How to become a TESOL teacher
Begin your TESOL career
- Earn a bachelor degree in education and teaching, or another relevant area, like arts and humanities.
- Acquire a postgraduate TESOL certification, like a Graduate Certificate in TESOL or a Master of TESOL. You can study these qualifications online.
- Consider whether you’d like to provide specialist language skills, like business English, to your clients or potential employers. If so, ensure you choose a course that covers business English.
- If you want to work outside of Australia, inform yourself of any additional requirements within the country you wish to work in.
What is a TESOL teacher?
What does a TESOL teacher do?
TESOL teachers help students improve their English language abilities both in the classroom and online. They also guide learners on Australian culture and norms so they can confidently settle into their local community.
TESOL teachers are typically employed by schools, universities, TAFEs and private English language colleges.
Duties and tasks
- Planning an English language curriculum
- Implementing an English language curriculum
- Teaching correct English pronunciation
- Teaching correct English vocabulary and grammar
- Introducing students to Australian culture and customs
- Liaising between English learners and the broader community
TESOL teacher skills
To secure a role as a TESOL teacher, you’ll need the following skills and knowledge:
- Native English-speaking skills or proficiency to teach the English language
- An ability to work well with small groups
- Time management
- Cultural sensitivity
- Public speaking skills
TESOL teacher salary
According to SEEK, as of 2022 the average TESOL teacher salary in Australia falls between $60,000 and $80,000 per year, or $40 per hour.
Industry bodies
- Association for Language Assessment of Australia and New Zealand
- Australian Association of Alliances in Education
- Australian Council of TESOL Associations
- Department for Education and Child Development (DECD)
- NSW Teachers Federation
- Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA)
- Queensland Association of Teachers of English to Speakers Other Languages (QATESOL)
- The Applied Linguistics Association of Australia
- Westralian Association of Teachers of English to Speakers Other Languages (WATESOL)
Explore online TESOL degrees
Postgraduate CUR-TES-GCE-2023
Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Explore online TESOL subjects
Related degrees
Related degrees
Student stories and study advice
We're here to guide you there
Our student advisors can assist you with enrolment, help you plan your studies, and answer questions about how studying through Open Universities Australia can get you from where you are today, to where you want to be tomorrow.