How do I become an ESL teacher?


esl
Kelly B asked:


Hi! I am 23 yrs old and already have a associate’s degree (in art). I would LOVE to be an ESL teacher, as I love reading, writing, and working with immigrants. Can I become a teacher without an English degree? I know I can probably volunteer to teach beginners… but I wonder if I could make it a career. Thoughts?

This entry was posted on Monday, July 5th, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under Teaching. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “How do I become an ESL teacher?”

  1. I WOULD Say that, Wouldn't I Says:
    July 5th, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    Well, here are the requirements under most circumstances:

    However, go to your state’s Department of Education website for more information. I’ll look for more links to give you.

    Here’s some information on certification and more information on requirements:

    Some more career stuff (About.com is often a good resource): I WOULD Say that, Wouldn’t I

  2. shenyanggerry Says:
    July 7th, 2010 at 5:05 am

    If you want a career in ESL, plan on getting at least a Master’s degree and preferably a PhD. There are too many available teachers without these degrees willing to work for low wages. Incidentally, working with beginners is much harder than working with intermediates. shenyanggerry

  3. ICAL Says:
    July 7th, 2010 at 5:13 am

    Certainly, yes. Take a look at the link below which is to a free download where you can read about getting into the TEFL industry and teaching English all over the world. It should give you some ideas about how to get started, what to think about and where you might like to go.

    In general you’ll need a degree (although there are still possibilities if you do not have this) and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate to get a visa and work. The TEFL certificate can be taken either in-house or online at your own pace which is a much cheaper option (see).

    Hope this helps! ICAL

  4. Ontesol Says:
    July 10th, 2010 at 8:10 am

    Hello,
    You don’t necessarily need an English degree, but you do need a degree and a TESOL or TEFL certificate. The degree is for work permit reasons and the certificate depends on the country and level of English you will be teaching. I suggest for information on the most popular ESL destinations. Trinity CertTESOL, TESL Canada, or CELTA are the best courses in the industry and they include teaching practice, even if you pursue the course online (ei: The TESL Canada course at Ontesol or a Canadian University). Ontesol

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