TEFL teacher

TEFL teachers are responsible for teaching spoken and written English to people who are not native English speakers, both within the UK and abroad.

More than 200 institutions in over 40 countries offer full-time TEFL courses.

What it involves

Employers of TEFL teachers include private UK and international language schools, further and higher education academic institutions, local education authorities (LEA's), the British Council and voluntary organisations such as VSO. Typical responsibilities of the job include:

organising courses
planning lessons
preparing teaching materials
helping pupils improve their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills via individual and group sessions
checking and assessing pupils' work
organising and running specialist courses
attending social events.

What's required

Any degree subject is acceptable for entry into the profession, although some employers prefer a language, linguistics or English degree. It is advisable (and often necessary) to gain an approved TEFL qualification. Although there is a wide range of courses available, the RSA/University of Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) and the Trinity College London Certificate in TESOL are the most widely recognised. To teach in some countries it is necessary to hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in addition to a TEFL qualification, and often at least two years' general classroom experience. Relevant work experience gained as a private tutor, language assistant or summer language school tutor can be helpful. All candidates must have clear diction and excellent spoken and written English language skills.

Where to find out more

TEFL work tends to be seasonal, with most opportunities occurring between Easter and autumn. Many positions are only available on short-term contracts. Consequently, job security can be an issue. Permanent UK jobs and long term fixed contracts generally attract large numbers of applications. Opportunities are advertised via the internet, by careers services and recruitment agencies, in national newspapers (particularly The Guardian on Tuesdays), in The Times Higher Educational Supplement and specialist publications such as Overseas Jobs Express and English Language Gazette. There are several directories that can also be helpful for speculative applications including the ELT Guide and the BASELT Directory.