English-language teacher training programs give you the skills to work
with multicultural groups in a hands-on setting.
Colleges and universities offer a variety of certificates and degrees
in teaching English as a second language (TESL).
"To get a good job with a living wage, it is generally necessary to
have a master's degree," says Kathryn Bartholomew. She is a professor
at Seattle Pacific University, which offers a master of arts in teaching English
to speakers of other languages (MA-TESOL).
Bartholomew's program focuses on theory (linguistics, language acquisition,
communication) and practice (how to teach particular skills) as well. It takes
about a year and a half.
Martyn Williams teaches at a college that offers a certificate in English-language
teaching to adults (CELTA). He says applicants must have a bachelor's degree,
although it can be in any discipline. They must also complete the Graduate
Record Exam (GRE) and present two letters of recommendation.
Expect programs to be partly theoretical and partly practical.
"Students actually start teaching on the first day of the course," says
Williams. "In the morning, the students are in class. In the afternoon,
they teach. The kinds of subjects we cover in the morning are basic methodology,
such as how to manage the classroom, how to adjust your language to the level
of the students, how to explain how to do an activity.
"We also teach various skills. For example, students learn about teaching
reading or listening or speaking or writing. We touch on some theory of
language learning and we look at various approaches to teaching language so
that students can choose an approach that suits them."
Evaluate a program carefully if you're planning to work abroad.
"It should have recognition and credibility," says Williams. CELTA programs,
for example, are available worldwide and take their accreditation from an
examining board at the University of Cambridge in the U.K.
Williams says high school students should focus on English, paying
attention to classes on grammar. It would be a natural fit to pursue teacher
training at the undergraduate level by taking an education degree.
In addition, Bartholomew suggests high school students study other languages.
Learning a language helps a person understand how to teach one.
Seek volunteer work with immigrants and newcomers who are learning English.
Williams points out that involvement in multicultural activities or clubs
would be helpful as well.
Apart from tuition, TESL courses do not have many extra expenses.
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Teachers
-- Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle and Secondary
For more information related to this field of study, see: Teachers
-- Adult Literacy and Remedial and Self-Enrichment Education
The International Educator
Find out how to work at American schools abroad
Teaching Jobs Overseas
International employment for teachers