English may not be the mother tongue of the largest number of people in the world, but it is certainly the most widely spoken language. Apart from the conventionally English-speaking nations, you have the other nations striving to master English, which is slowly becoming the language of communication of the global movers and shakers. Teaching English as a foreign language is thus gaining prominence as a lucrative career option.
The job of teaching English as a foreign language involves imparting training to people whose native language is not English. Though you are usually required to teach the student in his own country, the tutoring may also take place in language schools or summer camps in an English-speaking region.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Your job profile will involve teaching English as a foreign language to students who have English as a part of their syllabi, those who are looking to improve their conversational skills and those who are looking to learn the language in order to gain admittance to an English speaking university. A great majority of your students will be people who are trying to learn or improve their English in order to further their career prospects.
In the course of teaching English as a foreign language, you will be required to guide the students in mastering the four tools of communication: listening, speaking, reading and writing while adhering to the framework of grammar and vocabulary.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
You will have to use books and audio-visual resource material along with formal exercises, language games and literature. You can also prepare learning materials on your own. Apart from teaching in a classroom setting, you may be required to take your students to outings, like visiting fairs, sports meets and cultural events, trips to other towns and cities and also the local market. But your primary aim will be to introduce an element of interactivity in the classroom so that your students do not find the lessons dull.
However, the greatest lure of the job of teaching English as a foreign language remains the prospect of traveling. Those bitten by the travel bug will find it interesting to know that the expansion of the European Union, the booming of the Japanese economy and the air of liberalization in the southeast Asian countries have thrown up a huge number of job openings for people willing to take up the profession of teaching English as a foreign language.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
But if you decide to go for teaching English as a foreign language overseas you need to be cautious about choosing your employer before signing on the dotted line. Your prospective employers can be language schools, government departments, voluntary organizations, large companies and the British Council.
Those scouting around for jobs in teaching English as a foreign language will be surprised to find that there exist huge discrepancies in the pay scales in the various countries. Before committing to any remuneration package, check the standard of living in the country.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
In new European states like Hungary, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania you will be able to support a comfortable lifestyle even with a comparatively smaller pay packet. However, it is quite difficult to get work and travel permits if you are not a citizen of the EU. While there are countries like Saudi Arabia where remunerations are considerably higher in comparison to other countries.
When you are teaching English as a foreign language, not only are you engaged in a noble profession, but also you get to broaden your horizons with exposure to new cultures and communities.
Teaching English learners a lesson of their lifetime. That is the motto of the English teachers responsible for molding young minds and opening up for them the delights of the English language.