Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors

What Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors do

You teach adults to read, write, speak English, or finish the high school credential they never got.

Your students are grown-ups. Some are parents working two jobs. Some arrived in the country recently and are learning English. Some left high school years ago and came back for a high school equivalency credential, a certificate that counts in place of a diploma. They chose to be there, and that changes the room.

The work is a mix of close human contact and quiet preparation. You teach individuals and small groups through talking, discussion, and demonstration. You watch what each person can already do and adapt your lessons to fit. Then, away from the class, you plan, grade homework, answer email, and keep accurate student records that laws and program rules require.

A day in the life

You get to the classroom early and set up the materials for today's lesson. Students arrive and settle in, each coming from a different part of their day. You say what the lesson is meant to do, then run a short discussion and a demonstration before turning people loose on practice. You move around the room, listening. One student is flying ahead. Another is stuck on the same sentence from last week, so you sit beside him and try a different approach. Later you check email, grade written work, log attendance and progress in student records, and rough out tomorrow's plan. Somewhere in there you talk one student out of quitting, because the hard part is usually not the reading.

How people get in

1. 1Finish high school and get comfortable with your own reading and writing, since English language knowledge is the core of this job.
2. 2Earn a bachelor's degree, the typical entry education. Programs in teaching English as a second or foreign language, adult and continuing education, or bilingual and multilingual education line up directly.
3. 3Get real practice with adult learners. Many people volunteer as literacy tutors, help at a community program, or tutor English before they are paid to teach.
4. 4Check your state's requirements for adult education and English as a second language instructors, since rules for licenses or certificates vary by state and program.
5. 5Apply to community colleges, school district adult programs, community organizations, and libraries. Roles can vary by program, so look at a range of openings.

Who tends to enjoy it

Official task list

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in basic education, literacy, or English as a Second Language classes, or in classes for earning a high school equivalency credential. (O*NET)

• Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.
• Observe students to determine qualifications, limitations, abilities, interests, and other individual characteristics.
• Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs, abilities, and interests.
• Prepare students for further education by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
• Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
• Assign and grade class work and homework.

A typical day involves

How much Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors make

The median pay for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors in the U.S. is $61,540 a year ($29.59 an hour). Most earn between $41,810 and $98,030. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)

Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in California ($102,030) and lowest in South Dakota ($35,760).

Where to study for this

College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.

• Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language / ESL Language Instructor 451 colleges
• Bilingual and Multilingual Education 118 colleges
• Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching 92 colleges
• Multicultural Education 57 colleges
• Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other 12 colleges
• Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other 12 colleges
• Adult Literacy Tutor / Instructor 10 colleges

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