Scott Said:

What is the best way to earn a useful ESL teaching certificate? I'd like to teach English abroad...?

We Answered:

Talk to foreign language department at a tangible university.

Gail Said:

How does a person go about getting and English Second Language teaching certificate?

We Answered:

Great question! I wish that I was brave enough to ask this question once upon a time. I had to research for months to derive at the answer that I am about to present.

First, if you want to teach ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages or ESL), you have to have certification. As mentioned, the most highly acclaimed version of this is at a local university. For instance, in South Carolina, the only university that carries ESOL certification (K-12) is University of South Carolina. No matter where you are in the world, they will be familiar with a state university that has a strong Linguistics Department. (In some states, they coordinate the ESOL program with either English or Multi-Cultural Studies.)

Next, if you want to teach in the U.S. public schools, you have to have your teaching certificate as well. In my case, I am in an M.A.T. program or a fast-track graduate level program + PRAXIS tests to receive my initial certification. If you don't have your undergraduate degree, you can obtain initial certification with the Education major + PRAXIS tests. For time constraints, I decided to go with Elementary Education. The initial certification combined with the ESOL certification gets me in the door to both ESOL and other teaching positions.

Wherever you decide, there will be a need. There are many students waiting to learn English as a Second Language. If you are thinking about teaching ESOL in the U.S. or a Spanish-speaking country, it is highly advantageous to learn a little Spanish - key vocab words, cultural issues, and grammatical structure. The more you know, the faster that the students will learn. Just make sure that you use English as the primary method of communication and instruction. You can't learn a language that you do not use. Remember, there is a need to learn English, more so than many other languages.

Good luck in your pursuits and endeavors! Hopefully, I was able to provide some insight into your long and difficult search. Personally, I had to have two forms of certification to become highly marketable throughout the world.

Rachel Said:

where can i get esl teaching certificate?

We Answered:

Truth be told, if you are a native speaker with a university degree in almost any specialization, and are a social person who is able to think and respond quickly to students' needs, you can be an ESL teacher. Job advertisements often ask for a TEFL (Teacher of English as a Foreign Language) or a CELTA (Cambridge English Language Teacher for Adults) certificate. The TEFL can be done in a classroom environment or online. The CELTA is more complex, and must be done at a training center.

However, aside from the most elite of schools (or those trying to pump up their reputation), the reality of English teaching is that the certificates are unnecessary if the teacher knows his/her stuff. Experience also counts, and so without a certificate, you may have to take lower paying positions at first. With certificates, you can generally get a better position right away.

I have been teaching English off and on for about 12 years now, and have been operating my own school for more than five. I only have a BA in psychology, and lots of experience.

Mabel Said:

I just took my ESL supplemental test. How do I get it attached to my teaching certificate in Texas?

We Answered:

Copy what the other reader suggests. However, the fee is $150.00 (last time I looked). Ask your school district if they will pay half of the fee (if you're working already). My district did.

Corey Said:

How can one receive an ESL Teaching Certificate in NJ without a NJ teaching certificate?

We Answered:

Your private school may waive the requirement of state certification. I believe you must have a NJ teaching certificate before you receive an ESL teaching certificate unless they have changed their procedures. I'd call them directly instead of going to their website, as their website does not answer this question.

Freddie Said:

What is the best teaching certificate abroad?

We Answered:

It's horses for courses. If you want to go for a top level job then the CELTA is pretty well accepted as the best. It is intensive and shouldn't really be taken unless you've got experience.

If you want to teach in an average job in Asia or South America then almost any respected TEFL Certificate will do. Take a look at the providers and decide which suits your budget and location (i.e. there's no point travelling to another part of the world to take the cert; keep it either at home or online).

Make sure you run the TEFL Cert provider through google to make sure it's legit and check out the tefl course review sites as well.

Ronnie Said:

Teaching ESL w/o a certificate in UAE?

We Answered:

Yes there are always "private" options where a student or group of students are willing to pay you for your teaching services simply because you are a native speaker of English and may or may not have all the credentials that are associated with teaching "legally" in a country. This is typically something earned through word of mouth and one must be careful as deportation is quite possible if you are teaching in any country without the proper E2 VISA required to teach in a foreign land.