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.
A major in Teaching English or French explores Teaching English Or French As A Second Or Foreign Language. Continue reading for the essential details every teaching english or french student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering teaching english or french programs.
Across the country, teaching english or french is a popular field of study, with 5,092 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Teaching English or French Schools ranking analyzes these 345 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 teaching english or french programs later in this article.
Studies in Teaching English or French emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations teaching english or french graduates commonly enter.
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.
Skills developed in a teaching english or french program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a teaching english or french major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several teaching english or french degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 40 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 270 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,710 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 33 |
People currently working in careers related to teaching english or french tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 57.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 11.2% |
| Master’s degree | 10.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in teaching english or french careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
A degree in teaching english or french can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to teaching english or french.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to teaching english or french.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 217,050 | 0.9% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 84,106 | 4.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of teaching english or french graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $61,547 |
| 4 years | $57,320 |
| 5 years | $63,672 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for teaching english or french graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers teaching english or french grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,366 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,776 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $62,634 |
With 345 different teaching english or french programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased teaching english or french school rankings to help you.
Those considering teaching english or french, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor | 5,071 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other | 21 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 108,054 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 42,255 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 39,881 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 33,988 |
| Education, General | 27,481 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 21,331 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 13,714 |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 8,879 |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 5,695 |
| Education, Other | 4,326 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
