TEFL Course in USA

Are English teachers in demand in USA?

The ESL market in the USA is promising and the highest prospects for ESL teachers are in the states and cities with a high number of immigrants.

The New York City area in New York as well as Seattle in Southern California are examples of such hotspots for ESL teachers in the USA. Arizona language schools also boasts of a rising demand for English teachers with TEFL certificates as a result of increasing immigrants willing to be naturalized as US citizens.

In addition to these, USA has a fast growing population of ESL students or English Language Learners (ELLs) and over 60 million people who do not speak English as their first language all contributing to an increasing demand for ESL teachers and a bigger market of teaching opportunities.

While USA may not necessarily top the list of ESL destinations in the world, there are teaching offers that can be found across the country with the best openings available for teachers with certification.

What are the requirements to teach English in USA?

Although basic requirements for teaching English in the USA depends largely on the type of institution, an internationally recognized TEFL certificate is crucial in order to get opportunities in public or private schools. This is in addition to a degree in any field and sometimes a Master’s degree for better chances of getting higher paying jobs.

A lot of private organizations or volunteer jobs in USA especially those who provide teaching services to refugees may not necessitate so many requirements although these types or jobs are usually unpaid or with low payment structures.

Due to the high number of qualified teachers already in the ESL market in the USA, it is highly recommended that you have a TEFL certificate, a Master’s degree along with relevant training and teaching experience and a teaching license from your home country.

ESL teachers in public schools are also expected to obtain the State Teacher Certification for an ESL endorsement and a teaching license.

What type of jobs are available for English teachers in USA?

There are a number of teaching opportunities for ESL teachers in USA and the easiest to find are in the private language schools, community colleges and even local libraries.

There are also opportunities for ESL teachers in elementary, middle and high school, universities as well as volunteer teaching jobs. Sometimes English teachers may also be required to teach other subjects like Mathematics and Sciences.

Another option for ESL teachers in USA is the private tutoring opportunities and these can be obtained by advertising locally and speaking to people about the services you offer.

ESL students in the USA includes immigrant, migrant workers, international students and business professionals ranging from age 16 to 60.

What is the salary for English teachers in USA?

Salary for ESL teachers in USA varies depending on the city and the type of school. The highest salaries can be found in the universities, then the elementary and high schools while the lowest are in private organizations.

Salaries will also vary depending on the number of hours as teachers who work full time usually earn more than part time teachers.

English teachers in USA can earn between USD45,000 and USD70,000 a year depending on qualifications, job location and training experience.

Can you save money while teaching English in USA?

The cost of living in USA varies significantly depending on the city or location. Currently, a lot of USA cities top the list of most expensive cities in the world making the cost of living in the country generally high.

Teachers in rural areas usually have better potential for saving as the cost of living is relatively lower than those in big cities.

The average cost of living in USA is about USD13,000 per year.

Some cheap cities to live in include Indiana, Michigan and Tenessee while the most expensive cities include Washington DC, Hawaii, California and New York.

Accommodation Options: Accommodation costs are quite heavy on ESL teachers in big cities who have to spend over 70% of their salaries on rent. However, volunteer placement and private organizations may offer housing at the expense of salary.

Monthly rent for a furnished studio in a normal area like is about USD1,000 while those in the other areas may cost about USD1,500.

What type of visa do you need to teach English in USA?

ESL teachers in USA are required to obtain a work visa to be able to teach legally in the country. A few employers will assist in the visa application process however most will simply leave you to it when it comes to getting permanent residence or a green card.

Typically, it can be very difficult to obtain a work visa to teach English in USA or even visit the country for any purpose due to the tough immigration regulations and the process of obtaining a visa may take months to complete. As a result of this, it is important for ESL teachers who intend to work in the USA to begin their preparation for visa application early.

ESL teachers can travel to the country on a tourist visa, seek employment, return to their country and then have their employer sponsor them for a regular work visa.

Some teachers may also decide to convert their tourist visa to work visa although this is a more complicated and long process.

Hiring season and process for English teachers in USA

Hiring periods for ESL teachers in USA is at the beginning of the school year or semester and this is usually in late August or September.

The first semester ends in mid-December and another semester begins in January when some schools will typically hire new teachers again.  However, the peak hiring period is in May or June.

The easiest way to find English teaching jobs in the USA is by getting in touch with the language schools or the local education departments and community centers. Usually, for opportunities in private tutoring, word of mouth is very important.

You will need to advertise your services and market yourself using different avenues like handbills or posters and a lot of networking especially in the non-native English speaking communities.

Fun and travel activities while teaching in USA

The adventure, exploration and travel opportunities in USA are significantly a part of the reasons the country is a favorite destination for English teachers. USA boasts of several beautiful and fun places to visit all year round.

These include New York City, where you will find the most famous sites and some of the best restaurants in the country, the Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Plaza and the Empire State Building.

Next is the scenic and picturesque city of San Francisco. San Francisco offers visitors calm, charming and beautiful streets that look like scenes from a romantic movie. There is also the Alcatraz and the Fisherman’s Wharf that are great spots to explore.

The Grand Canyon and the Death Valley National Park are other places to visit in USA and then there is Las Vegas for an endless list of entertainment and fun things to do.

Washington DC, the capitol and its numerous sites like the White House, the Capitol Building and the Smithsonian Museums is also a famous tourist destination in USA.

Other places to visit include Florida, Miami, a wonderful beach destination, the electric city of Chicago and the beautiful small city of Savannah.

Important cities in USA

The most important cities for ESL teachers are the non-native English speaking areas such as Florida, California, New York and Texas.