How to Start Teaching ESL or EFL

Do you want to know how to start teaching ESL? Many people think that they need an English degree to teach English as a second language, or that they need to have a teaching certificate or credential. Yes, these things are helpful, but if you want to start teaching English to speakers of other languages, just do it!

You're probably thinking, "I don't know how to start teaching ESL. I don't even know the duties of an ESL teacher." Where do I begin? Well, that may depend on whether you live in a non-English-speaking country (in that case, you would need to know how to start teaching EFL—English as a Foreign Language) or an English-speaking country.

Volunteer Opportunities

If you want to start teaching English and you live in an English-speaking country, living near a larger city will make this easier. There are many places, such as non-profit organizations, public libraries, YMCA/YWCAs and senior centers that have volunteer programs to match English language learners with English tutors. Some of these organizations will provide a limited amount of training to help you be better-prepared to help people learn English. Others will provide no training at all. Their main objective is to match English speakers and people learning English as conversation partners.

So if you want to start teaching ESL and are not concerned about doing this as an occupation, look for volunteer opportunities in your community.

Also, if you are thinking about how to start teaching ESL as a profession, volunteer experience will better prepare you to teach and you'll also be more employable.

If you are looking at teaching English as a career, then it will be much easier if you have some qualifications. These could include an English degree, a TESOL or CELTA certificate, a TEFL certificate (to teach in a non-English-speaking country) and/or a teaching credential. The necessary qualifications will depend on where you want to teach.

Usually, the highest paid ESL teaching opportunities are in universities. Most require a Master's degree related to English; the best is MATESOL—Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Teaching in public schools ranging from elementary schools through adult schools usually requires a Bachelor's degree (not necessarily in English) plus a teaching credential.

You can also teach in private language schools. These usually require a certificate in TESOL or a CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults). They do not always require a college degree if you have one of these certificates and meet other school-specific requirements.

Another option is to become a private ESL tutor. There are no requirements for teaching privately. If someone is willing to pay you to teach English when you have no qualifications, then that is between you and your students. However, most adult students will want their English tutors to have some qualifications, and most parents of young ESL students will also want their child's tutor to have qualifications.



How to Start Teaching English in Non-English-Speaking Countries

Actually, if you are teaching English in a non-English-speaking country, then you are teaching EFL (English as a foreign language). Different countries will have different expectations and hiring requirements for English teachers. If you don't already have an English degree or a MATESOL and want to obtain qualifications as quickly as possible, research the country or countries in which you want to teach and find out if the schools there prefer a CELTA or a TEFL certificate.

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