Here’s a BIG question for you… and with so many answers too! Why should you become an ESL teacher?
Are you passionate about working with other cultures, making a difference in people’s lives, and receiving a generous salary? Then becoming an ESL teacher could be the perfect career path for you! Becoming an ESL teacher can unlock your incredible potential to make a positive difference while living and working in other countries. It is the perfect job for those who are willing to commit to learning a new language, experiencing different cultures, and exploring new travel opportunities. In this article, we will explore why ESL teaching could be an ideal career for you. We will discuss what it takes to become an ESL teacher, what the job entails, how you can be successful, and the rewards that come with this career. So, if you’re looking to explore new cultures and make a meaningful impact on other people’s lives, read on to find out why becoming an ESL teacher could be the ideal job for you!
After my ten years of teaching ESL in the classroom and tutoring privately in houses and schools I can tell you a few reasons why, but first can you answer me this... Are you interested in becoming an English Second Language teacher? Do you want to travel and work at the same time? Do you like meeting new people? Do you have a fun and positive attitude? If you answered yes to any of the above then maybe a career in ESL teaching is for you but why should you do it? Let’s have a look.
Travelling Opportunities
Once you are qualified, (and that’s not so difficult to achieve) you have the ability to work all over the globe, in any country you like. As English is the number one most spoken language in the world, it doesn’t matter where you go, people will want to speak with you. I’ve had it so many times, where I want to practise my language skills and speak Spanish for example, and the native Spanish person will listen to me and reply back with “ Oh, you’re English. Can I practise my English with you?” or they listen to me and just reply in English instantly, which is nice, but come one, I want to practise my Spanish too! Anyway, my point is everyone in the world wants to learn English and so there will be many job opportunities to choose from meaning you can pick where you want to explore and take a job there. You literally get paid to travel the world and have a big adventure!
Cultural Experience
When you live and work in a different country, after some time you will be taken in or adopted by locals who will share their way of life with you. This is an experience you don’t often get as a tourist just visiting somewhere. You will learn local traditions and become involved through your school and/or students and their families. You will try local cooking and famous dishes of that country- I love it when my students come in with little Tupperware boxes full of food to try and trust me, home cooking is so much better than the expensive tourist traps you will find. Also because you are living in a new town or city and you have time, you will walk the back ways and stumble upon the best local shops, cafes and bars. For me this is a much better way to travel and explore the world. Definitely a HUGE plus side of teaching English abroad.
Languages
The best Spanish I have ever learnt is from my students and believe it or not, I have learnt the most from my baby and toddler groups! As you are speaking in English your students will make comparisons, or also teach you expressions or how to say it in their language and whilst this isn’t why you took the job you will pick so much up and it’s a much more efficient, funner and cheaper than going to official language class! What I especially like is that you will have the opportunity to learn ‘street talk’ or how locals actually speak. This is much more useful in real life than using textbooks. Also your overall comprehension and listening skills will massively improve too! Another great reason to take an ESL job abroad.
Personal Growth
Professional growth in the field of ESL teaching is attainable with the right attitude and guidance. Teachers must be willing to challenge themselves, seek out mentors and professional resources, and build a strong foundation of knowledge and experience. With the right trajectory, teachers can open the door to higher-paying positions, leadership roles, or specialised teaching opportunities.
Flexibility
Flexibility is one of the most attractive aspects of ESL teaching, with a variety of work options available to suit lifestyles and goals. Whether you want to work full-time, part-time, freelance, online, or even run your own language teaching business – the options are seemingly limitless.
The ability to customize your work schedule can provide immense benefits to ESL teachers. For instance, someone who wants to continue full-time employment but supplement it with an additional part-time job can achieve this by teaching ESL classes in the evenings or on weekends. Or if you're someone who’s looking for a more independent job, teaching online or working as a freelance ESL teacher can offer the flexibility and freedom of setting your own hours and rates.
The flexibility of ESL teaching can be highly beneficial to teachers, and this is something that prospective teachers should be aware of. Whether you want the security of a full-time job, the freedom of freelancing, or the independence of running your own business, ESL teaching offers a wealth of options that can suit different lifestyles and goals. With the right attitude and dedication, you can make the most of this flexible teaching profession and create a career that works for you.
Relationships
Whether it's fellow teachers you meet along the way, who are in the same boat as you being away from home, or from students and their families who take you in as one of their own. Trust me, even if you go to a new job or leave to go back home, these relationships will stick and you will have friends all over the globe. It’s a great feeling knowing you can land in any country and already have someone to visit and stay with. Nowadays, it’s so easy to stay in touch with Facebook, email or Zoom calls that you don’t have to live in the same place in order to stay friends. Being online makes it easy to keep in contact. In fact you may even choose to keep teaching through an online stream. I’ve done that too! (and you can read about it)
Okay, so there may be some downsides to becoming an ESL teacher too, but for me the benefits of doing this job far outweigh the negatives. I have spent 10 years of my life doing it and it’s a job I absolutely love! (I’m sure you can tell from my photos and stories) And I plan on doing it for a very long time to come too!
The incredible opportunities that ESL teaching provides should be explored and harnessed. You’re not only giving a valuable service to the world but also expanding your global network, gaining valuable experience, and developing life-long skills. By opening yourself up to this kind of teaching, you can unlock unique paths to international opportunities and personal growth. As the great Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” Take the first step towards unlocking your potential and become an ESL teacher today.
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