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.
The versatility of the job makes for plenty of exciting career options in the future!
Simply being able to speak English is not a sufficient qualification to being an ESL teacher. You must have the skills to plan a class, develop content for students, and present your lessons in a fun and engaging manner. You must also have a firm grasp of how people acquire language.
This article is all about the steps to becoming an ESL teacher in Canada or abroad. You'll learn how to earn your qualifications quickly so you can start teaching as soon as possible! Let's earn all about becoming an ESL or ESOL teacher.
Teaching English as a second language is all about teaching conversational and eventually academic or business English to people that have another primary language. As an ESL teacher, you will start by introducing basic phrases and vocabulary, and then teach more complex grammatical forms of communicating in English as students advance.
Steps to Becoming an ESL Instructor
1. Earn a College Diploma or a Bachelor's Degree
In the world of education, diplomas and degrees are highly valued and respected. Schools want to hire people that are committed to learning and bring a strong background knowledge of a respected discipline.
Earning a degree or diploma is just the first step toward becoming an English teacher. You will then need to acquire your certification as a teacher.
When you complete postsecondary school you may also be wondering exactly how you can see the world while still earning money. This is why getting certified to teach English as a second language (ESL) abroad is an excellent pathway.
2. Get a TESOL Certificate or a Bachelor of Education (or both!)
For teachers that want to teach ESL abroad or locally, a Teaching English as a Second Language or (TESOL) or a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate will suffice. Most employers recognize the TESOL internationally as an essential qualification for an ESL teacher.
Other prospective educators may opt for becoming certified teacher in their province of residence first before becoming an ESL teacher. This can be a great option if you want a long term career in teaching not only ESL, but other subjects or grades. To follow this path, you will typically need to complete a university degree, teacher’s college, and then ESL additional qualifications courses.
3. Get Volunteer Experience as a Teacher
Getting experience as a volunteer teacher can be critical to your resume as you start looking for a job. Many schools want teachers that have already had experience working in the classroom. Volunteering is one easy way to make your applications more competitive!
Volunteering is an excellent way to start developing your approach and style to teaching. You will want to make sure your lessons are responsive and relevant to the interests of your learners.
4. Find out the Requirements you Need to Practice Teaching in the Country or Province you Want to Work
With a teaching certificate under your belt, you can start determining exactly what you will need to teach in a certain place. Consider the following factors when looking for jobs in any location:
- Most provinces require teachers to have a license from a provincial regulatory body to work in a public school.
- There may be visa requirements to work in a foreign country.
- There may be restrictions on the length of time you can work in a country outside of Canada if you are a Canadian citizen.
5. Write a Resume and Cover Letter
With your credentials and volunteer experiences in place, you can start putting together a resume and cover letter. Focus your resume on the experiences that are directly related to ESL teaching, and avoid having a resume that is more than 1-2 pages long.
While this step can be time consuming, having a resume and cover letter you can adapt in a pinch when you see your dream job posted is priceless!
Newcomers to Canada are eager to learn English when they arrive so they can integrate into Canadian society. For this reason, there are many exciting opportunities for English as a Second Language teachers in Canada - so be sure to have a resume ready for local schools.
6. Start Looking for a Job
Finding a job as an ESL teacher with the pay, location, and perks that you want is no easy feat. Luckily, there are websites entirely dedicated to educators looking for jobs.
- Apply to Teach
- School Spring
- K12 Jobspot
- Teach Beyond
- Dave's ESL Cafe
- Teach Away
There are also many recruiters that actively search ESL teachers to hire for other companies, especially those abroad. For this reason, it can be a good idea to maintain a Linked In profile with your teacher resume.
When you finally do get an interview, be sure to speak about your ability to plan instruction for students who may be at different phases of their language learning. English schools always want educators that can create language-rich experiences where students can build their vocabulary and converse spontaneously with others.
How do I Start Teaching English Abroad?
The possibility of working internationally is one of the biggest appeals for ESL teachers. What could be more dreamy than working in a new country, exploring new places, meeting new people, learning a new language, or being independent for the first time - all while getting paid?
ESL teaching jobs are typically posted on job boards on the internet, through TESL schools, job fairs, and on school or company websites. Many TESOL training courses can connect graduates directly with schools abroad, so be sure to find a course provider that can help you in your career.
There are millions of international language schools around the world that look regularly for ESL teachers. These schools teach English to locals, who will not be immersed in English the same way ESL students are in Canada.
They look for teachers that have TESOL or TESL certification, and some cases, provincial certification. The best thing to do if you do want to pursue this career is to learn more about schools you might want to work in, and the countries in which they are located.
Find out exactly what qualifications and experience those schools look for, so you can plan your pathway accordingly.
How Do I Become an ESL Tutor or Coach Online?
You can find work tutoring English relatively easily once you have the appropriate certification or experience. Tutors can even start working while they are completing their degrees or teaching certification.
Tutoring has a lot of advantages for budding ESL teachers. It is a great way to get teaching experience under your belt. As an ESL tutor, you will work with students individually to help them reach their goals. Tutoring can also be done virtually, which is excellent if you want to avoid commuting or prefer working from home. Many students are accustomed to virtual teaching.
What is an ESL Coach?
An ESL coach is a job very similar to a tutor. An ESL coach works with students on a one-to-one or small group basis. Rather than teaching regular classes, they may help students to prepare for English proficiency tests required for university, college, or a professional industry. They may also help students accelerate their English learning to prepare for a trip or move to an English speaking country. ESL coaches will focus more on achieving individual-specific goals.
How Do I Start ESL Tutoring or Coaching?
Unlike teaching jobs that have a rigorous application and interview process, tutoring jobs can be relatively easy to come by. Start by creating a profile on Superprof Canada.
Start by setting 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...
