Occupation
English as a second language teacher
Teaches English to learners whose first language is different, in schools, language centres, workplaces, or online. Plans lessons around speaking, listening, reading, and writing, and adjusts material to the learners' level and to why they are studying.
Also known as: ESL teacher · EFL teacher · TESOL teacher · English language instructor · EAL teacher
Occupation content
Part of Education and training
What the work involves
- Assess new learners and place them at the right level
- Plan lessons targeting speaking, listening, reading, and writing
- Run pair and group activities that get learners producing language
- Correct pronunciation, grammar, and usage in the moment and in written feedback
- Prepare learners for language proficiency examinations
- Record attendance and progress against course outcomes
How people commonly enter
- Recognised English language teaching certificate such as a TESOL or TEFL qualification
- Bachelor's degree combined with a language teaching certificate for centre-based roles
- Teaching qualification with an additional language specialism for school settings
- Postgraduate study in applied linguistics or language teaching for senior roles
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Regulated in some jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Typical work context
Classroom · Public facing · Remote capable · Varied work · Team based
Related interests
Social (helping) · Artistic (creative)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Education and training.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- O*NET OnLine — Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors (25-3011.00) · United States
Link checked
- UK National Careers Service — Explore careers · United Kingdom
Link checked
- ESCO — Occupations classification (European Commission) · European Union
Link checked
Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Education and training in Canada, not a figure for English as a second language teacher. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Education and training family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Education and training: education pathways
Some roles in Education and training may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Education and training: licensing
Find jobs
These are live, user-controlled searches on each source's own site for “ English as a second language teacher”. Novus Learn does not fetch, store, or rank these results, and job availability never changes your exploration match score.
- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)