English has long been one of the languages to know within international business circles. Today, it is also prominently positioned within scientific, diplomatic, and financial circles, with many organizations around the world maintaining publications and day-to-day operations in English. Teachers who specialize in ESL (English as a second language) and TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) fill the vital role of instructing students of all age in the many nuances of the English language. Some teachers work outside of the UK, in areas where English is not the primary language spoken in day-to-day life. Others provide remote instruction, whether from a home office or a domestically-based organization. While dependent on various factors, the overall job outlook for TESOL/ESL teachers is bright.
TESOL instructors have a literal world of opportunity available to them, but must make the decision as to whether they wish to instruct students domestically or abroad. Many TESOL instructors work through agencies that operate predominantly through a single method: either the traditional academic approach, which often requires relocation to a foreign country, or online. Either way, the TESOL is instructing students who may not be exposed to English outside of the classroom, so lessons must be structured with this taken into account. Employment in either capacity is strong right now, and is projected to remain so for years to come, as the role of English expands internationally. Median income is about $65,000 annually, but this varies widely; teachers who are willing to relocate often earn more, while those who work online have access to a broader range of marketplaces geographically.
While the global COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted airlines and the travel industry as a whole throughout the year 2020, there are still a number of countries, predominantly in Asia, with a strong demand for foreign English teachers. Schools in South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand have all been able to sponsor visas and assist with relocation for new teachers in the second half of 2021, and are well into recruiting new hires for teaching positions starting in 2021. Schools in Mexico have also been interviewing for positions beginning January through April. For those not quite ready to take the plunge into teaching overseas, the online English teaching market, which was already growing at an exceptional pace in 2019, has exploded over the last year. Teachers and students have had to adapt to remote instruction, whether located in the same country, or on different continents.
