How to become an ESL teacher

How to become an ESL teacherWith the world getting more diverse, professionals who can help people bridge language and cultural gaps will be in high demand. English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers not only have skills that can help people assimilate into life in a new country, but they can also be cultural ambassadors. If youre thinking about combining a love of teaching with the practical needs of language learners, it can be a great career path. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) What does an ESL teacher do?ESL teachers work with people who arent native English speakers and help them develop the English language skills they need in order to travel, live in an English-speaking country, or obtain citizenship. Some of these English language learners may have a specific goal in mind (like passing a citizenship test or a standardized test like the TOEFL to study abroad), or may just be learning English for personal reasons.An ESL teachers job responsibilities may includeTeaching general English, reading, and writing skills or focusing on a specific type of language use (like listening, life skills, literacy, professional English), etc.Developing curriculum to help students in the real worldManaging classroom lessons and activitiesTutoring studentsThe ESL teacher may be employed by a school district, a lifelong learning program (like a community college or other adult learning center), a community organization, or an educational company. Many ESL teachers teach in the U.S., but its also possible to teach abroad for students who hope to travel to the U.S. or other English-speaking nations. ESL classrooms can often vary, with students ranging from children to adolescents to adults, from all walks of life. The students may already have varying levels of English-speaking ability as wellfrom not speaking any English to being fairly proficient (but wanting to refine even further).What skills do ESL teachers need?ESL teacher s often need to have an extra level of flexibility and people skills because theyre working with a diverse range of people who may have an array of different needs.Cultural SensitivityThis is a key quality for an ESL teacher to have. The job inherently requires you to work with people from different backgrounds or nationalities to help them build their English speaking, listening, and writing skills.Language FluencyThis is not always required, but can be very helpful, as it can open up even more job opportunities. Some English language teaching programs do total immersion (where the teacher and students only speak English), but if you are multilingual it can lead to more and different opportunities (like teaching abroad).Teaching SkillsLike any educator, the ESL teacher needs to be able to take complicated concepts and teach them to students in an appropriate and understandable way.FlexibilityThis is a must-have skill for any teacher, but is even more essential for an ESL teacher. S tudents may have a range of learning styles and needs, so finding ways to connect those dots may require a bit of teaching dexterity.CreativityESL teachers are teaching skills that have very real practicality in everyday life, so finding ways to work in real world lessons and activities with more abstract concepts like grammar and speaking can help students.Organizational SkillsThe ESL classroom is like any other, in that a chaotic atmosphere doesnt help anyone learn. The teacher should be able to get a handle on the classroom and have set lesson plans and benchmarks in order to keep things running smoothly.Communication SkillsYoull be teaching communication, so youll need to be highly proficient at it yourself.What do you need to become an ESL teacher?ESL teachers usually need a bachelors degree at minimum, preferably in an educational field. However, in some cases a bachelors degree and English language expertise may be sufficient. Some states require ESL teachers to be licensed a s other teachers are licensed, so be sure to check your states requirements.How much do ESL teachers make?According to PayScale, ESL teachers make a median salary of $40,632, though this can vary depending on where youre teaching, what youre teaching, and whether its in the public sector or private sector.Whats the outlook for ESL teachers?The outlook is bright With more and more people seeking to come to the United States, there will be a consistently growing pool of potential students and programs that cater to them. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that adult literacy and language teachers (a group which includes ESL teachers) will grow by about 7% by 2026, which is faster than average for all careers.If youre thinking about teaching, and youre especially interested in working with students on English language skills and literacy, working in the ESL field can be a great specialty. And with people of so many cultures coming together with a common goal, youre likely to learn as much from your students as you teach thema winning situation all around. Good luck