Teaching English to students who already have a command of the language is a very different task than teaching it to non-native speakers. The objective of language arts courses is to strengthen and refine a student’s understanding and grasp of the language while ESL is designed to give students a basic command of English. Your students will know little or no English, which means you will be working from the basics and must therefore know how to teach from the ground up.

Associate Degree
An associate degree will help pave the way to an entry-level position, though, in most cases, it will prove insufficient to begin work as an ESL teacher. You may find work at a private institute or company, but you will get passed up continually for better positions by those with more education. Employers look highly upon the bachelor’s degree in comparison to the associate and prefer it among applicants. The knowledge and tools you will receive over the course of a four-year degree versus a two-year degree can be monumental.

Bachelor’s Degree
Like with the majority of teaching positions, you will be required to earn a bachelor’s degree in order to compete with other applicants. State teaching certifications also require that an applicant hold a four-year degree from an online school or traditional college. While most institutions do not offer an ESL-specific degree, it is possible for you to focus on ESL throughout your studies and take additional courses geared toward that subject. You can teach at the primary and secondary education levels as well as some community adult classes, though you will need a master’s degree in order to teach at the college or university level.

Master’s Degree
ESL has application in many industries outside of the country. The increase in globalization and ever-changing economics of other countries has led to an influx of imported industries. An increased need for a population proficient in English speakers in such countries as India and Pakistan means there is a burst of employment opportunities available for individuals with the right academic qualifications. This degree is required to teach at a college level and will be the degree many instructors will have for international positions.

PhD
The world of academia moves rather slowly and does not offer many ESL Ph.D. programs. Despite the growing need for ESL instructors internationally, you may have difficulty locating an online or local program meeting your needs. Should you choose to pursue a doctorate degree in English as a second language, you will find a wide range of research, collegiate and international employment opportunities available to you.

Certifications
To begin teaching ESL, you will first need to gain state teaching credentials. This is required of all instructors and will evaluate your knowledge and skills relating to a subject in comparison to state-set standards. You will also need to complete an ESL certification program due largely to the fact that it requires special skills and knowledge to teach. Around half of the states within the United States have created certification or endorsement programs for these instructors.