If you’re pursuing a career as an educator, perhaps you’re wondering whether TESL certification is worth investing in. For many aspiring teachers, the answer to this question is yes. There are numerous employers who prefer to hire certified candidates; there are also employers who insist on only hiring certified applicants for certain positions. Let’s take a look at 5 different jobs that are ideal for certified educators.
1. ESL (English as a Second Language) Teacher
Obtaining your certification is a smart move if your career goal is to teach English to non-native speakers. This is one of the most popular jobs performed by TESL-certified educators. The certification process can enhance cultural competency and linguistic abilities to advance the goals of the ESL teacher.
2. EAP (English for Academic Purposes) Instructor
Globalism has inspired many foreign students to pursue educational opportunities in English-speaking countries. This is one of the influences that has resulted in strong demand for instructors with the ability to help students perfect their academic English language skills to a significant degree. Many EAP instructors focus their efforts specifically on teaching students to be functionally proficient in a university environment. The goal of some EAP classes is to prepare students for success with various English language competency tests such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and iTEP (International Test of English Proficiency).
3. Instructional Coordinator
If your long-term career goal is to teach other teachers, the position of instructional coordinator is one to aspire to. In this type of position, you would be responsible for overseeing academic curriculum at your hiring institution. You would also have significant responsibilities for oversight of the school’s teaching standards. You might be tasked with developing course materials and working with teachers to assist them with effectively implementing the materials in the classroom setting.
Some of the best instructional coordinators are educators with master’s degrees, significant teaching experience and strong competencies in course development. Certification is an asset for attaining coveted instructional coordinator positions at educational institutions in areas with diverse populations and where multiple languages are spoken.
4. Academic Coordinator
If you want to work at a language school or other educational institution that accepts significant numbers of foreign students, you’re likely to find that TESL certification is a major asset in your job search. Such organizations sometimes even require their academic coordinators to be TESL certified.
A typical academic coordinator’s job duties might include hosting student orientations, counseling students regarding course selection, assessing students’ progress and helping students to deal with various academic issues as they arise.
5. Coordinator for International Relations (CIR)
The Japanese government maintains a long-running youth-to-youth cultural exchange program known as the JET program. JET stands for “Japan Exchange and Teaching.” As part of this program, qualified individuals are contracted to live and work in Japan; many are paid well and provided with housing assistance, which makes it possible for program participants to save substantial amounts of their earnings.
Fewer than 10 percent of JET program participants are hired for CIR positions. If you’re interested in obtaining one of these coveted jobs, TESL or TESOL certification would be a credential on your resumé that could help to differentiate you from other applicants. Although translation is the primary task you’d be likely to perform on the job, language instruction is also one of the essential duties you’d be called on to do as a CIR. To qualify for this position, your Japanese language skills would have to be outstanding.
These are 5 of the most interesting job opportunities available for TESL certified educators. We hope this list of jobs will help you get a handle on whether you think TESL certification is worth pursuing.