ESL Teachers in Texas

English as a Second Language (ESL) is a subject which frequently repeats on the Texas Education Agency’s list of high-need subject areas. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 25% of students speak a language other than English in their home. In Texas, the number of English Language Learners jumps, with several Texas School Districts reporting up to 53%. These staggering numbers land Texas second on the list of English Language Learners by U.S. state.

These high amounts of ELLs are simply unmatched by teachers. Our students deserve teachers, and you can be the one to help!

ESL is designed for students who do not speak English as their primary language. This encompasses a huge group of our student population in Texas. ESL teachers are essential to helping provide students with adequate instruction. Without ESL, many students may struggle or fall behind in their other subjects.

ESL teachers help students who have limited English proficiency. The objective is to help students who do not identify English as their primary language learn English. These programs are extremely important, as the teacher strives to help students acquire English proficiency in order to succeed academically in English-based curriculum schools.

Students in an ESL class may not all share the same native language, which is why only English is used for classroom instruction. The coursework in the program focuses on teaching the four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

A common misconception is that ESL teachers are required to be bilingual. This is not true! The great thing about becoming an ESL teacher is that you only need to speak English. Secondly, becoming certified in ESL is a great way to make yourself more marketable to school districts, as many schools already require, or will soon require, this certification.

ESL is only a supplemental exam, which means you must pair it with an additional subject area. For example, if you’re pursuing Math, grades 7-12, you will need to take the corresponding math exam. In addition to this exam, if you decide to also take the ESL Supplemental exam, you will then be certified to teach ESL students within any 7-12 Math class. Becoming ESL-certified will increase your chances of finding a job and allow you to be certified in a subject that can really make a difference in a child’s life!