Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

The New School Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL) welcomes applications from motivated individuals whose previous education and other accomplishments show potential for effective and creative work as English language teachers. A bachelor\'s degree or the equivalent from an accredited college or university is required for admission. You can take the program full-time or part-time.

Admission to the MA TESOL program is based on a number of factors. Applications are reviewed by an admission committee consisting of admission counselors, the director of the MA TESOL program, and members of the faculty. Your statement of purpose, academic transcripts, résumé/work history, letters of recommendation, and required personal interview are all carefully evaluated. ESOL teaching experience is not a prerequisite for the Teaching concentration, although it is welcome.

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS

Two recommendation letters are required for all degree applicants. Letters should be written by individuals who have personal knowledge of your work. Whenever possible, letters should come from faculty members who have instructed the applicant. If necessary, professional recommendations should address skills that are relevant to your academic qualifications to do graduate-level work. For applicants to Curriculum Development, one of the recommendations must be from a teaching supervisor who can speak to your abilities as a teacher. Recommenders can submit recommendations online; instructions are included with the online application. If preferred, the recommendation form can instead be sent by mail in a signed, sealed envelope. To send by mail, download the PDF recommendation form found in the online application, complete the personal information, save the form, and forward it to the recommender for completion and submission. Applicants can also send signed and sealed recommendations to the Office of Admission using an Application Materials Cover Sheet.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

In approximately 1,000 words (your name and date of birth should appear on each page): Explain your interest in and preparation for graduate work in TESOL. Discuss in detail how the New School program will help you attain your professional and personal goals. Briefly describe your basis for interest in an online (or blended on-campus and online) master’s degree program.

RÉSUMÉ

Provide a résumé/curriculum vitae summarizing your education, work/volunteer experience, and/or published writing.

INTERVIEW

Once your application is completed and the Office of Admission has forwarded it to the departmental admission committee for review, you will be contacted for a required admission interview, which will help the faculty gather additional information to determine your suitability for the MATESOL program. A final admission decision will be made after the required interview has occurred.

TEST SCORES

TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE: All applicants whose first language is not English must submit valid TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. The minimum score required for TOEFL (IB) is 100, for IELTS is 7.0, and for PTE is 68. Our TOEFL institution code is 2554.

A TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score is not required for applicants

• Whose primary language is English
• Who have earned a four-year degree from a U.S. college/university or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction

Upon review of your application, the Office of Admission reserves the right to request a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score.

Arrange for the testing service to send your test scores directly to The New School using the institution codes listed above. We accept scores taken within the past two years. If your scores are older, you must retake the test.

For more information, visit TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS TO THE CONCENTRATION IN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

In addition to the required application materials, applicants to the concentration in Curriculum Development are also required to submit the following materials (see details of Teaching and Teacher Training Requirements):

• Official copy of your earned ELT Certificate
• A lesson plan and corresponding teaching materials
• A short essay in which you discuss your philosophy of teaching
• One of the two letters of recommendation must be from a teaching supervisor

Teaching Experience Requirement: Applicants must submit proof of having taught an English as a second language (ESL) or English as a foreign language (EFL) class for a minimum of 600 hours over four semesters for university-level teaching and 720 hours for all other teaching. Please note that tutoring does not fulfill this requirement.

Teacher Training Requirement: Applicants must receive The New School Certificate in Teaching English or an equivalent. The minimum requirements for acceptance of the certificate are

• 100 hours of classroom or online instruction at an accredited school
• A teaching practicum in which participants teach ESOL students
• Acceptable certificates include the New School Certificate in Teaching English, the CELTA, RSA, or CTEFLA.

A certificate or transcript, including evaluation materials, especially teaching evaluations if available, must be submitted. If you do not have a certificate, other teacher training will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the English Language Studies department.