Kansas-based university offers online ESL instruction for teachers

Kansas-based university offers online ESL instruction for teachers

As a result of a national teacher shortage, school districts across the country are searching for educators with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, as well as English as a second language (ESL) training. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that teachers with advanced degrees or specializations may have more job opportunities.

In order to prepare more educators for a career in public education, many universities are increasing their online course offerings. For example, this fall, Kansas State University (KSU) will offer its first online course in its ESL Endorsement program, reports the Kansas City InfoZine.

The web-based, graduate-level course covers approaches, methods and strategies for instructing second-language learners. It will be available to teachers in all states.

"We continually get calls from principals and teachers across the country who are seeking strategies for working with students in English as a second language courses," said Socorro Herrera, director of the Center for Intercultural and Multilingual Advocacy and professor of elementary education at the university, quoted by the news source.

The course features video streaming, live chats and podcasts as well as Skype, which will be used for teacher collaborations.

According to the BLS, teachers held about 3.5 million jobs during the 2008-2009 academic year.

By Mark Danson