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What is an esl teacher and how to become one
English as a second language (ESL) teachers tutor non-native speakers and help them to read, speak and understand English. As an ESL teacher, you are responsible for creating lessons and lecture materials that have been simplified to aid the learning of the students.
Sometimes you are required to play the role of guardians and mentors by helping your students to settle into the new environment and to familiarize themselves with the new culture around them. You would usually perform all the normal functions of a teacher, like preparing course materials and evaluating progress. You might be required to function in a virtual setting or small physical groups. In either setting, you have to make the learning environment as comfortable as possible and be proficient in the use of your technological teaching aids.
Most states require that ESL teachers must have at least a bachelor's degree in ESL, TESOL, or a related field like linguistics. Some teachers take it further by earning a master's degree. Good organizational skills, excellent communication and presentation skills, and leadership skills are only a few of the most required skills for ESL teachers. ESL teachers make an average of $23 per hour and $48,422 per year.
What general advice would you give to an esl teacher?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Avg. Salary $52,701
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.52%
Asian 3.65%
Black or African American 9.70%
Hispanic or Latino 12.51%
Unknown 3.91%
White 69.71%
Genderfemale 68.64%
male 31.36%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Esl teacher career paths
Key steps to become an esl teacher
Explore esl teacher education requirements
Start to develop specific esl teacher skills
Skills Percentages Kids 44.03% Whiteboards 19.54% Classroom Management 9.06% Curriculum Development 5.14% English Language 3.28% Research esl teacher duties and responsibilities
- Design syllabus and conduct various group activities to achieve basic conversational knowledge.
- Focuse instruction on grammar and authentic conversation, using many interactive techniques to achieve progress.
- Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
- Instruct all levels of elementary and kindergarten French entirely in the target language.
Prepare your esl teacher resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your esl teacher resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an esl teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable esl teacher resume templates
Build a professional esl teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your esl teacher resume.
Apply for esl teacher jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an esl teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first esl teacher job
Are you an esl teacher?
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Average esl teacher salary
The average esl teacher salary in the United States is $52,701 per year or $25 per hour. Esl teacher salaries range between $40,000 and $68,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do esl teachers rate their job?
Esl teacher reviews
I like sharing my mother tongue, help others to learn and use the language to communicate their ideas and thoughts. to know we contribute in people learning is rewarding
Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days
Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance
Making a difference in the lives of students and their families.
I do not enjoy the copious amounts of ever increasing paperwork.
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Updated January 8, 2025
