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Teach English

How do you teach English? It’s a big question, but here’s everything we think you need to know about this fascinating, exciting career.

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With over a billion learners and over 180 countries either teaching English as a mandatory or elected subject at school, the demand for English language teaching has never been higher. In a globalised economy, where anyone can do business with anyone, the importance of English as a lingua franca means that learning the language creates a whole raft of career opportunities. Moreover, English is used in outstanding educational institutions worldwide, both in English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries.

International tourism, now more accessible than ever, is another major driver of demand for English teaching. Countries with significant numbers of annual visitors, like Spain, Turkey, China, Thailand and Mexico, have considerable demand for TEFL teachers. It’s not just limited to major metropolitan areas, either - outside the cities, people dreaming of career advancement want to learn English in order to be a part of the ever-growing tourism sector.

While English learning used to be limited to a classroom setting, language learning has gone online in a major way. Virtual classrooms, one-to-one tutoring platforms and other forms of online teaching have allowed more people than ever before to both learn and teach English as a foreign language.

So, how do you become an EFL teacher? How do you make students understand you? What qualifications do you need to be part of the action, how do you prepare for a career in English teaching, and what resources are available?

English teaching qualifications

What kinds of English teaching qualifications are available, and what’s your best choice? Ultimately, it depends on your situation. Previously, the CELTA was the primary teaching qualification and the standard for anyone looking to teach English abroad. Formerly, this was a classroom course delivered over a month, in person, in specific locations. However, the field has opened up significantly over recent decades, and there are different, equally worthy qualifications for anyone looking to start teaching English.

Let’s take a closer look at the main qualifications available to anyone who wants to start teaching ESL.

Qualifications

The most commonly held qualification for teaching English nowadays is a TEFL certificate. The industry standard for TEFL certification is 120 hours, which gives prospective teachers an excellent grounding in the theoretical and practical elements of English language teaching. Teachers who want a deeper understanding of teaching theory and practices can study for a Level 5 qualification. TEFL certificates are ideal for those who want to start teaching English to beginners or work with adults who only have basic English skills.

Things to consider

When choosing a TEFL certification course, there are some important things to consider. Accreditation is crucial, as it shows that external authorities have checked the quality of a course. The level of tutor support is really vital - it helps enormously to have experienced TEFL teachers on your side! If you can choose a course provider who signposts jobs and teaching programme opportunities, that makes a major difference. Check the reviews, too - the more verified, independent and positive reviews a provider has, the more confident you can be.

CELTA and DELTA

The CELTA is still a popular choice in the EFL world. One of the most recognised courses for teaching English as a foreign language, it focuses specifically on teaching adult learners. CELTA courses used to only be run through approved centres, but there are now hybrid and online options for distance learners. CELTA courses typically involve a month of full-time study, with 6 hours of observed teaching practice. The CELTA is considerably more expensive than a 120-hour or 200-hour TEFL course.

The DELTA, the Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, goes a step further. It’s an advanced TEFL qualification, and it can only be taken by qualified English teachers. You’ll need to have a few years of teaching experience under your belt to earn this qualification, but it’s worth it for teachers who want to bolster their CV.

Benefits

How does an English teacher benefit from these teaching qualifications? The simple truth is that they make you employable. Like in other industries, qualifications are a sign of quality, proficiency and, in very basic terms, your interest and passion for teaching. You should be trained for the job you want.

Qualifications improve your job prospects considerably. Nowadays, having anything less than 120 hours of TEFL certification from a properly accredited, high-quality TEFL course provider won’t get you anywhere. Employers don’t want to take gambles on unproved, unqualified teachers.

Another primary benefit of becoming TEFL qualified is that you’ll be well-trained. You’ll understand the theory and the methodologies of English teaching. These are incredibly useful skills whether you teach for life or part-time. You can use these skills for other career pursuits, too.

There’s also a social and networking component to qualifications. Meeting fellow teachers is never a bad thing - you can make friends, ask questions and later, ask for advice or job tips. Or, you might be the one giving advice!

What do I need to qualify?

Different qualifications have different requirements. To take a standard TEFL course, English doesn’t have to be your native language, but you do need to be a fluent speaker. You don’t need a degree to do a TEFL course. However, for the CELTA, you need to have completed secondary school.

Teaching experience is required for the DELTA, an advanced course for current teachers. You are unlikely to need teaching experience for other TEFL certification courses, though any experience you have will undoubtedly help.

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Preparing to teach English

What does an ESL teacher need to effectively teach English as a foreign language? Here are the essential skills that are crucial for successful English teaching.

Strong language proficiency
Effective communication skills
Classroom management
Ability to take on different learning styles
Cultural sensitivity

Strong language proficiency

An in-depth understanding of the English language is fundamental. English teachers must have a strong grasp of grammar, basic vocabulary, pronunciation and syntax. This knowledge is integral - you can’t teach English without knowing it extremely well, and it means you can accurately portray correct language use to beginner students and more mature ESL learners alike.

Effective communication skills

If you’re determined to be an outstanding teacher, effective communication is the cornerstone of teaching English - and everything else. Teachers must be able to articulate ideas clearly and concisely, whether verbally, through presentations and class direction, or through writing. Being an excellent active listener is really important, as well, since teachers need to understand students' needs, learning goals and level of proficiency and respond appropriately. The better your interpersonal skills are as a teacher, the better rapport you’ll build with your ESL students. Fostering a positive language-learning atmosphere results in a bunch of happy, eager students, after all!

Classroom management

Effective classroom management is key to running a productive and well-behaved English language class. No matter how laid-back a teacher is, they must set clear rules, stick to them, and deal with any trouble calmly and professionally. You don’t have to be a disciplinarian or a taskmaster, but by creating a structured and organised space, teachers can make the most of their learning time.

Ability to take on different learning styles

Students learn in many different ways, and no two English learners are alike. To be a successful ESL teacher, you’ll have to recognise and account for these differences. Doing some reading on different learning styles and really getting to know your students will pay off, with a more harmonious classroom and students who are able to pick up English more readily.

Cultural sensitivity

It might sound obvious, but cultural sensitivity is important for teaching English. ESL teachers should be sensitive to cultural differences in their student body. Celebrating different cultures and shining a spotlight on a range of celebrations and people can help to foster classrooms where all students feel valued, seen and respected. Bringing lesson plans which celebrate other cultures can really brighten up your English lessons, too!

Professional development

Continuous professional development (CPD) is crucial in the progress of an ESL teacher's career. It allows ESL professionals to stay updated with the latest teaching methodologies, network with others in the industry, and maintain high standards. By investing in their own development, ESL teachers can provide their students with the best possible language learning experience. If you’re obsessed with knowing how to teach English to the highest levels possible over a long period, CPD is vital.

Advanced TEFL qualifications

If you’re looking to upskill and increase your likelihood of finding job opportunities, advanced TEFL certification is a fantastic idea. Areas of English teaching like Business English, English for Academic Purposes and Exam Preparation are particularly useful if you’re teaching adult students with specific learning goals in mind. If you’re more interested in teaching young learners, there’s an advanced TEFL course for that, too. There are advanced courses for online teaching, phone learning and all sorts of other niche areas within TEFL. These can undoubtedly improve a teacher’s CV and also make a teacher’s skill set more well-rounded.

Online resources for teaching English

Keeping up with online resources such as blogs, articles, and videos is really important for any EFL teacher. Not only do they help teachers understand current industry trends, but they also help teachers improve through hearing about new teaching techniques and approaches. Webinars are a really useful resource. They cover a wide range of subjects, from language teaching methodologies to technology integration, helping ESL teachers enhance their teaching English skills.

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Teaching English abroad

There are countless amazing locations around the world to teach English as a second language. Worldwide, 1.5 billion people, from beginners to fluent speakers, speak English at some level.

English teachers are truly spoiled for amazing destinations. There’s enormous demand for English teaching across the world. China has the most learners anywhere, and the EFL industry there is enormous. Around Asia, there’s significant interest in English in countries including Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea.

Spain and France have always been popular EFL destinations, while regions like Latin America and the Middle East are becoming increasingly attractive. Mexico and the UAE, respectively, represent popular options.

One of the most important factors in finding work teaching English abroad is visas. You must meet visa conditions to legally work and live in certain countries. This can be a laborious process in some locations and less so in others, depending largely on a country’s political situation and the demand for teachers.

Another important factor in teaching English abroad is cultural sensitivity. When you move overseas, students understand you might not know everything about the local culture, and you might not necessarily have language skills in the local language quite yet. If you make an effort to adjust and learn, however, your ESL beginners will react well to your attempts to learn, and they'll want to learn more about you, in turn.

Download our TEFL guide to teaching English Online!

Teaching English online

Over the last two decades, the world of online English teaching online has grown exponentially. There are many fantastic companies and platforms for teaching English, where you can either work on a contract or advertise your services and set your own hours and rates.

With the availability of reliable home internet and tools for teaching, starting up as an online English teacher has never been easier. There are loads of paid and free online teaching resources - which can make the whole process easier - and new ways to network through social media, online EFL teaching groups and message boards.

A lot will rely on your ability to market yourself as an online English teacher, which will either come quite naturally or take work, depending on your personality and your career history. Once you’ve started, though, you’ll find it’s an extremely exciting world, one where you can achieve location independence and an amazing work/life balance!

You might find yourself teaching absolute beginners who only know very basic English, or you might meet people with advanced spoken English who need to work on specific areas. Either way, when you start teaching English online, you'll find most students have very different motivations to learn English with you, and it's an invigorating experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I start teaching English?

If you want to become a teacher of English as a foreign language, you’ll first need a TEFL certificate. Depending on where you want to teach, you may require a bachelor’s degree.

Q. How to teach the English language?

To teach the English language, you need strong communication skills, fluency in English, and the ability to adapt to different learning styles (especially if you’re teaching English to beginners).

Q. How do I teach my first English lesson?

There’s no one correct way to teach your first English lesson. Every teacher will have a different answer to this! If you remember what you were taught during your TEFL course and speak to experienced teachers, they will guide you through.

Q. How to teach English words to beginners?

There are lots of ways to teach English words to beginners. Amongst a myriad of other techniques, you can use visual aids, sound out letters and sounds within words and repeat words and gestures when you’re teaching English to beginners.