Teachers looking for ESL employment will find many opportunities, both in the United States and around the world. Instructors in the U.S. teach children and adults who immigrate into the country from other areas of the world. Other instructors travel to countries around the world to help English students perfect their conversational language in preparation for international employment or sometimes in preparation for attendance at an English-speaking university.
ESL employment in the united states

ESL employment is a growing field within the variety of subjects taught in the U.S. This is especially true in states with large numbers of immigrants from Spanish speaking countries, such as Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, and from countries in Central America and South America. States that have a high demand for ESL teachers are Texas, New York, Illinois, California, and Florida, but there are ESL teachers in most states in the U.S. ESL teachers are often bi-lingual and are fluent in both languages. Some come from families who spoke a second language in their home as they grew up, so they are as fluent in a language, such as Spanish or another language, just as they are in English.
ESL employment in the U.S.

Each state in the U.S. has laws requiring the education and training that a teacher needs to be certified, or licensed in ESL. Teachers must be licensed to teach the subject and age group that they are trained to instruct. For example, a teacher licensed in elementary education can teach grades one through six in many states, while a high school teacher is usually licensed to teach only grades seven through twelve. A prospective teacher looking for ESL employment in the U.S. needs to contact the State Board of Education in which they hope to teach, and then they will need to complete courses that lead to licensing.

Preparing for employment
If a teacher candidate has a bachelor’s degree from another country, they will usually need to complete courses to earn a Master’s Degree in TESOL or a Master’s Degree in Linguistics, which is accepted by some states. Most master’s programs take students about two years as they complete linguistics courses in English as well as in language acquisition, and studies in literacy and culture. The ESL student teacher also learns many details about the culture in which they hope to teach since language and culture are closely related. For example, teachers must know how to address students and parents, and to observe the customs of those who enter their classrooms. When this respect is established, the teacher’s relationship with the students and their parents is reinforced, making instruction much easier to accomplish. Some courses may be completed online, while others require classroom hours while the teacher works directly with ESL students.

Teaching English overseas
There are many opportunities for those who want to teach English overseas in any English-speaking country or English as a second language country. These include countries in China, Japan, India, Thailand, Korea, Europe, and other locations. Those who teach in these countries do not only teach elementary English – they also work with teens and adult students who want to learn conversational English that is best taught by a native English-speaking teacher. There are long-term and short-term assignments for teachers since some regular American instructors travel overseas for short-term assignments only in the summer months when their schools are closed.

Volunteer and paid esl employment
Although some teachers take paid positions to teach in Asia, Africa, or in other areas, many of them volunteer to teach in other countries. They do this for many reasons, including the chance to experience another culture. Another reason many do this is to make a contribution to the world community.