Top 8 Benefits of Being an ESL Teacher
Reading Time: 5 minutes Whether you’re looking for your first job or you want to make a career switch, becoming an ESL teacher is an idea worth considering. Being a teacher is awesome as it gives you an opportunity to help others and make money at the same time. If this already sounds amazing, wait until you hear about other top benefits of being an ESL teacher.
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You get to manage your schedule
If you’ve already worked a 9-to-5 job, you know how stressful that can be. Luckily, not all teachers have to deal with that type of work schedule. If you choose to become an ESL teacher, you’ll be given a chance to schedule your classes and tailor your day any way you want. This means that if you have a hobby or you do another job, you can create a schedule that works for you and stick to it. You don’t even have to work full hours in order to earn a decent salary. For example, some ESL teachers work just 20 work hours a week, and they find the paycheck to be enough for them.
You have summers off
Most teaching jobs include summers off. This is one of the best things about being an ESL teacher, especially if you enjoy traveling. You get a few months free every year, allowing you to visit any place in the world and stay there for as long as you want. Moreover, if you choose to do another job on the side, you get a few months to dedicate solely to your side hustle and try to get even better at it. The best part of it – you don’t even have to take the summer off if you don’t want to. There are all kinds of camps you can work in and make some extra cash during summer.
You can relocate
As mentioned above, English teachers have summers off and can travel anywhere they want. However, that’s not all the traveling you get to do as an English teacher. English is the language that dominates the world right now and everywhere there are students looking to take their English to the next level. Most schools look for native speakers or teachers from abroad who can give their students a new perspective and help them learn. So, if you’ve always dreamed of seeing Asia, joining the Monkey Tree ESL team is an amazing idea.
You get a chance to learn new languages
If you choose to teach English abroad, you’ll be guaranteed to pick up the local language at least to some extent. If you’ve always dreamed about speaking more languages, all you need to do is put some extra effort into it and you’ll be speaking French, Spanish, Chinese, or any other language in no time. What’s so great about it is that you get a chance to speak to your students in that language every day, meaning that taking your conversation skills to the next level shouldn’t be tough. Not to mention that speaking the local language should only make your English more effective.
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You meet new people every day
Teaching abroad involves meeting new people every day. In fact, you’re guaranteed to leave each teaching position with a number of friends from all parts of the world. And since we live in the age of social media, staying in touch with them will be a real piece of cake. We’re not only talking about other ESL teachers but students as well. Don’t be surprised if you get a Skype call from an old student who wants to check up and practice their English. When it comes to other teachers, they might be able to recommend other teaching posts you might one day want to explore.
You have more autonomy with lesson plans
Working as a traditional teacher involves following a specific curriculum. In other words, most of the time you have to stick with the lesson plan and your classes end up being less fun. Things are different when you’re an ESL teacher and this might just be the reason why you decide to go with the latter option. ESL teachers are usually encouraged to get creative when designing their classes as they see it to be one of the best ways to pass the knowledge onto students. Of course, there are specific materials you have to follow but you get a chance to implement them in any way you want.
You get to make a difference
Being able to speak English has become a ticket to a better experience for almost everyone. If you’re able to speak English, your chances of landing a job and meeting people from all over the world are much higher. This means that your lessons will open new doors for your students and make an impact on their lives. Nothing compares to the feeling of leaving a mark on someone else’s life and being an ESL teacher really is one of the most rewarding careers you can choose.
You can adjust easily
Teaching English is the perfect job for someone who still doesn’t know what they want to do or is currently between jobs. The thing with being an ESL teacher is that it involves so many transferable skills that it allows you to prepare for jobs in other industries as well. For example, if you’re looking to become better at managing groups or you want to give your organizational skills a boost, becoming an ESL teacher is a great idea. Eventually, these skills might help set you apart from other candidates and land you the job you’ve always dreamed of. Similarly, no matter what jobs you did in the past, adjusting to the role of a teacher should be easy.
Being an ESL teacher is a job with so many perks and if you thought about giving it a shot, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do it. Teaching English can even feel like a way to recharge your batteries and prepare for other big challenges.
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