Welcome! When you choose to study teaching English as a second language (ESL) at Longwood, you choose a program that will enhance your professional profile, enrich your understanding of global citizenship, and build confidence in your communication skills. National surveys reveal that businesses seek the kinds of employees who graduate with a degree in modern languages – empathetic team players who think critically, communicate well, and solve complex problems.
Exploring connections across time, continents, and disciplines, our courses in culture, film, language, and literature train students to write, read, and speak in more than one language, interact with cultural competence, and participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world.
A semester abroad is a truly transformative experience, while our teaching license program leads directly to positions in the Commonwealth’s schools. As a second major, ESL degree pairs easily with programs in English, business, social work, and history.
Recent graduates – confident global citizen leaders – have become lawyers, teachers, editors, social media directors, and graduate students.
The Commonwealth of Virginia is experiencing a shortage of ESL teachers. With a study abroad semester and classes in both English and a second language, our licensure program prepares students for preK-12 positions in this growing and vital field.
A major in modern languages is your first step to an engaging, rewarding career teaching in the PreK-12 setting. Our program boasts a 100% full-time placement rate for graduates with a Commonwealth of Virginia teaching license.
Sample 4-Year Plan
Teaching English as a Second Language, Teacher Preparation Concentration (pdf)
Explore modern languages in these classes that focus on Literature; Civilization and Culture; and Conversation and Phonetics.
See All English as a Second Language Courses
Study abroad is an amazing experience that is extremely important. You can’t imagine how much it changes you, your outlook on the world, and your life. ~Sean Kenny
