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

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Also known as:
Adult Basic Studies Teacher, Adult Education Teacher, Adult Literacy Instructor, Adult Literacy Teacher, Adult Remedial Education Instructor, GED Instructor, General Educational Development (GED) Teacher, General Educational Development Teacher

See all Education and Training Careers.

ABOUT ADULT BASIC EDUCATION, ADULT SECONDARY EDUCATION, AND ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTOR CAREERS

Video transcript

Every day we're surrounded by signs and written information. Now imagine not being able to read. For too many Americans, that nightmare is a reality. That's why adult literacy teachers are so important. They help people who never learned to read, to read. They also teach English as a second language courses.

Another group in need are those who never graduated from high school. Without a high school diploma, many job opportunities are out of reach for them. To help these individuals, there are teachers and instructors who specialize in remedial education. They help people acquire the skills to get what's called a "high school equivalency degree," or GED.

They provide instruction in English, history, math, science, and geography. Lessons tend to be very practical. GED instructors and teachers prepare students to take the GED test. Attaining a GED can mean a better job, higher pay, and a brighter future.

Adult literacy, remedial education, and GED teachers and instructors require a great deal of patience. Some of the individuals who come to remedial education classes or literacy programs have learning disabilities. Many have been frustrated by past failures. As their teacher, you need to provide encouragement, as well as education.

Positions range from trained volunteers at community centers to certified teachers in public schools or government-funded programs. While educational requirements vary by state and by program, one requirement is universal: the desire to help others improve their live, to become active participants in our society, to hold a job, and to further their education.

SNAPSHOT

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.

Leadership	HIGH
Critical decision making	HIGH
Level of responsibilities	HIGH
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines	LOW
Dealing and handling conflict	LOW

Competition for this position	LOW
Communication with others	HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.	HIGH
Comfort of the work setting	HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions	LOW
Exposure to job hazards	LOW
Physical demands	LOW

Daily tasks

Select, order, and issue books, materials, and supplies for courses or projects.

Attend professional meetings, conferences, and workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.

Collaborate with other teachers and professionals in the development of instructional programs.

Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.

Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, contests, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.

Review instructional content, methods, and student evaluations to assess strengths and weaknesses, and to develop recommendations for course revision, development, or elimination.

Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.

Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.

Prepare and administer written, oral, and performance tests and issue grades in accordance with performance.

Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons that promote learning, following approved curricula.

Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Thinking Creatively	Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Coaching and Developing Others	Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Training and Teaching Others	Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems	Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Developing Objectives and Strategies	Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training	Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Customer and Personal Service	Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Clerical	Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Administration and Management	Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Mathematics	Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Psychology	Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Sociology and Anthropology	Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

TOP SKILLS

Instructing	Teaching others how to do something.
Active Listening	Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking	Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Learning Strategies	Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Monitoring	Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Writing	Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning	Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.