English is not the most spoken language in the world, but it is the most widely used in the business world, along with Mandarin Chinese. Many multinational corporations use English as part of their corporate culture, and it is often a status symbol for wealthy families all over the world to hire tutors to teach their children English. Alternately, when immigrant children come to live in the United States, federal law mandates they receive explicit instruction from a highly qualified ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) teacher.
Called ELLs, English language learners are people who are new to the English language. Students are either children or adults, and the methods and content are different for teaching each group. People who are considering earning a teaching degree to serve the needs of these students have several options, depending on where and who they hope to teach.
Teaching Abroad
The fastest degree to get is a certification to teach English in another country. Most overseas employment opportunities for English teachers require a general bachelor’s degree, plus a TESOL, TSEL, or TEFL certification that can be earned online relatively inexpensively and quickly. TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and TSEL is Teaching English as a Second Language. Different institutions have different names for their programs, but they all have similar curricula. Before signing up for a program to teach English overseas, candidates should research possible employers and find out if they have a preference in training program.
Teaching Domestically
People who want to teach English to non-native speakers within the United States have three primary options: a traditional K-12 degree from a university, an K-12 certification from an accredited accelerated alternative program that is often offered in urban areas with a teacher shortage problem, or a degree with a specialization in adult education from an accredited program or university. Different states have different teaching requirements, so people who are considering an ESOL degree should look into the requirements of potential employers before beginning a program.
Earning Potential
The salary range for language teachers varies depending on their level of education and where the candidate wants to teach. Teachers with degrees in ESOL and teaching experience can often earn more abroad than domestic language teachers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average salaries and 10-year employment outlook for education jobs that include ESOL teachers.
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in English Language Learning Online 2018
Plan For the Future
Good teachers create their curriculum by backward planning: starting with the ultimate objective and then creating a map of steps to walk students through so they can achieve that objective. Earning a degree to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages is similar in that the degree requirements are so varied that the best method is to determine a career goal is and then tailor an educational program to the goal, rather than completing a program and then searching for a job that accepts those credentials.
