How to Become an ESL Teacher? Know Steps and Benefits

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Have you ever considered a career that combines travel, language, and cultural exchange? Teaching English abroad as an ESL teacher could be your perfect fit! For all those wondering, an ESL teacher, or English as a Second Language teacher, helps people learn English who aren’t native speakers. They wear many hats, from instructor to motivator, helping students develop fluency and confidence in using English for communication and daily life. Today, in this blog you will read all about how to become an ESL teacher, the benefits of becoming one and much more. Make sure you keep reading this article to learn all the information. 

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How to Become an ESL Teacher?

Do you dream of sharing your love of English and helping others learn? Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) can be a rewarding career. This guide will show you the steps to take to become a qualified ESL teacher and launch your journey! Take a look at all the ways through which one can become an ESL teacher. 

Earn Bachelor’s Degree

Having a bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement one must have to be an ESL teacher. There are several ESL training programs out there that are happy to accept applicants who are looking to pursue this degree. However, candidates must make sure that they pursue a relevant one which could be in writing, education or English. 

Train in a Second Language

While several ESL teachers do not encourage their students to speak another language, however, learning another language will make them more empathetic towards their students in future. It will give you ideas about all the activities that you can carry out at the time of teaching. 

Pursue ESL Training

When deciding to pursue ESL training, you must note that there are several similar programs out there which allow one to learn a new language. Some of these programs include Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certificate, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate to be an ESL teacher in Canada or a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) certificate. 

Before you enrol in any program, you must ensure that you go through the ensure and see what you are looking for. This is because each program has different requirements and lengths and also focuses on different areas of ESL training. 

Obtain a Licence or Certification

Once you have completed the ESL training program, you will soon receive a license or certificate. After which, you will have to register yourselves with an association. For example, if you have a TESL certificate and live in Canada, you need to pay for a membership with TESL Canada. You will also be able to apply to openings in your areas. 

Consider Doing a Master’s Degree

Finally, if you have plans to work in higher education, then must consider doing a master’s degree. Even if you don’t want to work in higher education then just having a master’s degree will act as a plus point in your CV. With the help of this, you will be able to negotiate for higher pay at the time of applying. You must note that it takes at least 2 years to obtain a master’s degree. 

Also Read: Learning English as a Second Language (ESL): Reasons and Tips to Learn

Benefits of Teaching the English Language

The profession of teaching the English language has always been in high demand, especially for those who want to move abroad and practice this profession. Statistics suggest that there are more than 1.5 billion people abroad who are currently studying English as their second language. So, with this profession one can expect a lot of benefits that come with it, not to forget the ton of perks too! Let’s dive into all the benefits that come from teaching the English language. 

  • Get paid to travel around the world: Who doesn’t like to travel to new places? But travelling internationally can doubt be expensive. Therefore, the only way left is to travel to another company for work purposes and with that get to enjoy the atmosphere there.
  • Experience new cultures: Living in a foreign country comes with a completely different experience. When you travel, you will get to mix yourself in with that country’s culture, the food they eat and the language they speak. This is another plus point as you will get a whole different experience in a new place. 
  • Learn new languages: It isn’t a requirement that one needs to know to be in a foreign country. But what’s the harm in learning a new language while you are there? You can start by picking up phrases and words and using them to speak. 
  • Get to experience international work culture: Lastly, anyone who has the experience of working abroad has a competitive edge when job-seeking. Again, if you show that you will be able to easily negotiate your salary. 

Also Read: 7+ Best Books For Learning English As a Second Language (ESL)

What Does an ESL Teacher Do?

The answer is simple, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher helps English language learners (ELL) to become proficient in verbal and written English. They work with a wide variety of students coming from different age groups and help them to improve their linguistic skills. ESL teachers tailor their lessons to the specific needs and learning styles of their students, which can vary greatly depending on age, background, and goals.

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FAQs

What degree do I need to teach ESL?

To be able to start teaching ESL to students, one must have a bachelor’s degree (any major is usually fine) and a certification like a TEFL or TESOL.

What qualifications are required to teach ESL?

Some of the basic requirements required by an ESL teacher include a bachelor’s degree, English proficiency and ESL teaching certificate.

How do you qualify for ESL?

All those students whose primary language is one other than English are the ones who most often qualify for the ESL program.

This was all about how to become an ESL teacher along with steps and benefits. Hope you understand the concept and where it’s used. You can also follow Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs.

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