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TEFL/TESL teacher

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) involves helping languages classes to get to grips with English in a country where it is not a main language. In English-speaking countries it is known as Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).

There are a lot of acronyms connected with this job. They include: EAL, EAP, EFL, EIL, ELF, ELT, ESL, ESOL, ESP, TEFL, TESL and TESOL

TEFL/TESL teacher job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Typical responsibilities of the job include:

organising courses
planning, preparing and delivering 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.

Typical employers

private schools
maintained schools
further and higher education institutions
community and adult education centres
local education authorities (LEAs)
voluntary organisations.

Opportunities are advertised via the internet, by careers services and recruitment agencies, in national newspapers (particularly The Guardian on Tuesdays), in The Times Educational Supplement and Higher Educational Supplement and specialist publications such as Overseas Jobs Express, The Voice and English Language Gazette.

There are several directories that can also be helpful for speculative applications including the ELT Guide, The Education Year Book, the Education Authorities Directory and the BASELT Directory.

Qualifications and training required

Some employers prefer a language, linguistics, education or English degree. Many jobs require a relevant postgraduate qualification, and it may be necessary to have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which can be gained via the PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education).

Employees may need 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.