You Can Teach English!
There are endless opportunities to teach English abroad and at home. The world is global and mobile and people need to communicate! Teaching English as a second language (ESL) is an increasingly popular and rewarding field. As English continues to be the global language of communication and business, it is essential that people be able to understand, read, write, and speak English fluently.
ESL teachers play a vital role in helping students gain the skills and confidence needed to become proficient in the language. There are many different approaches to teaching ESL and experienced instructors have their own methods and techniques. However, there are basic principles that all teachers should follow when teaching ESL.
- The first step in teaching ESL is to create a comfortable, supportive learning environment. Students should feel safe and secure and be able to ask questions without feeling intimidated. It is also important to focus on the individual student and their individual needs and learning styles.
- Once the environment is established, it is important to structure the lesson. This can include developing a lesson plan, setting goals, and determining the best way for the student to learn. It is also important to keep the lesson interesting and engaging. Using activities, games, and multimedia resources can help keep the student engaged and help them learn more quickly. It is also important to use a variety of teaching methods. Using visuals, audio, and personal conversation activities will spice up the learning experience.
Do I need a lot of Experience?
You probably already have it! Being a native speaker gives you a great head start. You know how to pronounce the words and formulate ideas, sentences and questions. What you need in addition are these things:
A love for teaching
If you taught in a corporate environment, delivered training to teammates, or gave presentations you already know how to present information. With language learning students, you do the same but at a bit slower pace. You don’t need to make elaborate presentations as the students are just beginning and smaller, more palatable lessons are better. Remember, every word is new to them. Words we feel are elementary are mountainous to them, so we can take our time to explain and give examples. Think of all the words you know. Every single one of them presents a lesson opportunity.
Teaching materials
iLi Academy English provides teaching materials and a curriculum suited for beginning learners. We also recommend you continue to utilize the books and materials you may have already purchased. With us you are free and independent. We want you to have the autonomy to teach your students as you wish. Our goal is to supplement the environment and set a quality standard that sets you apart from other teachers. When our lessons look professional and perform great, your business looks professional and performs great.
A plan to market
There are great free services to help you market your business. But the key is not to overthink it. I used a black and white MS Word flyer, hung about 10 up in my neighborhood and received calls the very first night. One of those calls, Alice, has been my student for the last 3 years! A $.08 flyer copy has paid me every week for 3 years. It wasn’t fancy at all. I still use the same flyer because it’s effective and cheap.
Canva is a great marketing content creation tool! There is a robust free tier and when you are ready you can upgrade to the paid tier as I have. Our lesson are created with Canva, so we trust the service even more than we enjoy it. Use Canva to create your advertisement easily.
How much Can I Charge?
This depends upon the market and target student audience. Find teachers who are advertising in your area and then research the schools who offer language learning. Then price yourself accordingly. Don’t think you need to be the cheapest option. Remember, if you are native and fluent, you are in demand! You can charge median to high rates. Your materials need to back you up, however. You need a professional look! That’s we we come in.
Start with a decent rate and then offer discounts for multiple sessions per week. Here is how I currently charge in the Brazilian market:
I have decreasing rates for 1x, 2x, and 3x per week. Then the option for in-person and online classes. If you travel to your students as I have done extensively, then you need to be mindful of the transportation costs. I built that into the class cost.
