Contact the Admissions Office
Call +30 211 999 5309 (office) or email athensadmissions@webster.edu
or Admissions Director, Margarita Lazarou, at margaritalazarou@webster.edu
(No longer accepting applications for this program)
200,000+
Alumni from our Global Campuses
Gain effective learning and communication strategies to help non-native English speakers develop their language skills.
Webster's Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) with an emphasis in International Education graduate program is designed for education professionals with or without teaching experience. While pursuing the master’s degree in TESOL, graduate students refine their knowledge of the English language system and second language acquisition. They study phonology, dialects and legal policies that influence the teaching standards. Webster TESOL students also focus on theory regarding culture, language structure and teaching methodologies to ensure that they will become influential teachers in the future.
Join the Webster Athens Program
Webster University's MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) has more than 250 current students, hundreds of graduates working around the world, and program faculty with professional experiences in more than two dozen countries.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages: International Education Emphasis (MA) Program
- Webster's ESL classes use a four-skills communicative approach to learning language. Classes are interactive, lively and small to encourage more participation and to give instructors more time with each student.
- Instructors have master's degrees, most in TESL/TEFL. Many work as a teacher trainers, and have years of experience teaching English both in the U.S. and abroad.
- Many technological tools are available for language learning, including blogs, electronic classrooms, online discussion tools and video and audio equipment.
- Webster University's worldwide context allows interaction with learners from around the world through online education and/or study at one of the university's many international campuses.
Webster's MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, International Education
emphasis is designed for current and future teachers of English in settings outside
of the United States. Prior teaching experience in not required.
The following program goals are built on a conceptual framework of knowledge, implementation and reflection.
Candidates will gain knowledge of:
- The English language system, its components (i.e., phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, etc.) and issues of linguistic variation (i.e., dialects, discourse, slang, humor, etc.).
- The major theories, key concepts and research in first and second language acquisition (SLA).
- Modern and traditional teaching approaches, as well as the legal processes and policies that have influenced the English as a Second Language field.
- Multicultural aspects and personal variables (i.e., background experiences, values, beliefs, gender) that affect the process of language acquisition and cultural integration.
- Effective learning and communication strategies.
- Curriculum design and appropriate materials/textbooks.
- Current and historical aspects of assessment design and implementation, as well as their implication for various stakeholders.
Candidates will practice in their classroom:
- Various standards-based instructional strategies to support effective educational practices that value individual and cultural differences.
- Standards-based curriculum designed on modern teaching theories and meaningful, authentic content and language materials (i.e., experiences that model social and academic contexts by integrating all language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing).
- Multiple culturally-informed, valid, reliable, authentic, pragmatic and non-biased assessment techniques that measure learning progress and teacher/program/content effectiveness.
- Technology-centered activities that promote content and language learning, following a constructivist model that allows ample language input and practice.
Candidates will reflect on:
- The roles educators take in collaboration with colleagues, school administrators, paraprofessionals, parents and community members to advocate for the needs of their community of learners and their direct access to resources.
- Personal growth through on-going participation in personal development activities.
- Effectiveness of instructional and assessment approaches in the classroom with the view of achieving equitable education for their ELL students.
- Curriculum appropriateness in compliance with national and regional standards, as well as program expectations and student diverse needs, preparedness, resources and ability.
- The need to support and encourage ELL students and families in their journey of social, cultural and linguistic accommodation.
TESOL: International Education Emphasis
33 Credit Hours
Required Courses (24 credit hours)
- TESL 5030 Linguistics for Language Learning and Teaching (3 hours)
- TESL 5230 Theories of Foreign and Second Language Acquisition (3 hours)
- TESL 5139 Instructional Methods for Language Classrooms (3 hours)
- TESL 5220 Lesson Planning and Curriculum Development for Language Classrooms (3 hours)
- TESL 5311 Language Assessment (3 hours)
- TESL 5350 Sociolinguistics* (3 hours)
- TESL 5710 Teaching English Grammar (3 hours)
- TESL 5040 Practicum in English Language Classrooms (3 hours)
Electives (9 credit hours)
- TESL 5730 Materials Development in Language Classrooms (3 hour)
- TESL 5740 Teaching English for Academic Purposes (3 hours)
- TESL 5750 Special Institute in TESOL (3 hours)
- TESL 5760 Teaching English for Specific Purposes (3 hours)
- TESL 5200 Independent Study (3 hours)
- TESL 6250 Thesis (3-12 hours)
and TESL 6900 University Thesis Requirements (0 hours)
Learn More
Founded in 1915, Webster is an independent nonprofit university with students studying at campus locations in North America, Europe and Asia, and in a robust online learning environment. With its main campus in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Webster University’s network of faculty, staff, students and alumni forge powerful bonds with each other and their communities around the globe. The University is committed to engaged learning experiences and empowering our students to become catalysts for change. In 2014, Webster Athens joined our network to bring the best of American education with the only fully owned and controlled (academically and financially) accredited campus of a U.S. university in Greece.
