Burned out from classroom teaching? Transfer your skills to teaching English as a second language online

Published: January 18, 2021

Author: Carla Morris

Updated: January 19, 2022

If low pay, unrealistic workloads, and disrespect from students, parents, and school administrators make you want to quit teaching, you’re not alone. Half of the teachers polled in a recent PDK International survey expressed the same feelings over issues like these-and that was before the onset of COVID-19.

Rather than jumping the teaching ship entirely, you might consider applying your skills in settings other than public education . . . like teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) online.

At Greenville University, you can secure TESL certification in as little as one summer and transition out of a brick-and-mortar setting without abandoning your first love.

Booming need

English language companies hire teachers to serve a wide range of learners, including adults who are eager to expand their language skills for personal and professional advancement. Best Value Schools calls the overall job outlook for ESL teachers good, with online instructors particularly enjoying access to broad markets for their services.

Manageable workload, ambitious learners

What can you expect working for an English language provider or as an independent contractor teaching ESL online? Generally higher pay, manageable workloads, and willing learners who value what you offer. As an ESL online instructor:

You control when and where you work. This allows you to teach even when traveling if your interests lean in that direction.

You create your own schedule. This can mean teaching evening classes when your kids are in bed or morning-only classes that free up the rest of your day.

You save money by cutting costs like daily transportation and a professional wardrobe.

You typically work with provided content. You don’t have to create lessons, but you have the freedom to tailor course materials to suit your style and students.

You meet and engage diverse learners, including those with interesting personal stories and visions of success where learning English is key.

A growing industry

Businesswire.com predicts the global online learning industry will reach $350 billion by 2025. Continued economic incentive worldwide to learn the English language and more persons globally accessing the internet makes online delivery of lessons particularly attractive.

Teaching ESL online is already considered competitive; it will only become more so in years to come.

The TESL endorsement advantage

While having a bachelor’s coupled with teaching experience qualifies you for many jobs, adding specialist credentials gives you a competitive edge.

It helps to know that Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) refers to a broad field of English-language instruction that includes two areas of expertise:

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)