What are the Duties
of an ESL Teacher?

Basic Duties of an ESL Teacher

No matter what setting you are in, the main duty of an ESL teacher is, essentially, to prepare lesson plans and teach English to speakers of other languages. This includes teaching English grammar, writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills. It may also include teaching pronunciation and accent reduction.

It's basically teaching all the English skills that will enable speakers of other languages to effectively communicate in English.

Additionally, it may be the responsibility of the ESL teacher to introduce cultural aspects to ESL students, especially those who are new to the English-speaking country.

Private Tutors of ESOL Students

Private tutors often work with small groups of students or teach one-on-one. Here, it will be the responsibility of the teacher/tutor to do a Needs Assessment of the student(s) to determine student strengths and weaknesses. The tutor will also find out from the student(s) the main objectives that he, she or they may have in learning English.

The tutor then prepares lesson plans to meet specific student needs and delivers the lessons. The tutor may also act as a resource for the student(s), giving information to help the student(s) survive and thrive in the community.

In addition to the basic teaching duties, ESL teachers working in private language schools will have to take attendance and provide evaluations of student progress. Attendance records are particularly important because of student Visa requirements. (Students who are temporarily in English-speaking countries to study English will often be required to have a student Visa.)

ESL teachers may have other administrative tasks as requested or required by school administrators. They may also have to attend weekly staff meetings. Duties will vary depending on the particular private school's expectations.

ESL Teacher Duties at Non-Profit Organizations

Some non-profit organizations have ESL programs. The purposes of the programs are often related to vocational training and/or job preparation. In these settings, the duties of an ESL teacher may include developing curriculum to advance the goals of the organization. For example, a non-profit organization may provide training for child care givers, or it may provide computer training. The teacher's job will be to insure that the students are taught English for a specific purpose.

Public Schools—K-12 and Adult Schools

Public schools may include K-12 and adult schools. In addition to the basic duties of ESL teachers (preparing and delivering lessons), teachers may also be requested to participate in departmental staff meetings. The teacher must also keep attendance records, as the funding of the school usually depends on it.

Public schools generally have a particular curriculum that the teacher must follow. There may be lesson plans already developed that the teacher can use, or he or she may be given leeway to develop his/her own lessons. However, public schools often require students to take standardized tests during and at the end of a semester. The students must show sufficient progress or it may reflect back on the teacher, and affect the funding of the school.

Community Colleges and Universities

These are generally the most sought after ESL jobs for ESL teachers. In addition to the basic duties of an ESL teacher, the community college or university instructor may be required to participate in departmental meetings, student advising, and other duties.

The duties included in community college and university ESL jobs are similar to those of K-12 and adult schools. It's the students who will be the biggest difference (and the pay!).

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