Teach the World with a TESOL Certificate from SUU
Posted: July 07, 2025 | Author: Trey Erwin, ALCC Lecturer | Read Time: 2 minutes
Teaching English doesn’t seem like it would be all that difficult, right? I mean, you’ve been speaking it for a while now. You’re so familiar with its vocabulary and grammar, it’s automatic. How hard could it be?
Then someone asks you: “Why do rough and tough sound like stuff, but through sounds more like drew?”
Or “Why is it that I can give advice, but I can’t give just one advice?”
Then you suddenly realize teaching English can be challenging, even for native or fluent speakers!
I got into English language teaching over a decade ago. It’s taken me all over the world and back. Now I teach ESL courses here at SUU. I also train new teachers to do what I do in our TESOL Certificate program.
What is TESOL?
1.5 billion people speak English, and around 75% of them are not native speakers. Many more are trying to learn. English is the global language of business, education, and media. It’s not a stretch to say it’s the most important language in the world.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is a field all about helping people learn English as a second or additional language. We use research on how to best learn and teach a language, and then apply that research. It’s a mix of education and linguistics.
What can you do with it?
Getting TESOL training is the right call if you want to teach English abroad or with adult populations here in the US. Teachers with a background in TESOL work in these areas:
- language institutes
- schools
- universities
- non-profits
- online teaching/tutoring
- testing (e.g. TOEFL)
- publishing houses
Who studies TESOL?
We come from a variety of backgrounds, but usually we share a common interest in languages, education, culture, travel, and social service. We tend to be adventurers. Many of us have lived in other countries, learned more than one language (or tried at least), and remain endlessly curious about other cultures.
A degree in education, English, or anthropology pairs nicely with a TESOL certificate. But you can have just about any background (I studied business). In fact, there are specific branches of TESOL, like Business English or English for Medical Purposes. Having a degree or training in another field can actually come in quite handy.
Please note that you absolutely do NOT have to be a native speaker to excel in TESOL at SUU.
Why the TESOL Certificate at SUU?
It’s quick: 18 credits - 6 courses.
It’s also robust. We blend the research with practical teaching techniques. You’ll get several chances to do some real teaching! That way, when you step to the front of your first classroom, you’ll know what you're doing.
Our professors are seasoned professionals. They’ve taught English in schools and universities in Mexico, Japan, China, Colombia, Turkey, and Tajikistan.
Ready to get a TESOL certification?
Enroll in TESL 1010 Principles of TESOL or TESL 1030 Principles of Linguistics. TESL 1030 is now a GE course, so kill two birds with one stone (how would you explain that idiom to an English learner?)! Talk to your advisor about scheduling.
Learn more about SUU’s TESOL program.
Tags: Student Education College of Education and Human Development
