So you’re considering a career teaching English abroad, but you’re not entirely sure what the day-to-day actually looks like. Will you be standing at a whiteboard all day? How many hours will you teach? What happens between classes? In this guide, we’ll walk through a realistic day in the life of an ESL teacher and break down every responsibility that comes with the role.
The Core Responsibilities of an ESL Teacher
Being an ESL teacher is about much more than the hours you spend in front of a class. Your week typically breaks down into five main activities:
1. Lesson Planning
This is where you spend a surprising amount of time. For every hour of teaching, expect to spend 30–60 minutes planning — especially in your first year. Lesson planning involves:
- Choosing a learning objective (e.g., “students will be able to order food in a restaurant”)
- Selecting or creating materials (texts, audio, worksheets, flashcards)
- Designing a sequence of activities: warm-up, presentation, controlled practice, free practice, and review
- Anticipating problems students might have and preparing solutions
2. Teaching Classes
This is the visible part of the job. Depending on your setting, you might teach anywhere from 15 to 30 hours per week. Each class might be 40–90 minutes long, with students ranging from young children to adults.
3. Creating and Adapting Materials
While most schools provide textbooks, good teachers rarely rely on them exclusively. You’ll create worksheets, design PowerPoint presentations, find authentic materials (news articles, YouTube videos, songs), and adapt existing resources to fit your students’ level and interests.
4. Assessment and Feedback
You’ll regularly assess your students through:
- Informal checks during class (questioning, observing)
- Weekly quizzes and tests
- Speaking and writing assessments
- Progress reports and report cards
5. Administrative Duties
Schools require documentation. Expect to:
- Maintain attendance records
- Write student progress reports
- Attend staff meetings and training sessions
- Communicate with parents (especially in K-12 settings)
- Participate in school events and open days
A Realistic Day in the Life
Here’s what a typical day might look like for an ESL teacher at a private language school in South Korea:
Morning (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
- 9:00–9:30: Arrive, check schedule, review lesson plans
- 9:30–10:30: Plan afternoon lessons, create worksheets
- 10:30–11:30: Grade homework, update student records
- 11:30–12:00: Staff meeting or quick prep
Afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
- 1:00–2:00: Teach elementary class (ages 8–10)
- 2:00–3:00: Teach middle school class (ages 12–14)
- 3:00–4:00: Break + prep for evening classes
- 4:00–5:00: Teach adult conversation class
Evening (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
- 5:00–6:00: Teach advanced business English class
- 6:00–7:00: Final class, wrap up, quick admin
Note: schedules vary wildly. Public school teachers might work 8:30–4:30 with 4–5 classes. University teachers might have only 12–15 contact hours but heavy grading loads.
What Skills Do You Actually Use?
Effective ESL teachers rely on a mix of hard and soft skills every day:
- Presentation skills — Explaining grammar rules clearly and engagingly.
- Listening skills — Identifying exactly where a student is struggling.
- Creativity — Turning dry grammar points into fun activities.
- Classroom management — Keeping 30 energetic kids focused and on-task.
- Cultural awareness — Understanding why a student behaves or responds in a certain way.
- Tech skills — Using interactive whiteboards, learning management systems, and educational apps.
What ESL Teachers Don’t Do
There are some common misconceptions about the job:
- You don’t need to speak the local language. In fact, many schools prefer you don’t use it in class — immersion is the point.
- You’re not just a “talking dictionary.” While conversation practice is part of it, structured teaching is the core.
- You don’t work whenever you want. Even online teachers have peak hours and scheduled classes.
How Hard Is the Job, Really?
Teaching is intellectually and emotionally demanding. The first 3–6 months are the hardest — you’re learning to plan lessons, manage a classroom, and navigate a new culture all at once. But with experience, the planning load drops, your confidence grows, and the job becomes genuinely rewarding.
Most teachers report that seeing a student finally grasp a concept they’ve struggled with — or hearing them use English naturally in conversation — is one of the most satisfying feelings in any career.
Is It Right for You?
If you enjoy helping people, thrive on variety, and want a job that takes you out of your comfort zone, ESL teaching could be an excellent fit. Read more in our guide: Is Teaching English Abroad Right for You?
