Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between the Missouri ELL Certification and the MA in TESOL?

A: The Missouri ELL Certification (formerly ESOL Certification) is granted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and it is the certificate that most schools in the state of Missouri will want K-12 teachers to have in order to teach English Language Learners (ELLs). The certificate is often enough for K-12 teachers who want a position that requires certification to work with ELLs. Many teachers who already have a master’s degree decided to only get the certificate. If you are a teacher seeking to advance your career, the full MA in TESOL may help you advance (specifically in terms of salary). Speak with your principal or district supervisor about the potential benefits of both the certificate and the full MA in TESOL.

Q: What is the difference between the TEFL Certificate and the MA in TESOL?

A: If you are looking to teach in the United States in a university, community college, or in an intensive English program the most common minimum requirement is an MA in TESOL or Applied Linguistics. Some schools overseas (usually private English schools) will ask for the TEFL Certificate. If you choose to only pursue the TEFL Certificate, this may significantly limit your employment possibilities. If you complete the MA in TESOL as an ESL/EFL Emphasis candidate you will also receive the TEFL Certificate (this is a graduate certificate granted by Webster University). This will maximize your employment possibilities because you can market yourself as having both the MA in TESOL and the TEFL Certificate. If you choose to only pursue the TEFL Certificate, you should research job announcements for the countries where you might want to work to see if the TEFL Certificate will be sufficient. Your adviser will recommend the full MA in TESOL because it will provide you not only with more coursework to make you a stronger ESL/EFL teacher, but also open up more job opportunities.

Q: Can I complete my TEFL Certificate faster than my MA in TESOL?

A: The TEFL Certificate has seven required courses. Due to the way that these are scheduled out, it usually takes approximately the same amount of time to complete the TEFL Certificate as it does the MA in TESOL. The reason is that courses required for the TEFL Certificate are offered in the same rotation as those offered for the MA in TESOL.

Q: Where can I find my adviser's office?

A: Always contact your adviser ahead of time to set up an appointment. Dr. DJ Kaiser's office in Loretto Hall, Room 102.

Q: Where do I get my student ID?

A: First of all, you need to be registered in at least one class in order to get a student ID card. On the Webster Groves Main Campus you can get your student ID at the Office of Public Safety at 572 Garden Avenue (see the campus map). In Uzbekistan, please discuss with the TESOL coordinator at the Navoi campus location.

Q: Where are classes held?

A: On the St. Louis campus, most classes are in Webster Hall. Check your class schedule in Connections and if you have a class in different building, check the campus map.

Q: I signed up for a class and I want to find out what the books will be/what the first assignment will be/what is on the syllabus/I have a question/etc.

A: Check your class schedule in Connections and you will find the name of your instructor for your class. You can search for your instructor's e-mail address from the bottom of http://www.webster.edu. Type in your instructor's name in the Search field and then select "Faculty/Staff Directory" from the drop down menu. Note that the phone number listed for any adjunct faculty will be for a campus office. You should always try use e-mail to contact professors (and please understand that it may take 24-48 hours to receive a response). Note than many professors will be making last-minute changes to their syllabus and will not e-mail it ahead of the first class. You can always check what books are required for your classes 24/7 online (see Textbook section under Important Policies). You may also see what the final assignment for Key Assessment courses on this website.

Q: How good are the employment opportunities in TESOL?

A: At present the field is much better for K-12 teachers in terms of job opportunities. Teachers with ELL certification are often in high need in many school districts. ESL instructors seeking jobs teaching adults in the United States often need to start out teaching part-time at two or more schools while waiting for a full-time position to open. There are many great opportunities to teacher English overseas and Webster faculty have some great connections. Please also check out our Alumni page to learn about and connect with graduates teaching overseas and in the USA.

Q: Does Webster University do job placements for TESOL candidates?

A: Webster University has a Career Center to help you with job search strategies. Perhaps the best resource for the field of TESOL is TESOL’s career center. Faculty can also provide you a lot of helpful advice on searching for jobs.

Q: What will help me get a job?

A: Here are a few suggestions to help with job networking:

• Contact schools where you would like to teach and ask to sit in on and observe their classes.

• Ask about volunteer or tutoring opportunities with various programs.

• Create a strong teaching portfolio of materials from your TESOL courses that you can include with letters of inquiry to schools about possible employment possibilities.

• Work hard and be professional in all of your TESOL courses (you may need your professors to write you letters of recommendation).

• Stay in touch with graduates of the TESOL program so you can help each other network.

• Check the TESOL Career Center.

Q: I want to teach in particular country. How can I find a job there?

A: Many people pursue a degree in TESOL with the hope to move overseas to a particular country. It is easier to find jobs in some countries than in others. Due to visa regulations, it is very difficult for Americans to find full-time work in European countries (though you can go on a student visa to “get your foot in the door” there). South Korea and Saudi Arabia both appear to be countries hiring many American ESL teachers. East Asia, the Middle East, and South America are currently the easiest options for overseas employment. The best resource for overseas jobs is TESOL’s career center. You may also consider applying to be a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant or an English Language Fellow through the U.S. Department of State.

Q: I don’t have a teaching license for K-12 but I would like to teach ESL in a K-12 school. Is that possible?

A: The K-12 emphasis of the MA in TESOL requires a teaching license because our program does not provide an initial teaching certification to teach in K-12 state schools. Some private schools do not require a teaching degree or teaching certification, but rather will allow qualified teachers with a master’s degree to teach for their school (but you would need to check with individual schools). If you do want to teach in a K-12 state school but do not have an initial teaching certification, you would need to first complete an MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching). Some candidates choose to complete the MAT in addition to the Missouri ESOL Certificate or a sequential master’s in TESOL.

Q: What is the difference between ESL and EFL?

A: ESL stands for English as a Second Language and is most often used in reference to teaching non-native English speakers how to speaker English in an English-speaking country (e.g., the United States). In many educational setting, the term “ESL” has become dispreferred and more professionals in the field are using ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) and ELL (English Language Learners). EFL stands for English as a Foreign Language and is most often used in reference to the teaching of English in a country where English is not primary language of the population. You may also hear the distinction between TESOL and TEFL, which refer to teaching ESL and EFL, respectively.

Q: Are there opportunities to do my practicum overseas?

A: At present, we are not set up to make practicum placements overseas. This possibility has been discussed and if and when it becomes available it will be announced on the website. Online TESOL candidates may complete their degree anywhere in the world, but online TESOL candidates are also responsible for finding their own Practicum placement. We will still support you through the process.

Q: Are there opportunities to do part or all of my TESOL program overseas?

A: The entire TESOL program will be available online. Any candidate may switch to the online program to move overseas and complete his/her program. You will then be able to complete your coursework from anywhere in the world where you have good access to the Internet and ESL/EFL classrooms in which you may observe and complete your practicum. You may want to consider our programs in Uzbekistan and Thailand.

Q: Is it possible to receive credit for my TESOL degree by doing foreign language coursework?

A: Foreign language study can greatly help you as an instructor in the field of TESOL; however, foreign language courses do not count as electives for TESOL degrees or programs. The full list of approved elective courses may be found here.

Q: Where can I park? Do I need a parking pass?

A: On the St. Louis home campus a parking pass is needed to park in any of the campus parking lots (including after hours). Parking passes are available through Campus Safety. After hours, however, there is usually plenty of street parking on Lockwood (in front of Webster Hall) and neighboring streets. For short, daytime advising appointments there a few Visitor Parking spaces that you may use. Note: Do not park in neighboring church parking lots; you will be ticketed and/or towed.

Come visit us in Webster Hall at 470 E. Lockwood Avenue. Look for the circle drive with all of the flags from nations representing our diverse student population. Visitor parking is available in the circle drive or in the parking garage on Garden Avenue.