Teaching English as a Second Language Resource Center

ESL is what we call it in the U.S. If you are thinking of teaching English overseas, you are actually interested in what is known as teaching EFL (English as a foreign language). With fewer requirements and less oversight, EFL teacher salaries can seem less impressive. But the opportunity to live in a foreign country can make the experience very worthwhile.

Keep in mind, though, that agencies often pay for airline tickets and transportation, and living expenses in many foreign countries are relatively low. If you are interested in eventually teaching ESL in the states—but would like to try it out before completing your education and certification requirements—teaching EFL first is a great option. However, you'll set yourself apart from the competition if you earn an ESL degree before going abroad.

As the United States becomes home to more and more immigrants from all over the world, the demand for English language teachers will continue to grow.

TESOL, or "teaching English to speakers of other languages" is a blanket term that covers the teaching of English as a second language (ESL) and the teaching of English as a foreign language (EFL). People who hold TESOL degrees and certification are trained to teach English to students within English speaking regions as well as in foreign countries.

To learn more about the many TESOL programs available today, see our English as a second language programs article. And, if you are interested in earning a TESOL degree or certification in the comfort of your own home, read our article on ESL online degrees.

Because of the different environments available to those teaching ESL, benefits packages and vacation time will vary. The best packages are available to public school teachers and university professors who enjoy excellent health coverage, pension plans and enviable vacation time.

Private instructors generally enjoy similar benefits without the government-sponsored pension. Tutors and part-time teachers at community centers and community colleges are usually paid hourly and often have to provide their own health coverage. They may have to hustle before a semester begins to make sure they get all the classes they want.

There are many ESL careers for qualified teachers today. Whether you are interested in teaching English as a second language at a public school or heading up the ESL department of your local university, you can find the right information in our ESL jobs article. And since income is always a consideration when deciding on a profession, we've gathered extensive information to help you learn about ESL teacher salaries across the country.

If at any time you get confused by the different acronyms and special terminology used in the field of bilingual education, just click on our "decoding ESL" article to differentiate your TESOLs from your ELLs.

If you are passionate about the English language and want to make a difference in the lives of immigrants and their families as they transition into American society, start earning your teaching English as a second language degree today.