Most ESL learners can hold a conversation before they can read a newspaper. That gap — between spoken fluency and reading comprehension — is one of the trickiest things to close in a second language classroom, and it's exactly what the Teach English Now! Second Language Reading course from Arizona State University (via Coursera) addresses directly. This isn't a general "how to teach English" survey. It goes into the mechanics of L2 literacy: phonemic decoding, schema activation, vocabulary-in-context, and what actually makes a text difficult for a non-native reader.
This review covers what the course contains, who it's built for, where it fits in the broader Teach English Now! specialization, and whether it's worth your time if you're pursuing a TESOL credential or already teaching ESL.
What Is Second Language Reading — and Why Does It Need Its Own Course?
Reading in a second language isn't just slower reading. Research in applied linguistics distinguishes L2 reading from L1 reading on several axes: readers transfer phonological rules from their first language (sometimes helpfully, often not), they lack the background knowledge that native readers bring to a text, and they hit vocabulary thresholds where comprehension collapses even if grammar is solid. The "lexical threshold" hypothesis — roughly, that readers need to know 95-98% of words in a text to comprehend it — has direct classroom implications that many untrained teachers don't know.
The Teach English Now! Second Language Reading, Writing, and Grammar course is designed to give practicing and prospective ESL teachers a working vocabulary for these concepts, plus concrete strategies for each skill area. It is part of the larger Teach English Now! TESOL Certificate Specialization on Coursera, developed by ASU's Department of English.
Teach English Now! Second Language Reading: Course Structure
The course is self-paced, rated 4.8/5, and is available for free audit on Coursera. It is beginner-level in the sense that no prior teaching credential is assumed, though it moves faster if you have some classroom experience to map the content onto.
Reading module
Covers top-down vs. bottom-up reading models, schema theory (how prior knowledge shapes comprehension), and strategies for building reading fluency. Practical focus: how to choose appropriate texts for different proficiency levels, pre-reading activities that activate background knowledge, and how to scaffold difficult passages without simply dumbing them down.
Writing module
Moves through the process approach to writing instruction — the idea that writing is recursive drafting, not transcription — and addresses common L2 writing errors in context. Particular attention is paid to feedback techniques: how to annotate student writing without doing it for them, and how to prioritize errors rather than red-penning everything.
Grammar module
Takes a communicative rather than prescriptive approach. The course doesn't ask you to diagram sentences; it asks how to teach grammar in context so students can use it rather than just identify it. Common topics: tense/aspect errors in L2 writing, article usage (a consistent problem for speakers of article-free languages like Russian or Chinese), and how to sequence grammar instruction with reading and writing tasks.
Teach English Now! Second Language Reading vs. the Full Specialization
This course is one module in a multi-part series. If you're aiming for the full TESOL Certificate from ASU via Coursera, you'll also complete courses on speaking, listening, lesson design, and two capstone projects. The second language reading and writing course fits roughly in the middle of the sequence — it assumes you've thought about language learning theory already and builds toward the classroom applications in later modules.
If you take only this course, you'll leave with a stronger framework for literacy instruction specifically. If you're teaching a reading-intensive class (academic English preparation, for example, or an integrated skills course that leans heavily on texts), this is probably the single most relevant module in the specialization.
It's worth being clear: this course alone does not confer CELTA, DELTA, or any widely-recognized standalone TESOL credential. The ASU certificate has growing employer recognition, particularly in online and corporate ESL contexts, but if you need a credential for a specific employer or country, verify what they accept before enrolling.
Who Should Take This Course
The course is genuinely useful for three groups:
- Pre-service teachers preparing for their first ESL classroom who want structured input on literacy pedagogy without a full university program.
- Working ESL teachers who learned on the job and want to fill gaps in their theoretical background — particularly around why certain students struggle with reading comprehension even after they've built conversational fluency.
- Curriculum writers or materials developers at language schools or corporate training programs who are selecting or writing reading texts for non-native speakers.
It is not the right fit if you want a comprehensive TESOL qualification recognized by the British Council or CELTA-equivalent programs, or if you're looking for a course that covers speaking and listening in depth — those are separate modules.
Top Courses for Teaching English and Language Skills
If the Teach English Now! Second Language Reading course is part of a larger professional development plan, these related courses are worth stacking alongside it:
Teach English Now! Lesson Design and Assessment
The natural follow-on to the reading/writing/grammar module — covers how to build coherent lesson plans around the skills you've studied and how to assess what students have actually learned rather than just what they've memorized.
Teach English Now! Technology Enriched Teaching
Addresses the increasingly unavoidable reality that ESL instruction now happens across platforms — Zoom, LMS, async video, AI tools. Rated 9.7 and directly applicable if you're teaching or planning to teach in hybrid or fully online contexts.
Teach English Now! Capstone Project 2
The final assessed component of the TESOL specialization where you design and execute a teaching unit. Relevant once you've completed the core skill modules including second language reading.
Teach English Now! Capstone Project 1
The first capstone, focusing on a reflective teaching portfolio. Pairs with Capstone 2 to round out the full ASU TESOL Certificate credential.
Learning to Teach Online
Rated 9.8 on Coursera — one of the highest in the category. Covers pedagogy and design for online courses, which is directly relevant if you're planning to teach ESL through a language school platform or build your own courses.
Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Introduction to Student Assessment
A Commonwealth Education Trust course that complements the Teach English Now! series by going deeper on assessment design — useful for teachers who want to build diagnostic tools for reading proficiency.
FAQ
Is the Teach English Now! Second Language Reading course free?
Yes, it can be audited for free on Coursera. Free audit gives you access to video lectures and most course materials but typically does not include graded assignments or the certificate of completion. To receive the certificate and access all assessments, you need to pay for the course or subscribe to Coursera Plus.
Does this course count toward a TESOL certificate?
It is one module in the ASU TESOL Certificate Specialization on Coursera. Completing the full specialization (all six courses plus two capstone projects) earns the ASU TESOL Certificate. The individual course completion certificate does not carry standalone credential weight with most employers.
How is second language reading different from regular reading instruction?
L2 readers bring different background knowledge, phonological systems, and vocabulary gaps than native readers. They often have strong decoding skills in their L1 that don't transfer directly, and they typically lack the incidental vocabulary acquisition that native readers build up from childhood exposure. Instruction has to address these gaps explicitly rather than assuming students will "pick it up" with enough exposure.
How long does the Teach English Now! Second Language Reading course take?
Coursera estimates approximately 14-18 hours total for this module. Self-paced means you can spread it across weekends or complete it in an intensive week. The reading and grammar modules are the most content-dense; the writing module moves faster if you have any writing instruction background.
Is a 4.8/5 rating reliable for this course?
The Teach English Now! specialization consistently rates in the 4.7-4.9 range across all modules, which is partly a floor effect — Coursera's rating system skews high because learners who abandon a poor course rarely rate it. A more useful signal: the number of reviews (in the thousands for this specialization) and the substance of written reviews, which for ASU's TESOL courses tend to cite specific instructors and concrete application — usually a good sign the content is substantive.
Can I teach English abroad with this certificate?
It depends on the country and employer. South Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan typically require a TEFL/TESOL certificate of at least 100-120 hours for work permits — the full ASU specialization on Coursera approaches that range. Some private language schools accept Coursera certificates from accredited universities; public school systems usually require CELTA or a nationally-recognized equivalent. Check the specific visa and employer requirements for your target country before relying on any online certificate.
Bottom Line
The Teach English Now! Second Language Reading course delivers on a specific brief: it gives ESL teachers a principled framework for literacy instruction that most on-the-job training doesn't cover. The reading theory (schema activation, lexical thresholds, top-down vs. bottom-up models) is taught accessibly without being dumbed down, and the writing and grammar modules take a communicative stance that's more useful in real classrooms than prescriptive grammar rules.
The caveats are also real: this is one module in a longer specialization, not a standalone credential, and the free audit path limits what you can actually submit and receive feedback on. If you're working toward the full ASU TESOL Certificate, this module is worth doing in sequence rather than skipping. If you're a working teacher looking for a focused refresh on literacy pedagogy specifically, it's a reasonable use of 15 hours at no cost.
What it is not: a substitute for a CELTA, a practicum, or mentored classroom hours. No online course is, and this one doesn't pretend to be.