Would it be okay to major in something that's not english if I want to teach ESL to adults eventually?

also, what major would be helpful to start my own business (a boutique kinda thing), but wouldn't hinder my prospects or make it difficult to be a teacher (of any sort, not just ESL)?


thanks!
::similar question for biz section, if you're interested::::

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Yes, it's fine to major in something else. You can do whatever you want at Bachelor level and then get a postgraduate qualification for teaching ESL.

If you want to run your own business eventually, it's a good idea to major in Business. ESL teachers with a business background are in great demand worldwide, so you'd be studying something that helps you achieve both of your goals.

Good Luck

Yes, you can major in other subjects if you would eventually like to teach ESL to adults. Many people make career changes to become ESL teachers and have totally unrelated majors and previous careers.

Of course, business courses can be helpful in starting your own business, but I would recommend studying what you love. You can always hire other people with the expertise needed to start a business if you don't have such expertise.

Yes, it would be ok. The best major for running your own business would probably be business or management. However, if you think you want to teach ESL in the future, I'd suggest you try to do a minor in TESOL (if your college has that) or linguistics (which helps you more than an English minor would).

Do you want to teach ESL overseas? If you do, eventually you could do a 1-month CELTA course. With that and your undergrad degree (in anything), you'd be qualified for many positions abroad.

If you ever want to be a public school teacher in the US, that's much more difficult because there are strict requirements about the kinds of courses you have to take. If you major in business, you could maybe teach either business or math, if you take enough math courses in college. Then, you can do an alternative certification, for which you'd have to take some ed courses but maybe could teach while you took them, depending on which state you are in. To teach in a different field (one you don't have many undergrad courses in), you'd have to do another degree.