An ESL degree authorizes the holder of this degree to pursue his career as an ESL instructor in various strata of education like colleges or public schools. The courseware of this discipline is designed as per the requirements including methods involved in education, student evaluation, literary and linguistics standards, material selection and lastly English Grammar. The completion of graduation makes the candidates eligible to teach as an ESL instructor at private institutes or colleges, though most of the pass outs opt for higher education in the same field to be eligible to teach at various colleges and universities. Normally, if you have proper certificate in ESL instruction, you are eligible for teaching at the basic level.
English is a global language monitoring the current trends and it can be easily concluded that its importance will increase manifolds in the future. Thus, the demand for English teachers is always on a rise. As the number of people aspiring to learn English is increasing, the demand for ESL teachers is also on an all time high.
The teachers of ESL can work for both private and public institutions. Those who work as a part of the public education system mandatorily require a college graduation degree along with a certificate in ESL, which is provided under the discretion of the state. For those teaching in the private sector, a degree is not mandatory to have, though a TESL certificate is a must have for them too.
The work area of an ESL teacher becomes global in real terms. Teachers of ESL are available all across the globe appointed in schools and various businesses. They also work as private instructors. The experience of becoming a teacher can be enriching both socially and culturally as you get to interact with students who hail from different geographical areas of the earth.
The importance for ESL teachers can be seen from the fact that approximately 4 million students from US are pursuing courses in ESL. This number increases exponentially when we take into account the whole world scenario.
ESL teachers take practical life examples to teach students about writing, hearing, reading and speaking skills. There is no age limit for learning the language. The opportunities are equally distributed in schools, adult training centers and community colleges throughout the world. The Asian countries act as sinks for ESL teachers due to ever-soaring demands, especially in China and Japan.
The educational background of a teacher is determined by his career targets and the program he has been through in their academic life. The adult education centers require candidates to be at least graduates in ESL instruction. ome may even raise the bar by making a masters’ degree their minimum requirement. The TESOL certificates offered to the candidates who already have a bachelors or a master’s degree in other disciplines with them help them shape their career in an improved manner in the field of ESL education.
The TESOL certificate ensures the inculcation of the language culture within individuals who have not been attached to students for a long time. The course structure is framed in a manner that it can help the degree holders achieve their objective. It includes the basics of adult education, working with students hailing from different cultures, applied linguistics and acquiring English as a second language. Most of the ESL students take the GED test because the teachers are required to know details of the examination. It is ironical, but in order to become an ESL teacher foreign language courses can offer great help when it comes to teaching non-native language speakers.
To be eligible to teach in a public organization the candidates must be equipped with the license offered after a rigorous training program approved by the state. The requirement differs from institution to institution. Many institutes need TEFL certification. The TEFL certificate can provide an edge to the students over other competitors, particularly if you are planning to start a career abroad. The TEFL certification can also be obtained online to help working professionals.
The concept of globalization is showing its sign in every field touching human life all over the world. The integration of world economy is encouraging professional to move beyond the boundaries of their country and work in different countries. This has provided a great boost for ESL teachers particularly for the students aiming to work in countries where English is the chief mode de communication. There are several certification programs related to this field like Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) including others but all have the same objective of training an individual to become an English instructor. The programs have similar format but target different areas of opportunity such as teaching in foreign countries, teaching in public organizations, etc.
TESL graduates are eligible and competent to teach students of elementary level, middle and high school, overseas, adult educational programs, and teachers at International institutes. The scope varies with the qualification and the location of the individual.
The job of teaching English to students who are not familiar with the language can be a demanding job and hence it requires professionals who are strong willed, masters of great communication skills, and caring enough to understand the needs of the students. Learning a foreign language can assist in the teaching process. The non-native jobs require candidates to be extremely adaptable and flexible so that they don’t seem like fish that are out of the water in a foreign land. To enhance opportunities and remuneration, the candidates must ensure that they have a master’s degree in their bag before applying for a job.