30
Dec
2009
TEFL
What is TEFL?
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. TEFL usually occurs in the student’s own country, a country where English is not the primary language spoken. The term is used in conjuction with EFL (English as a Foreign Language), to refer to students of English in a non-English speaking region. By contrast, TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) is usually taught in an English-speaking country to students whose first language is not English (ESL- English as a Second Language).
The terms for teaching English varies around the world. In the UK, Ireland and New Zealand the term ESL was replaced with ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), so TESOL was used to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. However ESL is still used in the USA, Canada and Australia. Another variation is ESD (English as a Second Dialect), used predominantly in Australia and Canada. The term is used for teaching standard English to speakers of a creole or non-standard variety, typically Indigenous peoples.
Teaching English
Teaching English in a non-English speaking country is done with the purpose of giving students more opportunities for study and career progression. By learning English and passing an English exam to prove their proficiency (such as the IELTS or the TOEFL), students are able to apply for study or employment abroad where that is the primary language spoken.
TEFL is a great opportunity for native English speakers to see the world, experience life in a foreign country and contribute positively to another nation. The qualifications needed vary from country to country, some requiring a degree, teaching experience, and certificate in English teaching (such as TESOL). Other nations may only require secondary education with a teaching certificate, or even for the teacher to be a native English speaker with teaching experience. Conditions of course vary as well, depending on the employer and the country’s level of development.
22
Jul
2009
Teaching Jobs
Teaching
A teacher is one who teaches others because they have a greater understanding and experience in the subject area. A qualified teacher will usually teach in a formal education institution, whether a school or university. Teachers use different ways to help their students learn, which is referred to as a pedagogy. Usually teachers will follow a standardised curricula, on which they base their lesson plans and skills they want to teach. Some factors that they usually take into consideration include the students’ background knowledge, skill level, age, and environment.
To find a teaching position it is important to have the right qualifications and experience for the job, as discussed below. However it is also important to have a high quality resume and to practice your job interview skills. When looking for jobs there are many avenues available. The first place many look is on the internet, which has a vast amount of websites that advertise job vacancies. These can be both general job search sites as well as specialised educational employment sites. You can also look in newspapers- local and national- in the education sections as well as the career sections of the paper. Another avenue is through job agencies which will inform you of new positions and help with your application.
Teacher Qualifications
To be a teacher at a primary or secondary level you must have completed a relevant undergraduate degree or a post-graduate teaching course. For example, for primary teaching there are many education degrees that combine studies in education and other subjects. If you complete an undergraduate degree that is not in teaching, you may be able to complete a graduate degree such as a graduate diploma in education or a master of teaching in order to become qualified to teach. For tertiary teaching positions, whether at a trades college or a university, additional study or experience will probably be required.