TESOL High School
High school / secondary school English language teachers facilitate the academic and social study of the English language by building upon the fundamentals students have learned in elementary and middle school, or by creating a foundation from scratch. Either way, these English teachers must build a sturdy base that students can further expand upon in college English language courses or utilize in their professional or personal lives. High school English language teachers must use narrative vignettes, dialogues, tests and other materials to create a comprehensive learning experience. Educational computer programs or interactive websites may also be used as tools to aid students in the language learning process.
A big factor which influences the experience of teaching English as a second language is whether the teacher chooses to instruct within the United States or in a non-English speaking country abroad. Still, some similarities may persist; high school English language teachers typically educate students from ages 14 to 18, give or take a year.
Teaching ESL in the United States
In the United States, the teaching of English as a second language to high school children falls under the ESL program. ESL is not part of the normal public school curriculum, rather a supplementary, comprehensive English course for students trying to attain a grasp of the language to better function in American society.
High school ESL teachers are always employed by the either the public school system or a private school. Teachers of ESL must be certified to teach English to speakers of other languages and have completed a bachelor’s degree. In addition, linguistic master’s degrees, such as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), are gaining popularity as a way to specialize and become certified to teach English. According to PayScal, the median annual salary of high school ESL teachers is $47,491.
TESOL in Non-English Speaking Countries
Teaching English as a second language outside of the United States is known as either TESOL, TEFL or TESL, with TESOL often used as an umbrella term for all three. The specific responsibilities of TESOL teachers differ from nation to nation, program to program. Teachers are sometimes given the freedom to create their own curriculum, implementing their own teaching methods or borrowing ideas from teachers’ workshops held at the start of each semester. Classes may be specialized in spoken English and conversation particularly. Instead of leading courses on the English language in general, high school TESOL teachers may teach particular subjects, like math or science, in English (in such cases, a degree in the specific subject may be required or preferred). TESOL teachers usually work 16 to 30 hours a week, either during normal class hours or after school. Opportunities to earn extra income by teaching additional classes may also be available. TESOL teachers instruct at either a public or private school, or are part of a government initiative or commercial education company. Six-month to one-year employment contracts with renewal options are common.
The requirements to become a TESOL teacher at a high school level also vary by nation and program. The degrees demanded differ, with more liberal programs accepting any four-year degree from an accredited university. Certification in either TESOL, TEFL or CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is preferred, if not a must. Necessary experience also differs, with some organizations asking for general teaching experience. Competence in the host country’s native language is often not required. Some programs demand that the candidate be a native English speaker and even a passport holder of an anglophone nation, such as the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. Gender and a range of age (typically 20 to 60) may also be specified.
The salary and benefits of a TESOL teacher at a high school level abroad also vary according to nation, program and candidate’s experience. Compensation is paid in the national currency, varies according to status of employment (full-time / part-time), may be negotiable and take the form of either a hourly wage or salary. Benefits may include free furnished housing (dormitory, hotel or private lodgings) or adequate housing allowance, free or partially-reimbursed round-trip airfare to and from the host nation, full or partial medical insurance coverage, and bonuses. Schools may also aid candidates in the process of obtaining a work visa. Besides monetary or material compensation, teaching abroad also offers instructors an opportunity to travel and experience different cultures, with some programs even offering teachers free courses in the native arts and language.
