How to Volunteer to Teach English

You don't have to travel abroad to teach English; there are plenty of immigrants who need help learning the English language. Depending on your qualifications, you can teach English as a second language (ESL) at a public school, community college, community center, church, library, corporation or for a private group.

No matter where you're teaching, it can be daunting to get up in front of a classroom, particularly one filled with students you don't share a common language with -- yet. Class can quickly turn into a game of charades. But there are plenty of free online resources to provide you with handouts and lively lesson plans [source: Teaching Tips]. There are also many ESL teachers willing to share their best tips online.

Some of those essential tips include:

[source: Regan]

Seasoned ESL teachers also recommend having the students talk to each other as much as possible. You can facilitate that by having another student answer a classmate's question about pronunciation or a word's definition rather than doing it yourself [source: Regan].

Pause periodically throughout lessons to ask students, "Is that clear?" If someone says it isn't, ask for a volunteer from the class to explain. The more time your students have to practice their English, the better it is for them -- and you.

Read on to find out what requirements you need to teach English at home and abroad.

In more rural regions of Africa and Asia, being a native English speaker may be the only training you need. But for most places, you'll also need at least a bachelor's degree, though your main course of study doesn't have to be limited to English -- it can be in anything.

In the U.S., to teach ESL in the public school system, you need a master's degree in linguistics or TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages). The same goes for teaching at most community colleges [source: The Linguist].

But if you're looking to volunteer, TESOL certification, also called a TESL (teaching English as a second language) or TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certification should work just fine. These programs are taught at many universities and community colleges, typically running four to six weeks to complete 120 hours of training in classes like linguistics, teaching theories and practical application [source: Learn 4 Good].

You can also take classes online, but be sure to take the courses from an accredited program, particularly if you want to work in the U.S., where you may also have to get a state license to teach ESL in public schools or colleges [source: The Linguist].

Most TESOL certification programs require you to have some college courses and maintain at least 2.7 GPA. The certificate can be used both domestically and internationally as proof of in-depth training.

And don't forget the soft skills that teaching English requires -- patience, flexibility and appreciation for other cultures.

For more on how to volunteer to teach English, see the links on the next page.