TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a specialized course that helps students become proficient in teaching the English language. As the world experiences a huge surge in demand for English language teachers, Kathleen Chester notes that ESL (English as Second Language) and TESOL courses are becoming quite popular with residents of places like the UK and the US. After all, at the end of the course, there is a good job waiting for teachers, the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world and also the comfort of decent pay.
Here is how you can become a certified TESOL teacher.
The first step is to obtain a TESOL certification. The purpose of this certification is to give prospective teachers a broad idea of innovative and recent pedagogical techniques. Also, teachers are given specialized training on the various requirements of students who learn English as a foreign language. Fortunately, TESOL classes may be taken along with other undergraduate courses of study.
In addition to the above, prospective teachers must also possess a high school diploma. Once the TESOL certification is complete, teachers must gain actual teaching experience. Certain courses have provisions for this as they offer set number of teaching hours for students. Once this requirement is met, students are eligible for TESOL certification.
After completing an undergraduate’s degree in TESOL instruction, the prospective teacher could complete an advanced degree in TESOL or EFL or they could appear for the state licensure exam. Upon successful completion of this exam, they are eligible for teaching.
Teachers who want to teach English in a University or a community college must obtain a Master’s Degree. While undergraduate courses focus on study plans, graduate courses focus on the theoretical aspects of teaching English as a foreign language. In any case, an advanced degree opens more windows of opportunity for teachers.
While the above is theoretically sufficient to become a teacher of English, the same may be insufficient in the real world. Often, depending on where you intend to work as a teacher, it might be necessary to obtain some home language proficiency. For example, if the teacher intends to teach in China, he or she may be required to learn Mandarin with a certain degree of proficiency. Also, teachers have to explore the requirements of the destination country in order to obtain any additional certification that may be required before they can work in that country. It may be easier to get work in some parts of the world when compared to some others. It all depends on the political stability of the country and the demand for teachers.
These days, it is possible to get TESOL certification online. Often, students who need extra certification in order to become a teacher in another country can benefit from online classes. If students are disciplined and focused, online certification is definitely a blessing.
About the Author
Kathleen Chester is a part of Totalesl.com. This site is maintained by competent educationalists and educational administrators.
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