According to a 2010 study conducted by UC San Diego, teaching English as a second language was rated as one of the top ten most innovative job sectors for the next ten years.
Career: Teaching English as a Second Language
National Average Salary Range: $30,000-$69,238
Basic Qualifications:
- TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certification; or similar TESL and TEFL certifications
- Bachelor’s in English or a foreign language is helpful
- Foreign language fluency a plus
A UC San Diego study published earlier this year in Closing America’s Job Gap rated “teaching English as a second language” as the sixth sector for upcoming years. Similarly, “English translation and foreign languages”was rated fourth on the list.
The growth in jobs in these sectors is cited as being the result of an increasing demand for English speakers worldwide and the expected growth of Spanish speakers within the United States, from 33 to 100 million over the next forty years. These statistics are especially pertinent in San Diego, where 32 percent of the population is Latino or Hispanic and 33 percent speak a language other than English at home (2000 San Diego County census).
While Spanish is the most common primary language of ESL students in San Diego, classes are offered for nearly every language including Japanese, German, and Mandarin.
A teacher of English can find employment either within the vast market in San Diego or abroad in one of many programs that need fluent English speakers to teach in a foreign country.
There is an especially high demand for ESL teachers for programs located in Japan, Korea, and many parts of Central and South America. By 2015 half of the world is expected to be English speaking.
While a career of its own, teaching English as a second language is a great way to enter into and gain experience in the teaching field and potentially experience the world firsthand.
Where to Begin?
The main step towards becoming an ESL teacher is to earn either a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), or TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) certification.
Classes in certification training are available through private companies such as BritgeTEFL and through academic institutions including San Diego State and the UCSD extension.
Many of the teaching English abroad programs in San Diego also include their own TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification training and most don’t require a second language fluency to begin.
For those who enjoy teaching others and have a passion for learning about a second language and culture, teaching English as a second language may be the ideal rewarding career.
Visit Californiaadultschools.org for a complete list of adult ESL schools within San Diego County.
A free information session on teaching abroad by Oxford Seminars will be hosted by the University of San Diego at 7pm on June 7, 2011.
Visit Californiaadultschools.org for a list of some adult ESL schools within San Diego County.
Connect English Language Institute is an ESL school located within San Diego county that offers TOEFL certification training and, “is always looking for qualified and passionate teachers,” according to the institutes owner, Nick Sacco. See the “Comments” section below for more information.
C.B. James Writing 