After reading this, you’ll truly love this profession.

Being an ESL teacher is not for the weak. It requires much skill, dedication and a willingness to remold ways of thinking, methodologies and approaches. Did reading that turn you away? No? Then you’re in the right place, my friend!

ESL is a true calling. And if you’re feeling the urge to learn more about how to get into this profession, read on. Here are a few reasons why you should consider teaching English as a second language!

Helping Students Succeed

No matter which sector of the educational field you’re in, taking on this role gives you the rewarding but very important job of helping your students find success. This means implementing various methods that work best with the content you choose to teach. Now, this can be a bit more challenging in a larger class as opposed to a smaller one, but with proper curriculum strategy combined with getting to know your students individually, you will succeed no matter the class size. Building a relationship with your students will show them that you care, that you’re invested in them, and that you’re dedicated to helping them set and reach their goals.

Opportunities Abroad/Location Flexibility

If you like traveling or would simply like to do it more while still having a fulfilling, stable career with the potential for growth, there are many job opportunities to teach English to non-native speakers in other countries! In fact, the ESL teaching market is in demand all over the globe! Keep in mind that depending on where you are, you may have to meet certain standards or requirements for that location. For example – to teach English in mainland China, it will typically require a 170-hour TEFL certification and a four-year undergraduate degree. Knowledge of a few basic Mandarin phrases might not hurt either. Each place is unique, so be sure to do your research!

Online Schedule Flexibility

Similar to opportunities for teaching English abroad, there are plenty of jobs online as well! Some notable mentions include Cambly, VIPKid, Preply, Open English, Lingoda, and many more! You will have the opportunity to plan classes with your students based on your preferred schedule. This may work well for you if you tend to have an unusual schedule in general and are involved in multiple endeavors while also teaching. Again, keep in mind of certain qualifications you may to meet before applying for positions. This also ties greatly into the current workforce as more and more people are straying from the traditional 9-5 work setting and moving into the gig economy due to the extended flexibility for busy people.

Option To Work With Children Or Adults

For ESL teaching, you have plenty of options in terms of your desired demographic of students. You can specialize in working with your preferred age group, whether that be children or adults! Personally, I tend to thrive with adult students due to maturity level and the chance to offer more complex lesson plan structures. This, of course, also highly depends on the student’s language proficiency level. I also feel that there can be some limitations, such as a slight refrain of creativity due to an older cohort. It’s important to note, though, working with any age group comes with pros and cons! But whatever route you choose, it will certainly be worth it in the end.

Option To Niche Down

In addition to choosing a specified age group to work with, you can also
choose which sub-niche you’d like to hone and enhance. You can choose to
focus on conversations, grammar, vocabulary building or even very specified categories like business English, or test preparation. This is especially true if you’re a freelancer or have your own virtual ESL business! You can also niche down in terms of preferred level of proficiency you’d like to teach using the CEFR scale to guide you. Some ESL educators choose to work with A1 (very early beginner) students, and others prefer B1 and up (intermediate to advanced). You won’t really know what you like until you’ve experienced teaching all levels of students.I would say it’s best to start out with early beginner students as they are the hardest to teach due to their native language barrier.

Final Thoughts

With ESL, there are many avenues you can take. And the journey is definitely worth it! Being an ESL teacher is a very rich and multifaceted experience, and will teach you much about yourself as an educator and a person in the world. Beyond the practical benefits of flexible hours and global opportunities, it’s a profession that offers immense personal and professional fulfillment. By bridging language barriers, you empower individuals to access new educational avenues, unlock career potential, and connect with others on a global scale. The impact of ESL teaching fosters cultural understanding, builds confidence, and enriches the lives of both the teacher and the student.If you’re looking for a rewarding path that allows you to make a true difference while embracing diverse cultures, ESL stands out as a compelling choice.

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