Canada is a diverse country that welcomes thousands of newcomers every year. 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.
Why teach ESL? ESL is one of the most exciting fields to work in as an educator. ESL is a unique and rewarding field. As an ESL teacher, you will help newcomers acquire proficiency in English and develop critical literacy and communication skills. It is widely known that English proficiency leads to so many economic and academic opportunities, so the students you teach are eager to learn. Many English language learners, or ELLs, will have strong academic skills in their primary language, so you can see the results of your teaching quickly.
ESL is also an area that you can teach in person, online, summer camps, abroad, and in school or in tutoring contexts. Private and public schools both offer ESL classes, and you can teach nearly every age group from young children to adults.
This article is all about teaching ESL in Canada. Let’s explore the ways you can get into this exciting field today!
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 the Structure of ESL Lessons in Canada?
Before we get into becoming an ESL teacher or instructor, you may be wondering what exactly you are getting yourself into. What does the job of an ESL instructor look like? Is it hard to teach ESL?
Teaching English, or any subject for that matter, requires a strong understanding of good pedagogy for different age levels, not to mention knowledge of how people acquire a new language. Simply being able to speak English is not enough.
Typically, an ESL lesson starts with the teacher setting learning goals in oral communication and literacy. The teacher will want to provide ample practice for listening and speaking in English, and developing spontaneous conversation skills to build vocabulary and fluency. There are also opportunities to read and write in English.
Exactly what you teach will depend on the level of proficiency of the student and the curriculum you are working with. Some schools will have a specific set of textbooks to follow, while others will let you use your creativity and knowledge as an educator to plan.
If you are a private tutor or ESL coach, your lessons will be grounded in whatever goals your student has in mind. We will discuss more about tutoring and coaching throughout this article!
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 do I Become an ESL Teacher or ESL Instructor in Canada?
Are you ready to start teaching English? There are multiple ways you can become an ESL teacher or instructor in Canada, so how you go about doing this will depend on your personal career goals.
Obtain ESL Teacher Requirements to work as a Licensed Educator
If your goal is to become a licensed teacher and work in a publicly or privately funded elementary or secondary school, you will need to complete a bachelor degree and an education degree suited for the grade levels you want to teach. For example, if you want to teach in an elementary school, you will need a degree in 1-2 teachable subjects (such as English and Geography), and obtain an education degree for Primary, Junior, and/or Intermediate grade level settings.
Once you have a teaching degree, you can take additional qualifications or courses in ESL programming. These courses will enable you to gain a position as an ESL teacher in a school setting.
There are advantages and disadvantages to taking this pathway to becoming an ESL teacher. One advantage is that you will be able to work in a broad range of settings, such as teaching core subjects in a regular classroom. You will likely encounter English language learners in this setting, or you can find a position where you teach English learners exclusively. Certified and licensed teachers also tend to make higher incomes, especially if they work in school boards or reputable private schools.
A disadvantage is that it takes multiple degrees to become a licensed teacher. You may accrue a significant amount of student loans in the process. However, over the long term, you will have a steady job with good pay and benefits.
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.
Gain Certification for Teaching English Abroad
Another popular way to teach ESL is to obtain a TESL certificate from recognized organizations like Cambridge or other private schools. These courses can be done easily and relatively quickly over the course of a year or two, and do not require you to have an undergraduate degree. This is an excellent option if you want to teach English abroad, online, or if you already have studied another area and want to expand your career options without committing to an education degree.
One disadvantage of this option is that you may be somewhat limited to teaching abroad only or in ESL schools in Canada where the pay is not as competitive as working in larger institutions. However, you can supplement your pay through tutoring, which we will discuss shortly.
Teach ESL Lessons for Adults in a College or University
Those that want to teach ESL in higher education environments like colleges or universities can have the opportunity to do so if they have a degree plus teaching qualifications in ESL or adult learning contexts. In higher learning environments in Canada, ESL is usually taught as a bridging course for newcomers or as part of a continuing education program. These jobs are not as commonplace as other ESL teaching jobs, so you may find that you will need a strong background of academic and work experience to get a position.
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.
How do I Find English Teaching Jobs Abroad?
You can find English teaching jobs in other countries by searching online job boards for international educators. If you do your TESL certification with a private language school, they may also be able to place you with an employer.
Tutoring or Teaching English Online
Another way to start teaching English is to tutor or teach students online. Let’s learn more about this option.
How to Become an ESL Tutor
Becoming an ESL tutor is one of the easiest and best ways to acquire experience teaching English. While there is no formal educational requirement for becoming a tutor, you will find that a background in English or TESL will be a significant asset to help you find clients who are English learners. Tutoring online is an excellent part time job to have while you are obtaining professional teaching degrees or qualifications. Not only can you earn money, but you can try new strategies you are learning and gain valuable experience that can help you land a teaching job.
If you don’t have any teaching experience or qualifications, you can help English learners build conversational fluency, or work with younger children or teens who are learning English. You can suggest that your clients purchase an English workbook, or you can plan lessons with free resources you find online. If possible, you can even arrange to meet with clients safely in person.
So how do you find clients to tutor? Superprof Canada has the answer. We will explore how you can use the Superprof site to kickstart your ESL teaching career next.
Starting a career as an ESL teacher is an excellent way to spend a gap year, diversify your background of work experience, and possibly even travel abroad. Learn all about becoming an ESL or ESOL teacher.
What are ESL Coaches?
You may have heard of English or ESL coaches. These are instructors that help students who are looking to pass important tests like the CELTA, CELPIP, or an exam that will qualify them to enter an English postsecondary school. If you learn more about these tests and how to help students prepare, you could certainly add it to your roster of services.
Is it Easy to find a Job Tutoring or Teaching ESL Classes in Canada?
Finding work as an ESL tutor or teacher is easy with Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects students and tutors or instructors in nearly every subject area, including English as a second language. You can post your services as an instructor on the site to find clients.
How does it work? Sign up for an account on Superprof and set up your tutor profile. You can share your academic background, experiences, rate of pay and what kind of services you can offer. Prospective clients can find your profile through the site and contact you directly to see if you can make an arrangement work.
Why wait to start your teaching career? Set up an account on Superprof today!
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
