ESL teachers help non-native English speakers develop their English language skills including speaking, writing, reading, and comprehension. ESL teaching jobs are available around the world and responsibilities can vary depending on factors like location, organization, and student level. While educational requirements differ, many positions require a bachelor's degree and TEFL/TESOL certification. The global market for English learning is growing rapidly creating more opportunities for ESL teachers internationally.

1. ESL
English as a Second Language
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2. What is ESL?
• ESL is teaching English to people who are not native speakers.
• Teachers help develop speaking, writing, reading, and understanding of the
English language (ESL).
• Jobs can be found in literally every country.
• Positions include working in K-12 schools to university level.
• There are also teaching opportunities with businesses, government,
NGO’s, individuals, and various organizations.
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3. Responsibilities
• ESL teachers core responsibilities include developing lesson plans
along with language instruction.
• Secondary functions include testing, introducing cultural aspects, and
maintaining any required records (Teaching).
• Beyond these basic requirements, responsibilities can vary wildly.
• Variations in responsibilities are due to the country, organization, age of
student, student competence level, available resources, and culture.
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4. Working Conditions
• Normal working conditions for an ESL teacher do not exist.
• Positions can be from rural poor areas of the world to affluent modern
businesses.
• These could include teaching at a local cafe with a few students, university
in major city, monastery in a small village, or some combination.
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5. Education
• Educational requirements vary wildly in the Field of ESL.
• Basic requirement is to be a English native speaker.
• CELTA, TESOL certificates are considered prove of competency.
• Bachelors degree and CELTA qualifies the teacher for most positions.
• ESL Masters degree, along with a second language is the gold standard.
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6. Getting Experience
• ESL teaching volunteer opportunities including Su Casa, Santa Maria
Community Services, and ESOL Acculturation Services (Volunteer).
• All universities have services and groups for international students
including language exchanges and tutoring.
• Student teaching possibilities at the university level when working on ESL
Masters degree.
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7. Required Skills
• Understanding of the English language.
• Listening along with the ability to analyze what the student is
communicating is a highly valued skill in teachers (Careers).
• As an ESL teacher also needs a great deal of flexibility in dealing with
different levels and styles of learning.
• Creativity is a valued skill as it can bring the subject alive, creating a fun
learning environment.
• Organization helps keep the class and students on track.
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8. Related Opportunities
• Volunteer work in communities throughout the world.
• Teach the teacher. Teaching positions at ESL certificate schools.
• Own or manage an ESL school.
• Work for the government in foreign or immigration services.
• Administer exams and certify schools.
• Paid NGO and Peace Corp positions.
• Sales positions with related material and organizations.
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9. Salary and Benefits
• There is a broad range of salary for people in the field of ESL. This can
range from zero to over six figures.
• Average salaries range from $30,000 - $50,000 per year (Sperling).
• Salary and benefits are determined by country, place of employment and
cost of living.
• Benefits can included fully furnished apartment including all utilities,
health insurance, transportation, and airline tickets.
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10. Market Trends
• The Global market for English language is growing (Review).
• The largest segment of new learners are students under 30 (Review).
• Increasing public - private partnerships for learning opportunities (Review).
• Market somewhat volatile based on currency fluctuations, terrorism, and
government regulations (Review).
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11. Disadvantages
• Scams and misleading job offers are common.
• Possibility of disliking job, location, or living situation once started.
• Working in unstable country or region.
• All the normal hazards of being a foreigner overseas.
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12. New Information
• Non-native English teachers now outnumber native English teacher.
• Explosive growth in private in-country english language schools Worldwide
(Review).
• Blended learning is the new trend in ESL.
• Governments are partnering with private organizations to increase the
number of citizens that speak English.
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13. Work Cited
• Careers and Employability Services. University of Kent. 23 March 2013.
<http://www.kent.ac.ukcareers/sk/skillsinjobs.htm#TEACHERS>
• ESL Directory. Envisage International Corp. 23 March 2013. <http://
www.esldirectory.com/blog/learning-english/what-is-esl/>
• Review of the global market for English language courses. 2006. British
Council. 23 March 2013. <http://secure.britishcouncil.org/
global_elt_review_2006-2.pdf>
• Sperling, Dave. Dave’s ESL Cafe. 23 March 2013. <http://
www.eslcafe.com/joblist/>
• Teaching ESL to Adults. 23 March 2013. <http://www.teaching-esl-to-
adults.com/duties-of-an-esl-teacher.html>
• VolunteerMatch. 23 March 2013. <http://www.volunteermatch.org/
search/index.jsp?r=msa&l=47060&categories=41>
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