as more students come to school from families who do not speak English.
Want a job when you graduate with your English or French degree? Teaching English or French careers are expected to grow 7.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to teaching English or French.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers | 1,514,900 | 7.4% |
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Middle School Teachers | 677,700 | 7.5% |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 166,700 | 8.0% |
Teaching English or French graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $46,917 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $16,613 to as high as $93,588. As you might expect, salaries for English or French graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for teaching English or French graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers English or French grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,200 |
| Middle School Teachers | $62,030 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | $58,370 |
With over 719 different English or French degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased English or French school rankings to help you with this.
Teaching English or French is one of 14 different types of Education programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 110,226 |
| Educational Administration | 46,469 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 43,297 |
| Special Education | 36,792 |
| General Education | 29,810 |
