Working in the field for so long, I grown to understand each teaching format, and their ranks. For those interested in teaching ESL, it is important to know which field you'd be interested in. So let me quickly talk about each particular field that I have had experience in:
Community Centers:
Think...working without benefits. Here, the students are really interested in learning, but you pretty much get paid, "under the table" (Or at least I did when I was in Japan). It might look good in a resume, depending on how long you worked at this kind of job, and what your future goals are. You pretty much just need a Bachelors degree to do this work.
Intensive English Programs:
Now, there are A LOT of IEPs all over the world! So you'd think that this field would be the way to go. Sorry to say this, but....unless your IEP is 'directly' associated with a college or university, you're pretty much close to the bottom of the totem pole. With the varied work schedules and the threat of losing your job because of student disinterest in you, it 'could' be a temp job for you. Or it could not...really if you have an outgoing personality, are willing to change pedagogy to help the students understand the material better, and don't cause trouble, you could stay here for a long time! To really succeed in an IEP, you have to always think about increasing your worth! You pretty much need, at a minimum, a Bachelors degree to do this work.
As for the students, this is extremely varied! You will have students who really want to learn! Those are the students that are awesome. Then you'll have students who are just using their F-1 visa to come to the U.S., and don't give a rat's a$$ about studying! Either way, you have to teach them and please them.
Public schools:
I had the opportunity to teach at 3 different high schools in Japan. Now the students are also varied, but one thing that was great was....I got paid a rather high salary (in regards to ALTs teaching in Japan), worked for the government (the Prefectural Education board controlled the senior high schools in the prefecture, so there was major control over the curriculum...that could be good or bad?), and received subsidized housing (now some prefectures gave their teachers free housing, but not in my case... ;_; ). Nice place to work, but if I wanted to continue to do that in the U.S., I would have to get credentials through the state department of Education...and....hmm....working for public schools in the United States??? I would have to think about that.
Universities:
Now, universities are great places to teach ESL. You get the prestige of working at a 4 year university, you also get to have your own office (if you are full time faculty), and you could be really cool! You would need, at a minumum, a Masters degree or higher to work here. You would also need to work really hard to get tenure. In addition, expect to write scholarly papers ever so often. Also, most private IEPs are cashing in by arranging contracts with universities to teach ESL instead of the universities themselves doing this. It would save the university money by letting an outside contractor teach ESL, so most universities are now going through this avenue. Or...they are opening their own "IEPs" that is separate from the university. Surprisingly, as one of my former supervisors told me, teaching at a four-year university is not the creme-a-la-creme. The best of the best. The numero uno...
Community Colleges:
My former supervisor said that working in a community college is the way to go! Here, you are the best of the best! The numero uno. The reason for this is because you will usually have more students (community college is cheaper than a 4 year university, or even an IEP (IEPs are usually the most expensive for students)). And the students get quality education. I have been working at a community college for over 2 years now, and I have to agree with what my former supervisor said. You really are more active as an instructor at a community college than any other place. Students are also varied, but a larger majority of students really are committed to learning English (because they have different reasons for studying English. Some want to improve their English for work, school, citizenship, etc.). You get a wide variety of students which will also improve your teaching style! Here you can also concentrate on teaching!
So, I hope that you understand more about the different teaching mediums and make an educated decision as to what field you would like to teach.
