TESOL Middle School
Middle school / junior high school English language teachers facilitate the academic and social study of the English language by building upon the fundamentals students have learned in elementary 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 high school English language courses. Middle 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. The schooling structure of some nations does not include middle school, instead jumping directly from elementary to secondary education. If the schooling structure does include middle school, some similarities may exist; middle school English language teachers typically educate students from ages 12 to 15, give or take a year.
Teaching ESL in the United States
In the United States, the teaching of English as a second language to middle 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.
Middle 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 PayScale, the median salary of a middle school ESL teacher is $48,049.
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, middle 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). Besides teaching their own classes, TESOL teachers may also be required to conduct workshops. TESOL teachers usually work 13 to 24 hours a week, either during normal class hours or after school. They instruct at either a public or private school, or are part of a government initiative or commercial education company. Ten-month to one-year employment contracts with renewal options are common.
The requirements to become a TESOL teacher at a middle school level also vary by nation and program. The degrees demanded differ, with more stringent programs asking for a bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics, TESOL or educational linguistics, and more liberal ones accepting any four-year degree from an accredited university (even in these cases, a premium is often put on education or English majors). 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 most organizations asking for at least one year of general teaching experience. Competence in the host country’s native language is often not required, though it is sometimes stipulated that the candidate must already reside in the host nation. Some programs require that the candidate be a native English speaker and even a passport holder of an anglophone nation, if not specifically American. Gender and a range of age (typically 20 to 60 years old) may also be specified.
The salary and benefits of a TESOL teacher at a middle 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) and may take the form of either a hourly wage or salary. Benefits may include yearly paid holiday, free furnished housing (dormitory, hotel or private lodgings) or adequate housing allowance, allowance for utilities (if not free), travel 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 and material compensation, teaching abroad also offers instructors an opportunity to travel and experience different cultures.
