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Job outlook for esl instructors in the United States
Esl instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected esl instructor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for esl instructors are projected over the next decade.
Esl instructor salaries have increased 8% for esl instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 55,090 esl instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 26,173 active esl instructor job openings in the US.
The average esl instructor salary is $53,226.
Are esl instructor jobs in demand?
Esl instructor job and salary trends over time
Esl instructor jobs over time
Esl instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55,090 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 62,090 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 65,573 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 65,235 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 66,043 | 0.02% |
Average esl instructor salary over time
Esl instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,226 | $25.59 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | $52,833 | $25.40 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $51,367 | $24.70 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $50,071 | $24.07 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $49,161 | $23.64 | +2.8% |
Esl instructor jobs by state
Most common states for esl instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 581 | 19% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 242 | 18% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 187 | 18% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 111 | 18% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 104 | 18% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 935 | 17% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 109 | 15% |
| 8 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 101 | 15% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 780 | 14% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 758 | 13% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 641 | 13% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,037 | 12% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 434 | 12% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 254 | 12% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 212 | 12% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 122 | 12% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 107 | 12% |
| 18 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 87 | 12% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,008 | 11% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 143 | 11% |
Most common cities for esl instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Council Bluffs | 1 | 2% | $48,091 |
| 2 | Moline | 1 | 2% | $48,018 |
| 3 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $40,677 |
| 4 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $82,129 |
ESL Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of esl instructor experts
North Central College
SUNY Buffalo State
Macalester College
Wilson College
University of Houston - Downtown
Louisiana State University
Angelo State University
Concordia University
Arizona State University
The University of Texas Permian Basin
Southwestern College
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
Jackson State University
Arkansas State University
University of La Verne
Franklin and Marshall College
Merrimack College
Thomas More University
Queens College of the City University of New York
Villanova University
Brian Hoffert
Associate Professor of Religious Studies and History; Coordinator of History of Ideas; Coordinator of East Asian Studies\North Central College
Religious Studies
What skills will help ESL Instructors earn the most?
Brian Hoffert: This is a difficult question since it depends on what you want to do and perhaps what major you pair with an East Asian Studies or Chinese/Japanese language major. For example, someone who double majors in Business/Marketing and Chinese or Japanese language can make a lot of money working in international trade, etc. Translation can pay extremely well if you get into a well-known post-graduate translation program; these programs are difficult, but there is a high demand for professional translation services, so you can be pretty much guaranteed excellent money immediately after graduation. Of course, you can go to school for another decade, get your Ph.D. and make a decent living as a professor (though there is a lot of competition, so this isn't the safest option--best for those with a true passion).
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSUNY Buffalo State
Department of English
What skills will help ESL Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: I believe that the critical thinking skills that can only be developed through intensive, deep reading are their most valuable asset. It makes them thinkers, intellectually and emotionally strong--something we desperately need in America today. They are active and engaged citizens who really excel at being self-motivated and engaged, and that is a valuable skill set to bring to any workplace.
What soft skills should all ESL Instructors possess?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: English majors, while many are introverted thinkers, are good workers on group projects. They are affable and adaptable, good conversationalists who are also good listeners. They allow others to find their own voice and do their work while contributing their own insights. They are great for being engaged in culture and perpetuating the kinds of self-directed learning that is expected of English majors inside and outside the classroom.
What hard/technical skills are most important for ESL Instructors?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: Most of these have to do with their ability to write and think. Their critical thinking skills and self-motivation make them valuable contributors to the workplaces they join. Because they are trained to be self-motivated, they tend to need less oversight to ensure the success of the project(s) they are completing, making for less direct administrative need. They have been trained to break apart a problem and see (and solve) the problem's component parts through the process of critical thinking. Trained in a meta-discourse, they do not become outdated when one formal system in their field becomes obsolete, but they see beyond systems to larger issues.
What skills stand out on ESL Instructor resumes?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: Their involvement in many kinds of experience through the English major, including the study of literature/culture and their experiences as writers and thinkers. Through involvement in opportunities such as writing tutoring, which is done via the department, publishing, and internships, our majors can be leaders in the work in which they are invested, helping to manage and guide others.
What hard/technical skills are most important for ESL Instructors?
Walter Greason Ph.D.: Ability to learn multiple managerial and technical platforms rapidly; facility with both quantitative and qualitative data and the capacity to discern multiple forms of mixed research methodologies.
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.
Professor of English, Program Director MAHUMWilson College
English Department
What skills will help ESL Instructors earn the most?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: Self-advocacy. I am not suggesting every English major rush to their boss and demand a big raise, but our culture continually suggests one should apologize for majoring in a liberal arts field. I don't buy it. English majors are amazing at solving problems, facilitating communication, researching ideas, developing programs-they are, in short, the total package. And they have a tremendous capacity to learn new skills and new abilities. This is why students from my college, for example, end up in a huge variety of subject fields. We need to understand the value we bring to any organization as an English major.
What soft skills should all ESL Instructors possess?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: Communication and care. Communication in all of its forms-written, oral, public speaking, and interpersonal, one-on-one communication abilities are all vital. A confident communicator can work wonders in many fields.
Add to that care. The study of English is not just the study of language; it is the study of those narratives that shape and dominate humanity and the means through which we make and understand them. I can't think of a better way to learn and know people. But that should come through as an ethos of care. If you want to teach, you must care for your students. No matter the field an English major may find themselves in, an ethos of care will serve them well.
What skills stand out on ESL Instructor resumes?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: In the academy, we often talk about English majors teaching students vital skills in critical thinking, communication, research, and analysis. An English major can be handed a project and know how to research the necessary components, compile them together in a clear and consistent format, and present that material to a client or supervisor with confidence. And I think the skill that really unites all of these aspects of the English major is independence. In our field, we ask students to articulate the rudiments of pragmatics, identify the meaning inherent to a seventeenth-century poem, and punch back at the masterpieces of the canon. No student can tackle such a diverse learning platform without a streak of independence that teaches them that, yes, scholars have been analyzing and deconstructing Shakespeare for 500 years, but no one has quite seen the text the way you have, and that's why you need to write about it. Heck, in a national conversation about higher education that strongly suggests that any major without a specific job title in its name should not even be considered, it takes someone who is a bit of a maverick to choose a major in English. But that independent streak serves our students really well in their careers and lives beyond college.
On a resume, I look for independence in that projection completion mode: acting as editor for student media; presenting a paper at a conference; writing a theatrical work; publishing; internships; etc. Anything that shows me that the applicant can tackle a project and get it done is what I am looking for.
What hard/technical skills are most important for ESL Instructors?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: While college-and college students-are increasingly digital, students are becoming less and less technical. Even compared to 10 years ago, my students' technical knowledge has significantly declined. That is why I encourage my students to become proficient in some useful software suite, such as Adobe Creative Cloud. Taking one or two classes in any software suite is tremendously beneficial and can help an applicant to really stand out from other English majors.
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.
Professor of EnglishUniversity of Houston - Downtown
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
What skills stand out on ESL Instructor resumes?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: When applying to be an instructor of English, your resume itself must be clean and totally without error. If you can't produce impeccable writing, why should your prospective employers believe that you can teach others to do so? A clean, complete, well-formatted resume reflects that you are a strong writer and editor, and these are critical skills. Of course, if you want to be an English instructor, some experience as a teacher is strongly preferred -- even if that is in informal contexts (e.g., leading training sessions at a previous place of employment or serving as a teaching assistant in graduate school).
What hard/technical skills are most important for ESL Instructors?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: Writing, Editing, Teaching, Reading.
What skills will help ESL Instructors earn the most?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: If you can document training in technical communication, professional writing, or rhetoric (as opposed to simply literature and/or creative writing), skills related to those sub-fields are highly valued by the corporate world and employers in the private sector -- the places that tend to pay people with backgrounds in English the most.
What soft skills should all ESL Instructors possess?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: It is also important that you speak well -- that you are a good conversationalist. People in education want to hire people who will be collegial co-workers and have a dynamic classroom presence.
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of RhetoricLouisiana State University
English Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for ESL Instructors?
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.: Writing instructors must know how to use multiple computer programs proficiently and at times use them simultaneously. Long gone are the days where all you needed to know were the basics of Microsoft Word and Excel. In addition to the learning platform used by the university (Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, Google Classroom, etc.), writing instructors must know how to use Zoom or other online video conference platforms to ensure smooth experiences for students who cannot come to the physical classroom.
Dr. Jason Pierce
Professor, Department ChairAngelo State University
Arnoldo De León Department of History
What skills stand out on ESL Instructor resumes?
Dr. Jason Pierce: Colleges and universities vary in terms of their primary focus. While larger private and public institutions value research as much as teaching, smaller regional institutions, like Angelo State University, put the most emphasis on teaching. Thus, teaching experience is paramount. We look closely at how many sections a candidate has taught and what classes they could offer when hiring a tenure track or non-tenure track instructor. Faculty at my university teach 4 classes per semester, so we must have someone who is "plug and play" and can handle the workload. For larger universities, research projects may need to be emphasized more. Be sure you understand what kind of institution you are applying to so you can get a sense of what skills that institution or department values the most. Researching the institution and the department is critical for success. Thankfully, that's relatively easy to do nowadays.
What technical skills for an ESL Instructor stand out to employers?
John Norton Ph.D.: - clear and creative communication
- advanced problem solving
- teamwork
How have salaries changed over time for ESL Instructors?
John Norton Ph.D.: Salaries continue to rise in education
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the ESL Instructor job market given the pandemic?
John Norton Ph.D.: A need to communicate clearly and creatively through different medium
How have salaries changed over time for ESL Instructors?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: In many parts of the country, like Arizona, teacher salaries have not grown at a rate to support an increased cost of living, which has led to a sever teaching shortage and high turnover rates. Teachers continue to be asked to do more, to juggle more, and are paid less. One of the things I hope this past year has shown is just how integral teachers and schools are to the health, well-being, and advancement of our communities and the work they do needs to be supported.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for ESL Instructors?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: Teachers who receive their reading endorsement as well as training in the teaching of writing through local sites of the National Writing Project, like the Central Arizona Writing Project at ASU put themselves at an advantage. Also, courses that prepare teachers in culturally sustaining teaching practices and digital literacies will help them meet the needs of diverse student populations and ever-evolving communication tools.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the ESL Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: In the coming years, there will be more need than ever for well-trained teachers in all levels and aspects of schools. There will also be a need to support partnerships with community organizations, family outreach, libraries, and extra-curricular kinds of support to support the academic and social emotion needs of children and their families. There will also be great need for highly skilled teachers in supporting students in digital forms of literacy, writing, and reading practices.
Rebecca Babcock
William and Ordelle Watts ProfessorThe University of Texas Permian Basin
Department of Literature and Language
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on ESL Instructors?
Rebecca Babcock: Post-pandemic, people will have to be more flexible with their work plans and what they expect out of a job.
What's a good job out of college for ESL Instructors?
Rebecca Babcock: All people seeking to enter a career should plan on doing an internship in that business. I believe an internship is the best way to get started in any career. If an internship is not available consider an apprenticeship, volunteering, or job shadowing. Get yourself in there and show how valuable you are.
What will help ESL Instructors increase their earning potential?
Rebecca Babcock: Networking is always key. Especially for those working for themselves...the more people you know...the more contacts you have...the more jobs you will get. I am talking about real networking, not social networking. This means talk to people, get to know them, become friends or at least acquaintances with people in the industry you want to enter.
What technical skills for an ESL Instructor stand out to employers?
John Rieder: In English, we look for applicants with a demonstrated commitment to the populations we serve in the community college (not just lip service, but proven commitment). Former community-college students and those with peer tutoring experience are always wonderful. We also look for an interest in ongoing professional development, particularly professional development related to "high challenge, high support" classroom instruction, to anti-racist and culturally responsive pedagogy/andragogy, and to overall advancing a culture of care, guidance, equity, and community.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the ESL Instructor job market given the pandemic?
John Rieder: I can only speak to the California community colleges, but we have seen a dramatic drop in enrollments this year, particularly this current spring. I believe as a system, the CCCs are down 10% compared to a year ago. My campus is a couple of points worse than that. This has impacted the English job market significantly. Ours is a field in which our fulltime faculty hires always come from the adjunct/part-time ranks in the region. Right now, with the drop in enrollment and a compression of offerings, it was very hard for any instructors with newly minted M.A.s to get a foot in the door. Several newer part-time instructors (hired in the last couple of years) who managed to secure an assignment in Fall 2019 did not get an offer for the current spring, which is lighter in terms of total sections offered. Obviously, another trend is the necessity of distance-education training. Every college district in my region is handling this a bit differently. My college is particularly strict; those who want a fully online/asynchronous teaching assignment must complete our in-house certification. Some other campuses do accept DE training completed elsewhere. As far as fulltime, tenure-track positions go, we have been fortunate to recruit four new fulltime faculty members since 2019, and we will likely be able to recruit one more in a year who would begin in Fall 2022. Since the short-term economic outlook is going to be okay, our district has committed to replacing all faculty who retire this year.
How have salaries changed over time for ESL Instructors?
John Rieder: I can't speak to this with any kind of certainty. It really does vary district by district. In the last few years prior to the pandemic, our union routinely negotiated small but notable salary increases above COLA for all fulltime and part-time faculty.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for ESL Instructors in the next 3-5 years?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: New Technologies:
Be on top of all sharing apps; by the time someone claims which to know, new ones will be available so you must be current. Find out what businesses or fields of interest are using. Linkedin is broadly used. Keystone Staffing Solutions CFO stresses: "No matter what you are doing--gap year or full-time job, spend 2 to 3 hours a day on-line, expanding your knowledge of apps major organizations in your field and beyond are using."
Communication Skills:
English Degree: Your degree enables development/expertise in the what are the essential skills in so many professions and businesses: the ability to write critically, be persuasive, and communicate with clarity. Write papers or articles and submit to publications. Start blogs and share ideas with people in your similar situation. Encourage professionals to participate and add advice.
If speaking in public is difficult, take courses. Afraid? Practice starting with children by volunteering or offering free classes for kids. Work up to older children then adults. Build confidence and skill. But importantly, don't underestimate the value of this ability.
What experience really stands out on ESL Instructor resumes?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: All of us took language classes. Recruiters want to know how you are able to use the language; not how many years you studied or if you majored or minored, but can you sustain an intelligent conversation with a speaker in that language. Practical use, real life. Study abroad highly recommended. However, you need to differentiate between going abroad to party versus expanding your language and cultural skills.
Globalization--even among small farmers, small businesses--and population migrations make speaking a foreign language a substantial advantage in the job market, across fields, throughout the U.S. and abroad. Spanish, in particular, is highly sought after not only for companies/organizations with international business or connections, but also those operating only in the U.S. I have for years and still receive regular requests from legal, medical, corporate, non-profit organizations for written or in-person translations because they do not have enough people on site with this skill. These are well-paid.
Jobs of the future that we cannot even imagine now will benefit from and require the language and cultural skills that perspective employees can provide. Without sounding crass, and speaking specifically about Spanish, studies have shown that when 2 applicants with similar resumes apply for the same job, with the only difference being ability to speak Spanish, the applicant with Spanish-language skills will get the job the overwhelming majority of times and will be in the position to demand a higher salary, than the one who does not. Just a fact.
What ESL Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: Most important advice: Take initiative and be productive.
Find practical ways to use skills even if unpaid. Volunteer work is good. Use language skills. Technology skills. Exploit technology skills around the area of interest. If you want to be a teacher find out what software they are using today; what research skills are they utilize. Make sure you log your activities during the gap year especially those that relate to the area in which you want to work. If you want to go into finance, and you're working at a lawn service, understand and learn the business model and the accounting. If you're working at Starbucks (or in any commercial environment), get a chance to do inventories, learn about the ordering process and sources and suppliers for those orders; and how people are scheduled for work. All of that is relevant experience for business.
The CFO and recruiter for Keystone Staffing Solutions emphasized having evidence in your resume of of being productive during the gap time, no matter if it's one, two or three years. Evidence of being productive is what recruiters want to see on your resume: He stresses: "What did you do to expand your knowledge and skills not only in your selected area but beyond. BEING PRODUCTIVE for yourself proves to be an indicator of how productive you will be for me."
Still on gap year. How to go about it? Use teachers, friends, family, anyone in the field or related to it to provide guidance, insight, suggestions. This can lead to projects or experience that will help in learning and growth.
How have salaries changed over time for ESL Instructors?
Leticia Pérez Alonso Ph.D.: With the passage of time, my impression is that salaries have gradually increased in the academic field, but not in a manner that have adjusted to living expenses today. Salaries also vary depending on the position and the state. For instance, an English teacher of secondary education in a large metropolis is likely to receive a higher remuneration than one who performs the same activity in a less populated area.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the ESL Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Leticia Pérez Alonso Ph.D.: In the sector of English instruction positions that will probably be in demand include the following: high, middle or elementary school English teacher, ESL/TESOL teacher and a variety of tutoring or instructional opportunities ranging from composition, professional or creative writing. As a result of the pandemic, it is likely that there is an increase in online distance teaching positions. Specializations in bilingual or adult education might also play a central role in the field of English teaching, given the sociocultural needs of a population characterized by its diversity.
What technical skills for an ESL Instructor stand out to employers?
Leticia Pérez Alonso Ph.D.: In the past some employers appeared to be attracted to candidates who were familiar with online or distant education. Given the changing face of the academia, especially over the last year, I believe that skills to work remotely will be especially taken into consideration when hiring instructors of English language, education and literature. As I see it, an ability to develop online courses through platforms such as Canvas, Moodle or Blackboard stand out to employers of the educational sector. Along these lines, experience with video communications technologies such as Zoom will be a plus when deciding to hire an online or distance English teacher.
Additionally, specializations in English literature appear to have dropped, yet positions in rhetoric and composition are still in demand. Therefore, those English majors interested in literature might want to diversify their curriculum and receive training in areas such as technical and professional writing. They might also be interested in expanding their knowledge in second language acquisition or pedagogy to teach English to foreign speakers.
Dr. Vicent Moreno Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coordinator of World Languages and CulturesArkansas State University
Department of English, Philosophy, and World Languages
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on ESL Instructors?
Dr. Vicent Moreno Ph.D.: I don't think there will be an enduring impact, at least not in a negative sense. I can see how, for certain professions, the old models of working 9-5 in an office space might have been disrupted and perhaps changed forever as a result of the pandemic. Thus, flexibility and ability to work from home might be key assets for graduates entering the job market. A similar situation applies to graduates wishing to work in the education field, which is the career of choice for a lot of graduates in Romance Languages. The ability and willingness to work both remotely and in person are very important elements that the pandemic has brought about and will probably stay on even after the crisis is over. Related to this, online education has gained even more momentum, exacerbated by the need to work from home. In this sense, the skills to develop engaging pedagogical materials for use in online or hybrid classes will definitely be a must in the years to come for those entering the field now.
Dr. Ann Hills
Associate Professor of Spanish & ChairUniversity of La Verne
Modern Languages Department
What's a good job out of college for ESL Instructors?
Dr. Ann Hills: The coronavirus has had a devastating effect on many industries and, by extension, job options. Pre-pandemic, I would routinely suggest that language students consider positions in countries in which their language(s) of study are spoken. Many recent graduates teach English abroad right out of college, allowing them to earn money as well as cross-cultural and professional experience; current times have made such opportunities more challenging.
Nevertheless, I believe that graduates with degrees in languages and cultures have skill sets and knowledge that can be translated (pardon the pun) into many fields that continue to be in high demand-indeed, into some fields that are in even higher demand as a result of the pandemic, such as education, healthcare and community engagement. Students of language and culture tend to have a highly developed sense of understanding of, empathy for, and often experience communicating and working with, diverse populations; organizations and private sector employers are realizing that these are critical traits in today's global society and markets, as are concerns for inclusion and equity. In addition to positions that specifically require multilingualism, those that call for critical thinking, superior verbal and written communication skills, and linguistic sophistication should be a good fit for language majors as well.
There are many variables that make a job "good," of course: a livable wage, a reasonable work-life balance, a supportive and respectful environment, a rewarding work product... If you're not fortunate enough to attain your dream job right away-few people are!-take stock of your true passions and future career goals. Consider an entry level job in your desired field or an allied field: this allows you to bank valuable knowledge and experience in that area as you give it a "test drive." If you're interested in education but don't find an available teaching position, apply as a tutor, teaching assistant or substitute teacher. If your passion is literary translation, earn some practical experience working for a commercial translation company.
It's my hope that with determination, creativity and a strong work ethic, we can face the challenges occasioned by the pandemic and find new opportunities for productive collaborations.
What type of skills will young ESL Instructors need?
M. Alison Kibler Ph.D.: The key for today's graduate is to come ready with relevant skills and experience. A college degree without relevant skills and experience will just not be as sufficient as in previous years to land that first, post-graduate role.
Creativity, proactivity along with strong communication skills and intellectual grit to anticipate and respond proactively to the unexpected are the competencies most prized in today's labor market. Showing that one worked through the pandemic, and even pursued additional skills and experiences relevant to a role or field, will make a graduate stand out from among their less prepared and proactive peers.
In the last class of American Studies graduates (class of 2020), I saw some students take a new path to a job. For example, one student had an internship where she worked remotely for a digital marketing firm. This then became a full-time job after graduation. Another student had worked on legal research (also remote) over the summer and in her senior seminar, and then got a job as a legal assistant in the New York DA's office. She hopes to ultimately go to law school. This is a job that other AMS alumni have secured in the past. Other students got jobs as community organizers, teachers, museum curators and entry-level business positions. These paths seemed largely the same as in the past. All built on course work and/or internships where they developed skills and deepened interest in topics. The student that went to work as a community organizer, for example, had done a senior research project on homelessness.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for ESL Instructors to find work opportunities?
Deborah Margolis Ph.D.: The COVID pandemic has triggered the retirement of many seasoned educators, so many districts are in need of committed new graduates. Typically, during non-pandemic times, urban districts tend to have more openings. Commitment to teach in an urban or otherwise underserved district can provide a wonderful experience for new graduates looking to make a meaningful contribution to the education and lives of the students with whom they work.
How do you envision technology impacting ESL Instructors in the next 5 years?
Deborah Margolis Ph.D.: One of the many things that COVID has taught us is the importance of educational technology and that educators need to have facility with technology. We have also learned that some things that we thought had to be done in person, can be done remotely/virtually. Since some experts suggest that we may be dealing with COVID and remnants of COVID until 2025, educational technology will continue to play an important role for us in the U.S. The use of technology during the pandemic has also shown us ways that education can be enhanced for those who might otherwise be unable to access on-ground educational opportunities.
Dr. Jodie Mader Ph.D.
Professor, Chair, Faculty Development DirectorThomas More University
History Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on ESL Instructors?
Dr. Jodie Mader Ph.D.: There is will the obvious social and economic impacts. Jobs will change and graduates need to be cognizant of where jobs will be located and adapt their skills to them. Graduates need to be aware of the new and old skills required of employers, and a key one will be their command of technology and their ability to use it.
Zavi Gunn
DirectorQueens College of the City University of New York
Center for Career Engagement and Internships
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the ESL Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Zavi Gunn: Companies will likely maintain remote work schedules and pursue hybrid work models, both on-site and remote. Areas in which job opportunities may flourish include healthcare practitioner/researcher, healthcare administration, healthcare technology, and healthcare customer service support. Job opportunities in the education technology field (EdTech) devoted to the development and application of tools, including software, hardware, and processes intended to promote education, will also likely increase.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the ESL Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Sally Scholz Ph.D.: Many of our graduates had to shift gears rapidly. Students who had planned to launch a new career decided instead to take up part-time or temporary positions that would allow them more flexibility. One of the biggest trends is not in the job market, per se, but in the work/life planning. Many of our graduates found themselves moving back home to live with parents rather than launching into a new city. Even those with new jobs spent the first six months of the position being trained and working remotely. They tended to stay with parents in order to save money and avoid moving to a new city during a time when finding a social community would be difficult.