How to Become an ESL Teacher

Written by Jonathan Moody

Teaching English as a Second Language

English is one of the most sought-after languages as a second language. The United Nations and European Union use English as a co-official language, and many countries and jurisdictions around the world recognize English as an official language. In countries where the primary language is English, a firm grasp of the language is important for education, business, government, and community relations. As a result, there is a need for teachers who can teach English as a second language (ESL) to help English Language Learners (ELLs) attain a language level where they can thrive and succeed. For prospective teachers looking for a career path, the choice of an ESL teacher can be a rewarding, worthwhile, and in-demand position.

Becoming an ESL Teacher

An ESL teacher is a teacher that teaches ELLs who are living in a country where English is the primary language. ELLs could be children who speak a language besides English as their first language or adults from a non-English speaking country relocating to an English-speaking country hoping to improve their job opportunities and integrate into the surrounding community. As of 2017, ten percent of school-aged students in the United States were considered ELLs, and the number of ELLs in public schools is projected to rise to 25 percent of all students by 2025.

ESL Teacher Job Description

Generally, ESL teachers must assess the present language level of their students and design a course to help bring these students to a level where they can function and thrive in an English-speaking society. To achieve this goal, teachers must adapt lessons to their students' needs and exercise patience and flexibility as their students grow. ESL teachers are responsible for tracking students' progress and giving feedback to help them improve their language skills.

A teaching placement for an ESL teacher may be in a school with a designated ESL class or alongside other teachers in a supporting role in the classroom. In each position, ESL teachers may assist with other subjects beyond English to aid student comprehension and ability. In addition to traditional schools, there are also possibilities for jobs in tutoring centers or organizations specializing in teaching adults. For these placements, a teacher may need to design lessons for daily interactions like employment, working through bureaucracy, or going to the doctor.

An important part of becoming an ESL teacher is finding the right placement. The ideal job for each candidate will rely on individual preferences but may include conditions such as a suitable work location, classroom size, commute time, and salary. This section will focus on the expected salary and the job market for ESL teachers.

Characteristics of a Prospective ESL Teacher

ESL teachers may want to have a few traits and experiences that could benefit their students. Here is a list of a few:

• Strong general knowledge: Language is a tool for communication. Many ELLs hope to complete their education in an English-speaking education system. Therefore, an ESL teacher must prepare students to communicate effectively in various situations, requiring a broad knowledge base. A basic understanding of subjects like math, science, literature, and civics will help teachers enable their students to explore and better understand these subjects when students encounter them on their own.
• Knowledge of foreign languages: The gap between communicating in your first language and a new language is enormous. New language learners go from being able to express themselves using cultural queues and a personality based on their first language to having a limited vocabulary for expressing themselves. An ESL teacher who has spent time learning a new language will better understand the challenges ELLs face.
• Travel experience: Along with studying a new language, a teacher who has spent time traveling to different parts of the world will better understand their students. Many ELLs were born in other countries and are trying to learn a new language and culture simultaneously. Teachers with knowledge and experience of different cultures can incorporate this understanding into their lessons.
• Organization: ELLs are easing their way into a language that can be confusing and contains culturally-based speech like slang and idiomatic expressions. An organized ESL teacher can provide their students with manageable lessons to bring them to a level where they can interact and grow independently outside the classroom.

Expected Salary of an ESL Teacher

An ESL teacher's salary will depend on the school location, candidate's experience, and education level. At the national level, salaries for ESL teachers in the United States can start at around $30,000 a year and up. Private and public schools may have different salaries as well. Private schools rely on tuition and private donations and might be able to pay more than public schools, which depend primarily on state and federal funding. Furthermore, most schools will increase a teacher's salary with additional education. This means teachers who have completed a professional development program or have a graduate degree may earn more than others.

Job market

Job prospects for ESL teachers vary from state to state and city to city. Some school districts have a higher level of ELLs than others and will require more teachers who can accommodate these students. Other districts may not have as many ELLs or put as much funding into ESL education, thus limiting job prospects. Aside from only searching for open positions, a job search for ESL teaching placements could include a look at demographics and which districts have a large ELL population. The Department of Education has done research which outlined which outlines the demographics of ELLs in the United States - including districts with the largest numbers of ELLs, which can help make navigating the job market a little easier.

Education and Training of an ESL Teacher

ESL teachers must be patient, adaptable, and ready to help students grow. However, the requirements for becoming a certified ESL teacher go beyond good intentions. Candidates are often required to have a college degree and a certification in teaching English as a second language. This section will look at important things to consider when becoming an ESL teacher, including education requirements, certification options, ESL teacher salary, and job outlook, and valuable traits for teaching ESL.

Complete a Bachelor's Degree Program

The first step to becoming an ESL teacher is to obtain a bachelor's degree. Prospective teachers can study English or education, choose another major, and pursue an ESL certification later. Many college-level programs offer a path to becoming an ESL teacher. Furthermore, each state has a system and requirements for ESL education and educators. The best course for prospective educators is to find certification requirements for potential employment locations and a program to assist in completing these requirements.

Depending on the school, prospective teachers may be able to complete their degree while taking classes that prepare them for teacher licensing exams. Certification classes are not limited to bachelor's students. Some schools have bachelor's and master's programs that prepare candidates to become fully certified ESL teachers.

Obtain a Teacher Certification

A teaching certification will make finding a job in most school districts easier and give candidates the opportunity for supervised classroom teaching and feedback on their performance. This step will also require research to understand the available options. Every state has its system for certifying teachers. Some states will hire non-certified teachers while they work toward achieving a certification, and some have very high standards for being allowed to teach.

Some states require the Praxis exam, and others have their certification test system. The same is valid for ESL positions. Some school districts will have full-time ESL teachers on staff, while others may not. Again, the best course for prospective teachers is to find a few teaching locations and learn about the requirements for successfully finding a position. Each state's department of education webpage will have teacher certification requirements and may even have ways for potential teachers to clarify any questions.

Gain ESL Certification

Gaining an ESL certification can be immensely useful (and mandatory in some cases) when pursuing employment as an ESL teacher. One reason for completing an ESL certification is speaking a language does not necessarily mean a person can teach a language. There are certainly opportunities for English speakers to teach without experience, but this lack of experience often shows. Certification in ESL teaching will provide a candidate with essential skills such as classroom management, working with ELLs, giving feedback, and planning effective lessons.

Most certifications also require candidates to have a firm grasp of English grammar and usage which, surprisingly, can be taken for granted by many native speakers. Another argument for getting an ESL certification is the availability of jobs. A certified teaching candidate will have many more employment opportunities than candidates that do not have an ESL certification. Finally, having a certificate shows most employers that the prospective teacher is knowledgeable and serious about the position.

Another option is independent certification. There are many private organizations and companies that can train and certify all levels of candidates. Whether a prospective teacher attends a public or private program, one of the most important things to consider is the school or school district requirements. Some schools may only accept certifications completed through state-approved institutions, and candidates who received an alternative certification may not be considered.

Strategies and Tips for Teaching ESL

Teaching English as a second language can be a unique and rewarding experience. The ESL classroom has special challenges that require teachers to be creative and employ teaching methods that may differ from a class of fluent English speakers. Classes such as math or science can be focused on building skills to move students to the next level, while an ESL class is designed to promote growth that will lead to independence. This section will address ways ESL teachers can create a welcoming and productive environment for ELLs, including fostering a supportive classroom, strategies to help students, and family involvement.

Create a Welcoming and Supportive ESL Classroom

ESL classrooms should be welcoming environments. Learning a new language can be intimidating, and students must be open to trying new things and learning from mistakes. Thus, creating an open and inviting environment will help students relax and embrace learning a new language. Here are a few tips on creating a welcoming classroom.

Have Patience

As discussed before, adopting a new language is difficult, and building up the language skills to converse at a high level can be daunting. In addition, students will need time to learn while making errors along the way. Therefore, teachers must be patient when students make mistakes and be ready to provide constructive feedback to promote growth.

Give Students Adequate Time to Respond

Teachers can get nervous and attempt to answer their own questions after a few moments of silence. However, this does not match how new language learners process information. Most people tend to have slower processing times when absorbing and responding to information communicated in a new language. Becoming comfortable with silence after questions and allowing students to answer questions slowly will help build student confidence and allow new language learners to grow comfortable with responding to questions and statements in English.

Speak Slowly and Clearly

Along with giving students adequate time to answer questions, allowing students to understand the teacher is vitally important. Languages grow and change and can be spoken differently by individual speakers. Often, native speakers of a language will speak quickly, especially when nervous or excited, and can rely heavily on idiomatic expressions. Neither habit is beneficial to new ELLs. New learners need to have a solid base in English. Teachers speaking slowly and clearly will allow students to build the necessary language base to later engage with idioms and speak more quickly.

Create an Inclusive Classroom

Since students learn at different paces, it is importance to create an inclusive classroom environment. Some students may grasp a lesson faster than others and want to answer all questions asked in class. Unfortunately, as much as a teacher may want to encourage quick learners, focusing too much on a few students can lead to other students feeling isolated. The goal of an ESL teacher is to bring all students to a level where they can independently function and thrive. If students do not have much opportunity to practice, engaging with the language inside and outside the classroom will be even more challenging, and some may be discouraged from trying to grow.

Implement Differentiated Instruction

Overcome challenges that come with teaching English as a Second Language to dual language learners by implementing differentiated instruction techniques. With this method, teachers may present the lesson in multiple ways to ensure that everyone can learn and understand the material. Contemporary education can have standardized goals and knowledge that all students need to understand, but each student learns at their own pace and in a unique way. Therefore, understanding each student's strengths and weaknesses is essential in promoting growth and independence. With this insight, teachers can focus on fostering a positive learning environment and building student confidence.

Vary the Lesson

As mentioned before, learning a language means building the skills to communicate on a range of topics. Class lessons that encompass a variety of topics and situations will have two benefits. First, the lessons will expose students to situations they may face outside the classroom. The other benefit is that a variety of topics has a better chance of peaking the interests of individual students and giving them more motivation to strengthen their language abilities. Essentially, if student enjoys learning about math or literature, they may be more willing to increase their language skills to continue learning more about it.

Provide Clear Feedback

Constructive and regular feedback will help students understand where their strengths and weaknesses lie and how they can work to improve. Feedback also lets students know that the teacher is giving them attention and is ready to help. Along with feedback, goals are useful for student growth. Goals can be large or small, such as reading and discussing a book in a given time period to confidently ask questions in class. Completing goals has the added benefit of demonstrating to students that they can improve and grow during times when understanding may come slowly. A word of caution, though, goals need to match student-level and abilities. Goals that are overly ambitious or unachievable may have a negative effect on a student.

Schedule Time for Practice

As simple as it sounds, an excellent way to learn a language is to use a language. Providing students with ample practice will help build language skills. This can be done by having a daily routine with associated language. For example, students could start the day by speaking about a chosen topic or have special activities to do in each class that require the use of language. Not unrelated, giving students time and creating situations where they have to use language will provide opportunities to grow and learn. This can involve games that require speaking or group projects where students must work with each other.

Encourage Family Involvement

Despite past practices, schools today are not designed to cut students off from their families. Families play an essential role in education for students of all ages and can support ELLs despite not being fluent in English. One method to promote family involvement is for a family member to check or help with homework. Family members of all levels, even if they lack the ability to check for accuracy, can ensure that students are completing assigned homework. Another way of encouraging family involvement is to maintain open communication with students' families.

An open line of communication has the benefits of building rapport between the teacher and family, alerting the teacher to problems or issues at home, and creating an environment where student learning can continue outside the classroom. Communication can be fostered through activities such as conferences, family involvement in the classroom, or open days where families can visit. The next advantage of including families in the education process is that some families will have multiple students with the same teacher. For instance, if a student has had a previous experience with a teacher, more students from the same family will already have a relationship with the teacher. As a result, students can walk into a more familiar environment when they start new classes.

Finally, family involvement can be a learning opportunity for students. The ESL classroom can be a chance to help students excel in the local culture, but it does not have to be limited to only one culture. Modern education frequently focuses on global awareness and understanding of different cultures. An ESL class may have students from various backgrounds, which can provide an opportunity for students to learn about the background and cultures of their classmates.