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 Workshops |
 Frequently Asked Questions for Adult ESL Educators What kind of certification or training is required to teach ESL to adults? To teach ESL in the K-12 system in Illinois, a teaching certificate plus an endorsement in ESL is required. However, to teach ESL in an adult education program in Illinois (usually a community college or a community-based organization), there are no state requirements. Each school or organization will have its own requirements. Commonly, a master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) or Linguistics is preferred, along with teaching experience. Preference may also be given to teachers who hold a certificate issued by a well-known training program, such as the Cambridge certificate. Because of the high demand for ESL teachers in Illinois, some programs may hire teachers who hold only a bachelor's degree and who have no specialized training in ESL. These programs may require or encourage inexperienced teachers to attend local professional development workshops offered through the Adult Learning Resource Center or other sources. Ongoing professional development is highly recommended for all ESL teachers. Where can I get training?ALRC: You can attend the ALRC's workshops for ESL teachers. We offer our ESL Basics: An Overview for New Teachers at least four times per year as well as many other workshops for ESL teachers. Conferences: The ALRC holds a large adult education conference each fall, which includes sessions of interest to ESL educators. Illinois TESOL-BE holds a convention in Chicago in the spring for ESL teachers at all levels, including adult education. International TESOL holds a huge annual convention as well. Teacher Observation: Another easy way to learn about teaching ESL is to observe other ESL teachers in action. Contact a community college or community-based organization near you and make arrangements to observe some ESL classes. Volunteer: If you want to give the field a try before deciding to make a career change, you may want to volunteer as an ESL tutor at a local organization. Call the Illinois Adult Literacy Hotline at (800) 321-9511 to find out what volunteer programs are in your area. Most tutoring programs will require that you attend a pre-service training workshop. Time commitment will vary according to the program. Are there any local universities that offer degrees in TESL? Master's degrees in linguistics are offered in northern Illinois at:
What kinds of jobs are available? Most jobs teaching adult ESL are part-time. Community colleges employ the largest number of adult ESL teachers. In some programs, teachers are paid hourly for their time in class only. In other programs, teachers may be compensated for preparation time as well. Many programs do not provide benefits to part-time teachers. Many teachers are hired semester by semester and programs cannot guarantee future employment. Teaching positions in community-based organizations vary as well. Many programs will keep resumes of prospective ESL teachers on hand for last minute hiring. Often, employers cannot guarantee a contract until shortly before the class is scheduled to begin, since final decisions may be based on the levels of student registration. Both community colleges and community-based organizations may use ESL teachers to teach in local workplaces where employees need to improve their English skills. The curriculum in these workplace settings is usually specifically designed to meet the needs of the company. Where can I find out about job openings? Contact the director of the Adult Education/ESL program at your community college or local community-based organizations. Browse the Illinois TESOL-BE web site for job postings of ESL and Adult Education positions in Illinois. Watch the bulletin board at the ALRC. Job openings are posted. Other ESL teaching opportunities in and out of the country abound on the web. A search for "ESL teaching jobs" will net you many web sites.
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