Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Tasks & duties

Teachers of English to speakers of other languages (ESOL) may do some or all of the following: 

• analyse students' language abilities and assess their needs
• prepare course outlines and learning materials
• help provide an appropriate language-learning environment for students
• ensure suitable learning aids and resources are available to students
• prepare and present lessons
• teach grammar and vocabulary
• help students with speaking and pronunciation
• help students develop reading and writing skills
• provide students with strategies to cope with communication breakdowns
• set and mark assignments and assess students to check their fluency and language progress
• teach specialist topics such as science and maths
• teach skills needed for coping in a new community
• assist students with real-life language problems
• give advice about New Zealand events and customs
• organise trips to local attractions
• arrange and monitor home stays for students

Skills & knowledge

ESOL teachers need to have:

• a thorough knowledge of the English language
• teaching skills and knowledge of different teaching methods and learning styles
• skill in planning lessons
• an understanding of language principles
• the ability to teach students to listen to and understand a range of English accents
• an understanding of the cultural backgrounds of their students
• skill in listening to, communicating with and relating to people from different cultures
• the ability to help students with the difficulties they may encounter living in a different culture
• research skills, including how to locate useful books and resources for their students
• classroom-management skills
• organisational and problem-solving skills
• writing and computer skills

ESOL teachers may also need to have knowledge of different subjects, such as economics, mathematics or science, as they may need to work with students in these subject classes or help teachers prepare class material for non-English speaking students.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary according to the type of work done by ESOL teachers.

To become an ESOL teacher in a primary school, secondary school or in tertiary institution, a postgraduate qualification in teaching English as a second language is required. 
 
To teach in private language schools there are no specific entry requirements, but it is recommended that teachers complete a recognised qualification such as:

Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter tertiary training.

Training on the job

Skills are gained on the job, and further part-time study or training may be carried out while employed. ESOL teachers attend conferences and workshops to update their skills and knowledge.

Registration

To teach in a school, ESOL teachers need to be registered or have limited authority to teach from the NZ Teachers Council. Limited authority to teach means that a person may have the skills and experience to teach, but may not have completed the satisfactory teaching experience needed for registration.

ESOL teachers who aren't registered receive a much lower salary.

Useful experience

Teaching, experience speaking other languages, overseas travel and volunteering as a home tutor provide useful experience for ESOL teachers. Working as an unqualified, ESOL teaching assistant in a school is useful experience before completing a teaching qualification.

Related courses

English Language Teaching (ESOL/EFL)

For more information, please refer to Career Services.