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TESL, or Teaching English as a Second Language is the practice of teaching the English Language. This course attracts students who may not use English but reside in a country that utilizes it a lot.
As English has gained prominence over the past few decades, so has the demand for English teachers. As such, universities have provided TESL courses to properly equip English teachers to be a bridge and connect their students to the beautiful Language.
Read on to get started on your journey to a TESL course in Malaysia!
1. So, What Is TESL?
TESL means to Teach English as a Second Language.
In a country like Malaysia, locals often use English to communicate, but not everyone understands it. For example, a student who grew up only understanding Mandarin or Malay may need to learn the language from a teacher with a TESL qualification.
2. TESL vs TESOL vs TEFL
You may have also seen other abbreviations such as TESOL, and TEFL. These courses are all within the field of teaching English to students whose first language is not English.
It can certainly get confusing when you are exploring your course options!
Don’t worry. Here are their definitions to help you out:
- TESL, or Teaching English as a Second Language refers to teaching English as a secondary language to students from countries that already widely use English aside from their primary languages or mother tongues.
- TEFL, or Teaching English as a Foreign Language qualifications allow tutors to teach English to students with another primary language. Moreover, these students live in countries that do not use English as a main language of communication.
For example, a Korean student studying at a Malaysian university must understand English to do their assignments. Thus, they would need an English teacher with a TEFL qualification for assistance.
- TESOL, or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a mixture of both TESL and TEFL. Through TESOL, you will have the skills and the flexibility to teach English to students from both English and non-English speaking countries.
3. Where To Study TESL In Malaysia?
Here are our recommendations of top universities in Malaysia to study English Studies courses.
| University | Course |
| 1. University of Nottingham Malaysia | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Education (TESOL) Bachelor of Education with Honours (TESOL) |
| 2. Univertsiti Malaya | Bachelor of Education Teaching English as a Second Language |
| 3. Quest International University | Bachelor Of Arts (Hons) Teaching Of English As A Second Language |
| 4. Mahsa University | Diploma in Education (TESL) |
| 5. University of Cyberjaya | Bachelor of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language (Honours) |
| 6. City University | Bachelor of Education in Teaching of English as a Second Language (Honours) |
4. Why Should You Study TESL?
Influence And Shape Lives
If you are passionate about teaching, you will probably feel rewarded when you see your hard work bear fruit through your students’ growth. The joy of helping a student understand a topic they may be struggling with is rare and precious – not all career paths or work can give you that feeling.
English is still the number one language used globally to unlock unlimited opportunities. If making a difference through education sounds like something you would like to achieve, TESL could be for you.
International Opportunities
Just because you studied TESL in Malaysia does not mean you are only limited to career options in Malaysia after your tertiary education.
Knowing the student’s first language is a valuable skill in teaching. Let’s say you studied the course and are able to speak Mandarin. You can potentially be an English language teacher in a Mandarin-speaking country, like China or Taiwan.
Thriving Job Market
With the vast use of the language in the office and many social settings, the demand for English teachers will always be there.
An online language teacher is one of the most in-demand jobs for fresh graduates to secure their future dream careers. As a bonus, you can teach English from the comfort of your own home!
Job security is stable as ever if you study TESL in Malaysia.
How Can Uni Enrol Help?
Uni Enrol’s experienced counsellors help support you in understanding all your university and course options based on your preferences, and guide you on scholarship and budgetary matters!
5. What You Will Learn In TESL?
A TESL course prepares you to be a professional English teacher, but what sort of skills do you need anyway?
There are so many skills and knowledge that a teacher must hold to excel at teaching. Here is a breakdown of what you will typically learn in a TESL course:
Teaching, Reading, and Writing
This module will teach you about the consideration of the principles, theoretical issues, and how they affect the teaching of reading and writing to students.
Literature In A Language Classroom
The classic literature module provides insight into understanding issues in the teaching of literature.
It explores how new developments in the study can transform the thinking of future generations.
Curriculum Studies
Coming up with classroom activities is the focus of the Curriculum Studies.
It covers the transfer of knowledge and skills while diving into how theories help to explain how children and young people learn.
Theories And Practices In Language Teaching
In this module, you will observe how language is used in schools through an understanding of theories and practical methods.
It addresses how language is taught in different subjects and examines effective ways of teaching a language in various subjects.
Behavioural And Classroom Management
Behavioural and Classroom Management is about how teachers can create motivating and positive learning environments. It guides you to develop behaviours that maximise learning. At the same time, you will learn how to manage your time and resources in a classroom environment too.
6. What Are The Popular TESL Pathways?
Pathway 1: SPM/O-Level ➔ Diploma in Education (TESL) ➔ Degree In Education (TESL)
To qualify for a diploma course at a Malaysian university, you only need to have 3 credits in your SPM/O-Level, including a pass in English, Bahasa Melayu and History.
Diploma courses usually take between 2 to 2.5 years to complete and can cost RM 35,000.
As a bonus, you can enter the workforce immediately after you receive your certificate.
Diploma students who wish to continue their studies into a Degree can start in the second year onwards. The minium requirement is a CGPA 2.00.
Pathway 2: SPM/O-Level ➔ Foundation/Pre-University ➔ Degree In Education (TESL)
This pathway requires you to have 5 credits in your SPM/O-Level to enter into a Foundation or a Pre-University (A-Level, SACE, STPM, etc.) course which can take 1-2 years.
Thereafter, you must also graduate from one of the following pre-university courses (or equivalent):
- STPM: min. of 2C
- A-Level: min. of 2E
- UEC: min. 5B
- AUSMAT/SACE: min. ATAR 50
- Relevant Foundation: min. of CGPA 2.00
Then, you can take up a 3-year TESL bachelor’s degree to further your studies.
7. What Are The Skills Required To Study TESL?
English Proficiency
Unsurprisingly, you would need to be good – if not proficient – in English. It is important to note that TESL does not teach English but rather the knowledge about the language, where it highlights how you can educate your future students through theory and practice.
Therefore, the course needs lots of practice in reading and writing to be fluent. So, make sure you have your English sharpened!
Communication Skills
In a classroom, it is essential to communicate clearly and think outside the box to convey ideas and share new topics with students. Ask yourself:
- How can I break down this concept in the simplest way possible?
- What types of examples will help my students to understand me?
- How do I engage my students to give me feedback during speaking exercises?
While a TESL course will teach you ways to hone this skill, effective communication is a skill that takes years to master. As a teacher, consistently practising your Communication Skills will help you in the long run.
Patience
Of course, teaching completely new topics to a group of students will require a lot of patience, no matter the age group. In these scenarios, you may even wonder:
- Are you prepared to explain the same concept multiple times in different ways?
- What if your students don’t respond to your method of teaching?
And, because people are full of surprises, different unpredictable happenings can spring upon you during your lessons too!
As a result, you would need to be as cool as a cucumber and be patient with your students. After all, people learn best when they receive sympathy from others! Who knows, perhaps you might even discover new things and connections from them.
8. Things You Need to Know About TESL Career
As a TESL degree holder, you will be qualified to teach English as a second language at schools (private and public), language academies and tuition centres.
Of course, TESL is more than just that and equips you with a toolkit full of teaching strategies. Thus there are so many other paths you can take with this qualification as we highlight in the table below:
| Areas Of Opportunity | Types of Jobs |
|---|---|
| Education (Formal) | Government School Teacher (SK/SMK), Private/International School Teacher, College/University Lecturer, Preschool/Primary English Teacher |
| Education (Non-Formal/Private) | English Tutor (Tuition Centre), Online English Teacher, IELTS/MUET Coach, Homeschool or Enrichment Programme Teacher |
| Global Teaching Opportunities | ESL/EFL Teacher Abroad (Japan, Korea, UAE, China, etc.), Cultural Exchange Programme Teacher (JET, EPIK, etc.) |
| Corporate & Adult Learning | Corporate English Trainer, Business English Instructor, Professional Communication Coach |
| Curriculum & Content Development | English Syllabus Developer, Instructional Designer, ESL Textbook/Module Writer, Educational App Content Creator |
| Writing & Editing | ESL Content Writer, Copywriter, Proofreader/Editor (Academic or Commercial) |
| Educational Services | Education Consultant, Language Programme Coordinator, Test Developer (MUET/IELTS-style exams) |
| Technology & Innovation | Online Learning Facilitator, EdTech Specialist (LMS, digital learning tools), Educational YouTuber or Content Creator |
| Self-Employment & Freelance | Freelance English Instructor, Private Tutor or Business Owner, Online Course Creator (e.g., on Udemy, Teachable) |
Here is what graduates of TESL earn according to Payscale.
The monthly base salary of an English teacher can start at RM 3,000. Like many other jobs, you will need to start from the bottom, and your pay will increase as you gain more relevant experience or venture on your own self-employed or freelance.
Recommended Course Guides
Looking for other related courses? Here are various education-related course guides you should check out:
If you’re still unsure about what to study, we have many other Course Guides that will provide further insight into the subject matter. Share with your friends!
We also took the liberty to compile all our University Guides and Course Fees Guides so you don’t have to go anywhere else!
About the Author:
Ken Hoong is the co-founder of Uni Enrol and a contributing writer. Drawing on his close work with Uni Enrol’s counsellors, he brings keen insight into Malaysia’s evolving private higher education landscape and the shifting preferences of students in learning and career choices.
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