English as a Foreign Language Instructor

An English as a Foreign Language Instructor teaches non-native students the English language. This career can be pursued as a sole-proprietor English language tutor, or as an employee with a company, organization, or school. English as a Foreign Language Instructors may also work in tandem with other ESL related business roles like curriculum development, teacher training, and student advising. For example, an English as a Foreign Language Instructor who works at a language school may also be responsible for creating schedules for English as a Foreign Language classes and advising students on study plans. English as a Foreign Language Instructors who are self-employed may find themselves managing their own finances, marketing for their business, and doing their own taxes.

Types of English as a Foreign Language Instructors

English as a Foreign Language Instructors may work with a variety of individuals in various contexts. Some of the settings where English as a Foreign Language Instructors may work include corporations, community colleges, private language schools, and universities. English as a Foreign Language Instructors may also provide private English language instruction to individuals.

Education and Skills

The minimum requirement for an English as a Foreign Language Instructor is a Bachelor’s Degree in English, Linguistics, Education, or a related field. However, most employers prefer to hire English as a Foreign Language Instructors with a Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). English as a Foreign Language Instructors should be fluent in both English and the languages spoken by their students. Additional experience in intercultural communication, language teaching, or language learning may also improve one’s chances of getting a job as an English as a Foreign Language Instructor.

English as a Foreign Language Instructors should be patient, organized, and have strong communication skills. They should also be able to adapt their teaching methods to the needs of their students. English as a Foreign Language Instructors should also be familiar with the latest trends in language teaching and learning.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for English as a Foreign Language Instructors is expected to grow in the coming years. This is due to the increasing number of people who are learning English as a second language. English as a Foreign Language Instructors may also find work in other fields, such as education, business, and government.

Salary

The salary for an English as a Foreign Language Instructor varies depending on their experience, education, and location. The average salary in the United States is typically between $30,000 and $60,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How to Become an English as a Foreign Language Instructor

There are many ways to become an English as a Foreign Language Instructor. Depending on a person’s background, some may choose to self-study, take online courses, or go to graduate school to get the experience and qualifications needed for a career as an English as a Foreign Language Instructor. By taking online courses, learners and students can gain the skills and knowledge they need to help them better prepare for this career through lecture videos, projects, assignments, quizzes, exams, discussions, and interactive labs.

Online courses may help learners develop a better understanding of the theories of second language acquisition, language teaching methods, and curriculum development. Online courses may also help learners become more familiar with the resources, tools, software, equipment, and certifications that are appropriate for improving instruction for students that are learning English as a foreign language.

While it may be possible to transition to an English as a Foreign Language Instructor position via self-study and online learning alone, depending on a person’s background, career history and overall professional goals, additional credentials and hands-on experience may be helpful. However, online courses can be a part of a larger learning plan to improve one’s chances of success for entering this career.