Are you passionate about teaching English as a second language (ESL)? Find out what you need for a career as an ESL teacher in Canada! In this article, we will delve into the key aspects that aspiring ESL teachers should be familiar with, from understanding the role of an ESL instructor to the requirements to become certified.
Whether you are an educator with a few years of experience looking to transition into ESL teaching or a recent graduate passionate about guiding non-English speakers on their language learning journey, gaining insight into the requirements and expectations of ESL teachers will undoubtedly keep you on the right track.
Explore the rewarding world of ESL teaching! But first, let's learn exciting facts about the English language!
English Language Mind-Blowing Facts!
- English is one of the most widely spoken languages globally, considering native and non-native speakers. As a first language, English has approximately 372.9 million speakers, and its total number of speakers is over 1.4 billion. English has more second-language speakers than native speakers, which speaks volumes about the need for English language learning.
- Teaching English as a second language (ESL) began with the rise and expansion of the British Empire in America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania in the late 15th century due to England's increased trade and colonization. The British developed large-scale programs to teach English in trading colonies.
- As the British empire grew, they needed a way to effectively communicate and govern their overseas businesses and colonies. So, for the next 200 years, the British sent teachers abroad to educate upper-class colonists and local government officials, indoctrinating them in British ideas, culture, and the English language.
- Did you know that Hollywood also led to the expansion of English? Hollywood is an inexhaustible source of worldwide entertainment and gained great importance during the 20th century creating great films and world-famous stars. And because most movies are in English, the film industry also contributed to the spread of English worldwide.
- Because English is widely spoken, it has often been called the "universal language," the lingua franca of the modern era. Although it is not an official language in most countries, it is now the most frequently taught as a foreign language and the most widely studied globally.
To have a better understanding of English learning acronyms, visit our blog: "Working as an ESOL teacher in Canada."
What qualifications do I need to be an ESOL tutor?
The qualifications you need to be an ESOL tutor are also the minimum requirements to work in Canada as an ESL (English as a Second Language) or ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) teacher, which for practical purposes are often used interchangeably.
So what you need to be an ESOL tutor is the minimum TESOL/TEFL/TESL Standard 1 certification requirements for ESL or ESOL teaching jobs in Canada. This means you must complete the TESOL/TEFL/TESL certification courses of 120 hours with a Practicum that ranges between 6 and 20 hours.
NOTE: TESOL stands for "Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages," TEFL "Teaching English as a Foreign Language," and TESL "Teaching English as a Second Language." These certifications qualify English teachers to work in Canada, or internationally as long as TESL Canada accredits them. The acronyms do not infer any meaning on quality.
With that said, below you will find all the requirements to work as an ESOL tutor:
- Bachelor Diploma.
- Minimum requirement of TESOL/TEFL/TESL certification accredited by TESL Canada (Standard 1 - 100 hours of TESL/TEFL/TESOL training, and 20 hours practical teaching);
- Be domiciled in Canada and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with the right to work in Canada.
Plus, you must consider that provincial and territorial governments manage their school systems in Canada and are responsible for setting the standards for teaching positions. If you want to become an English teacher, you must find the provincial and territorial requirements for teaching English in your province since obtaining the TESOL/TEFL/TESL certificate does not replace the Employment Standards in Canadian Provinces and Territories. Discover ESOL teaching opportunities in Canada.
What skills does an ESOL teacher need?
An ESL teacher or ESOL instructor is a professional dedicated to delivering high-quality ESL instruction to students of different ages, backgrounds, and levels of English proficiency. They are the driving force in motivating and enabling English learners to reach their language learning goals. ESL or ESOL teachers must develop competencies to prepare teaching materials and design lessons covering all written and verbal aspects of the English language. In addition, they will be in charge of the student's progress and develop individualized plans for learners with special needs.
Some of the tasks of an ESL instructor are planning coursework and lesson content, organizing coursework and teaching materials, assessing learners' progress and writing reports, following national and regional policies for teaching English as a second language, and having basic computer software knowledge, carrying out administrative tasks, and updating students' files.
In addition to achieving the TESL/TESOL/TEFL certification and a bachelor's degree, other qualifications and skills of an ESL teacher include the following:
- Previous experience as an ESL teacher or in a similar position.
- Knowledge of various methods to teach non-English speakers.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Calm and frustration-resistant personality.
- Ability to make decisions.
- Confident and consistent boundary setting.
- Ability to manage crises in the classroom.
And there you have them. Depending on where you decide to work, these qualifications and skills may need to be modified and you cant forgot about ESL professional development. Still, you should always be open to learning about the context of new cultures, meeting people with different mindsets, opinions, and positions from your own, and embarking on one of the most enriching journeys!
What is the difference between ESOL and ESL teachers?
English as a Second Language (ESL) is traditionally used to describe non-native English-speaking students who study English in a country where the first language is English. For example, if Korean students come to Toronto to learn English, they might be called ESL students or ESL learners.
On the other hand, new acronyms have emerged to describe the same field of study but differentiate the term ESL. Because many English learners may already speak several languages before English, we cannot necessarily assume that English is their second language, so they cannot be identified with the acronym ESL (English as a Second Language). Therefore, language learning experts replaced the acronym ESL and started using ESOL, which stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages, which would be a more accurate way of identifying this group of English learners.
However, the methodology of ESL or ESOL teacher certification courses (TEFL, TESOL, and TESL) is very similar, and all are considered reputable certification courses for students seeking to become ESL or ESOL instructors. Regardless of which one you go for, the important thing is to choose a certification course that meets the standards set by TESL Canada, which demonstrates that they are quality courses.
Discover more about ESL Salary Expectations in Canada!
Is teaching ESOL hard?
Being an ESOL teacher is not complicated, but, like everything else, it comes with its challenges. Here are the most typical challenges you will face as a teacher of English as a second language.
- Students speak more of their mother tongue than English: The lower the level or age of the students, the more likely they are to speak their mother tongue most of the time, causing distractions.
- Students are bored or unmotivated: Learning a new language can sometimes be demotivating and frustrating. Keeping the class exciting and dynamic will prevent these students from falling behind.
- Classroom management: A key challenge for all educators is ensuring that all students work calmly and orderly. However, with complex learners, you must learn skills to manage them.
- Parent management: Managing school behavior can be challenging, especially with several languages in the place. And this also includes parents who may need to be more cooperative or those who can be a regular unpleasant presence.
- Different cultures: When teaching ESL learners, it is highly recommended that you carefully research your students' cultures of origin. Being culturally aware will avoid unintentionally offending someone and causing incidents.
Remember that in the classroom, the teacher is in charge, and you will learn to set the direction of the class with practice and experience. Every ESL class is different, but a respectful and harmonious environment where all established boundaries are respected is non-negotiable.
Where can I start teaching English in Canada?
Finding the ideal job is easy if you want to work as an English teacher in Canada. Whether to become an ESL teacher or ESOL instructor or earn extra money, one of the best ways to teach English to ESL learners is through excellent online tutoring platforms. And do you know which one is the best? Superprof!
Superprof is Canada's best online tutoring platform, where you can offer the best tutoring services no matter where you are in the country.
Want to be part of today's most flexible learning experience? Visit the Superprof Canada website and select "tutoring jobs." Opening your ESL teacher or ESOL instructor account is free, and you can start as soon as possible!
Ready to share your passion for English with the world? Welcome to Superprof!
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