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Maine ESL Degrees
ESL Degrees: Maine Colleges
Looking for accredited career colleges, technical schools, and universities in Maine offering ESL degrees. ESL teachers are in high demand these days, and it is a job that many people who had to learn English themselves at some point are qualified to teach.
Deciding to attend a Maine college may be one of the best decisions you ever make. This is the favorite state of many Americans, with its picturesque harbors, rocky coastline, sparkling seafood, and pristine interior forests and mountains. The people of Maine are well-educated, if a trifle taciturn, and they remain loyal lifelong friends once you get to know them. The same can be said of their beautiful state: once you come to Maine, chances are you will never leave.Maine Colleges: ESL Degrees
How do I know which TESL, TEFL, TESOL certificate or degree program is right for me? Confusing, isn't it?
ESL, or English as Second Language, is a term commonly used worldwide to describe the study of the English language in a native, English-speaking country by non-native English speaking people.
To become certified to teach ESL, there are several routes you can take to get the proper credentials. The most common are a certificate, an undergraduate ESL degree, or related field, or a master's ESL degree. A certificate, such as a TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) or a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certificate can be earned after completing a course that may last anywhere from one week to six weeks. The advantage of this type of certification is that it is relatively inexpensive, and a much quicker program than a four- to six-year degree program. In addition, many certificate programs will help to place you in a job upon completion of the course. The disadvantage of course is that you will only get the basics in such a short program.
If you don't mind investing more time (and money) in your pursuit of an ESL education and profession, then pursuing a bachelor and/or master's ESL degree may better prepare you to meet your goals. The biggest benefit of having an advanced ESL degree is that you can pursue university level teaching positions, which tend to pay more, and provide better benefits. Keep in mind that most ESL degrees offered at universities in the United States are ESL focused, meaning that they are designed for teachers who want to teach English in an English-speaking country. Also, curriculum in an advanced ESL degree, like a bachelor or a master's degree, will include a lot of theory and methodologies, and sometimes don't focus as much on the actual teaching aspect. As a result many students with an ESL degree will also take a TESOL or TEFL course in order to receive better training in practical teaching situations.
