Different ESL Certification Options

For many people, teaching English as a second language is done on a volunteer basis through refugee resettlement organization, literacy programs, or through their local adult education center. Training is offered through their parent organizations throughout the year, and volunteers have access to their teaching resources such as an ESL library as well.

However, other people want more specific training in ESL to be able to do it on a more formal and professional basis. There are several ways to go about doing this. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when deciding which education path is right for each person. One of the most important is whether a person wishes to teach in the United States or overseas.

Another consideration is the target population a person wishes to teach.

If a person wishes to teach overseas, there are plenty of opportunities available to do so at private and public schools and online, especially in the Middle East and in Asia. Requirements to obtain a teaching position at one of these schools vary by institution, but they generally require at least a Bachelor's degree and some sort of certification to teach English as a second or foreign language. Certifications of this sort can be earned online through courses a student can complete at his or her own pace, in a conference-type environment at certification courses held around the country, or even programs at a community college or university that last a summer or are completed over a year.

The longer any such course lasts, the more it is likely to be accepted by a potential employer. Completion of a 40-hour course is not as reputable as completing a 120-hour course. There are several different bodies that claim that their stamps of approval are accepted by more hiring organizations and institutions, but there is no one standards organization verifying the hiring success rate or quality of education of online or conference-style courses. Potential students should do their research of the different programs and see which ones most meet their needs, offer the most pre- and post-course support, and which companies offer the courses offer good teacher placement services. Checking out ESL forums is another good way to get the buzz on what courses are the best.

If a person wishes to teach Stateside, there are usually more stringent requirements to to do so. Usually, a certified general education teacher can get an endorsement from the state he or she is certified to teach in to teach English as a second language to children in the public school system. Generally, only certified teachers can teach children in school districts. Courses are offered to teachers to obtain this endorsement.

Considering the above, it is not necessarily true that a person has to have an ESL endorsement and a teaching license or a Master's degree in teaching English as a second/foreign language to teach English to immigrants and refugees. Again, different organizations or private language schools have their own requirements. Be sure to check each job advertisement closely for qualification requirements or ask someone who knows at the organization with which one desires to work.