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The differences between esl instructors and language instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an esl instructor, becoming a language instructor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a language instructor has an average salary of $57,946, which is higher than the $53,226 average annual salary of an esl instructor.
The top three skills for an esl instructor include grammar, classroom management and language. The most important skills for a language instructor are kids, classroom management, and grammar.
| ESL Instructor | Language Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $53,226 | $57,946 |
| Hourly rate | $25.59 | $27.86 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 26,173 | 45,062 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
An ESL instructor is responsible for teaching the English language, usually to non-native speakers, discussing all the disciplines of the English language, both written and verbal, and in some cases, even its nature and history. ESL instructors create a comprehensive lesson plan for the English language learners, prepare learning materials, and conduct individual and group activities to test the learners' knowledge and progress. They also evaluate the learners' performance by identifying areas of improvement and adjust teaching strategies to address each learner's difficulties and maintain an engaging classroom environment.
A language instructor is responsible for teaching the students to master a specific language, both written and oral instructions, as well as its structure, development, and history. Language instructors prepare engaging lesson plans and educational materials for the students' easy comprehension. They evaluate the students' progress by conducting assessments, identifying areas of improvement, and adjusting teaching strategies to address those difficulties. A language instructor must have extensive knowledge of their language expertise, responding to the students' inquiries and concerns accurately.
Esl instructors and language instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| ESL Instructor | Language Instructor | |
| Average salary | $53,226 | $57,946 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $78,000 | Between $40,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | Monterey, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Boston Public Schools | Kern Community College District |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Government |
There are a few differences between an esl instructor and a language instructor in terms of educational background:
| ESL Instructor | Language Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between esl instructors' and language instructors' demographics:
| ESL Instructor | Language Instructor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0% | Male, 44.2% Female, 55.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 15.2% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |