Choosing a rewarding and fulfilling career path to follow is one of the most significant decisions you will make; it is also very easy to get confused about what you want to do. However, you do not have to be so worried about this challenge because it is expected, and a lot of people have been there.
That notwithstanding, Canada is a beautiful and vast country with a wide variety of opportunities and jobs, so if you want to study and live in Canada, you will have many good and productive career paths to choose from.
For example, one of the most profitable careers in Canada is teaching, and since English is an official language in the country, the most demanding and well-paid teachers, there will be English teachers.
So If you are contemplating whether or not teaching English is a good career choice for you, here is a chance to make your decision; this guide has everything you need to know about teaching English in Canada.
Different Types of English Teachers in Canada
There are three different types of English teachers in Canada, and they are all important and valued in the country. The first type of English teachers are professionals who teach English as a second language with an ESL or TESL certificate, while the second group are those who teach English as a foreign language with an EFL or TEFL certificate. Lastly, there are English teachers that teach English to speakers of other languages; this group of English teachers work with ESOL, TESOL or CELTA certificates.
English Teacher Job Description
Although these English teachers teach different categories of students, they still have the same goal: to help people learn English. Hence the only difference in their jobs will be based on where they work. Here are the general duties of a competent English teacher in Canada.
- Teach the basics of the English language, including reading, speaking and writing.
- Teach students to pronounce words correctly.
- Create effective lesson plans in order to successfully maximize the full duration of each lesson.
- Execute lessons efficiently according to the lesson plans using different methods of teaching.
- Teach the students to analyze and question advertisements, media reports, and news reports.
- Help students learn about the entire structure and content of the language.
- Create a lively classroom atmosphere by engaging students and listening to their opinions.
- Teach English spellings and meanings to the students.
- Emphasize the rules of grammar, composition, and sentence construction.
- Train students to apply critical thinking when studying literature and poetry.
Qualifications Needed for English Teachers in Canada
A lot of people can speak English, but not everyone is qualified to teach it because there are certain requirements and qualifications an English teacher should have to be considered competent in Canada. Hence, if you are looking to become a qualified and competent English teacher in Canada, here are the qualifications you should have to meet the industry standard in the country.
Bachelor's Degree
The first step to starting your career as an English teacher in Canada is to get a bachelor's degree. It is the minimum requirement for teaching English in Canada and the foundation you need for everything that concerns your English teaching career, and again it will prepare you for good ESL training.
You should consider getting an English degree because there are many jobs for English majors in Canada; if you do not want to get a degree in English, you can get a bachelor's degree in arts, education, literature, and other related fields.
ESL Certification
After getting a bachelor's degree, ESL training will further hone your skills to teach English in Canada.
The ESL training is usually 120 hours in most cases, but it consists of different certifications, so you will have to first choose the type of English Teacher you want to be.
At the end of your ESL training program, you will either get a certificate for TESL, TEFL or TESOL, depending on the type of training you choose.
Second Language Proficiency
Learning a second language after learning English is always good to train your mind and help you understand the first language better. Although this is not a compulsory requirement to teach English in Canada, it is something that will be of great benefit to you and can also add to your resume.
Masters Degree
You can do great as an English teacher with just a bachelor's degree. Still, in order to advance in your career and get access to bigger opportunities, you should upgrade your qualifications to a master's degree.
Likewise, you can also get a PhD if you wish to, but it is only a compulsory requirement for specific high-level jobs. Learn more about English teacher qualifications.
Skills Needed to Work as an English Teacher in Canada
Once you are qualified to work as an English Teacher in Canada, you might think that is all you will need, but in reality, you need to do more to make yourself special and indispensable for any institution you work in. So you should learn new skills to add to your qualifications; this way, you will enjoy your job better and easily please your clients.
Here is a list of essential skills a competent English teacher should have in Canada to be successful in their field.
- Communication skills
- Time management skills
- Effective listening skills
- Public speaking skills
- Computer literacy
- Problem-solving skills
- Planning and organization skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Teaching skills
- Intercultural sensitivity
Salary Expectations for English Teachers in Canada
English teachers in Canada earn an average salary of 72,884.53 per year, and their salary expectations usually range from 49,100 CAD per year to 145,000 CAD per year. However, the salaries of English teachers in Canada are determined by some factors, so let's look at English teacher salary expectations based on the various determining factors.
Based on Experience Level
English teachers with less than two years of experience may earn 55,800 CAD per year, while those with an expertise span of two to five years are expected to earn 74,900 CAD per year.
English teachers with five to ten years of experience may expect a salary of 97,300 CAD per year, while English teachers with experience levels of ten to fifteen years would land a salary of 118,000 CAD per year.
Moving forward, English teachers with an expertise span of fifteen to twenty years would earn 129,000 CAD per year, and those with more than twenty years of experience would earn a salary of 136,000 CAD per year.
Based on Educational Level
English teachers with bachelor's degrees in Canada can earn as high as 72,000 CAD per year, but those with master's degrees earn even higher, up to 89,200 CAD per year.
However, English teachers with PhDs earn about 60% more than those with master's degrees. They will make a whooping 89,200 CAD per year. So if you have decided that a bachelor's degree is just enough for you, I guess you might want to reconsider now.
Based on Gender
This is the least expected factor in determining the salaries of English teachers in Canada, but it is also an essential factor that you shouldn't neglect.
However, male English teachers earn 5% more than females in Canada, and while this may seem unfair to you, there are several reasons why it is done that way. First, it may be because females have more domestic responsibilities or because they generally need more leaves and holidays.
How Many Years Will it Take to be an English Teacher?
The years it takes to be an English teacher in Canada will depend on the school you attend and the qualifications you want to attain. However, bachelor's degrees usually take just four years in most schools. So whether you are going for an English degree, a bachelor's degree in arts or an English literature course, it will still be the same four years.
For most institutions, getting an ESL certificate in Canada takes 120 hours, but this might vary with different states and schools.
Furthermore, a master's degree will take one to two years to complete, which is the normal range for all schools unless you need more time to gain additional teaching experience. Lastly, earning a PhD in Canada will take four to six years.
Final Thought
So here you go; everything about an English teaching career in Canada. If you think the requirements are too strict or you won't be able to meet up, it might just be due to pressure. However, when you take your first step into starting your career as an English teacher in Canada, you will find that the process and requirements are very easy to meet. It only takes time. Learn more about the duration.
It will also be better to walk through this process with an expert in the field, like a private English tutor. So, consider hiring one from Superprof today to get the help and support you need for your journey to becoming an English teacher.
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