ESL Education Requirements
For those wishing to teach children in the ESL arena, most states require teachers in public schools to have their teaching license for that state and an ESL endorsement. This ESL endorsement can often be obtained through state colleges and universities through a special ESL endorsement program or a master's degree. Some states also require teachers of adults to have a license. It's also helpful for adult ESL teachers to have technology skills as many adult language training programs involve the use of computer programs and also knowledge of citizenship and naturalization can be helpful when students have questions regarding these topics.
Job Outlook for ESL Education
The ESL education field is expected to have a very bright employment outlook. The United States Department of Labor Statistics is expecting the ESL education field to see an increase in job growth of nearly 15 percent through 2018. This growth will be spurred by more immigrants coming into the United States and needing help with learning the English language. The best job prospects will be in states with high immigrant populations including Texas, Florida, California, and New York.
Pay Scale for ESL Educators
ESL teachers can make excellent hourly wages. Most part-time instructors are paid per class and receive no additional compensation or benefits. In 2008, the Occupational Outlook Handbook found that the middle 50 percent of ESL Educators had average hourly wages from $16.65 per hour to $29.78 per hour. The highest 10 percent of ESL instructors received hourly wages of $38.95 on average. Full-time ESL instructors often received health insurance and other benefits and were employed by the federal and states governments.
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