It takes a lot of effort to learn English as a second language, and many students hit a roadblock sometime in their education and just feel like giving up. The thrill of learning a new language has worn off; instead, they’re sick of memorizing rules and feel like they’re working so hard and not getting anywhere.

One of the reasons why English learners have such a hard time mastering the language is that they revert to the instinct of doing one-on-one translation. They hear a word, then they mentally try to find the equivalent in their Mother Tongue. If that doesn’t work, they try to think of what the word means in picture form. This takes about five to ten seconds, and by then, they’ve completely dropped out of the conversation, can’t understand what’s going on, and are then pulled deeper into the spiral of confusion.

This doesn’t work. First of all, there is rarely any one-to-one equivalent between phrases, since a language often has nuances that are intrinsic to the culture. Unique sentence structures and grammar forms also make it harder to translate completely.

The best way to learn a language is to use visualization. This is why children learn a language so fast. Instead of connecting a word to another word in their first language, they link it to impressions. For example, when they hear the word “happy” they envision a smiling face, rather than searching for the equivalent in another tongue. That’s why they can flexibly shift from one language to another.

You can apply this to objects, sounds, even abstract conepts like feelings and personality traits. Just find a picture for every word you learn, remembering the context by which it was used. Try to use the word as often as possible so the picture becomes more and more clear.

As you learn more and more words, let your mind translate it into a kind of slide slow or power point presentation, which lets you review the words. This is much easier than trying to memorize a list, and can even be soothing. That’s because you’re using the brain’s natural way of learning a language.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (also called TEFL) is the process of instructing students on the nature of English when it is not their mother tongue.

Different Learning Settings

TEFL is usually taught in the student’s mother country, as part of a school curriculum or an optional class for those who want to develop their English skills. In some cases TEFL can be taught in English speaking regions (there are English camps or English refresher courses) but these are usually taken by those who want to gain accreditation in preparation for university or as a requirement for getting a job or government position.

TEFL classes can be taught on the campus as part of a curriculum, but there are also special language schools and private tutorial sessions. It is also possible to take a TEFL class online, which is an ideal set up for busy executives who may otherwise not have the time to go to a traditional classroom.

Qualifications for Teachers

In order to become an accredited ESL teacher you must possess an undergraduate degree and a TESL or TEFL certificate. Your undergraduate degree does not have to be in Education or English; any course will do.

You may get your certificates from a number of organizations, but it is best to get one that is well respected so you will not encounter any problems. Some of the most well known English certifications come from the UCLES, CELTA and the Trinity CertTESOL. However some schools will also give TEFL certificates. It is considered a component of certain curriculums.

However, there are some places like Berlitz that require you to participate in their own unique training programs.

Benefits of ESL Teachers

You may be asking what kind of salary and compensation you can get as an ESL teacher. Well, it really depends on your own qualifications, including experience and expertise, as well as the kind of training you received. Naturally even with the same kind of certification, someone who has had several years of teaching under her belt will get higher pay, and has a bigger chance of being hired by a reputable school.

There is a big boom in the language industry. Thanks to globalization, more and more people are realizing the importance of being able to speak English in order to advance in their careers.

This has led to a boom in ESL training schools. Students can now choose from traditional classes in schools and universities, specialized classes (normally taken at night or on weekends), one on one tutorials, and online classes.

As with all booms, there are unscrupulous individuals looking to make a fast buck, often exploiting teachers and students in the process. For example, there are mass recruiters that will conveniently ignore the agreements in the contract, such as the number of working hours per day, and the net payment.

The sorry lack of accreditation and government quality control are also very disturbing. Because of the loopholes in the law, anyone can open a business and then present it as a language school, even if the teachers are not properly trained, or the curriculum is haphazard.

Students and teachers who wish to protect themselves from these charlatans can go to the Internet and look for black lists and gray lists, which name the schools that are known to break the law, or conversely, schools that have an impeccable reputation.

ESL in Europe

As the European Union has grown, so has the use of English as the language of commerce and trade. There is a huge demand for ESL teachers, with students from both the academe and the private or commercial sector. Teachers will be pleased to find many job opportunities and can enjoy a good standard of living.

ESL in Hong Kong

Pay and working conditions in Asia for ESL teachers vary. In Hong Kong, English is taught with great rigor and high expectations, partially due to the ties of the country to the United Kingdom. In fact, the government has released a lot of money to fund research in ESL. There is also a high demand in Japan and South Korea, and the shortage of fluent English speakers has prompted universities to offer to shoulder travel and housing expenses to get the best teachers. Pay can be something around two thousand dollars upwards.