If you have a love of language, becoming a certified ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher might be the ideal career path for you.
With more than 1.5 billion people around the world learning English as a second or additional language, you'll never have trouble finding a job.
Certified ESL teachers have a lot of flexibility in both their work environment and how they design their curriculum.
If this sounds ideal to you, keep reading to learn what you need to do to become a certified ESL teacher.
What is a Certified ESL Teacher?
Certified ESL teachers follow much the same career path as other teachers but with a focus on teaching English.
Education and Training for ESL Teachers
The road to becoming an ESL teacher starts with a bachelor's degree in English, education, or a related discipline.
ESL teachers also get training specifically in teaching English to people who have a different native language.
Learning about your students' native language and culture can help you better design your lesson plans to reach them and meet their needs.
Many ESL teachers work in foreign countries where they have ample opportunities to absorb different languages, cultures, and traditions.
ESL Teacher Job Duties
ESL teachers do the same things any teacher does. They prepare lesson plans, grade tests and assignments, and lead classes.
Within a K–12 classroom environment, ESL teachers also meet with parents and other educators and prepare progress reports.
When teaching adult learners, ESL teachers typically have a lot more engagement and interaction with their students.
Online or freelance ESL teachers usually have business and accounting duties in addition to their teaching duties.
ESL Teacher Work Environment
Certified ESL teachers have a lot more flexibility than most teachers in terms of when and where they work.
While many ESL teachers work in traditional K–12 schools, there are plenty of others who teach abroad or teach online and work remotely.
ESL teachers might also teach adult students on evenings and weekends, either full–time or as a supplement to a full–time day job.
How to Become a Certified ESL Teacher: Step by Step
Follow the steps below to learn how to pursue your career as a Certified English as a Second Language Teacher.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree
While you can get a bachelor's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), related disciplines work as well.
Many ESL teachers have a bachelor's degree in English, while others have a degree in literacy or education.
If you want to teach in K–12 public, private, or charter schools, a degree in education gives you classroom experience through student teaching.
A bachelor's degree is also required if you plan to teach English in a foreign country.
Step 2: Consider Learning Another Language
Most ESL programs teach by immersion, which means you don't have to know another language to teach English.
At the same time, if you plan on focusing on learners who speak a specific language, knowing their native language will be beneficial.
ESL students, especially adult students, often appreciate an English teacher who also knows a little of their native language.
If you want to teach English in a foreign country, knowing the language of that country will help you navigate life there more easily.
Step 3: Gain TESOL Certification
Most states and other countries require TESOL certification if you want to teach English, either to children or to adult learners.
This graduate certificate program usually involves around 18 hours of coursework. Some programs also include an externship.
Coursework typically includes classes on lesson planning, teaching grammar, instructional technology, and language acquisition.
A program with an externship, a short professional learning experience, will ensure that you have the experience hours you need to get your state license.
Step 4: Pass Your State's Teaching Exams
If you plan on teaching in a local school, becoming certified as a teacher is an important step in your ESL career.
A TESOL certification isn't enough for you to teach in a classroom on your own. You will also need to pass your state's licensing exams.
Once you're a licensed teacher, you can teach in K–12 classrooms at public, private, and charter schools in your state.
If you're teaching adults locally or teaching English in a foreign country, a state teaching license might not be necessary for you.
Step 5: Apply for an ESL Teaching License or Endorsement
If you're not already a teacher, you'll apply for a full teaching license at this point.
Licensed teachers can get an ESL endorsement on their existing license, which typically entitles them to a pay bonus.
Many states require at least 100 hours of clinical experience before you're eligible for licensing or endorsement.
If you didn't have an internship with your TESOL program, you can get this experience in your classroom as a regular teacher.
Step 6: Consider Getting a Master's Degree
A master's degree opens up higher earning and supervisory opportunities for you in the ESL teaching field.
While you can get a master's degree specifically in TESOL, there are other graduate programs that might be beneficial to your career.
For example, if you're teaching English in a foreign country, you might get a master's degree in a local language.
Master's degrees that focus on the history and culture of a specific country or ethnic group might also be relevant to your career.
Average Salary of an ESL Teacher
Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers earn around $59,720 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
ESL teachers working in foreign countries might earn more or less than that, depending on exchange rates and other factors.
Teachers in K–12 schools with an ESL endorsement tend to make a little more than teachers in the same grade without that endorsement.
Many certified ESL teachers also work freelance as online teachers, either full or part–time.
ESL Teacher Job Outlook
According to the BLS, employment of adult basic and secondary and ESL teachers is expected to decline about 6% from 2021 to 2031.
However, not all ESL teachers work with adults. The influx of immigrants to the US ensures there will always be a demand for ESL teachers.
Changes in state and federal funding for education can have an impact on the demand for new ESL teachers in public education programs.
Internationally, the continued emphasis on English in global business provides steady opportunities for ESL teachers in foreign countries.
Learn About Becoming a Certified ESL Teacher Today
Contact Best Accredited Colleges today if you want to know more about how to become a certified ESL teacher.
