Any ESL/EFL teachers here?

[John Q. Citizen]

[LynzM]

1. I'm not, but I've thought about becoming one

I'd love to hear people's experiences with it. If we move back to Germany, that may be what I end up doing, but it's a plan without details, at the moment. I have tutored English for Germans living in the US, but never actually taught it as a class.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Maestro is an ESL teacher

He posts on the bilingual education threads.

I have no formal qualifications, but I've tutored Japanese people in English, including company classes, and also tutored Somali refugees.

[Lisa0825]

3. I was a volunteer tutor for a couple years through a non profit...

Very unstructured type program. I had a one-day seminar to learn how to teach, and they provided workbooks. Other than that, I was basically on my own. I started out with 6 students who were all supposedly around the same level, level 2, which indicated they know some English, but have difficulty communicating what they need. Turned out 5 of them were just really bad at the placement test, but had much better skills. So, they transferred up to the next level, and I tutored one guy for the rest of time.

SWEET old man. Had lived in the US since he was in his 20s, but never needed English to get by, with such a large Spanish-speaking community here (Houston). He finally decided he wanted to learn English so he could take his citizenship test so he could vote! He was so proud of that!:-)

It's a very rewarding thing. You don't necessarily need to be proficient in another language to teach either. In fact, many people say it is better if you are not, because then you are not tempted to use the students' language to assist them.

I highly recommend calling your local literacy organizations to check out tutor education seminars.

[Pikku]

4. I'm a bilingual teacher.

:hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

5. I'm an ESL tutor

and I love it!

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. I'm starting graduate school

to become one.

[Lisa0825]

7. I am investigating getting certified...

and from what I have read, CELTA seems to be the way to go. I'd like to teach in Mexico, or Central or South America. It's been a dream of mine to live there for years. If things go well, I could be debt free with a surplus in 2-3 years, and I could do this, unless of course life throws me a curveball of some sort. A lot can happen in three years.

In the meantime, I am applying to graduate school for cross-cultural studies. That could open other opportunities for me.

[CTyankee]

8. I now work for Literacy Volunteers

and was a volunteer tutor until recently, but with an advanced conversation class.

Now I help volunteers manage their classes. We have a group of refugees from AFghanistan that is wonderful and the tutors are magnificent.

All of the learners I have found are very nice people, hard working and eager to learn English. I am now taking Italian lessons and am learning myself how hard it is to learn another language.