6 Benefits of Teaching English as a Second Language

With the rise in globalisation and an influx of immigrants in primarily English-speaking countries, English is rapidly becoming the language of choice for many. It opens a number of new avenues in the field of English language teaching and learning by creating a high demand in the market for language teachers.

There are numerous advantages of teaching English as a second language (ESL) as a career choice. The hiring practices in the ESL market have seen drastic changes in the past few decades, with so many new and creative mediums now available for language learning, including:

• Coaching centres 
• Online classes 
• Language apps

The people who benefit most from these new market trends are, of course, the teachers. They have opportunities that range from teaching from the comfort of their homes to even being able to travel the world for pedagogical purposes. 

If you are doubtful about making a career out of teaching ESL, here are some benefits that will convince you to go for it:

1. Minimum Experience Required 

Suppose you have no prior experience teaching ESL. In that case, there is absolutely no need to be dismayed because most job openings only need you to be well-versed in English to meet their eligibility criteria. However, a teaching degree would surely increase your chances of being hired and help your CV appear more well-rounded. A hassle-free way to acquire a teaching degree can be by enrolling in a TESOL online masters, which can easily be done from the comfort of your home. Once you have a concrete teaching degree, you will be much more confident in pursuing teaching as a career. It is a great way to make a living and keep yourself occupied as you contemplate how you wish to go ahead with your life.

2. Chance to Travel the World 

Many non-English-speaking countries now realise that English is the key to accessing the domains of academia, science and technology, the corporate world, and much more. For this purpose, foreign countries work hard to teach their people to have a strong command of English. Moreover, native English speakers are given a preference in the hiring process for obvious reasons. You might come across multiple job listings for overseas ESL teachers with comprehensive salary packages, and the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world is an added benefit. Teaching English in a foreign country provides you with thoughtful insight, not just about the teaching process but also about the different people, cultures, languages, and values you encounter.

3. Diverse Teaching Experience 

Teaching classes such as English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) can really diversify your portfolio and experience as a teacher. It requires you to teach students who want to only learn English, either as a requirement for their degree or job purposes or to achieve conversational fluency. Teaching academic English to Ph.D. students, business English to corporate professionals, and basic-level English to immigrants can enhance your skills and potential to teach people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities.

4. Option to Work from Home

Various online teaching platforms offer remote jobs since, as mentioned earlier, the market demand for English teachers is very high. The benefits of teaching from home are considerable, such as: 

• An online teaching job does not tie you down to one place but gives you the flexibility to conduct classes while being in any part of the world or even when you are travelling. 
• Working from home is a good way to find out whether you are cut out for teaching or not without having to make any serious career commitments.
• All you would require to secure an online ESL teaching job would be a working laptop, a stable Wi-Fi connection, and a peaceful environment to take classes, and you are good to go.

 5. Open New Doors 

Teaching ESL classes can equip you with valuable experience, especially when it comes to dealing with different types of people and understanding human emotions and psychology. Even if you don’t choose teaching as a career path in the long run, you will easily be able to transfer the knowledge you have gained from it. Namely, emotional intelligence and leadership skills can open many new doors for you. Including teaching on your CV will increase your chances of being hired for professions such as human resource management, mental health counsellor, lawyer, project manager, etc. 

6. Make a Powerful Impact 

Teaching is a very rewarding profession. Language teaching is probably even more satisfying because it gives teachers the opportunity to witness their students’ journeys as they go from not knowing a language to eventually holding entire conversations in it. There are different areas of learning where you can assist your students, such as:

• Language anxiety can prove to be a hurdle in learning a new language, and a lot of students struggle with it. As a teacher, you can help your students overcome this anxiety and instil in them the confidence that is needed to learn a language. 
• Lack of motivation can also slow down the process of learning for students. You, as their teacher, can play an important role in making the entire process fun and engaging for them by introducing new and innovative language activities.

You can make a substantial positive impact in the lives of your students by guiding them gently and patiently in the learning process.

Conclusion

Being an ESL teacher can be a good career path, especially if you are looking for financial independence and a stable source of income. It is not too much of a time-consuming or daunting profession, hence giving you the flexibility to incorporate other tasks into your routine. Teaching has always been a very safe and respectful profession; there are many benefits of teaching, as listed in this article. English is a global language, and it has made a name for itself in all domains of life, including science, technology, social media, education, medicine, etc. The need of the hour is to be proficient in English; this further cements the need for English language teachers and their importance in today’s world.

Photo by Antoni Shkraba