teaching ESL

1. Teaching English as a Second
Language (ESL)
Teaching English as a Second Language is a high-demand subject of instruction that
continues to experience growth in schools across the country. As children from foreign
countries continue to immigrate to the United States and enroll in schools here, the
number of students whose native language is not English continues to grow. Thus,
many schools have English Language Learners (ELL) programs, also known as English
as a Second Language (ESL) External link and English for Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL).
As the primary spoken language in a country with a rich history of immigration and
cultural diversity, English and its mastery are an important part of educational
development. ESL is offered for people of all ages, though it is not part of the
standard public school curriculum as it is not essential to all students.
ESL is a supplementary, comprehensive English language program for students trying
to learn the language to better function in American society. Though ESL is
supplementary, ESL teachers may still be employed by the public school system. Many
schools, especially in urban areas, have programs in which students set aside part of
their normal school day to study the English language in a small group with the close
supervision of an ESL teacher. Other ESL teachers may be employed by private
institutes to offer English tutoring to speakers of other languages.
Jumpstart Your Career in ESL Education:
ESL Teacher Salary
ESL teachers can expect to make have a similar salary to most other teachers in their
location, subject and with a similar amount of experience. Generally speaking, the
longer you work as a teacher the more your salary will grow. Learn about specific ESL
teacher salary offerings, updated regularly via the career and jobs community
at Glassdoor.com. Also important to consider is the fact that teachers receive an annual
salary based on nine months of in-classroom work during the school year. Not to say
that teachers are not still hard at work during holidays and the summer break, but they
can certainly pursue other income earning opportunities during those periods as well.
Bilingual Education
Like ESL, Bilingual Education is not a mandated part of the curriculum, yet many
schools offer it to accommodate the influx of culturally diverse children. Most often
found in urban areas, Bilingual Education seeks to help students whose native language

2. is not English keep up with subjects such as Math and Science, which can easily be lost
in translation without assistance. Bilingual Education exists in many forms, including
Transitional Bilingual Education, Two-Way or Dual Language Immersion, and Late-Exit
or Developmental Bilingual Education. In these forms, a student will be assisted with
non-language subjects so that they can maintain the achievement level of native
speakers while learning to speak English. Bilingual classes will often be taught by
bilingual teachers, or will have a translator to assist.
Teaching English Abroad
ESL Teacher Salary
ESL teachers can expect to make have a similar salary to most other teachers in their
location, subject and with a similar amount of experience. Generally speaking, the
longer you work as a teacher the more your salary will grow. Learn about specific ESL
teacher salary offerings, updated regularly via the career and jobs community
at Glassdoor.com. Also important to consider is the fact that teachers receive an annual
salary based on nine months of in-classroom work during the school year. Not to say
that teachers are not still hard at work during holidays and the summer break, but they
can certainly pursue other income earning opportunities during those periods as well.
Bilingual Education
Like ESL, Bilingual Education is not a mandated part of the curriculum, yet many
schools offer it to accommodate the influx of culturally diverse children. Most often
found in urban areas, Bilingual Education seeks to help students whose native language
is not English keep up with subjects such as Math and Science, which can easily be lost
in translation without assistance. Bilingual Education exists in many forms, including
Transitional Bilingual Education, Two-Way or Dual Language Immersion, and Late-Exit
or Developmental Bilingual Education. In these forms, a student will be assisted with
non-language subjects so that they can maintain the achievement level of native
speakers while learning to speak English. Bilingual classes will often be taught by
bilingual teachers, or will have a translator to assist.
Teaching English Abroad
For many new and inexperienced teachers, teaching English abroad is a great way to
gain teaching experience, travel and be immersed in a new culture. The requirements
to teach ESL abroad External link vary by country, but typically require at least a
Bachelor’s degree and an ESL teaching qualification, such as a TEFL
certificate External link .

3. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate prepares educators for
teaching English in countries where English is not the native language and few English
immersion opportunities exist for students. The University of Toronto offers an online
TEFL certification course External link , that is self-paced and can be earned from the
comfort of home. To learn more about teaching English abroad and getting TEFL
certified, visit teflonline - teachaway External link .
Teaching English as
a
Second Language
- What You Need to Know
FILIP KUJUNDZIC | JUNE 20, 2017
English has become the world’s common language. About a quarter of the world’s
population speaks English and it is forecasted that by 2020, two billion people will be
speaking or learning it.
There are different reasons why people are learning English. One of the most significant
reasons is the economic potential it creates. Today, English has created different
advantages for its speakers. It generates opportunities and strengthens employment
chances. A lot of companies use English as a corporate language that is considered as
a core skill requirement for its employees.
Being the universal language of business, it also means that it is the most widely taught
language. Learning English has become a necessity and ESL speakers have grown so
much that it is double the size of the native speakers.
Younger students
A lot of schools worldwide are starting to teach English in schools as early as possible.
This trend is seen in the ESL industry with students getting younger as well. Parents are
seeing the value that having strong English skills offer their children better employment
opportunities in the future.

4. Teaching younger students online can be challenging as well. But there are different
strategies and techniques that online courses offer. With students becoming younger, a
more modern approach can be used to fit their lifestyle and demands.
Teaching and Technology
With our lives revolving around technology, the ESL industry has adapted as well. This
is an effective way to teach today’s English learners. There are different websites that
offer these courses, Engoo/DMM Eikaiwa being one of them. I believe that learning
through online media is the new and effective way that needs to be embraced by ESL
tutors. Our company, Bibo Global Opportunity, believes in the motto: “Make the world
smaller.” Through technology, we are able to make that happen.
With the growing demand for English teachers, the credentials and qualifications have risen as
well. It’s not a guarantee that being a native speaker would translate to being an effective ESL
teacher. But through an effective training program, it is not hard to be one. It is also important
for teachers to develop their teaching skills continuously in order to optimize a positive learning
experience for their students.
How to Teach English as a Second Language
– 10 Valuable Tips from a Student
1. Teaching English as a second language is easier when…
2. Teaching English to foreign students
3. Teaching English to adults
4. How to teach English in a fun way
5. Use fun language learning apps to break the routine
6. How to teach English abroad
7. English as a second language for kids
8. Read and analyze fiction stories together
9. Attend educational shows to get inspired
10. About TESOL, ESL and TEFL Certifications
I was 17 years old when I discoveredI wanted to be a teacher. I honestly
owe this one to my brother who was 5 at that time. His teacher had this
tradition of inviting parents to the classroom on Fridays to read stories. That

5. particular Friday it was my mother’s turn, but she asked me to go instead.
And I was simply overwhelmed. Those little kids were more eager to
discover new things than Spanish conquistadors ever have been to discover
new lands. That was my “Eureka!” moment. But how to teachEnglish as a
second language? Will I ever be capable enough to do that?
If you are having the same dilemma I had back then, the answer is “Yes, you
can be and you will be.” and I’m saying this today: 3 amazing years since I
officially am an English teacher. But we all know that becoming a teacher
isn’t the hardest part. Actually teaching feels like walking on a burning wire
sometimes. In a heavily technologized visual era you yourself have to be a
student in order to teach others. Times change. People change with them.
And my point is that you can’t teachEnglish as a second language (this
being my personal example) in a traditional way in a worldthat shakes hands
with artificial intelligence and has drinks at the bar with the entertainment
industry. You have to find new ways of catching your students’ attention.
And I did. Honestly, it’s not entirely my merit because my tactics are mostly
inspired by my experience as a student. What I did was to make a list of all
the strategies that worked for me and my colleagues. Next, I adapted this list
to today’s trends, applied it in my classroom and conquered two new lands
called “interest” and “attention”. If you want to conquer the same lands in
your classroom, stick around with me. I summed up my strategies in a list
which I like to call “The Decalogue of the Modern Teacher”.
1. Teaching English as a Second Language Is
Easier When You Watch Movies, Cartoons
and TEDx Talks Together with Your Students
I have a lot of friends that learned the basic English vocabulary by watching
English cartoons. You might have some too. And I’m actually pretty sure that
this is not a government secret: people (regardless of their age) learn faster

6. and better when adding something they really enjoy doing do the learning
process.
Although this is a great teaching tactic, don’t let yourself carriedaway. The
first thing you want to do is research. The method won’t work if your
students don’t like the movie or the cartoons that you have chosen. The secret
is to stay anchored in modernity.
Pro tips:
 Adapt the content according to the age. I hope this doesn’t surprise
you, but kindergarten kids won’t care a bean about TEDx Talks.
 Use English subtitles! This is a must. Listening to native English
speakers might be hard in the beginning.
 Discuss and review in English. I know they usually don’t have
opinions, but if they watched somethingthat was of interest to them,
they will want to talk about it. Our desire to express certain opinions
makes us more eager to break language barriers.
2. Teaching English to Foreign Students:
Listen to Music and Analyze Lyrics Together
Teaching English to foreign students becomes a piece of cake when you
use music. I know it’s not math, but I still consider it a universal language.
As I mentioned before, my brother is 12 years younger than me. That means
he hasn’t had a lot of contact with what we call today “old music”. Still, the
only English lesson he mentions from the 4th grade is one that implied
analyzing John Lennon’s “Imagine”.
I know what you think and no, I don’t advise you to choose a Nicki Minaj
song. Put “quality” and “modernity” in a balance before making your choice.
Good luck!

7. 3. Teaching English to Adults: Organize
Debates
Teaching English to adults is tougher than teaching English to kids (if you
ask me). But if Frodo managed to destroy the ring, you can teach adults some
English too.
Just joking. They are a bit stubborn, but there are ways to win them over as
well.A well-chosen debate topic can cultivate their stubbornness into
something useful such as learning a new language.
Pro tip: Adults are bigger children. That means that you can also watch
movies and TEDx Talks and review them together.
4. How to Teach English in a Fun Way: Create
Creation is catharsis. Give your students time and some keywords and you
will be amazed.
 Create stories. In high school, I had quite a big list of words I could
not ever rememberand my English teacher advised me to create a
story using these words. Her technique worked like magic. To this day,
I still create stories with the words that I tend to forget.
 Create poems. Your students might be reluctant to this strategy, but
the creation process will rock their world making them proud of
themselves.
 Or rap battles. This is a bonus. You don’t have to be Nostradamus to
foresee that students will love it!
5. Use Fun Language Learning Apps to Break
the Routine
Language learning apps are our best friends. They are the best assistants that
you can ever have! No kidding.

8. It’s true that technology made us more choosey. In modern times, traditional
bores us. But technology is also the one that electrifies our world and
enhances our experiences. Mondly, for example, is a language learning app
that takes language learning to another level using augmented reality
(AR), virtual reality (VR) and chatbot technologies.
It sounds futuristic. I know. But that’s exactly the reason why your students
will love learning English as a second language using this app. Give it a try
and enjoy the experience together.
6. How to Teach English Abroad: Organize
Intercultural Nights with Traditional Food
Love goes through the stomach. You knew that already. What you didn’t
know is that language learning works the same.
The first sentence that my gourmand friend learned when we went to Turkey
was “I am hungry.” in a perfect Turkish. Is that surprising? I don’t think so.
Food makes us happy. Good food makes us eager to learn more (food) words
in a new language. Why shouldn’t we, as teachers, use this info in our own
best interest? You can organize intercultural nights and discuss a lot of
interesting things about USA and UK’s cultures, but my guess is that
traditional food will still be the star of the night.
7. English as a Second Language for Kids:
Celebrate English Holidays
Kids from all over the worldsimply love Halloween. For them, it makes no
difference that this is an American holiday. And trust me: your students are
no different. As long as they have fun, it doesn’t matter what holiday you are
celebrating.

9. The thing with Halloweenis that they get to be superheroes for a day. You
too. Finally checking “become Batman for a day” off of your bucket list, eh?
How awesome is that?
On a more serious note, I can assure you this is really efficient. One kid in
my class was so excited about this task that he handcrafted magic wands for
all his colleagues and made a reallyconvincing essay on “why Neville
Longbottom is the real hero of Harry Potter”.
8. Read and Analyze Fiction Stories Together
This is another great strategy that I learned from one of my teachers. But as I
mentioned earlier, you have to be 100% sure that you made the right choice.
Harry Potter, as you may have already realized, works like magic in this
situation.
Start with enough to catch their interest and attention. Then encourage them
to come up with alternate endings and new characters. The possibilities are
endless and the learning process will happen without them even realizing.
The only thing that may stand in your way is the teaching methodology.
Adapt that to your students’ best interest and you should be ok.
Bonus tip: Good teachers may be different from a student’s point of view.
Look for inspiration everywhere around you. Even in cinematography! Start
with Damien Chazelle’s masterpiece (Whiplash) and observe how a teacher
should not behave. Seriously. That guy was the king of all awful teachers.
9. Attend Educational Shows to Get Inspired
One of the most inspiring educational shows that you can ever go to is The
Bett Show. Hundreds of companies from all over the world gather at Bett
every year to discuss how education can change the future using the latest
technologies.

10. My guess is that this kind of events can inspire you to be a better teacher for
your young students. Every day, technology becomes a bigger part of their
worlds and we, as teachers, should keep up with the pace. Until super
smartphones or super smart robots will eventually replace us, we are still a
crucial part of the global learning process. Although I find it hard to believe
that scientists will ever be able to create a software so developed that it
replicates the energy, dedication and enthusiasm of a good teacher.
10. TESOL, ESL and TEFL Certifications Will
Help Your Students Later in Their Careers
As any good teacher would, you care about your students. Their great results
and knowledge are the sum of your actions as a great teacher. Furthermore,
depending on their age, your role as a teacher is similar to that of a parent. In
other words, you will always be their teacher. Even when they will become
adults, their life will still be influenced by your actions. No pressure!
That is why you should advise them to get their English certification before
graduating high school. Not only this will be a good exercise, but it will also
help them in their careers.English as a second language in your CV isn’t just
a plus anymore. It has become a must. Cross this one off their lists before life
does it for them. Good luck!