English as a Second Language (ESL) is a huge and growing industry.  ESL is taught in schools, at study abroad colleges, at universities and increasingly online. Because English is a lingua franca for most business and commercial transactions, it has become a must for anyone in the world who wants to be part of the global economy. ESL programs aim at building and improving English skills for particular reasons.  Some students require English as a second language to further study, some want to study it because knowing how to speak English increases your employability. Serious English language students also study linguistics. This coupling of language related learning is called ELL (English Language and Linguistics) The study of linguistics gives students the strong analytical skills that are required for employment as well as having the overall opportunity to learn new IT and quantitative skills. For careers and employability, programs such as English Language and Linguistics provide practical module learning tools which directly relate to the world of work.

English Language and Linguistic programs reflect many careers in which graduates are well suited for such as media, advertising, publishing and teaching. They also provide addition options where careers require the understanding and sensitivity to the English language such as language technology, speech, language therapy, and speech therapy. Other careers also include diplomatic services, civil services, police, judiciary careers and forensic work.

The sensitivity to the use of the English language and its structure helps to give graduates of ELL studies the career edge needed. This can be seen in careers such as journalism, professional editing, professional writing, the law, speech therapy, policing, as well as teaching the English language in the US or abroad.