How to Become an ESL Tutor

There are many people in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe who need an ESL tutor - tutoring in English as a Second Language (ESL). Many of them come from a country that has a first language other than English. When they get to their new adopted English-speaking country, a lot of them feel lost and alone. Not being able to speak English leaves them little opportunity to meet new people, so their loneliness gets worse. Being an ESL tutor to someone who doesn't speak English very well therefore can be a rewarding job. As an ESL tutor, you're not only helping that person improve their English, but also opening up a whole new world for them.

If you have good English skills, it can be quite simple to get work as an ESL tutor. Here are some easy steps to get you started:

1. Brush up on your grammar skills. You can't be an ESL tutor if you don't have basic English grammar skills. Spend a few nights doing some exercises in grammar books, taking grammar tests online and studying common English grammar mistakes.

2. Create an ESL tutor flyer that you can post at supermarkets, libraries, cafes, coffee houses, local community centres - anywhere where they'll allow you to post a flyer. Make sure you put on it your name, address, qualifications, charge per hour and phone number. The flyers that have the tear off bit with your name and phone number are the best ones to create, as not everybody has a pen with them when they see a flyer they're interested in.

3. Go to your local high schools, community colleges and universities. Talk to the admissions office to see if they have need of an ESL tutor. Also talk to some of the teachers as they usually know which students in their classes need the most help. People from elementary kids to adults need help with English as a Second Language.