| Passport To A Career Abroad |
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If you have a love of travelling but feel limited by the demands of a job in the UK, this could very well the career path for you. The doors to a career abroad are opening year on year. With the world rapidly becoming multi-lingual, the demand for English Teachers in schools worldwide is set to rocket. Children all over the world are already learning English as a basic skill at the same time as they learn to read and write and English is becoming the most favoured language for the delivery of university courses in many countries. Recent research published by the British Council highlights a huge demand for the English speakers in all walks of life. The report estimates two billion people, a third of the entire human race, could be learning English by 2010-2015. This will mean that as many as three billion people - or half the world’s population - could be speaking the language. While the future appears positive for English, French as an international language may be a major casualty. Chinese, Arabic & Spanish are also set to flourish, while German is becoming more popular again as a foreign language in parts of Asia. If the idea of combining a career with a foreign climate and culture appeals, you must first decide which qualification suits you. The most common acronyms currently used to describe English language teaching are; TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This refers to teaching people whose first language is not English, but who need to learn it for work or leisure. These students are usually adults who are paying for the courses themselves, or their company is. They are often highly motivated and literate, and already have an aptitude for languages. TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. This is often used to mean the same thing as TEFL, but it is also used to describe English language teaching to people living in an English speaking country who are not native English speakers – such as refugees and first generation immigrants. This teaching is provided by the state, and supported in the UK by the Learning and Skills Council. Students do not pay for their own lessons. In the UK, TESOL courses provide students with a level of English that will allow them to integrate into the country’s educational, work and cultural environment. There may be a need to teach basic literacy and other life skills as well. TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language. English is spoken as a common second language in the context of official communication and administration in many countries where several other language groups co-exist – such as Nigeria, Kenya, India and Singapore. Another term that may be used in this context is TEAL (Teaching English as an Additional Language). Your choice will primarily depend on which type of students, you wish to teach – adults or kids, and of course what country you wish to live in. You might be surprised by the choices. There are dozens of websites & companies that specialise in this arena but a great starting point is to contact The British Council. Their website is www.britishcouncil.org and is packed with loads of useful tips & practical information. ©Career Media Ltd |
