Foreign and Second Language Education

Florida State’s Foreign and Second Language Education (FSLE) program will prepare you for a rewarding career in teaching English as a second language (ESL) and foreign languages, such as Spanish, Italian, German, etc. We offer both research and practitioner degrees at the master’s, specialist, and doctoral levels.

In the interconnected world we live in, the demand for ESL teachers and foreign and second language teachers continues to increase both in America and overseas. Learning English is an invaluable skill in nearly every country, and English speakers are often eager to learn a second language. For those who go on to teach English to speakers of other languages, they will be treated to unique experiences found in no other profession.

In the master’s program, you have the opportunity to follow either an education or a research track. The education track offers solid theoretical and practical training to prepare you to teach English to speakers of other languages in the United States or abroad. In addition to offering the same coursework, the research track provides you with the opportunity to participate in individual and/or group research related to second language learning and teaching culminating in a thesis. This track also prepares you to pursue your FSLE education at the doctoral level. The master’s program is offered on-campus. As an added bonus, you’ll earn a graduate certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) automatically when you complete the master’s program! Our online master's program in Curriculum & Instruction also offers a concentration in Foreign and Second Language Education for current teachers.

Our education specialist (Ed.S.) program is an advanced master’s degree. Applicants to the Ed.S. program should already hold a master’s degree in an area of Foreign and Second Language Education or related field. The purpose of this program is to expand your skills and knowledge in your current area of preparation or to extend your skills and knowledge to another area of Foreign and Second Language Education. You will have the opportunity to write a thesis or complete supervised research, pass comprehensive exams, or defend a portfolio or final project.

In the doctoral program, you will take courses in foreign and second language teaching methodology, second language acquisition, research methods, language assessment, the psychology of language learning, as well as educational psychology and policy. You will have the opportunity to conduct individual and team research on current issues in second language teaching and learning and present research findings at major scholarly venues.

Interested in earning a master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)? Learn more about our online master's in TESOL here.

 

 

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