ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages. Getting certified to teach ESOL will prepare you to teach English abroad. Teaching English abroad can be a great adventure and invaluable life experience. An ESOL teaching certificate and teaching experience can also qualify you to teach English to English language learners in your own country. Getting the right training and education can help you get the kind of job you want in your country of choice.

Native Speaker
Most ESOL schools require English teachers to be native speakers. It can be very difficult to find a job if you are not a native speaker of English. Even if your English is better than most native speakers, schools know their students want native speakers. Many will only hire those whose first language is English and who are citizens of Anglophone countries.

Degrees
Most English teaching jobs require a college degree. Some schools specify a degree in English. Most will accept a bachelor’s degree in any subject, as long as it is from a university in an English-speaking country. Very competitive schools that offer higher pay and benefits may also require a Master’s degree in English as a Second Language (ESL).

Certification
Certifications to teach English vary greatly in regards to time and financial commitment. You can get certified online or take in-person courses. Certification courses range from a weekend to a full month of full-time study. The Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) is one of the most recognized credentials in the English teaching profession, but other certification programs that have similar requirements are just as respected. Some certifications offer teaching experience as part of the training, which employers highly value. Look for a certificate that specifically includes classroom experience, as this will help you feel more confident during your first teaching job.

Experience
Although many schools will hire teachers with a college degree and a TESOL or Teaching English as Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate, teaching experience is required for higher paying jobs, such as those in East Asia and the Middle East. Some schools will hire with experience instead of a certificate. More teaching experience often means higher pay.

Language Awareness
Knowing a foreign language is important for ESOL teachers. The CELTA degree requires its teachers-in-training to have experience studying a foreign language so they will be familiar with both sides of the language learning process. Most teaching certification programs stress the immersion method, meaning no instruction in the students' first language is used. However, some schools require the teachers to have a basic understanding of the students' native language. If you are teaching in a country where the students share the same first language, a basic understanding of that language is helpful so you can anticipate common mistakes and pronunciation problems. Learning the language of the country you live in will also make life easier for you in general.