Where can I Teach English?

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"An ability to teach the English language is the most globally mobile skill there is."
Sue Griffith, Teaching English Abroad 7th Edition.

Opportunities

As an English teacher you use English the whole time in the classroom to immerse your students in the language.  Which means you can work in countries even though you can’t speak their language.  And this means you can work in a lot of countries!

The English language teaching (ELT) industry is unique in terms of the strong demand worldwide that exists for its qualified professionals. Countries seeking English language teachers include: Australia, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Turkey, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Malta, Kenya, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Korea, Mexico…

• An estimated 300 million people are currently learning English.
• English is becoming a keystone in many educational systems throughout the world. For example, it is compulsory for school children in China and Spain to learn English from the age of nine. Students in Nepal must pass their exams in English before they can articulate to the next level of schooling.
• English is the universal language for the Internet and electronically stored information.
• Australian education is renowned worldwide for its quality, affordability and innovation.  Over 380,000 international students from over 140 countries studied in Australia in 2006.  This covered a wide range of disciplines and at every level of education, from short-term English courses through to post-doctoral research.

Success of IH Sydney- Teacher Training Centre Graduates

The job opportunities for CELTA trained English language teachers are numerous, not only in terms of location but also position. Alumni from IH Sydney - Teacher Training Centre are teaching across the globe in roles ranging from in-house training, to teaching general/business/academic English through to setting up new teaching programs in China.

Opportunities exist to work casually, on a short-term or long-term contract or even to work from home. With experience, you may go on to take the next level qualification, the Cambridge Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA) and then pursue a career in educational management, writing and materials development or teacher training.

Finding a job

IH Sydney - Teacher Training Centre devotes an entire morning of its courses to helping you to find a job. This session provides detailed information on the "where and how" of entering the ELT industry.  Some encouraging facts include:

• Due to the enormous demand for quality teachers the International House network was only able to find enough qualified teachers to fill half of its teaching positions vacant worldwide last year. IH Sydney - Teacher Training Centre can interview its CELTA graduates for these positions and for positions available within its Sydney school.
• A CELTA graduate, with a bachelor degree of any discipline, who wants to work in Sydney can expect to earn around A$35.80/hour on a casual rate when they start working for an accredited language school. This rate will increase once you gain greater experience within the industry and/or undertake further related study. Please note: local schools tend not to advertise teaching positions vacant and the standard practice is to apply directly to schools.
• There are many opportunities to secure overseas teaching contracts before leaving Australia. These contracts will range in terms of level of pay, length of contract, company sponsorship and benefits. Sources of job adverts include: Job Board, Sydney Morning Herald, International House World Organisation, www.eslcafe.com, www.tefl.com and teacher recruitment agencies such as Bablefish.
• Australia now has reciprocal working holiday maker arrangements with 21 countries.  Typically Australians aged between 18 and 30 years can apply for working holiday/work and holiday visas for up to 12 months in duration.  

Is there a job guarantee?

Cambridge CELTA graduates can be confident that their qualification will be viewed by employers worldwide as a premium TESOL qualification. As such CELTA graduates can choose the country of their choice (pending visa requirements) AND their employer. Training institutes who guarantee job placement upon successful course completion are often aligned with a limited number of language schools and teachers may find that their qualifications and experience are not recognised when they seek employment elsewhere.

The International House World Organisation (IHWO) is an affiliate network of 120 schools in 46 countries. The IHWO has established a long standing reputation for offering quality training. IH Sydney - Teacher Training Centre Cambridge CELTA graduates are therefore not only carrying a worldwide recognised qualification, but they are also carrying a reference for employment written by a training institute of high regard.

IH Sydney - Teacher Training Centre graduates are taught how to present themselves and their CV to obtain jobs with quality schools. They are also guided in terms of the questions to ask future employers to ensure that they work for a school with good resources and facilities, that there are other qualified teachers on staff and that they are working for a favourable rate of pay. All of which are essential as many overseas jobs are offered ‘site unseen’.

IH Sydney - Teacher Training Centre will provide its CELTA graduates with details of language schools and recruitment agencies who have contacted it directly with teaching positions available. It will also recommend its CELTA graduates to other IHWO schools if the graduate wishes to work within the IHWO network.

Do I need a degree?

You are not required to hold a bachelor degree or diploma to undertake the Cambridge CELTA. However, holding the dual qualifications of a degree or diploma (of at least three years full time in any field) and the Cambridge CELTA will broaden your job prospects in certain countries.

You will require the dual qualifications to work in an Australian NEAS accredited language school.  You are also required to have either:

• a recognised teaching qualification, or
• 800 hours classroom teaching experience, or
• to achieve a higher than pass grade in the Cambridge CELTAor Certificate IV in TESOL, or
• references from your CELTA course director indicating the criterion on which your performance was above standard. 

Note: There are approximately 110 English language colleges in Sydney, around 70% are accredited with NEAS. Most non-accredited schools in Sydney employ CELTA and Certificate IV in TESOL (native English speakers) trained teachers who don’t hold a degree or diploma.

You are not required to hold a degree to work as an English language teacher in most parts of Europe and South America. You are required to hold a degree to gain a working visa in certain parts of Asia, e.g. Japan.

If you are opting to work abroad,  it is important to check out the visa regulations for the countries you want to teach in. Please note that Australian passport holders may need to obtain their work permit/visa before they leave Australia. The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website has a full listing of embassies, high commissions and consulates.