The ESL Conundrum

The ESL Conundrum

How is it possible that the M.A. TESL degree was a sole qualification to teach the English 79-88 ESL courses in 1981, but is not in 2007?

How is it possible that the M.A. English degree was not a sole qualification to teach the English 79-88 ESL courses in 1981, but is in 2007?

Qualifications to Teach English 79-88
1981-199? / M.A. English only
M.A. TESL only
199?-2007 / M.A. English only
M.A. TESL only

The word “only” means without further qualifications, such as a B.A. in English or TESL, a TESL certificate, semester units in TESL or English, or experience teaching English or ESL. This chart simplifies a complicated situation, but demonstrates that an M.A. TESL degree without an English B.A. is not an acceptable qualification to teach ESL courses with English names in the LACCD today. This is a complete reversal of the situation before AB 1725 when an English M.A. had to have additional qualifications to teach the English 79-88 ESL courses.

Current ESL and English minimum qualifications:

ESL: Master’s in TESL, TESOL, applied linguistics with a TESL emphasis, linguistics with a TESL emphasis, English with a TESL emphasis, or education with a TESL emphasis OR

Bachelor’s in TESL, TESOL, English with a TESL certificate, linguistics with a TESL certificate, applied linguistics with a TESL certificate, or any foreign language with a TESL certificate AND Master’s in linguistics, applied linguistics, English, composition, bilingual/bicultural studies, reading, speech, or any foreign language OR The equivalent

English: Master’s in English, literature, comparative literature, or composition OR

Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in linguistics, TESL, speech, education with a specialization in reading, creative writing, or journalism OR The equivalent

ENGLISH / 079 / BEGINNING COLLEGE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
ENGLISH / 080 / INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE READING SKILLS
ENGLISH / 081 / INTERMEDIATE ESL READING AND VOCABULARY
ENGLISH / 082 / INTRODUCTION TO COLLEGE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
ENGLISH / 083 / COLLEGE CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
ENGLISH / 083 / COLLEGE CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE A
ENGLISH / 083 / COLLEGE CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE B
ENGLISH / 084 / COLLEGE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE I
ENGLISH / 085 / COLLEGE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE II
ENGLISH / 086 / COLLEGE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE III
ENGLISH / 087 / ADVANCED ESL: READING AND VOCABULARY
ENGLISH / 088 / ADVANCED ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE:GRAMMAR