Higher Education

TESOL teachers specializing in higher education typically instruct at colleges and universities, and are thus particularly trained to educated adults. They are responsible not only for lecturing students, but also for holding workshops, organizing programs, and completing other administrative or departmental duties. Beyond their work as professors, higher education TESOL instructors may also be expected to be active in scholarship, writing papers and conducting research.

Higher education TESOL teachers are typically required to have an advanced degree or certificate in TESOL or applied linguistics. Prior experience teaching at a university or even general level is preferred, along with a record of scholarship and research. Specific areas of interest, such as second language writing, may also be cited. Employment is usually under contract, the length of which becomes progressively longer as more time spent working at an individual institution.

Salaries and benefits of higher education TESOL instructors are contingent on many factors, including full-time or part-time status, accreditation and experience, and are often times in line with the salaries and benefits of their counterparts in foreign language or English departments. Annual salary may range from $40,000 to $75,000. Benefits may include pension, tax-deferred savings plans and health care.