How to become An English Teacher

• English Instructor

What do English Teachers do?

An English Teacher would typically need to:

• Ensure that middle and high school students understand English and can speak, read and write it at an age-appropriate level or higher
• Compose and execute lesson plans efficiently using different styles of teaching depending on the content; assign homework and engaging exercises
• Teach students the correct pronunciation of words, their spellings, and meanings
• Instruct students on the structure and content of the English language; emphasize the rules of composition, grammar, and sentence construction
• Teach students to analyze everything they read or hear whether it is literature, poetry, media reports, movies, advertisements, or social media posts
• Have a pleasant disposition which will engage students and enhance the learning process
• Determine exam and assignment grades; provide feedback based on workload and classroom behavior; keep a record of students’ attendance and grades
• Identify students with special requirements, research new language teaching methods, and create individualized plans
• Manage classroom crises and resolve conflict; collaborate with teaching staff and administrators to foster a good student experience
• Meet with parents or guardians to discuss students’ academic progress, remedial issues, and behavior problems when necessary

English Teachers spend most of the working day in their classroom. The dress code for English Teachers depends on the location, sector, size, and type of school. However, by and large, it would be wise to adopt a business formal or business casual attire to project a professional look.

Full-time English Teachers typically work eight- to nine-hour shifts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most public and some private school teachers have summers off and various holidays and winter breaks that generally run for two to three weeks.

English Teachers work in subject-specific classrooms in middle and high school. Large corporations that have non-English speaking employees on their payroll may need teachers on a contractual basis. When finding a new job seems challenging, English Teachers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, and using job search platforms. Going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies should also yield positive results.

 English Teachers are generally employed by:

• Public Middle & High Schools
• Private Middle & High Schools
• Corporations
• Publishing Houses
• Social Media Firms
• Marketing & Advertising Industries

Professional associations and organizations are crucial for English Teachers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Large classes; distracted students; inadequate time to impart proper knowledge; the pressure to put in overtime hours
• The intense workload of a five-lesson day and dealing with classroom noise
• Limited teaching resources; lack of essential teaching tools such as computers and up-to-date textbooks
• Unreasonable demands from leadership and unrealistic expectations of consistency
• The difficult decision of whether to stay in or leave the profession, based on factors such as life experiences

Any academic program that a potential English Teacher undertakes typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship. Most employers prefer candidates with at least two years of experience in teaching English using various teaching methods. Reading as much as possible about the profession, talking with a high school coun­selor, and interviewing veteran English Teachers are meaningful ways to explore your interest in the field.

Bachelor’s degrees in English and teaching are the minimum requisites for becoming an English Teacher. However, in the wake of studies that reveal a strong and positive correlation between a teacher’s subject-specific experience and student achievement, an increasing number of employees prefer candidates with master’s degrees in English Language and Literature.

Ensure that the program you choose to study focuses on essential linguistics, transformational teaching techniques & strategies for all learners, and language acquisition. Individuals who aspire to become English Teachers should begin at an early age reading and studying renowned literary works.

English Teachers need an accredited teaching certification from the state board. Certification demonstrates competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three. Voluntary certification from an objective and reputed organization in literacy reading and English as a new language can help you gain professional credibility, increase your chances for advancement, and carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 percent.

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. The reassurance that members who practice outside the Code will be investigated and held accountable earns the community’s trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing an English Teacher’s future.

English Teachers also need a license to teach granted by an authorized government entity. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfillment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship.

Some of the job titles that an English Teacher could grow into are Principal and Vice-Principal. Numerous jobs are available for English Teachers among employers seeking strong writers who have good verbal communication and research skills. These positions require tactfulness and diplomacy, with the ability to work on cross-functional teams and offer productive feedback to colleagues and executives at various levels. Strong writing, proofreading, and editing skills are also highly valued by employers.

For teachers interested in pursuing advanced degrees, English is ideally suited as a supplement to journalism, archaeology, marketing, public relations, web publishing, and various research-oriented professions, like librarians and website archivists.

Options in line with your skills and line of interest include working as an Editor for a magazine or trade journal, a Website Editor, Content Producer or Developer, an Account Executive for a public relations firm, marketing department, or advertising agency, a Technical Writer for a science, pharmaceutical, technology or engineering company, an Academic Researcher or Writer for a private or public college or university. Many individuals find it lucrative to teach English in foreign countries where English is not the native language.

Candidates who are methodical and patient are often well-suited to teach English.

Professionals with a master’s degree have a greater chance of promotions and an increase in salaries. This concept is particularly true for teachers. English Teachers considering a master’s degree should focus on grade level, curriculum, and educational leadership. They may want to expand their knowledge of early childhood development with a master’s degree that focuses on this area.

Literacy development is a popular and essential subject for students at all levels, from preschool to K-12, to adult education for ESL (English as a Second Language) learners. Special education is a growing area of concern at all levels of education, with new programs developed to address the needs of students with physical, cognitive, and learning disabilities.

An advanced degree in educational leadership will help English Teachers apply for administrative positions in private companies, public agencies, and educational institutions. Continuing education is a useful way to keep a career on track, expand knowledge, remain competitive, and increase real value in the job market.

English Teachers seeking professional development can greatly benefit from learning to leverage computers. For example, word processing and graphics software programs enhance multimedia demonstrations and classroom presentations, facilitating learning by captivating audiences.

Professional associations for English Teachers offer webinars, correspondence courses, one-day seminars, symposiums, and other continuing education platforms. They help teachers advance their knowledge of English literature, teaching skills, and the scope of educational best practices. They offer terrific opportunities to enhance one’s understanding of English language arts concepts while meeting like-minded professionals and improving a resume, LinkedIn page, or other professional social media profile.

English Teachers contemplating advanced studies should consider a program specific to their area of teaching. Primary incentives include expanding knowledge of particular subjects — like composition, playwriting, speech therapy, English as a second language (ESL) — while remaining competitive in the job market.

English Teachers are qualified professionals who teach reading, writing, and speaking skills to middle school or high school students. Their responsibilities can vary based on the academic level and native language of the students.

Hand in Hand

People with a broad knowledge of literature, a passion for reading, a knack for essay writing, and a devotion to education are well-suited for careers as English Teachers. Given that English grammar, sentence structure, and expository writing are rule-oriented, people who are methodical and patient are often well-suited to teach English.

A Crucial Partnership

English Teachers play a vital role in advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) because they help expand interest in these subjects across the nation’s schools. Furthermore, the development of proper verbal and written communication skills are crucial to STEM learning.

All Roads Lead To...

The road to becoming an English Teacher depends on which environment an aspiring teacher decides to pursue: middle school or high school. The higher the grade level, the more concentrated the specialization in English studies and curriculum.

Consider factors such as your current academic qualifications, the desire to teach advanced courses narrowly focused on literature and writing genres, local salary considerations, and availability of employment opportunities before zeroing in on a specific grade level.

Middle School English Teachers instruct students on using the English language correctly through reading, writing, and analyzing literature and informative text. They also help students develop composition and critical analysis skills.

High School English Teachers may teach many different classes. These may include basic English grammar and reading classes with a focus on areas such as American literature, creative writing, and advanced placement courses.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

Your pupils will be foreigners of different nationalities whose mother tongue is not English. In the class, there is more emphasis on dialogue, role-playing, and language games. You must be able to work with people from different cultural backgrounds, using creativity and imagination in your classes.

ESL

Research has shown that in most countries, English is the most taught second language, well ahead of French, German, and Spanish. Teaching abroad will help you gain valuable experiences of foreign cultures, potentially earn more than you could in your country, and have something interesting to put on your CV when you return home.

Creativity 101

Some English Teachers also teach journalism and yearbook courses, drama, public speaking, debate, and various specialized writing classes that focus on magazine, fiction, early romantic, neoclassical, or biographical writing.

Many famous authors like Robert Frost, George Orwell, and Kurt Vonnegut taught English before or even while composing their work.

A career as an English Teacher offers an excellent opportunity to work in a creative field while transferring knowledge to young people

Understand that not everyone shares the love of reading and writing and all things literary. If you understand that; if you meet them where THEY are; if you are flexible with your time and resources; and if the curriculum is not always the stuff the kids NEED to know, you'll be just fine.