Teaching English as a foreign language has always been one of the most popular choices for young graduates wishing to travel and experience the world. Now it is becoming an option that many mature job seekers or those wishing to change careers or take a career break are choosing.
Travel costs are now affordable to more and more people. As a result international travel and migration has increased over the last twenty or thirty years. This means that an English teaching qualification is even more valued and can be used both home and abroad.
Opportunities for teaching English as a foreign language
English is the third most used language spoken by an estimated 500 million people throughout the world. This means there is a wide variety of opportunities to teach English as a foreign language.
Students who decide to use their gap year to travel often use teaching as a method of supporting themselves. Others wishing to travel take the opportunity the see the world armed with an English teaching certificate.
Equally teaching English as a foreign language can provide a great living for those wishing to move and live abroad permanently. With the right qualification there is a good chance of finding a job in most countries.
If you are considering living and working overseas, go to our search for a job by country page and see what opportunities are available for you.
However, you do not need to go abroad to find a job teaching English as a foreign language. The UK is one of the most popular tourist destinations and places to study. According to the British Council over 700,000 people come to learn English in the UK each year.
Like many EU countries, the demographics of the UK are changing resulting in a more diverse society. As a consequence more people now have English as their second language.
This has resulted in an increased need for those qualified to teach English as a foreign language in schools, colleges and private organisations.
Language schools are popular in university towns such as Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham and York. Seaside towns including Bournemouth and Brighton also cater for overseas students. They often have openings for fully qualified teachers, those wishing to gain further experience and students.
What qualifications do you need for teaching English as a foreign language?
Opportunities for teaching English as a foreign language range from short-term jobs requiring no relevant teaching qualifications, through to long term, highly trained positions.
The most popular qualifications are:
Certificates:
CELTA: Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults
Cert. TESOL: Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
TEYL: Teaching English to Young Learners
Diplomas:
Delta: Diploma in English Language Teaching
DipTESOL: Licentiate Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
The CELTA is the most widely accepted initial teaching English as a foreign language qualification. It is a common requirement for those entering the field of English language teaching.
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De cursussen voor het onderwijzen van Engels als tweede (of derde) taal zijn een uitstekende graadmeter voor je eigen Engels. Er wordt namelijk wel van je verwacht dat je een native speaker-niveau hebt. Gelukkig hebben we in Nederland allemaal een goede basis. Het is echter belangrijk er niet al te lichtvaardig over te denken. Lesgeven is wel een vak.