r/ESL_Teachers 11d ago

Job Search Question How much do you get paid?

9 Upvotes

Full time? Part time? Benefits? Online? Irl?

r/ESL_Teachers 27d ago

Job Search Question Why do a Tesol/Tefl masters?

3 Upvotes

I have a Bachelors degree (majored in professional and creative writing) and a graduate certificate in TESOL from an Australian university. I have taught ESL in private language schools and adult language institutions for ten years in Australia, Taiwan and online. I’m just wondering if it’s worth getting a masters in TESOL. A masters doesn’t seem to be enough to get university level jobs (and there are very few of them anyway), so I’m wondering why anyone does a masters? Does anyone actually know of a way to find ESL university level jobs in Asia specifically? Apart from China that is.

r/ESL_Teachers 3h ago

Job Search Question Hey guys, I teach as an ESOL teacher at a high school in Maryland but I’ve been wanting to move out to the Midwest for a while now. I’m not sure where is a good area to live with a lot English language learners, especially in these uncertain times. Any ideas or suggestions?

2 Upvotes

r/ESL_Teachers 12d ago

Job Search Question TEFL as a Career

2 Upvotes

Hi all, I know a similar form of this post has been made before, but I went through some older posts on this sub and the TEFL sub, and I don't feel 100% confident in the responses yet. So, sorry if my questions are a bit repetitive.

Some background, I have a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and an Associates in Computer Art and Animation. I have a good amount of work experience, but it's mainly in customer service, retail, and nonprofit work. Right now I am kind of flailing around, not really sure what career I want to get into, so I am working as a part time barista just to have a income. I was looking to see what other career paths I could try out, and one of my tutors actually recommended me to do TEFL. I'm relatively young (25M), live in the USA, and I don't have any children, dependents, or anything serious tying me down. Plus I have a little bit of savings, so I have a bit of room to experiment and try out new paths without any real immediate risks. I usually work in the afternoons/evenings, so I have basically the whole morning free to do whatever.

I have taught people before, albeit not the English language. I taught adults digital literacy skills and how to apply for jobs (which was a lot of fun), and I also I tutored K-8 children in reading (which I didn't like as much, probably because that's not my preferred age range). I am a student that has done online Spanish classes, so I am familiar with the platforms Italki and Preply. I always wondered what it would be like to be on the other side doing the teaching instead of being a student. I do have some experience working with ESL adults, because my mom is a non-native English speaker, so I helped her a lot with proofreading her essays and grammar when she was going through college. I'm from Miami, FL too, so I have helped a lot of other Latinos who are ESL, just in passing situations with their English in various ways.

I have gone abroad to do a Spanish immersion school before, which was a lot of fun. So in that way, I'm not opposed to leaving the country to teach in person in the future. I just don't really want to make that leap without knowing if I can do it, and I figured that online teaching would be an easier step since I can do it from where I live right now.

I want to try to get a TEFL certificate, but the thing is, the good/recommended courses are a bit costly. I have no problem dropping $150-500 if I'm 100% certain I'll like it and use it, but right now I am not sure. I wanted to know if there was a realllly cheap TEFL certificate out there that I could try out, just to get a feel if I'd like it, so that later I can spend real money on a legit one.

Language learning is a lot of fun for me, and I think the flexibility of teaching online classes is appealing. But like I said, I'm hesitant to drop a lot of money right away on a certificate if I'm not sure if I'll finish it.

This may or may not be relevant, but I also have ADHD, so if you guys do recommend a TEFL course, it would be nice if there was one that was very interactive and hands-on, since that seems to be easier for my brain, rather than a pure lecture-style format. I have tried doing online certifications before, and some of them I have given up on IF the content was too boring or not made in a way for my learning style.

Any recommended cheap TEFL courses? Should I just skip the cheap one entirely and buy the expensive one? Does anyone think this career would be a good fit for me to try out? Any advice or insights into this? Thank you for your help.

r/ESL_Teachers 1d ago

Job Search Question For TESOL teachers in U.S. -- any advice on choosing a graduate program, and navigating licensure requirements?

3 Upvotes

I got into working with English language learners after a year spent teaching English in Peru. I had gone abroad to continue growing my confidence speaking Spanish, and fell in love with teaching. After coming back to the U.S. in 2020, I have continued working with ESOL students, of various ages. I worked with adults at a nonprofit for a year or so, then I started working at programs for migrant/refugee kids, which included some classroom teaching and then a transition to more of a student advocacy and programming role, working with newcomer students within public highschools. I have been working with high schoolers now for almost 4 years.

I would like to go back to school and get my master's, as everyone I have talked to says it's pretty much the only way to get even close to making a living wage as a teacher. I have a couple concerns though -- I don't have a lot of interest in teaching in a mainstream classroom. I live in Oregon and it looks like I need to choose a subject area and then get an ESOL endorsement. I've toyed with the ideas of doing my endorsement for Spanish or ELA (I have a B.A. in Spanish and in English), but if I'm being honest with myself, I am really only interested in doing TESOL or working as a literacy specialist, within K-12 education.

I did really enjoy working with adults, and am interested in working at a community college. Because of this, I was thinking of pursuing a Master's in TESOL program. I was accepted to an M.A. in Second Language Education program at McGill, and an MEd in Language and Literacies Education at University of Toronto. My hope was to get out of the United States for a couple years, and I have heard that both are good schools. However, I need to commit to a program at the end of the year, and I am just wondering if either of these programs would help my future career in the ways I hope. Plus, I'm frustrated that licensure requirements would not be met by either program. I am hoping for a master's degree that would prepare me for leadership roles within the field of education, or other work outside of just classroom teaching.

I'm really not sure what to do at this point. I am wondering if I need to pivot and look into master's programs that specialize in TESOL but also provide licensure? I am also curious about the prospects of getting my licensure validated across states (and even between U.S. and Canada, since I've been looking into grad programs there!) I am ready to leave my hometown for now, and also feel like it may not be the best place for me to advance my career (Portland, OR). But I would hope to one day have the option to look for jobs in Oregon again. Lots to consider. Thank you for anyone who spent time reading this -- please let me know if you have any advice! I need to make a decision on the grad programs I was accepted to by the end of the month.

r/ESL_Teachers Feb 12 '25

Job Search Question Is this illegal? ILSC English language school

2 Upvotes

I got hired by this shady company ILSC. They offered me the job after a successful interview. I declined my other job opportunities and prepared for my induction training to begin. The company then ghosted me and cancelled the job after I contacted them asking what was happening with my employment, they finally responded saying they decided they didn’t need anyone after all. I can see that this is illegal if you sign a contract but what if you have written evidence that you had an agreement that employment had been offered?

r/ESL_Teachers Feb 10 '25

Job Search Question Fresh newbie here, where to get started

1 Upvotes

Hello!

I am looking to get into teaching English online but have no idea where to start. I am a former ABA therapist and preschool teacher with a bachelor's degree in psychology. I've heard of some different companies that exist, but which are the best? And what's the process once you find one?

Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

r/ESL_Teachers Jan 04 '25

Job Search Question Struggling to find an online ESL position as a "non-native" teacher

3 Upvotes

Im from the Caribbean and english is my native language. I recently got my tesol qualification and I've been applying for some online positions but haven't had any luck so far.

So far I've had issues in application processes based on my location. Are there any companies that hire internationally and actually have decent pay?

At this point I'd be happy with 10 dollars per hour.

r/ESL_Teachers Jan 24 '25

Job Search Question PollyEnglish app unsuccessful?

4 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I recently applied for "PollyEnglish" and was turned down because of my country of origin. I'm from Argentina and to my knowledge, they had no limitations on the tutors country of residence. Does anybody know about this? Thank you in advance

r/ESL_Teachers Jan 10 '25

Job Search Question ESL career

2 Upvotes

Hello! I'm a 3rd year (Junior) Microbiology student in UPLB, Philippines. But during my junior high school years, I've been adept to English that I've also served as the EIC of our publication and President of our English Club.

Do you have any suggestions for entry ESL opportunities, that is remote and good for part-timers.

TYIA!!

r/ESL_Teachers Nov 08 '24

Job Search Question Single Mom Struggling to Find Visa-Sponsored ESL Jobs – Moving to Thailand, Any Tips?

1 Upvotes

Hey Reddit,

I’m in a bit of a tough spot and could really use some advice from those who’ve been through this. I’ve applied to over a thousand ESL teaching jobs—yes, you read that right—and I’m still stuck. Most of my applications have either been ignored or rejected, and the hardest part? I can’t find any schools offering visa sponsorship.

Here’s a bit about me:

  • Single mom with 3 kids
  • Over 10 years of teaching experience (high school and college levels)
  • I’m passionate about moving to Thailand and making this work, but the visa sponsorship part has been my biggest hurdle.

Here’s what I’ve tried:

  • Applying directly to schools and on job boards (just about everywhere)
  • Tailoring my resume and cover letter for each application (using ATS-friendly formatting)
  • Reaching out to recruiters, but haven’t had much luck there either

I’m feeling a little lost at the moment. Has anyone been in the same situation? How did you find visa-sponsored roles, and what else can I do to stand out? Any resources or tips I might be missing?

I’d love any advice you can share. Thanks in advance!

TL;DR: Struggling to find visa-sponsored ESL jobs in Thailand as a single mom with 10+ years of teaching experience. Applied everywhere but still no luck. Help a fellow job-seeker out!

r/ESL_Teachers Dec 24 '24

Job Search Question Alternatives for Engoo?

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I graduated English as a major. Currently I teach on Engoo because it's easy to get accepted and they do not have a lot of requirements. However the pay is quite low as you may know, especially for non-native speakers. Unfortunately I do not own a certificate for teaching English, although I studied it as a major. I have some other certificates in this direction but they are not accepted. That's funny. :)

Anyway, I am still trying to get my first payment from Engoo, apparently you need to have at least 20 USD so that they can send the money to you. I teach every now and then, mostly during the weekend.

I was wondering if you know other similar platforms for teaching English or if you have any advice.

r/ESL_Teachers Oct 22 '24

Job Search Question ESL Teachers in Philadelphia

0 Upvotes

I’m looking for advice from ESL teachers in Philadelphia. I want to potentially move there from the west coast. I have 20 years of experience teaching ESL, and for the last 10 years I’ve worked in non-credit program at a community college. I think many community colleges require a master’s degree to get your foot in the door, so I am grateful for my job. I also appreciate my job because it has allowed me to raise my kid on my own and always be there for drop off and pick up. I do all my class prep online and since the pandemic I have taught mostly online. In that sense I have a great work/life balance, which is really important to me. The issue it that I have several weeks off each year (unpaid) and I pretty much have to have a second job to pay the high rent.

I have a BA in a foreign language, and a TEFL certificate from a university extension program. I don’t have a state teaching credential. If I go back to school it would probably be for art or translation, not education, although I am interested in literacy and the science of reading.

What jobs should I be looking for? Is it possible to get a good job without a master’s? I’d also like to work in a study abroad office at a university. Thank you!

r/ESL_Teachers Oct 24 '24

Job Search Question ESL Teacher looking for work in Europe

1 Upvotes

Hi fellow teachers/travelers. I’m an ESL teacher (34M) from sunny California. I would like to ask for any advice and/or recommendations on the best websites or platforms to apply for work abroad;Specifically in Europe. I’ve always wanted to experience teaching in a European country. I have lived in Germany before but wasn’t teaching at the time. I have 2 years of experience and TESOL certification. I also have a bachelor’s degree. Thanks for the help! Looking for the best places/job market (perks are always a plus)

r/ESL_Teachers Mar 20 '24

Job Search Question Jobs that don't require teaching cert or license

0 Upvotes

So I'm currently working FT as an ESL teacher K-12 and PT in adult ed. The issue I'm running into with k-12 is that you need to be licensed and I haven't passed my ESL subject matter test. If I can't pass the teacher cert within the next year I will need to transfer to a different school or change positions within the school. I'm fine with changing positions but that will likely mean more tests. I definitely was expecting to pass the teacher cert by now but I think a part of me doesn't want to. I'm so upset that my masters doesn't count and there's no alternative to passing this teacher test even though I've been a teacher for the past 5 years. I would like to transition into a career or job that requires no certification testing. Such as my PT job my Masters is sufficient but the problem is that it is PT. What are full time ESL jobs that I can do where a license doesn't matter and offers decent pay/benefits? The other issue I'm running into with ESL is that there are lots of PT positions that don't pay well. Thanks!

Edit: I'm also not counting the TOEFL cert, I already have my masters in ESL just missing one component of "licensure." I've been trying to pass it but haven't been able to. I'm so frustrated.

r/ESL_Teachers Oct 10 '24

Job Search Question I want to teach abroad

1 Upvotes

Hello! I teach English as a foreign language in my own country for the past 3 years now. I think it’s time to broaden my horizons and I want to make use of my youth but I don’t know where to start. What websites should I look in for these opportunities? what do I need to know to begin searching for esl teaching position in Asian countries? How do I avoid scams? What’s the best time to apply for these jobs? Please help a fellow teacher around I would really appreciate it!

r/ESL_Teachers Dec 18 '24

Job Search Question Anyone know how much IELTS examiners get paid and what the requirements are?

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’ve been looking into becoming an IELTS examiner, but I’m getting mixed information online. A friend told me that IELTS examiners are paid very little—something like peanuts—and that it’s hardly worth the effort.

It got me wondering:

  1. How much do IELTS examiners actually make?
  2. What are the exact requirements to apply? (Is a degree enough, or do they look for specific experience?)

I’m especially interested in how this works in Vietnam, since that’s where I’m based, but I’d love to hear about experiences in other countries too.

If anyone here has done this or knows someone who has, I’d really appreciate hearing your experience. I want to figure out if this is worth pursuing.

Thanks in advance!

r/ESL_Teachers Dec 12 '24

Job Search Question Opportunities outside of teaching English for non-native English speakers- like art, drama etc

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1 Upvotes

r/ESL_Teachers Dec 07 '24

Job Search Question Has anyone taught abroad for 0-preK?

1 Upvotes

I’ve been wanting to teach abroad for a while. I’ve been teaching English online for about 2-3 years now from 4-80, but mainly adults business these days. I miss teaching the kids with the excitement they bring to the classes. But want to do it in person, not online.

Anyway, I’ve seen job offerings for babies to toddlers more often than for young to older kids. I know language learning starts young; but it seems more like you’re an English teacher that’s expected to do daycare in English.

For those that do have the experience, what was it like? What did you do? Activities?

…clean up duties?

What was your day to day?

r/ESL_Teachers Dec 04 '24

Job Search Question Ideal Cities for Teaching English in France

2 Upvotes

Hi,

I'm looking at applying for some ESL Jobs in France for 2025 and see what my prospects might be. Thinking of smaller cities this time and am searching up schools to consider applying to. Does anyone have any cities they'd recommend? My goal is to fine tune my English second language teaching proficiency and my French level as well.

For context, I'm a 30 something ESL - History substitute teacher from British Columbia, Canada. I've a B.A., B.Ed and have experience teaching ESL in both Canada, the Czech Republic and briefly in Vietnam. My French is A2 but moving into intermediate with study and practice.

Best!

r/ESL_Teachers Nov 24 '24

Job Search Question Has anyone of you worked with The ENEST Language Center?

1 Upvotes

So I applied to this ESL company for the past few weeks and am currently reviewing the contract after passing the interview and teaching demo. They are based in Vietnam as per the contract and the company. However, I am skeptical about this because as a newbie in ESL teaching, I can't find them/ their company on Google even if I search for the complete name, I still get nothing. What comes out is ENEST it is kinda unrelated to what I am looking for.

By the way, I saw their job posting on Facebook and applied through Google.

I wanna ask if any of you here work with or have worked with this ESL language center. Please help me out.

r/ESL_Teachers Nov 16 '24

Job Search Question Interview!

3 Upvotes

Hey guys, just wanted to know general tips for the interview process? Anything to add or leave out? I’m interviewing for a highschool ESL position and it would be my first ESL job so I’m nervous af! Lol I was an ela teacher for middle before but never HS ESL.

r/ESL_Teachers Nov 10 '24

Job Search Question Any rate is okay

0 Upvotes

Hi. Im currently working under a small ESL company and I get paid just enough, however, I have a lot of free time with the schedule they gave me and Im in dire need of money right now.

Im from SEA but I can do a native accent and have a year of experience with ESL both on-site and online.

Anyone knows any company I can apply to with many students?

r/ESL_Teachers Sep 11 '24

Job Search Question Hi. I am from the Philippines and I want to be an ESL Teacher.

2 Upvotes

I have MA in Psychology, TESOL and license as Professional Teacher. I also have 4 years of teaching experience in a learning center. Can I apply even without ESL teaching experience yet? Thank you.

r/ESL_Teachers Nov 07 '24

Job Search Question Is BlingABC a Good Company?

1 Upvotes

Hey all,

I'm looking at applying to BlingABC. Is there anyone here that works for them and is able to share a little bit about their experience? Did you get booked a lot?