Becoming an English as a Second Language (ESL) or English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher is a popular pursuit. English is a language with a truly global presence, and is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Thanks to the popularity of so much. English language music, movies, and shows, the language has had a significant impact in nearly every country. English is also used as an international language for business, tourism, and media. It is no wonder that people all over the world learn English: being able to speak the language opens up so many economic opportunities.
Why is English spoken so widely? Initially, English spread throughout the world as a result of the British, who colonized large swaths of land in areas like North America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. The British empire was vast, and English became the language of goivernment and power. As the age of colonization waned and countries fought for their independence, English largely stayed as the default language. The United States, Australia and Canada, for example, are countries where English is the official if not dominant language.
Those who are native or proficient speakers of English have a unique advantage from a global perspective, since they have a linguistic asset that is highly valued around the world. There are thousands of opportunities for teachers of English in Canada and abroad, making English teacher training a popular pursuit, particularly among young people who are interested in travelling and working simultaneously. For those who wish to teach in Canada, there are also many opportunities to teach ESL in publicly funded school boards, private schools, and in tutoring situations.
If you have been considering completing teacher training in ESL, you are reading the right article. We will discuss all the ways you can become an ESL teacher both locally and abroad, and the best practices you can implement to be an inclusive and effective ESL educators.
Let's start be exploring the steps to becoming an ESL teacher.
Newcomers to Canada come from a variety of linguistic backgrounds, and many are eager to learn English when they arrive. For this reason, there are many exciting opportunities for English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers to work.
What are the Steps to Becoming an ESL Teacher?
Becoming an ESL teacher is probably a lot easier than you think. Unlike many other jobs in education, ESL teacher training (TESL or TESOL) does not require a significant investment of time. In fact, some certification courses can be completed in under a year. If you have a strong background of work experience, academic credentials, or both, having TESL certification will ensure you find work as an ESL teacher in a fairly short amount of time.
The first step to becoming an ESL teacher is all about determining your personal career goals. Do you want to teach English as a long term career? Are you looking for a temporary job that will help drive or fund a gap year? Do you want to be a certified teacher in Canada that teaches ESL along with other subjects?
Once you determine your goal in ESL, you can more easily plan a pathway that makes sense for you. While you could certainly do your TESL training without a university degree or college diploma, you may find it practical to have a degree completed prior to starting TESL training. Having a degree, even in an unrelated area, will make your CV or resume much more intriguing to prospective employers while also giving you a foundation for obtaining further teaching qualifications or making career shifts much easier. Next, we will talk about requirements for teaching.
What are ESL Coach and ESL Teacher Requirements?
So what exactly is required to be an ESL coach or ESL teacher?
What is an ESL Teacher?
An ESL teacher or instructor may work in a private school, as a tutor, or a publicly funded board. To get hired by a reputable school or to have credentials that are appealing to clients, you will want to have TESL or TESOL certification (or something similar). These programs may take a year or more to complete, and vary in terms of cost and outcome. For example, some courses are designed for prospective teachers that want a quick entry into the ESL teaching industry, while others are geared to leaders or students that want to complete a postgraduate degree.
Those that want to work in a publicly funded board will have the added requirement of completing undergraduate and education degrees, in addition to additional qualifications and courses for ESL. While this is a much more challenging process for certification, it may be the more ideal choice if you want to pursue a long term teaching career and to possibly branch out into other areas such as special education or general teaching.
If you have just finished secondary school or postsecondary school you may be wondering exactly how you can see the world while still gaining work experience and earning money. This is where teaching English as a second language (ESL) abroad is an excellent option.
What is an ESL Coach?
ESL coaches typically focus on one-to-one instruction in English for students that want to achieve a specific goal, such as passing a proficiency test such as:
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- CELTA
- CELPIP
- TOEIC
These tests are usually required for non-native speakers of English that need to pass a proficiency test to enter university or obtain a specific professional license. The credentials you would want to have to do this work might include being TESL or TESOL qualified, and having a thorough understanding of the test as a certified trainer or instructor.
What Do Students Learn in ESL Classes?
Students that take ESL classes will experience a variety of learning experiences that largely depend on the school context, their level of language proficiency, and the instructor. English language learners, or ELLs, typically receive an initial assessment that involves being placed on a language proficiency continua. For example schools that follow the CEFR continua are placed in "A1" as a beginner up to "C2" for more advanced proficiency. In provinces like Ontario, public school students will be placed on a similar, six step continua. The purpose of this placement is to provided data for teachers to plan and develop level appropriate assessments and lessons for students.
Students in ESL focused programs that center on conversational and academic English acquisition will learn English in structured way, typically starting with common conversational phrases, information questions, and basic vocabulary like colours, numbers, animals, and places. Kids will learn using context appropriate for their age group, using resources like games, crafts and cartoons.
ESL in publicly funded elementary school systems may be different. Rather than learning in an isolated, ESL focused class for most of the day, students learn English while being integrated in a mainstream classroom. The teacher will adapt or add language scaffolds to instruction to make the content accessible to students. ELLs may recieve individual instruction during the week with an ESL specialist in the school. In high school, ELLs can have the option to take ESL specific courses for graduation credits.
Being an ESL teacher takes much more than simply being able to speak the language. Your work involves planning instruction for students who may be at different phases of their language learning. You must create language-rich experiences where students can build their vocabulary and build the capacity to converse spontaneously with others.
How much Money Does an ESL Instructor Make?
The amount of income you bring in as an ESL instructor or teacher will depend on which country you work in, the role you have, and the duration of your contract. In general, ESL tutors or coaches in Canada make anywhere between $20-$70 an hour depending on their level of expertise, training, and background experience.
Outside of Canada, factors such as cost of living and the company you work for will make a big difference. Some schools pay their ESL teachers a salary comparable to that of Canadian teachers, but are expected to live in the country where the school is located for multiple years or the duration of a work visa. Other schools, particulary private language schools, will pay significantly less, especially if the cost of living is relatively low in that country. They may also compensate by providing or subsidizing accommodation in a home or teacher residence.
Teachers that work in a publicly funded school in Canada will earn between $55k-$95k on average, depending on the board and years of experience. These teachers may teach other subjects besides ESL.
Becoming an ESL, or English as a Second Language Teacher is a career that attracts many Canadians. ESL teachers can work in a variety of contexts: abroad, online, as a tutor, as a classroom teacher, or in a private language school.
What are the Top Reasons for Teaching English Abroad?
Teaching abroad is often a motivating factor for people that choose to pursue a career in ESL. But what are the benefits of working outside of Canada?
See the World
When you teach abroad, you have a unique opportunity to experience a new lifestyle, language, culture, and place. Being an outsider in a foreign country can be an exciting and exhilarating experience, and you can travel to other regions while working abroad. For example, many teachers who work in cities like Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia, choose to visit countries like China, the Phillipines, and Vietnam - all places a short flight away. You may choose to live abroad for a long period of time, or return to Canada to work.
Gain Work Experience Relatively Quickly
Landing your first job after graduating can be tough, especially if your background is in the arts. Employers value staff that have prior work experience, and working abroad is an excellent way to build your resume quickly. You may even develop an entirely new skillset that you can bring to the field of education back in Canada or feel inspired to start a new program when you return.
Volunteer and Make a Difference
Some organizations use English teaching as a platform for broader volunteer work in international communities that are impacted by poverty. As a volunteer ESL teacher, you can make a difference by supporting kids and adults to learn English, which is an asset in nearly any country. You may also be involved in other work, such as distributing resources or helping with community based initiatives.
English is an international language, and people from all over the world are always trying to learn. To meet the needs of students and drive engagement, you will want to make sure your lessons are responsive and relevant to the needs and interests of your learners.
Is it Hard to find English Teaching Jobs Abroad?
Finding teaching jobs abroad is much easier than it seems. Once you have the appropriate teaching qualifications, you can seek out international jobs in a number of ways. One way would be to check a teaching job board, where organizations post English teaching jobs for prospective candidates. Some of these jobs may be in schools, while others may be in private institutions. Before applying to any job through a job board, check the website of the school and read reviews from students and former employees to get a sense of what working for that school might be like. If your job search is regionally based, you may want to read up on the customs and lifestyles of the country you are considering to see if it is the right fit for you.
In some cases, TESL or TESOL certification schools will even place you or offer their own job board. This can be a great option since it will take much of work out of job searching. Talk to your teaching certification school to see if it is a service they offer.
How are Inclusive, Culturally Responsive ESL Lessons Designed?
How do I Make ESL Classes Culturally Responsive?
Being a culturally responsive educator is all about empowering students to be independent learners that have a strong sense of confidence in their abilities. It is all about honouring their identities and backgrounds to drive engagement, interest, and affirm their sense of self. Here are some tips for getting started.
Get to Know Your Students
Start by getting to know your students, particularly their:
- English language proficiency level
- Academic Background
- Learning Needs/Strengths
- Literacy Skills
- Primary language
- Interests
- Preferences
- Cultures
When we understand our students, we have the information we need to plan inclusive lessons.
Ensure your Students’ Identities are Visible in the Classroom
Part of being an inclusive, culturally responsive educator is centering student identity and ensuring students see themselves reflected in their learning. This makes learning more engaging, relevant, and relatable. Select books and media that show cultural diversity, explore stories that your students may find relatable, and connect assignments to their preferences. Provide opportunities for students to share information about themselves, which can make for great English conversation and dialogue.
Maximize the Linguistic Skills and Knowledge they Already Have
Newcomer students who are in the emergent phases of learning English are not “blank slates”. They come with strengths and skills from learning in different countries, and may already be proficient or advanced readers and writers in another language. These skills can be transferred to their learning in English, so take opportunities to leverage this prior knowledge. You can do this as an educator by enabling them to use translation devices and multilingual dictionaries, and encouraging them to use their home languages as much as possible in the early phases of language acquisition.
Offer Different Ways for Student to Show their Learning’
Another way to be inclusive is to offer students multiple ways to show their learning. Some students may feel comfortable using technological tools to display their work, while others prefer more tactile ways to express their thinking using visual arts. Others may even like using simple pen and paper! Consider what your learning goals and expectations are, and think of as many ways as possible that students can show what they have learned in your classroom.
Is it Easier to Teach ESL Lessons for Adults?
Many teachers often wonder whether or not they will want to teach ESL to younger children, teens, or adults. It is always best to consider your own preferences when making this decision.
Children, for example, bring a unique kind of energy that some educators will find refreshing and stimulating. Other teachers may find the same group to be tiring and cumbersome! With smaller children you will have to focus on managing behaviour in some cases, and selecting materials that appeal to their age groups.
When teaching small kids, you may find it better to focus on topics such as:
- Colours
- Animals
- Numbers
- Stories
- Dialogues and Plays
- Games
Teaching adults is a completely different world. ESL teaching materials for adults are relatively easy to find, and you will likely not have to focus on managing the behaviour of young kids or communicating with parents and families. Mature students typically also have specific goals in mind, making them a highly motivated group of learners. They may be learning English for business travel abroad, or to have more economic opportunities.
When teaching adults, you may find it effective to focus on topics like:
- Basics (greetings, colours, numbers)
- Practical situations like going to the bank or applying for identification
- Professional or Work-Related English
- Travel Essentials
- Academic English
There are many rewards and benefits to working with either group. If you are still unsure, try teaching or observing different groups of learners and see what you like best!
How do I start Teaching English Online?
Online teaching is a growing field in ESL that has become popularized along with working from home. There are many advantages to teaching English online. First, you do not have to commute or move to a new place. You can work with students that live far from you, and they may be abroad or in another Canadian city. However, you will not get the experience of living abroad. Some educators also find online teaching less interesting than working with students in person.
While some schools offer full online classes, tutoring can be a much better place to start if you are new or do not want the pressure of working with a large group online. You can find work tutoring English relatively easily by creating a profile on Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects educators with students across a range of subjects. Prospective students explore different tutor profiles and contact tutors directly through the site.
Tutoring has many advantages for budding ESL teachers. It is the perfect way to get teaching experience under your belt. As an ESL tutor, you will work with students individually to help them reach their goals. You may also online tutor as an additional job to earn extra income on top of a full time job. To get started on Superprof, set up an account on the site as a tutor. You can upload a photo of yourself, and write a brief bio that explains your teaching qualifications, experience, background, and rate of pay. Students will contact you directly through the site, and you can communicate with them to determine if you can provide services to meet their needs. You can even arrange safe and secure payment through the site.
Why wait to get your career started? Join Superprof today.
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
I’m starting my journey with Tefl training from a reputable university prep college which I found to offering 240hrs past the first levels of 120hrs. Without judgement I mention thus as many have found great success with the 120hrs education . My point is due to my unique background post secondary education I was concerned, this article has informed me with options guidance and intriguing choices. I loved the article as well as the style in which the author wrote. Thank you. I’d read another article from this author for sure.