Day in the life
A Day in the Life of an Adult Education Teacher
What adult education teachers actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
Prepare ESL lesson materials on workplace vocabulary. From there, the day usually includes assess adult learners’ skills, plan lessons for mixed levels, and teach reading, writing and math. Classes often run mornings, evenings and weekends; many positions are part-time.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for an adult education teacher working full time.
- Prepare ESL lesson materials on workplace vocabulary.
- Teach a morning ESL class.
- Assess new students for placement.
- Tutor a learner in GED math.
- Enter attendance and progress data.
- Teach an evening GED reading class.
- Help a student apply for a training program.
Where adult education teachers work
Adult educators work in community colleges, libraries, community centers, workplaces and online.
Hours and schedule
Classes often run mornings, evenings and weekends; many positions are part-time.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Assess adult learners’ skills
- Plan lessons for mixed levels
- Teach reading, writing and math
- Teach English language skills
- Prepare students for GED or HiSET exams
- Connect learners to job and college resources
- Track progress for funding reports
Tools you’ll use every day
- Assessment tools such as CASAS or TABE
- Learning platforms
- GED prep materials
- Language learning apps
- Video conferencing
- Data reporting systems
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Highly motivated students
- Meaningful impact
- Flexible schedules
- Online options
What’s hard
- Many part-time positions
- Funding uncertainty
- Mixed-level classes
- Students juggling work and family
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like teaching adults
- I enjoy working with diverse cultures
- I’m patient
- I want flexible hours
- I want to help people change their lives
- I can teach mixed levels
Not sure? Take the free Adult Education Teacher fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Respect learner privacy
- Create a welcoming, respectful classroom
- Know emergency procedures
- Follow program policies for online safety