What Kind of TEFL Job Opportunities Are There?

Teaching English to Young Learners

Many parents see learning English as one of the most important parts of their child’s education. Because of this, teaching young learners is one of the biggest TEFL job markets on the planet and there are opportunities to teach children in most countries. Young learners are usually aged between six and 12. Our specialist TEFL certificate in Teaching Young Learners should come in handy if you fancy teaching kids.

Teaching Business English

English is the language of international trade, diplomacy and commerce. This leads to a huge demand for TEFL teachers, especially those with a TEFL certificate and some training in Teaching business English. Most major industry and commerce is centred around large cities in wealthy countries. So the best opportunities for teaching business English are to be found in China, South Korea, the Middle Eastern Gulf States and the European Union. Our specialist TEFL certificate in Teaching Business English could open up loads of opportunities in this lucrative market.

Private Tutoring

Private English tutoring, or teaching English one-to-one, is a great way to earn extra a little extra money on top of your main TEFL job. However, teaching one student for an hour can be challenging, as there is little scope to ‘relax’ while your students do group work as you would in a normal class.  Our specialist TEFL certificate in Teaching English One-to-One will help you learn the tricks of the trade.

Teaching English In Schools

There are two main types of schools you can teach in:

State Schools

Because these schools are government-run, they offer a reliable and (hopefully!) well organised teaching environment. You’ll have the chance to teach kids aged anywhere from four to 18. The wages are normally pretty competitive and there’s little chance of getting ripped off.

Private Language Institutes

Most major cities across Europe, Latin America and Asia have a number of private language schools. When working for private schools you’ll need to do a little research to make sure you find a reputable school. The top private schools offer great benefits: a stable income, a regular working week, a long-term contract and, in many cases, a slightly higher salary than in state schools.

Teaching English in Universities

TEFL jobs in universities are considered by many to be among the best English teaching jobs available. The working conditions are good, the wages are a little higher than in private and state schools, and the students are well educated and usually already have a decent level of English. In many countries, university jobs are reserved for people with higher degrees (MA/MSc), higher-level TEFL certificates or DELTAs and teaching experience. But it’s worth checking the local job sites and newspapers once you arrive in-country.

Teaching English for Specific Purposes

Teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is often divided into EAP (English for Academic Purposes) and EOP (English for Occupational Purposes). ESP is further divided up into business English, professional English (e.g. teaching English to doctors and lawyers) and vocational English (e.g. teaching English for tourism, nursing and specific industries). English for Academic Purposes (EAP) usually revolves around teaching students to use English in order to study. It’s a branch of TEFL that has grown in recent years due to the number of students taking on higher-level studies in English.

Conversational English

Teaching conversational English is a great option if you want to start teaching English, but are nervous about getting to grips with grammar. In conversational English classes your sole aim is to get your students talking, so that means lots of games, group work and activities.

Volunteer Teaching

If you have little previous teaching experience, or you’re more interested in making a difference than making a pile of cash, volunteer teaching is a good choice. It also offers you the chance to travel to places way off the beaten track, build up your CV and improve your TEFL employment prospects.