Teachers must also take into consideration the implications of the learners' cultural differences and cultural adjustment processes. Other duties may include any combination of materials development or selection, lesson planning, curriculum development, assessment and evaluation, and even counseling or referrals. Each of these characteristics influences the specific nature of the teacher's work. Although the work of the adult ESL teacher is varied and rewarding, there are challenges. They work in left-over spaces, with inappropriate materials, under unpleasant conditions, for little money or professional status, with students who are ignored and excluded by the dominant society.
Most teachers are part- time, hourly employees teaching in more than one program.
Because of this, they have strong feelings of commitment to and responsibility for the English learners in their classes . Typical course topics include principles of linguistics, second language acquisition theory, phonetics, psycholinguistics, and ESL teaching methods. Practical experience, such as volunteer teaching, tutoring, or working as an aide in an ESL class, is useful. Investigate refugee programs and community-based organizations, as they often rely on volunteers to provide instruction. Other organizations also disseminate free or low-cost materials that inform prospective and current professionals alike.