How To Land A Job Teaching English As A Foreign Language
English is increasingly becoming a globally-recognized language. A number of industries including tourism, business, sciences, and engineering prefer employees that can speak English. In fact, English has become the globally-recognized language for industries including engineering and other branches of science given the large amount of professional jargon (a century or so ago, the official language of engineering was German; before that it was Latin). Needless to say, those who can effectively teach English are in high-demand. If teaching English as a foreign language, or TEFL, sounds like it might be the right career choice for you, look to earning your TEFL certification to jumpstart your career.
There are few global requirements to teach English in an informal environment. However, TEFL is a highly desirable career to many native English-speakers. You will likely get to travel the world, meet new people, teach adults or children, and find a job teaching English close to home in the UK. Having a TEFL certification from an accredited program can often put you a step ahead of the competition and help you land the perfect job for you. Instead of relying on being a bright and dedicated English as a foreign language teacher, sharpen your teaching skills while increasing your marketability by earning a TEFL certification. In addition, a TEFL certification will help open doors that a degree alone cannot. Many schools and professional organizations looking to hire an English teacher want to be confident in the teacher’s ability to teach English to populations that might only know the phrases “Hello” and “Okay.”
Once you have decided that TEFL might be the right career for you and earning your TEFL certification, it is important to think about where you would like to start your TEFL career. Instead of only thinking about geographic locations, think about if you would prefer teaching English to adults or young children. You want to have a job that you will enjoy. Also, knowing what you want and going after it is a great way to differentiate yourself from other job candidates. Instead of saying that you will teach anyone, anywhere, be more selective to find the right position for you.
Another benefit of starting a career teaching English is that you will often be able to easily change placements. After a few years of globe-trotting, you can settle down in a location of your choice. Similarly, you can take a job teaching adults in the event you feel burned out after working with younger children. The possibilities are almost endless. Start your TEFL career by earning your certification next session.
