If low pay, unrealistic workloads, and disrespect from students, parents, and school administrators make you want to quit teaching, you’re not alone. Half of the teachers polled in a recent PDK International survey expressed the same feelings over issues like these—and that was before the onset of COVID-19.
Rather than jumping the teaching ship entirely, you might consider applying your skills in settings other than public education . . . like teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) online.
At Greenville University, you can secure TESL certification in as little as one summer and transition out of a brick-and-mortar setting without abandoning your first love.
Booming need
English language companies hire teachers to serve a wide range of learners, including adults who are eager to expand their language skills for personal and professional advancement. Best Value Schools calls the overall job outlook for ESL teachers good, with online instructors particularly enjoying access to broad markets for their services.
Manageable workload, ambitious learners
What can you expect working for an English language provider or as an independent contractor teaching ESL online? Generally higher pay, manageable workloads, and willing learners who value what you offer. As an ESL online instructor:
- You control when and where you work. This allows you to teach even when traveling if your interests lean in that direction.
- You create your own schedule. This can mean teaching evening classes when your kids are in bed or morning-only classes that free up the rest of your day.
- You save money by cutting costs like daily transportation and a professional wardrobe.
- You typically work with provided content. You don’t have to create lessons, but you have the freedom to tailor course materials to suit your style and students.
- You meet and engage diverse learners, including those with interesting personal stories and visions of success where learning English is key.
A growing industry
Businesswire.com predicts the global online learning industry will reach $350 billion by 2025. Continued economic incentive worldwide to learn the English language and more persons globally accessing the internet makes online delivery of lessons particularly attractive.
Teaching ESL online is already considered competitive; it will only become more so in years to come.
The TESL endorsement advantage
While having a bachelor’s coupled with teaching experience qualifies you for many jobs, adding specialist credentials gives you a competitive edge.
It helps to know that Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) refers to a broad field of English-language instruction that includes two areas of expertise:
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) – programs that accommodate learners in countries where English is not the primary language.
- Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) – programs that accommodate learners (1) in English-speaking countries for whom English is not their first language, and (2) in countries where many of its citizens use English daily.
Adding a TESL endorsement to your teaching credentials prepares you to teach English to students in countries like the U.S., Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, the Philippines, and Hong Kong—all from the comfort of your home.
Research tells us that online learning has gained popularity during the pandemic. Headlines tell us that online learning is here to stay. There may be no better time for you to explore your online teaching options, add TESL endorsement to your credentials, and tap the growing market for English language instruction.
Morris Sampler 