I want to work in ..... TEFL and Teaching Abroad

 

The Careers Service receives many TEFL vacancies throughout the year – too many for us to personally check the organisations’ credentials. Therefore, before you apply for any vacancies, please do some research of your own. You can find a checklist of points to consider at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/int/TEFLChecklist.htm

What is TEFL? or TESOL? or is it TESL?

TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
TESL = Teaching English as a Second Language

The terms TEFL and TESOL both mean teaching English to people whose first language is not English and who are normally resident in a non-English speaking country. These students may wish to learn English for many reasons – for business purposes, to improve their educational or career opportunities or to travel.

TESL normally refers to teaching English to people who have moved from their own country to the UK (or another English-speaking country) and need to develop their English language skills in order to work, study, access services and/or develop social networks.

See www.prospects.ac.uk/links/ Occupations for detailed job profiles of TEFL and TESOL teachers (under Education)

Jargon buster

Qualifications

For many of the better jobs in Europe you need a TEFL qualification. The TEFL Certificate is the preliminary qualification and the one sought by most language schools when recruiting teachers. Courses are open to undergraduates and graduates of any subject who are native speakers of, or completely fluent in, English. They take about 1 month and costs around £1,000.

Cambridge ESOL courses (CELTA) and Trinity College London (TESOL) are known to be well established and respected worldwide and these qualifications are often specified by recruiters. See the Listings section below for lists of these courses

However, there is a great variety of TEFL courses available. Anybody can set up such a course – there is no requirement for any accreditation in this field. Always find out exactly what a course offers before signing up to it.

We have an excellent reference book called "Teaching English Abroad" (available at Reception) which includes a chapter covering 'The Value of ELT Qualifications' and the range of courses, which provides a useful overview of the types of courses available and some of the potential pitfalls. It also lists CELTA, TESOL and other courses in the UK and abroad.

Free TEFL E-Book from i-to-i "TEFL Uncovered: How to teach your way abroad with TEFL". Described by Kenneth Beare as “an excellent starting point for anyone interested in teaching English abroad. It is a workbook that will provide useful time and time again when making decisions about and applying for work.". You can download a copy here

You will see Diploma and even Master's courses in TEFL but it is not necessary to have one of these to teach: most students on these courses already have a TEFL certificate plus teaching experience and are often preparing to train teachers themselves.

TEFL course listings

TEFL course providers

These are just a few, mentioned here because they are based locally or regularly provide the CAS with details of their courses. See the “Listings” section above for comprehensive lists of courses

Both the above offer the four-week Cambridge CELTA course in Canterbury

General TEFL sites: advice, information, courses and vacancies

Sites carrying recruitment information and job vacancies

TEACHING ENGLISH IN THE UK

There are many language schools throughout the UK , with the largest number being in the South-East and along the south coast. They may offer vacation employment opportunities for activity leaders and social organisers (who will not need a TEFL qualification) as well as for qualified English language teachers. Much of this work is seasonal, from June to August. Again, we are only able to list a few of the many language schools individually.

See our pages on Work Experience and Vacation Work at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/vacwork.htm

VOLUNTEERING

Most of these organisations do not require a TEFL qualification and some will provide introductory TEFL training

TEACHING IN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

These schools regularly notify the CAS of their vacancies

TEACHING IN ASIA
Japan

 

The JET Interview - information from interviews with Kent students

When you arrive at the Embassy you are escorted in pairs to watch a video, and take the grammar test at the same time. Before the interview you are able to talk to previous JET candidates and ask them questions about their experiences. Visiting the Embassy is a fantastic experience, the ex-JETs are very friendly and keen to answer your questions. It is a very nerve-racking experience, but also very rewarding.

Questions asked at the interview

  • What is it about teaching in Japan that particularly appeals?
  • Why do you want to go to Japan/ what interests you about it?
  • If there was a similar position going in China, would you apply for that?
  • In your application you said that you found Japan intriguing.  Can you elaborate on that?
  • Apart from the language what other aspects of Japanese culture do you enjoy?
  • Are you nervous about the prospect of living in a foreign country?
  • How would you adapt to living in a very rural area, with very few English speakers?
  • How does the JET Programme and your future career relate to each other?
  • What age students would you prefer to teach?
  • What ideas would you have for a day of activities at your school concerning your home country?
  • If a Japanese person was staying with you, what three towns would you take them to and why?
  • If you had to deliver a presentation on “Greatest Britons” what three Britons would you choose and why?
  • What is the difference between the House of Commons and the House of Lords?
  • How would you explain the difference between Great Britain and the UK?
  • How would you explain cricket to a class of Japanese children?
  • In England we have the Queen.  What does Japan have?
  • You are a vegetarian; how will you cope in Japan where fish is considered a staple food?
  • How would you deal with a problematic relationship with the Japanese teacher of English you worked with?
  • What would you do do if your supervising teacher is very strict about teaching methods, and wants you to merely recite sentences in front of a class?
  • If you spent weeks preparing a lesson only to be told by the teacher that it wouldn’t go ahead, what would you do?
  • If you had planned a holiday with some fellow JETs, and your school informed you that an important school festival was taking place at the same time, what would you do?
  • Do you have any questions for us?

What tests were you given?

I was given a grammar test which lasted about 10 minutes, which also covered spelling. The test also asked you how you would explain popular English phrases, such as ‘hit the nail on the head’ to a non-English speaker. We were given three tests - one on English grammar and usage, one on British culture and one on Japanese culture. Don't worry too much about the tests; I made quite a few glaring mistakes on them, but it didn't make any difference! Studying British culture as much as Japanese though, as British questions were the hardest.

  • English Grammar
    • The meanings of three words (of increasing obscurity) had to be defined from a choice of three. E.g. explain briefly and simply the difference between 'naughty' and 'mischievous'; “to listen” and “to hear”.
    • Edit and punctuate a short paragraph. “The sun has got its hat on and its coming out to play”: add punctuation as necessary.
    • Identify the correct spelling of a word. The spellings of three words (of increasing obscurity) had to be defined from a choice of three.
  • British Culture
    • Who do you think is a good representative for Britain?
    • What is the difference between the Scottish and Welsh parliaments? (multiple choice).
    • Name the patron saints.
    • What inventions are British?
  • Japanese Culture
    • Where is Japan listed in the World economy leaders?
    • What do the Japanese call Japan?
    • Name a Japanese designer

Tips

Don't let the setting or interviewers overwhelm you, as it can be quite intimidating! Be very polite and respectful, dress smartly and demonstrate your dedication to the programme, and to teaching. Leave plenty of time to get there. I think that being friendly and honest helps. I was really nervous, as the interview takes place at the embassy (which is very grand), but I joked about it and the interviewers said that they understood. I chatted to them briefly about Canterbury when I went in to the interview room, and smiled a lot. When answering their questions I was enthusiastic, and tried to appear as flexible as possible.

China, Hong Kong and Taiwan

Korea

Other countries and general information

Teaching Abroad - subjects other than EFL

Australia

United States

Requirements for teachers in the US are controlled by each individual state. The web site of each state education board has a 'teacher certification' section - some of which outline the certification requirements and process for international teachers.

You are also required to have a US recognised teaching qualification and a licence to teach. To teach in a public school you would need at least a PGCE (or equivalent) qualification.  

You need to consider how long you intend to stay in the US and what type of visa to apply for. You could study for a post graduate teaching qualification at a US university - but this would be expensive and you would still have to get a a visa at the end of the course. For visa information see www.usembassy.org.uk

The Illinois Education Board states:  'In order to become certified in Illinois, foreign applicants must have been prepared as an educator outside of the United States, meet all coursework and testing requirements, be legally eligible for employment in the United States, and meet all other requirements detailed in Illinois statute and rules.'  Qualifications then have to be assessed by an agency appointed by the State Education Board which can take time. Details of teacher certification requirements for each state are at http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_cd=SEA

The best way to teach in the US is to get a PGCE in the UK first and then apply for US jobs. You then have to apply for a visa to work in the US.

The qualifications needed for private schools are similar to those for public schools. A master's degree or PhD will help greatly. A school will normally make it very clear if certification is required in the first instance. A school may hire  provisionally if it feels a candidate can meet the state certification eligibility requirements within a reasonable time. Most states will require evidence of your degree and a background check before approving a teacher hire in a private school. Apart from this, most state education authorities take a hands off approach. The bottom line is that private schools can hire whoever they wish. http://privateschool.about.com

 

Last fully updated in March 2008