Teach English as a Second Language

Thinking of teaching English as a second language? It's a chance to share valuable knowledge and improve the lives of others. It might be a means to fund your stay while studying overseas, or it might just be a good thing to do, without expecting a monetary reward. It is always a great benefit, whether to immigrants living in your area or to students in programs abroad. There are many great teach English as a second language ESL programs.

Let's consider some of the terms and abbreviations involved:

• TEFL: Teach English Foreign Language. This term describes any situation where English is taught to someone for whom it is not the native language and usually refers to programs in non-English speaking areas.
• TESL: Teach English Second Language or Teach English as Second Language. Same as above, but it usually refers to programs for foreigners in English speaking areas.
• TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Pretty much the same thing as the other two, and used interchangeably.
• To the students, these services are usually called ESL or EFL.

Not everyone is up to teaching English as second language, or first. It requires patience. You probably don't remember it, but it took you several years to become proficient in English. (From birth to age 4, I mean.) English is a language of exceptions to the rule. Studying English from another native language is a process of figuring out how many things there are that can't be explained by any rule at all. It isn't pronounced as it is spelled, and it isn't spelled as it sounds. I'm amazed that anyone learns it, whether as a first language or a second language.

There are many sites offering resources to TESL school teachers at home and overseas (see Iteslj.org, for example), and many describing opportunities to teach abroad (see Eslemployment.com). Still others offer certification programs (see Eurotefl.com). In short, many want to take your money, and few want to give you money for teaching. Such is the lot of a teacher. Still, by searching and digging and asking questions, you can find the school that needs a teacher.

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