Category: Teacher’s Career

The TEFL Academy is one of the best TEFL course providers in the industry. If you are seeking a recognized TEFL certification at an affordable price, that will prepare and qualify you to teach English as a foreign language, The TEFL Academy is hard to beat. The TEFL Academy’s (Ofqual) Level 5 TEFL certification will satisfy most job requirements to teach English online or abroad.

According to their own statement, The TEFL Academy is the most awarded TEFL provider! They have won the Go Overseas and GoAbroad Top TEFL Awards for five years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023) in a row!

The TEFL Academy review we have performed here is based on an actual assessment of the Level 5 course.

Pros

• Accredited UK Ofqual Level 5 qualification
• Accredited in the USA by DEAC
• Includes 168 hours of online instruction (20 hours of online practicum can be purchased as a separate course)
• Can be completed online through self-study or as a combined learning course
• Each enrollee is assigned and given direct access to a qualified and experienced ESL Professional
• Enrollees have 6 months to complete the online course

Cons

• Receiving assignment assessments from course instructors can sometimes take time – prepare ahead of any employment abroad and visa applications

Acreddited TEFL Course

The TEFL Academy (not to be confused with International TEFL Academy) was founded in 2012 in the UK, and while it is one of the newer TEFL certification providers on the scene, it enjoys a special place among the few providers currently offering Ofqual Level 5 TEFL certifications.

What this means is that its TEFL certification courses are put through a rigorous audit to ensure they comply with Ofqual, a UK Government department which regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments.

Here is what Ofqual states as its responsibilities:

We’re responsible for making sure that:

• regulated qualifications reliably indicate the knowledge, skills and understanding students have demonstrated
• assessments and exams show what a student has achieved
• people have confidence in the qualifications that we regulate
• students and teachers have information on the full range of qualifications that we regulate

As such, The TEFL Academy’s Level 5 TEFL certification is an officially recognized qualification, so anyone planning to embark on a career in TEFL can do no wrong by earning this certification. To put things into perspective, the Cambridge CELTA is a Level 5 qualification. So, in essence, The TEFL Academy’s TEFL certification is an equivalent to the CELTA in terms of its Level 5 qualification.

The TEFL Academy has also taken the additional step of gaining accreditation by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), an accreditation body recognized by the US Department of Education.

Courses Offered by The TEFL Academy

What sets The TEFL Academy apart from its competitors is that it offers only two courses, which can be completed entirely online: a Level 3 (120 hours) and a Level 5 (168 hours) course. In this article, we focus on the Level 5 course.

Many providers offer a wide range of courses, which can get confusing for prospective students who don’t know which course is right for them. The fact of the matter is that the ESL industry generally regards 120 hours as the minimum study hours for a valid TEFL certification. Most quality employers will be looking at this when examining your TEFL qualifications.

Any course which can be completed in fewer than 100 hours is insufficient on its own, while courses which require more than 200 hours to complete are usually unnecessary. You should be well-equipped to teach English to ESL learners by completing a course within 200 hours.

Level 5 TEFL qualifications include at least 150 hours of course study. While the number of study hours itself does not define the quality of a TEFL course, a course must have enough depth of content to adequately impart knowledge, skills, and understanding required for the qualification to have any true value.

Therefore, the 168-hour Level 5 TEFL Certification course offered by The TEFL Academy is more than adequate for gaining qualifications to teach English to ESL learners.

That said, when you enroll in the Level 5 TEFL Certification course, you will also receive one of The TEFL Academy’s top-up courses free of charge. Many other providers charge extra tuition for their extension courses, so this is a nice bonus for completing your TEFL certification with The TEFL Academy.

Let’s take a look at the courses on offer: 

Diploma/Certificate Courses

• Online Level 5 TEFL Course (168 hours)
• Online Level 3 TEFL Course (120 hours)

Practicum

• Oberserved Teaching Practice Course (40 hours)

Top-up Courses (free when enrolling in the Level 5 TEFL course)

• Teaching Young Learners (30 hours)
• Teaching Business English (30 hours)
• Teaching English Online and 1-to-1 (30 hours)

Diving Into The TEFL Academy Level 5 Online TEFL Certification

The Dashboard

The TEFL Academy has neatly organized its online certification course into 10 units, providing a complete set of skills designed to prepare you to get started as ESL teachers. Each unit focuses on specific aspects of teaching English to ESL learners.

When you log in to the training portal, you are immediately taken to a dashboard where you have access to the course and a TEFL glossary for common lingo used in the industry.

There is also a notification reminding you that submitted assignments will be assessed by a qualified tutor, usually within 5 business days. This gives you a sense of comfort and encouragement that you are not merely going through an automated online course, but that your enrollment in the course involves being assessed by a qualified ESL professional.

Within your dashboard, you can navigate from one unit to the next as you go through the course. You can also navigate to other key sections of the course. For example, in the Competencies section, you can track your progress through the course and the competencies you have developed along the way. In the Grades section, you can see your unit test grades, assignment grades, and overall course grade.

The Course

Each unit has specific outcomes defining what you competencies you will have gained by the end of the unit. The content in the units are organized into “Steps”. You must complete Step 1 before gaining access to Step 2, and so on.

This keeps you from getting distracted and wandering around the course while not ever completing it. Completing the course step-by-step makes it easy for you to stay focused on the task at hand.

Towards the end of each unit, there is a Further Reading section where you can find additional references to enhance your understanding of the theme and concepts covered in the unit.

Finally, before completing the unit, you will have to pass a test before you can proceed to the next unit.

In-depth Content and Solid Delivery

The course covers every core aspect of being a quality ESL teacher that both employers and students expect. Here’s a breakdown of the topics covered:

• Lesson Planning
• Teaching English Vocabulary
• Teaching Pronunciation
• Understanding English Grammar
• Teaching Receptive Skills: Listening and Reading
• Teaching Productive Skills: Speaking and Writing
• Teaching English Grammar
• Principles of Teaching English as a Foreign Language
• Materials and Aids for Teaching English/Classroom Management Strategies
• Using Resources Effectively when Teaching English as a Foreign Language
• Case Study, CV and Cover Letter, Job Sites and Resources

Actionable Information and Advice

Enrollees are assigned to specific course tutors who will monitor their progress, grade their assignments, and provide constructive feedback and support as needed.

In fact, The TEFL Academy has set up an Online Course Tutor Support website where you can submit support tickets and track every support request with a complete archive of the communication you’ve had with your assigned tutor.

There are three assignments to complete during the course. The first one is assigned after you have finished the first five units. Detailed instructions and templates are provided for you to complete the assignments, and, as mentioned, students can seek help from their tutors via the support website.

The assignments are not a cakewalk. That’s not actually a bad thing, as it’s proof positive that you must actually study and make the effort to successfully complete assignments to earn your TEFL qualification. After all, if you’re paying for a legitimate, government-regulated qualification, you would not expect to complete it without any difficulty.

The assignments are designed to aid you in developing key skill sets needed for planning and delivering lessons, and supporting the development of your students.

Naturally, we can’t reveal any information about assignments because they are intended only for students enrolled in the course. Spilling that information to the public would be a disservice to those who pay for the course and to The TEFL Academy itself.

Examples of assignments you can expect: creating specific lesson plans for teaching various English language skills and in different contexts, and writing an essay, which will likely require you to conduct some research. 

Anyone graduating from the 168-hour Level 5 TEFL course will gain valuable knowledge and a genuine appreciation for teaching English to ESL learners.

The course itself can be completed within 4 – 5 weeks if you are committed, though you have up to 6 months to complete the course. This should be ample time to complete the course and gain your TEFL certification.

Beyond the core course content, The TEFL Academy also includes a module for preparing a CV (résumé) and cover letter. This is invaluable for anyone who finds writing a resume or cover letter on their own difficult.

What Can Be Improved?

While there is always room for improvement, it’s really hard to find fault with this course. The TEFL Academy has arguably put together the most complete and well-structured TEFL certification course we have reviewed, and it’s no small compliment to say that the course has been designed to prepare ESL teachers for real-life teaching.

A few course graduates have commented that the turnaround for assessing assignments is a bit slow. Any experienced ESL teacher will attest that assessing students’ assignments is not fast work, and it requires intense concentration and patience to review essays, lesson plans and other assignments.

Having said that, people who have paid for the course may need to have a TEFL certificate in time for employment and work visas, and the time to wait could impact getting these sorted out in time.

Still, this is not entirely the responsibility of The TEFL Academy. If you are planning on a career abroad as an ESL teacher, you really should be planning to earn your TEFL qualification. This is one of the key qualifications needed to secure a legitimate job and work visa in most countries.

Why travel abroad without the qualifications in hand? As it is, many countries now require that your documents (including your TEFL certificate) be apostilled prior to granting you a visa.

After all, the course can be completed within one month of committed study, and you have up to six months of access to complete the course.

So, yes, perhaps The TEFL Academy could do better with their turnaround for grading and providing feedback for assignments, but they do provide fair warning to students to allow 5 business days for their tutors to assess assignments and provide feedback.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is ideal for practically anyone aspiring to become a qualified ESL teacher. As an Ofqual-regulated and accredited qualification, The TEFL Academy’s Level 5 TEFL Certification is a fantastic option for both online ESL teachers and anyone planning a career teaching English abroad.

Considering that one top-up course is offered free of charge to enrollees in the Level 5 TEFL Certification course, you will acquire more than enough skills to back up your paper qualifications as an ESL teacher.

Can Non-Native English Speakers Enroll in this Course?

The short answer is YES. Non-native English speakers can enroll in the course; however, if you are a non-native English speaker, you should have at least a C1 (Advanced) level of English proficiency. According to The TEFL Academy, about 20% of their course enrollees are non-native English speakers.

Top-up Courses

The TEFL Academy offers top-up courses designed to help you specialize your teaching skills for:

• Young learners
• Business English
• Online and 1-to-1 teaching

If you successfully complete the Level 5 course, you will be eligible to enroll in one top-up course of your choice for free. Top-up courses are 30 hours, and completing the top-up course earns you a specialized TEFL certificate.

While the top-up courses don’t carry much weight with employers, these courses will help you understand various aspects of how to teach English in a foreign country or online, whichever of these applies to your situation.

The TEFL Academy also offers a 40-hour Teaching Practice Course, designed to help new TEFL teachers can practice teaching skills in a group session. Enrolling in this course involves group work and tasks, and enrollees will work together in smaller groups to plan and deliver mock lessons to each other.

This is not equivalent to an onsite teaching practicum, in which TEFL teachers would gain practical experience with real ESL learners. But the Teaching Practice Course does cover various methods of lesson delivery and practical teaching material you can use once you complete the course.

Job Placement Assistance

The TEFL Academy review would not be complete without discussing job placement assistance. Typically, TEFL course providers have included at least basic assistance with job placement, ranging from resume planning and crafting to connecting graduates with partner schools and online ESL companies.

As online teaching continues to grow, The TEFL Academy has chosen the path of helping their graduates find teaching jobs via their job board, and referring them to other popular job boards such as this site.

The TEFL Academy Internships

Like other TEFL course providers, The TEFL Academy offers internship programs. Most internship programs are in Asia, though some internship opportunities are available in Europe and Latin America.

Pricing

The 168-hour Level 5 Online TEFL Certification tuition fee is regularly priced at around $530. This is significantly less expensive than many other Level 5 TEFL qualifications.

Bottom Line

We hope our The TEFL Academy review has helped you decide if getting TEFL qualified with their Level 5 certification is for you.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a course provider as friendly, approachable, and transformative as The TEFL Academy. This is a legitimate TEFL certification, and completing the course should equip you with the skills and confidence to teach English.

Enroll here for the course.

As a teacher in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it’s essential to dress appropriately to show respect for local culture and Islamic values. Whether you’re teaching at a public school, private international school, or language center, understanding the dress code expectations is key to presenting yourself professionally and setting a good example for your students. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the UAE teacher dress code.

General UAE Teacher Dress Code

In general, teachers in the UAE are expected to dress in business professional to business casual attire, erring on the conservative side. Public schools tend to have stricter dress codes, while private international schools and language centers may allow a bit more flexibility. However, it’s always best to dress modestly and avoid anything too revealing or tight-fitting.

For Women:

• Cover your shoulders, cleavage, midriff, back, and upper arms
• Wear skirts or dresses that fall below the knee and aren’t too tight
• Avoid sheer or see-through fabrics
• Ensure your clothing is not too form-fitting or revealing
• Wear trousers or skirts that are loose-fitting and made from opaque fabrics
• Choose tops with sleeves and avoid low necklines

For Men:

• Wear long trousers and collared shirts
• Avoid shorts and sleeveless shirts
• Keep facial hair tidy or be clean-shaven
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, even in hot weather
• Choose loose-fitting clothing made from lightweight fabrics
• Avoid tight or revealing clothing

Avoid:

• Tight or revealing clothing
• Political, religious, or profane imagery on clothing
• Ripped jeans, even if fashionable
• Flip flops or open-toed shoes
• Sportswear or beachwear
• Visible tattoos or multiple piercings

Accommodating the Climate

The UAE can get quite hot, so it’s important to choose lightweight, breathable fabrics for your work attire. However, be prepared for cold air-conditioned interiors by layering with a light sweater or jacket. When outdoors, protect yourself from the sun with hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Tattoos and Piercings

If you have tattoos, keep them covered while teaching. Remove any piercings besides one pair of earrings for women.

Grooming and Accessories

In addition to dressing modestly, it’s important to maintain a neat and well-groomed appearance. Keep your hair styled neatly, and ensure your nails are clean and trimmed. For women, makeup and jewelry should be subtle. Avoid wearing strong perfumes or colognes, as some people may be sensitive to scents.

Dressing for Specific Occasions

There may be times when you need to dress up a bit more, such as for parent-teacher conferences, school performances, or ceremonies. In these cases, opt for more formal business attire. On the other hand, when participating in field trips or outdoor activities, dress appropriately for the setting while still maintaining a modest appearance.

Dressing Outside of Work

While the dress code expectations may be more relaxed outside of work, it’s still important to dress modestly in public spaces to respect local customs and laws. Cover your shoulders and knees, and avoid anything too revealing or tight-fitting.

Conclusion

With these guidelines in mind, you can express your personal style while still being appropriate for the classroom setting. Dressing in a way that commands respect and sets a good example for your students will contribute to a positive learning environment.

There are several different types of employers in the ESL industry. As a teacher, you may find yourself working at a private language school, university, public school or any of the many other types of schools and programs that teach English to non-native students.

But, when hunting for a job, it can be a bit confusing understanding the difference between each type of school and program and knowing whether it will be the right job for you. So, I will go through each school type and list some characteristics of each, as well as providing some insight into who is a good candidate for each type of employer.

Why Is It Important to Know the Difference?

You must understand the difference between each type of school for a few different reasons. At the top of that list is the fact that you don’t want to end up working at one type of school when you were beyond qualified to work at another type that would have paid much better.

Private language schools, for example, are great places for new teachers to get their foot in the door but will not pay as well as universities which are looking for teachers with experience and higher levels of qualifications.

If you have the level of experience the universities are looking for, you wouldn’t want to end up in a contract with a private language school for a year and potentially miss out on tens of thousands of dollars out of ignorance.

A second reason for you to understand the different types of ESL employers in the industry is so that you can find one that is better suited to your lifestyle and your level of experience. Though private language schools may not pay as well, they are often great places for beginners to get some experience, as many will have a curriculum already developed that you will work from.

This can help new ESL teachers who don’t have as much experience creating lessons and managing classes, as it will take some stress away. On the opposite side of that, private language schools often hold classes in the evenings, so if it is important for you to work during the daytime and have evenings off then this may not be the best option.

Not all schools are created equal, just as not all teachers will be suited to teach equally at every school.

What are the Different Types of ESL Employers?

Let’s take a look at some different options available to you as an ESL teacher.

Private Language Schools

These are mostly privately owned schools that can be found throughout the world which cater to students who are looking for extra instruction outside of their normal schooling. These schools usually have a focus such as on conversation or grammar or test preparation and cater to an extremely wide range of students.

Some schools, for example, will cater to adult professionals who are attempting to expand their level of business English for the boardroom. Others, however, may focus on high school students attempting to prepare for the IELTS to secure a place at a prestigious university.

The focus of each of these schools will be extremely diverse, and the type of teacher they will want to hire and the requirements they will have of that teacher is going to vary greatly.

Though private language schools can be found all over the world, they are especially prominent in East Asia including in Japan where they are known as Eikaiwa, South Korea where they are known as Hagwons, and China where they are referred to as enrichment schools. In the Middle East, primarily in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, they are especially popular for working with foreign business professionals who are working in the country.

The hours’ teachers will be required to work will vary greatly with these schools, depending on who the main clientele is. For students who are in regular school, classes will be primarily in the evening after the normal school hours and on the weekends. For business professionals, classes will be more on the weekends all throughout the day.

It is important to understand that there can be less stability and security at these types of schools due to the fact they are private companies. There are several stories of companies such as NOVA (an Eikaiwa school in Japan) which shut down due to bankruptcy, leaving thousands of teachers with no job, no place to live, and no route for renewing their visas.

There are also many stories coming out of China of recruiters for enrichment schools lying to teachers about the legality of working without a visa among other things and teachers getting into trouble with the law. While these are not the norm, you should always make sure you are informed about the visa laws and other laws governing working as a foreign employee in the country you are in.

Pay at these types of schools will often be less than at a public school or at a university. This is one of the reasons that the requirements for working at these schools are often less than at others, and one of the reasons that competition for these positions is often less. This doesn’t imply that there aren’t private language schools that pay well, simply that universities and, in some countries, public schools will often pay better.

Public Schools

The governments of many countries around the world have instituted mandatory English classes in the public school systems, and therefore the demand for native English teachers is great. Countries throughout Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East have instituted policy attempting to make their population more competitive in the global marketplace.

Working for the public school system in any country is going to provide more stability than working at a private language school. Since you will be working for the government, in essence, taking care of your visa and work permit will be a much simpler task oftentimes.

Salaries at public schools will usually be greater than at a private language school, though this is not always true and will depend largely on the country. Many people find working at public schools to be preferable due to the stable hours (regular school hours) as well as the generous amount of time you receive off for winter and summer breaks in most countries.

Benefits at public schools will usually be more generous than at private language schools and can include pay bonuses, flight reimbursement, provided housing or reimbursement, travel per diems, health insurance, and more. Benefits will depend on the country you are working in, with some countries such as the United Arab Emirates offering a wide range of benefits and others such as Thailand offering few if any.

Requirements for working in the public school system will vary in each country, however, generally speaking, a bachelor’s degree and at least a year or two of experience will be required. Some countries, such as China and the United Arab Emirates, will require tutors to have a 120-hour TEFL certification (either blended learning or onsite). Some countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, may also require public school teachers to have a teaching license and prior experience in the area they are being hired for.

These kinds of positions are largely going to be more suitable for people looking to move abroad long-term, as contracts can sometimes range 2 to 3 years. If you are just looking to live in a place for a year and want to work a minimum number of hours, so you have more time to travel, then a public school job may not be the best option.

Though it should be stated once more that because you will be on the public school schedule, you will usually receive generous time off for summer and winter breaks on top of any government holidays.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges and universities are a great place for teachers with prior teaching experience or professionals in various fields such as business, aeronautics, engineering, and more to find jobs. The need for university-level ESL teachers is high in many countries around the world as the demand in various fields for professionals with English-speaking abilities has risen.

Universities tend to have the highest-paying jobs for foreign teachers, depending on the country. Because of this, the competition for many positions can be quite high.

An added benefit of working for a university is that you will work significantly fewer hours, and unlike at a public school when you are not teaching a class you do not have to be at the university. Also, you will receive significant time off for summer and winter breaks on top of any public holidays.

The benefits that are offered by universities in many countries also tend to be quite good when compared to private language schools. Depending on which country and which school you are working with, you may receive salary bonuses, flight reimbursement, housing allowances or provided accommodations, health insurance, and potentially more.

Along with this, you will have a lot more freedom with the content and how it is presented than at a lower level public school or at a private language school, where the material will be more clearly defined.

Universities will usually have much stricter requirements for whom they will hire. Teachers will generally need to have prior experience teaching and will need to have a 120-hour TEFL certification (either blended or onsite). Also, universities in many countries such as Japan may have requirements that teachers actively work to get published in journals and will even set aside one day off during the school week for teachers to conduct research and write.

You will need to check the requirements to make sure you will be able to meet and keep up with what will be expected.

Online English Companies

These will be companies that hire native (and for some companies, non-native but fluent) English teachers to conduct 25-to-50-minute classes. There are hundreds of different companies, with the largest concentration of them being in China due to the massive number of students and the extreme demand for native English teachers.

The barrier for entry into these online ESL companies is quite low for most, with a few who cater to adults or more prestigious schools having stricter requirements. Most companies will hire anyone who has a bachelor’s degree, and many will even hire current university students. Some may require a TEFL certification but very few.

A typical class at one of these companies involves using pre-designed curriculum, usually set up in a course with various activities to engage the students. Though there are companies that work with adults in subjects such as business English, the vast majority of these online ESL companies work with students between the ages of 4 and 16.

Payment at these online companies will be much lower when compared to many of the above-listed types of employers and typically, no benefits beyond incentive bonuses will be offered. These companies are good for people who are attempting to supplement their income or for current teachers that are looking for extra work.

It may not be the option for providing your total income. Hours and classes may or may not be stable depending on the time of the year and the individual company. Larger companies with more students will usually be able to provide more stability to tutors than smaller and newer companies with fewer students.

If you are interested in finding out more about teaching for an online ESL company, you can read this to find information about hiring practices and what online teaching is like.

Some Extra Tips When Looking at Schools

Regardless of which school you are looking at or how reputable they seem to be, the burden will always be on you to figure out if you meet the qualifications to work legally in the country you are interested in. Also, you should make sure that before you sign any contracts with any of these types of schools that you ensure everything that was promised to you is in writing and that a contract is legitimate.

This may be difficult: depending on the country you are in, as the contract may be written in the native language of that country, so you will need to hire an independent translator to go through and tell you exactly what is stated.

Remember that, while most recruiters and employers are legitimate and will not try to weasel out of paying benefits, there are many that will. The internet is full of stories from ESL teachers who were promised many things that weren’t delivered on.

Look at each school type and the pros and cons to see if you are picking the right place for you. Again, private language schools are great for beginners trying to get their foot in the door. If you already have teaching experience, you may want to be on the lookout for public school or even university jobs that will pay much better and offer more stability and security.

At the end of the day, there is a high demand around the world for native English speakers, especially in emerging markets, so you should have no trouble finding a job. Armed with the above knowledge of what the different types of schools are, finding the right job for you should be a bit easier.

Whether we want to buy socks, a new laptop or TEFL courses, we always look for customer reviews online before.

For choosing a quality TEFL course, you rely on sources like:

• “Trusted” review sites
• Review sections on the providers’ website
• Blogs (like this one) with review articles, obviously ;)
• Reddit
• YouTube

Reviews can be a reliable source for making purchasing decisions, but you must also keep in mind that not all reviews can be trusted, and you should be equipped to distinguish between legitimate and fake reviews.

In this post, we walk you through the various sources to identify and choose a great TEFL course and tell you what to consider.

TEFL Course Accreditation

Accreditation is a form of review, whereby an independent accrediting body has audited the TEFL certification course and awarded an accreditation based on satisfying specific criteria.

However, as mentioned earlier, there is no industry-wide accrediting body, and thus, a TEFL course does not need to be accredited to be offered. At the same time, any TEFL provider can gain accreditation via an agency that is willing to award one. This muddies the water supremely, making it difficult to choose a TEFL course to enroll in.

You’ll notice that many TEFL providers are or claim to be accredited. However, having an accreditation alone is not a guarantee of the quality and legitimacy of a TEFL course. It’s essential to consider who is providing the accreditation, what credibility the accrediting body has, and if the accrediting body is, in fact, independent.

Unfortunately, some TEFL providers have questionable accreditations. Some of these accrediting bodies have little to no history, nor are they government-recognized or regulated. Some are even owned by the same company that offers the TEFL certification, meaning they are hardly independent.

Some TEFL providers apply the term accredited to their courses using very loose definitions. They state an affiliation or membership in an organization, and claim to adhere to that organization’s standards. However, membership in an organization does not necessarily mean the course is formally accredited.

One of the first steps you should take when deciding on a TEFL certification is to determine the reputation and credibility of the accrediting body itself.

In the absence of an industry-wide accreditation body, government recognition and regulation becomes an important factor. Having a government-regulated accreditation means the TEFL certification meets acceptable criteria for an academic qualification according to a government framework for qualifications.

In the UK, The Office for Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is an independent government agency that is responsible for regulating qualifications.

CELTA is a UK Level 5 qualification and its accreditation is regulated by Ofqual. What this means is that CELTA must undergo continuous, rigorous audits to demonstrate that the qualification accurately reflects the knowledge and skills acquired by who have completed and earned the CELTA certification, according to the UK government’s qualifications framework.

Presently, only a handful of TEFL providers offer Ofqual Level 5 certifications, which are equivalent to the CELTA, but offered at a much lower cost:

• The TEFL Academy
• Premier TEFL
• International TEFL Academy
• i-to-i TEFL

Regardless of participant reviews about the quality of these TEFL certification courses, you can be certain each is accredited by an independent body that is regulated by the UK government, and meets the requirements for a Level 5 qualification.

In the U.S., accredit bodies such as The Accrediting Council of Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) and the Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA) are officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as reliable authorities. In other words, TEFL certifications that are ACCET or CEA accredited satisfy the requirements of a qualification as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

The following U.S. based TEFL certifications are ACCET accredited:

• BridgeTEFL (whose courses are also recommended for undergraduate and graduate college credits)

When selecting a TEFL certification, look beyond the accreditation. Investigate who is the accrediting body, and what makes this body a reliable and recognized authority. We only recommend UK Level 5 TEFL certifications and U.S. Department of Education recognized accreditations.

Any of the above recommended TEFL course providers will provide you with a TEFL certification that is legitimized through a government-recognized and regulated accrediting body, and each of them will be able to offer proof of their accreditation. Don’t succumb to companies which plaster logos all over their websites. Ask for evidence of the accreditation.

Consumer Review Sites

The fundamental challenge with consumer review sites such as TrustPilot is that they are not as independent as they may appear to be Here’s why:

1. They offer paid services to businesses to gain reviews and charge anywhere between $80 – $800 per month, or more.
2. Because they rely on paid subscriptions from businesses, their services are designed to favor the success of their clients, rather than providing an objective platform for consumers to review a business.
3. There is no clear and stated vetting process to ensure that publish reviews are indeed from real customers. Indeed, many review sites are plagued with fake consumer reviews.

Can you see the problem here? If the business is not benefiting from the service, they will stop paying for the subscription. Additionally, it is not uncommon for businesses to pay for reviews (including TEFL reviews), or to incentivize their customers to leave positive reviews.

Some companies also engage in campaigns to leave negative reviews for their competitors, making the entire consumer review site business a questionable one.

That doesn’t mean consumer reviews are devoid of value. However, if you are using review sites to decide about a TEFL certification course (or any product or service for that matter), you need to strengthen your BS meter and separate the wheat from the chaff.

Let’s look at two examples of actual reviews published for two different TEFL providers (names removed) on review sites, and decide which one you think is a meaningful review and which one isn’t:

Example 1:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) – [TEFL Provider] is great and offers quality qualifications. The experience was really great and I encourage anyone who’s looking for a good company to join and experience it for themselves.

Happy Customer 1 (Unverified)

Example 2:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) – I really enjoyed the [TEFL Provider] 168 hour course. The content was thorough, well organised and included a multitude of interesting and suitably challenging assignments. [TEFL Provider] provided me with a depth of resources which I will use throughout the beginning stages (and maybe later) of my teaching career. I am thankful to the creators of the course and those individuals who provided extensive feedback on my assignments. *** were a joy to be taught by.

Happy Customer (Verified)

Which of these two reviews is actually meaningful to helping you decide if the TEFL certification course is worthwhile enrolling in? We think it’s pretty obvious.

Unfortunately, many people overlook the sheer amount of meaningless (and potentially fake) reviews and just focus on the overall rating. In our experience, while a high rating is important, there’s more to the rating than meets the eye.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Look at both positive and negative reviews and determine if the review is actually meaningful, or if the reviewer is simply dropping pleasantries along with a five-star rating. Same thing with overly negative ratings – check to see if the negative feedback is actually relevant to the course. Some negative ratings have nothing to do with the course itself, and more to do with gripes or misunderstandings the enrollee had.
• Pay attention to how the TEFL provider responds to negative reviews. Is the provider offering constructive explanations and solutions to address the reviewer’s concerns, or is it on the defensive?
• People are more likely to leave reviews when they are not happy, than when they are. So, scrutinize positive reviews more than you would negative reviews.

Coupon/Deal Sites

Many accredited TEFL courses appear on coupon/deal sites, and are offered at rock-bottom prices, sometimes as low as $20. Now, think about this carefully for a moment. Do you honestly believe that for $20 – $50, you could learn the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective English teacher?

Proper accreditation costs significant investment of time and money, so if the course is being offered at an unbelievably low price, then it’s probably too good to be true. Would you pay someone to teach you a language for $20? Probably not.

Aside from lack of proper accreditation, TEFL courses offered on coupon/deal sites almost always won’t have a qualified and experienced ESL professional on-hand to evaluate assignments (and probably won’t have assignments to begin with). Why is this important?

The whole point of even taking a course is to learn a skill. Because teaching English to ESL learners is a hands-on skill, you want someone with experience to provide you feedback that can help you start your career on the right track, to let you know what aspects of your teaching skills are strong and which ones you need to improve.

In our experience, we’ve found the low-end TEFL courses you see on coupon/deal sites to be disingenuous about their pricing. Many of them sell their courses at $20 – $50, with a 60-day window to complete the course. Then they attempt to upsell you with offers to extend your time to complete the course for $99. If you go down this route, you will have paid up to $150 for a TEFL certification. Ultimately, this is not the $20 deal you thought you got.

Can you get a job with a low end TEFL certification? Sure. Can you get one anywhere, particularly with high-paying employers? Unlikely.

Affiliate Sites and Blog Reviews

Many sites and blogs exist to earn commissions for products and services they promote, and one of the ways a site or blog can promote a product or service is by publishing a review. (We’re no exception here.)

So the question begs: how can someone who earns a referral commission from a product or service write an unbiased review? To answer that question, let’s make two assumptions:

• There is no such thing as an unbiased review.
• The only reviews actually worth trusting are ones in which the blogger has actually trialed the product or service.

Unfortunately, not everyone who publishes reviews online has tested the product or service they are reviewing. So, the real consideration you should be making is not whether the reviewer earns a commission for referring you to a product or service through a review; instead, whether the reviewer has actually used the product or service, and is recommending it because after trialing it, the blogger believes in it.

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with recommending something you get paid to recommend. If you worked in an Apple Store and earn money recommending Apple products, that makes you biased towards Apple products, of course. But if you also use and like Apple products, is there something wrong with also recommending them and earning an income as well? We don’t think so.

What we do think is wrong is people publishing bogus reviews for the sake of earning an income from a product or service they have never used, and will never purchase.

Here at JimmyESL, we audited every TEFL certification ourselves before we recommend it. We are TEFL certified and experienced ESL teachers, so we feel we are more than adequately qualified to assess the quality of a TEFL course.

More importantly, our emphasis is and will always be on reviewing and recommending TEFL courses that have earned legitimacy through a government-regulated accreditation. As long as there is no industry-wide accrediting body for TEFL qualifications, we are only interested in reviewing and recommending accredited TEFL providers with government-regulated accreditations.

So if you are searching for and checking TEFL course reviews on blogs, you should be skeptical of TEFL reviews (including ones we publish). Check that the reviewer has personally audited the TEFL course.

Because you can’t be 100% sure someone who claims to have audited a course has actually done so, you can also request TEFL providers you are considering to give you restricted access to the course, or to speak to graduates about their experience.

Wrapping Up: Beware Fake TEFL Reviews

The world of e-commerce and online marketing is highly competitive, and online reviews are one of several ways companies try to gain an edge to earn credibility with consumers.

This is true for TEFL certification courses, too. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of fake TEFL reviews online, so it is important to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Fortunately, we’ve already done the heavy lifting for you. We only recommend TEFL certification providers with UK and US government-regulated accreditations, whose courses we’ve actually reviewed and tested ourselves.

For those of you who are wanderlust, teaching ESL learners has long been a viable way to see and experience the world. But teaching in a classroom environment isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Some people loathe the mundane aspects of being a classroom or online teacher: preparing lesson plans, teaching grammar and pronunciation, reviewing and grading essays and tests – day in, day out – the list could go on.

If you are seeking different experiences and genuine adventures, you should explore the field of outdoor education. In this post, I’ll explain what this is, what it takes to become an outdoor education instructor abroad, and I’ll introduce one of the most renowned global organizations in the field.

What is Outdoor Education?

Here is a description from Wikipedia:

Outdoor education is often referred to as synonymous with outdoor learning, outdoor school, forest schools and wilderness education. Outdoor education often uses or draws upon related elements and/or informs related areas.

The hallmark of outdoor education is its focus on the “outdoor” side of this education; whereas adventure education would focus on the adventure side and environmental education would focus on environmental. Expeditionary education involves expeditions into wilderness “where man is but a visitor.” All of these activities typically involve experiential education.

If you have a penchant for the outdoors and wilderness, then outdoor education jobs abroad might be the perfect alternative to teaching English. Many people who have worked as outdoor educators declare that the experience was life-changing, and the friendships made have become rich, purposeful relationships.

Where to Find Outdoor Instructor Jobs Abroad

Outdoor Education jobs abroad will often be available in international schools and outdoor education providers that cater to them. Outdoor Education is not cheap. Camping trips, wilderness excursions, and extensive travel for both educators and participants means Outdoor Education can indeed be expensive and thus unreachable for the typical public school.

Consequently, most outdoor education jobs abroad deal with engaging international school students, since international schools are equipped with both the financial means and willingness to integrate outdoor education into their curriculum.

Not all programs happen in the wilderness. There are plenty of programs that take place in school gymnasiums and playgrounds, as well as programs where students get involved in local community work, and often there are programs offering a mixture of these experiences.

Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), for example, has its own Outdoor Education Department. WAB is one of the most prestigious international schools in China. It is evident that WAB views Outdoor Education as critical to its students’ learning experience. Here is what WAB says on its website:

In the wild, we challenge students to challenge themselves, and think and reflect on how they interact with the environment, heightening awareness of the global issues facing our planet. Our team structures programs unique to each grade level, gradually increasing in difficulty and steadily building independence. The goal is to meaningfully engage students, and to foster a love of nature and respect for our interconnectedness.

The Requirements to Become an Outdoor Educator

Before searching for Outdoor Education jobs abroad, it is important to know if this type of work is suited for you. Even if you are someone who loves the outdoors, that’s not enough. As you will often be dealing with adolescents and working in collaborative and culturally diverse environments, a positive mindset, team spirit, and cultural awareness are all crucial to making this a successful experience.

Because Outdoor Educators need to be prepared for emergencies in the outdoors, most Outdoor Education jobs abroad will require you to have completed a Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) certification course.

As well, there is often a lot of travel, and perhaps several days in the month when you will be away from home and cut off from the comforts of modern urban living. There may be times you will feel homesick, and times when relaxing for you means not being outdoors!

While Outdoor Education jobs abroad often attract people of all age ranges, they are likely to appeal most to people in their late 20s to mid-30s. Many people at this age range tend to be in a transitional phase in life before settling down or pursuing other goals and interests, and have very few commitments and dependents, if any.

If you think Outdoor Education and Experiential Learning is something that resonates with you, the JUMP! Foundation should be at the top of your list.

Getting to Know the JUMP! Foundation

JUMP! Foundation is a leading provider of outdoor education and experiential learning programs, and it is a global leader in this field. JUMP! is also a social enterprise, in that it allocates a portion of its human, educational and financial resources towards leadership programs that target underserved communities around the world.

The organization’s community outreach is undoubtedly what makes it a life-altering experience for its employees, local NGOs it partners with, and the communities it serves.

JUMP! is all about equipping today’s youth with the skills needed to be leaders tomorrow. It designs and delivers a broad spectrum of impactful experiential education programs, and has, over several years, developed an extensive global network of partnerships in the field of education.

JUMP! Foundation was founded in 2006 to accomplish three goals:

• Inspire individuals through transformational experiences
• Empower individuals with skills and resources to create positive impact
• Engage individuals with local and global communities

JUMP! was started by its founders responding to what they saw as a missing piece in the puzzle of a person’s educational development.

Concepts such as global citizenship, leadership, engaging in local cultures, and developing creative solutions to challenges faced by local communities are some examples of how JUMP! has stepped into the arena of the traditional education model and helped evolve the model by integrating experiential learning.

Since many of these learning experiences happen outside the classroom space, students who participate in JUMP! programs learn through hands-on experience rather than simply learning concepts and theories alone.  

Currently, JUMP! maintains offices in Bangkok, Beijing, and Canada, and has satellite offices in other locations around the world.

JUMP! Programs

The organization has on-site programs for educators, students and schools (JUMP! Schools), as well as off-site programs in various parts of the world (JUMP! Experiences). JUMP! also offers virtual programs (JUMP! Connected) to expand its reach and make its programs more accessible on a global scale.

JUMP! delivers its experiential learning programs mainly for youth who are enrolled in prestigious international schools, and works with these schools to bring the programs in-house as part of the school’s wider education mandate.

The purpose of these programs is to introduce learning opportunities through trips, nature excursions, community involvement, and engagement with local cultures.

As a social enterprise, JUMP! is also deeply committed to making its resources and programs accessible to youth from all backgrounds. It provides support to underserved communities across the globe through its Impact programs, which we will discuss a bit later.

Career Opportunities with JUMP!

JUMP! has opportunities to work as a full-time member of staff, as well as a contract program facilitator. Full-time job openings occur throughout the year, and it is thus a good idea to follow JUMP! and look out for openings as they are advertised.

Contract program facilitator opportunities are more fluid, meaning you could join JUMP! as a member of its global facilitator network, practically wherever you are located. Contract facilitators work on a per-project basis, so if you are looking for non-committal opportunities to work in outdoor education and experiential education, getting on board the JUMP! Facilitator team might be the right path for you.

Qualifications to Work with JUMP!

Teachers, especially those who have genuine educational backgrounds and experience working within international school environments, can do well working with an organization like JUMP!

Additionally, those who have a passion for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, trekking, or rock climbing might find themselves at home working with JUMP! If you have a Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, this would be an added bonus.

Anyone who has been involved with humanitarian assistance or relief efforts, such as UN peace corps, would be considered to be an asset to JUMP! in helping students learn these values and skill sets.

The team at JUMP! works in an extremely collaborative way, so being a team player is essential to making a career at JUMP! successful. People who are good problem-solvers, are good at presenting and speaking to large audiences, able to motivate and inspire participants in group activities, and have a high level of empathy.

Also read: The best career opportunities after quitting teaching English abroad.

We are discussing and trying out various teaching tools all the time but fail to remember the most powerful tool that teachers have: patience.

Pressured by the overwhelming day-to-day tasks and obligations, let alone disobedient students and demanding multitasking, did we lose this magic, yet almost endemic trait?

Personally, I usually find it hard to stay patient at work while living in a world where “fast” means “effective”. 

Sometimes I remember that progress takes time, but often I feel impatient and frustrated when I see that some students are lagging behind despite my efforts.

So lately, I’ve implemented 7 techniques that helped me to develop my patience as a teacher and approach teaching from a different angle. Read on and try them yourself!

Why Is Patience Important In Teaching?

Patience in teaching means dedicating the necessary time and effort to help students learn something, with the intention to explain, contextualize and build on their prior knowledge.

Patience also refers to developing and maintaining trust in the student-teacher relationship. 

Both the teacher and the student need to believe that their actions will eventually bear fruit, though they may face many obstacles on the way.

Despite the common misconception, being patient as a teacher doesn’t simply mean “waiting for students to become better”. In fact, using patience as a tool reflects in all aspects of your work: like being patient with peers and their requests but also with yourself when you’re approaching the end of a term, and you have a pile of stuff to get done.

Being patient when working with students requires higher emotional control and awareness on the side of the supportive teacher, allows learners to make mistakes but also encourages students to analyze them and create new solutions.

This, on the other hand, turns students into critical thinkers instead of marathon runners for the “best” results — a very pragmatic quality for their future.

In other words, neither teaching nor learning can be effective if there’s no patience which makes it fundamental in all educational processes.

The college science professor and educational expert Leslie Schwab highlights patience as the top trait of any effective educator, along with concern for students, knowledge of the subject being taught and willingness to adapt.

Schwab writes that patience is important as teachers cannot expect all students to progress at the same pace, so their task is to provide more extensive explanations in several times. According to her, the counter tactic, i.e., “go home and practice more” usually triggers anxiety and insecurity in students that would eventually reflect on the work of the teacher.

Nevertheless, we can’t just put a blind eye on the fact that teachers are only humans, and they can simply lose patience and snap. Some of us are triggered by the noise, others by the scratching of chairs on the floor, or by the constant “forgetting” of homework…

After all, research has shown that during their career, teachers have more stress and frustrations than workers in other fields, and show a bad temper.

On the surface, patience may seem complicated to master, yet there are many small steps that you can make to see it grow within you and resonate in your working place.

Also read: How to become a good and effective ESL teacher.

7 Strategies for Teachers to Be More Patient 

Follow these strategies to develop patience and stay calm in stressful environments or situations.

1. Take Care of Yourself

Yes, this is my number one, top tip as there’s no way to stay calm, focused and productive at work without providing basic personal care for your physical and mental health.

Despite what mainstream culture of work preaches, burnouts are not a sign of professional success but of a low-quality life.

Going to the spa once a week or weekend getaways in Tuscany sound fantastic, but I’ll stick to simple self-care strategies that any teacher can try on a daily level:

Get enough sleep

Make sure you sleep enough hours every night. Believe me when I say that NOTHING can soothe your nervous system better than regular slots of quality sleep. Make it a priority.

Make routines and stick to them

I already wrote about establishing routines as great stress-relievers when it comes to task management and feeling calm on a daily level.

Wake up a bit earlier, start the day with a cup of coffee and NO extra stimulants like news, music, or Instagram stories.

Relax, breathe and get ready for the new day. Then make a list and note down your tasks for the day and the day after — no need to plan further, just stick to this simple practice on a daily level to feel more organized and ready.

Pull the breaks when needed

You start working early in the morning and finish late in the afternoon, or sometimes even continue working at home — no wonder if you feel constant fatigue throughout the working week. I recommend 3-4 breaks in the day to balance this out.

Just isolate yourself for 10-20 minutes, lean your body on the chair, take a few deep breaths, or do a short meditation to relax (link below). Occasionally, I need a short pick-me-up, so I go for a quick run and listen to my fav music or podcast.

Mind your nutrition and caffeine intake

Our mood is closely related to our nutrition patterns, meaning, what we eat when we’re busy can have a big impact on how sluggy or motivated we feel.

Try to eat moderate, balanced meals and stick to 2-3 coffee cups maximum per day.

Stay hydrated while in class, and always have some sugar booster at hand when your energy bars start going down. Personally, I run on pralines, dates or bananas, but you can also have dry fruits and nuts, protein bars etc.

Make leisure time mandatory

At a certain point of the day, you have to stop working if you want to continue working productively.

Leave some time in the day for other activities like sport, reading, watching films, hanging out with friends… Whatever makes you feel happy and relaxed.

Also read: The extensive stress management guide for teachers.

2. Examine Your Impatience

Analyze what causes your impatience while in class, and try to recall and identify situations when you lost your tolerance.

Think about the consequences of losing your cool and project possible alternative reactions on your side.

Once per week, I imagine a situation, like a student spilling water on my computer for example, and let myself think about 3 possible reactions, then I choose the most and the least appropriate and I write it down. 

At the end of the month, I analyze all responses in my diary, check my progress, and see if I have implemented positive solutions in my classroom.

If you know your triggers, you can choose how to react in similar situations in the future.

3. Learn to listen to others

Listening to others at work before reacting, may seem like an easy-peasy thing to do, but actually, it requires conscious effort and can clearly show how patient you are.

Try practicing this at home or with your friends. Don’t interrupt them while speaking, nor when they make short breaks between sentences. Let them finish their thoughts, think about what they said, and THEN reply. 

Do the same at work with your students and colleagues. You will notice that your responses become more clear and measured, as you get more time to understand the other person and think about what you’re going to say instead of bursting out in the very minute.

4. Practice being the person you want your students to be

Students mirror your energy and behavior. Or let me put it this way: when I had a bad day and I enter class feeling anxious, angry or sad, students can feel my uneasiness and respond by reacting in a disturbing manner.

Try to count to ten before you open the door of your classroom and leave personal burdens behind. Remember that you are there to share time together and collaborate for a good cause.

If you give instructions with a calm voice and approach them with kindness, they will identify this atmosphere with their behavior in class.

Remember the good old “Show, not tell”?

5. Be responsive, not reactive

When you behave just reactively, it means you react immediately and without conscious thought, i.e., impatiently.

Example: Students are texting under the desk, you expel them from class.

You can practice replacing this behavior with responsiveness, a thoughtful action that considers the short and long-term consequences of the immediate situation.

Example: Students are texting under the desk, you take their cell phones away and ask them to stay after class for a short talk.

Here are some ways to help you achieve this:

Take a deep breath — this is the fastest way to interrupt stress. Signal the mind and the body that you noticed the signal, and now you’re preparing to go from reactive to responsive.

Pause — when you feel the trigger to snap, freeze and slow down. Think before speaking. It’s okay if students are waiting for your response. 

Mark your triggers — most signs of reactive behavior include shallow breathing, muscle contraction in the chest, neck, belly, feeling to push or shut something down, lack of focus, anxiety, sudden wave of warmth in the head etc. Notice these signs, so you can recognize and learn how to deal with them.

These 6 activities will help you to promote mental health of your students as well.

Motivational Quotes about Patience for Teachers

Need Some Motivational Patience Quotes for Your Board?

I’ve Got You Covered!

Patience is bitter, but its fruits are sweet.

Aristotle

I have only three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These are your greatest treasures.

Lao Tze

Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.

Unknown

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.

Franklin P. Jones

Time is the Best of critics, and patience the best of teachers.

Frederic Chopin

Conclusion

There’s no magic wand that will help a teacher be more patient over night. However, you can practice these simple strategies and see what works best for you.

Take it slow, trust yourself and most importantly, accept that you cannot control everything at all times and find joy in riding the storms in our noble work.

Clothes make the man, the saying goes. (And the women, of course.) That’s especially true when you are a teacher in a very formal and conservative country like Japan.

Are you going to teach English (ESL) or another subject in a Japanese school and want to know what to wear? Do you need to dress in a full business suite (or even uniform)? And what about long hair or tattoos?

In this post, I’ll explain the Japanese teacher dress code and touch upon the various Dos and Don’ts.

Dress Code for Teachers in Japan

The dress code for ESL teachers in Japan is “business professional” to “business casual.”

There are a few different options for where you can teach English in Japan. They are:

• Public Schools
• Private Language Schools
• Corporate Training Schools

In Japan, the expectations for a teacher’s attire is very conservative. The private language and corporate training schools have a business professional dress code, while public schools can range from business professional to business casual.

Outfits for Female Teachers

When there is some flexibility with other types of clothing, female teachers should avoid wearing sleeveless shirts or anything low cut that shows cleavage. Shirts that button high up at the neck are the best.

Japanese culture requires that you bow, so showing even a hint of cleavage in these moments would not be culturally acceptable. The shoulders should be covered. Pants or knee-length or longer dresses are suitable, though jeans are not. Your clothes should not be tight-fitting. Blazers can be worn on top of your outfit to give you a professional appearance.

All clothing should be in subtle tones without being too vibrant.

Outfits for Male Teachers

It is quite common that your school will require you to wear a suit and tie. Otherwise, men can wear trousers, button-up dress shirts or collared shirts, either short or long-sleeved.

Prints on Clothes

Be mindful of images and messages printed on your clothes, especially when it comes to politics, religion, profanity, and sex. You should be respectful of Japanese culture and norms as well as command respect from your students, parents, and school administrators.

Shoes

You will need a pair of indoor shoes or slippers to wear while you are at school, which should not be open-toed, sandals, or sneakers.

Everyday Dresses vs. Special Occasions

When thinking about what to wear, also think about your comfort. You will likely be animated when teaching, so you’ll want to wear clothing that allows you to move around comfortably.

You will also want to have more formal attire for business luncheons or ceremonial functions.

Clothes for the Different Seasons

Japan’s weather and climate feature four distinct seasons:

• Spring, from March to May, is pleasantly warm with little rain.
• In summer, from June to August, there is heavy rainfall and extreme humidity. Northern regions tend to be a bit cooler.
• Autumn, from September to November, is commonly fair.
• Winter from December to February can be snowy and quite cold.

Japan also experiences a typhoon season, which occurs from May to October, peaking in August and September. Typhoons bring strong winds, torrential rain, and hazardous winds.

So, you should plan for the seasons when shopping for clothes.

Hair

Men’s hair should be nicely styled and cut short. Some schools may allow men to have long hair provided it is clean and tidy.

For women, the length of hair isn’t an issue. You can have it long or short, worn up or down, although it should be clean and tidy no matter which style you choose.

Dyed hair, other than your natural color, is not likely to be allowed.

Facial hair

Facial hair is acceptable in most schools in Japan; however, make sure you keep it neat and trimmed to maintain a professional look.

Makeup

It is generally not appropriate for women to wear makeup except for just the lightest mascara, lip gloss, or pale lipstick. Perfume and nail polish are not acceptable. Men should not wear makeup or perfume.

Tattoos

Tattoos are generally taboo at any Japanese school, and if visible, should be covered up at all times, either by clothing or makeup.

Jewelry

In general, earrings and piercings are acceptable in most schools; however, large or excessive jewelry may be considered inappropriate.

Buying XXL clothing in Japan

It may be hard to find extra-large sized clothing or footwear, so it’s best to carry some with you if you have difficulty finding these once you are there.

Dress Conservatively at the Beginning

Every workplace is different, so it’s best to dress conservatively during the first few days, paying attention to what other teachers are wearing and then adjusting accordingly. Maybe, it will be okay to “downgrade“ slowly over time.

Read our dress code guide for teachers in Korea.

When you are a teacher, you have to earn the respect of your students. Appropriate dressing therefore is crucial, especially when you teach ESL or another subject in a country with a very different culture, like Korea.

You might already know, that the dress code for teachers in Korea is more formal than in the western countries. But, in concrete terms, what does an appropriate outfit look like? What about hair, make-up and tattoos?

In this post, I’ll explain the Korean teacher dress code and touch upon the various Dos and Don’ts.

Dress Code for Teachers in South Korea

Teachers are highly regarded in South Korea and admired as authority figures. An ESL teacher (in Korean, 선생님 or Seon-sa-eng), should dress respectably and maturely.

Every school will establish its dress code for teachers, based not solely on culture, but also on other aspects. You’ll need to adapt to your specific school’s dress requirements.

There are different school types where ESL teachers work. These include:

• Public Schools
• Private English Schools (Hagwons)
• Universities

Public schools generally require a semi-professional look while hagwons and universities offer more flexibility.

Outfits for Female Teachers

For women, knee-length skirts or dresses, collared blouses, or sweaters with a pair of slacks are suitable. When teaching, it is not proper to reveal a lot of skin, so do avoid tank tops, sleeveless or low-cut tops and mini-skirts.

Women can wear shorts as long as the material is trouser style and not denim.

Outfits for Male Teachers

Men should wear collared shirts, dress shirts, or sweaters with a neat pair of slacks. They are discouraged from wearing shorts due to adverse feelings about visible body hair.

Prints on Clothes

Be mindful of images and messages printed on your clothes, especially when it comes to politics, religion, profanity, and sex. While they may be acceptable in your country, it’s wise to be respectful of South Korean culture and norms. Besides showing respect, you also want your students, parents, and school administrators to respect you, too.

Shoes

When entering someone’s home in South Korea, you’ll be expected to remove your shoes. This practice applies to schools as well.

You’ll put your outdoor shoes in cabinets when you enter the school building and wear slippers (in Korean, 실내화, or “sil-nae-hwa”). You can bring a pair of basic slippers with you from home.

When you meet with the school administrators, they will advise you if the ones you have are acceptable and, if not, where you can purchase appropriate ones.

Special Occassions

When thinking about what to wear, also think about your comfort. As a teacher, you will likely be animated. You want to wear clothing that allows you to move around comfortably.

There are times when teachers will be required to dress more formally, such as business luncheons or ceremonial functions. It’s a smart idea to have some formal attire handy for such occasions.

Clothes for the Different Seasons

There are four distinct seasons in South Korea, so you’ll need to bring suitable clothing to accommodate the weather changes. Additionally, you will need to bring work clothes that are acceptable to your school. Refer to your School Dress Code page for details.

In winter, the climate of South Korea is cold but sunny. In summer, it’s hot and humid with abundant rain. The spring and autumn seasons are short but pleasant.

South Korea can be affected by typhoons from July to early October and bring large amounts of rainfall and strong winds, most commonly on the south coast.

For winter, bring warm clothes, such as a down jacket, gloves, a scarf, and a hat.

Summer clothes should be light and made of natural fibers. A light raincoat or umbrella is recommended, as well as a light sweatshirt for air-conditioned places.

Hair Dressing

Your hair should be well-groomed and at an appropriate length. You can dye your hair, but be careful not to be too outrageous with your color choices.

Excessive facial hair is usually considered unacceptable. It’s best to be clean-shaven, but if you do prefer facial hair, make sure it is well-groomed and trimmed.

Jewelry and Accessories

South Korea is conservative when it comes to jewelry on men. It’s almost certainly going to be the case that schools prefer men not to wear any earrings or piercings.

Excessive jewelry and piercings are not appropriate for female teachers. To be safe, stick to modest jewelry.

Head coverings, such as hats, should not be worn in the classroom. If you have religious needs to have a head covering, it is best to clarify this with the school where you will be teaching beforehand.

Can You Teach in Korea with tattoos?

South Korea, like nearby neighbors Japan and China, still frown upon tattoos. However, they are increasingly becoming de-stigmatized, especially in younger generations. Tattoos tend to be less of a concern in urban centers, such as Seoul, where people are more accustomed to seeing them.

As you move out of urban areas, people tend to be more conservative, and tattoos still perceived negatively. Facial and neck tattoos will not be acceptable, and you may need to cover any tattoos on your arms.

You may be asked if you have tattoos, especially visible ones, on your school application or during your interview, so make sure you are honest about it to avoid issues that may arise in the future.

So, if you want to teach ESL in Korea, tattoos should not be an issue, as long as you can cover them, i.e., through long sleeves.

Buying XXL clothing in Korea

There is a saying in South Korea that “one size fits all, and that size is small.”

The larger cities carry most sizes of clothing, though, in non-urban areas, they are generally small. It may be hard to find extra-large sized clothing or footwear, so it’s best to carry some with you if you have difficulty finding these once you are there.

Dress a Little Better than You’re Expected

You will have many comfortable clothing options when teaching in South Korea, but always keep in mind that looks and appearance are paramount in how you are perceived professionally by your school, your students, and their parents. It’s still best to keep yourself looking clean, well-groomed, and smart, even when you’re dressed casually.

Dressing more conservatively may seem like an infringement on your style from back home, but it’s a small price to pay for a well-paid job and the chance to live overseas.

Learn how to pass your teacher job interview in Korea here.

If you are looking to advance your qualifications as an ESL teacher, the DELTA Certification is one of many advanced level certifications for teachers that you have probably looked into.

Along with the Masters of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Master TESOL), the DELTA Certification qualifies teachers to work at the higher levels of the ESL industry, including in administrative positions.

However, is it worth the cost of the certification and the major time commitment which teachers can expect?

Let’s answer this so that you can get a better understanding whether the DELTA Certification is right for you to advance your career.

What is the DELTA Certification?

The Cambridge English Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, or DELTA Certification, is an advanced level certification for teachers who have prior experience in teaching ESL.

Typically, it qualifies teachers for senior roles in the education sector, such as senior teachers, academic coordinators, directors of studies or curriculum designers.

The basic requirements to be admitted into a Delta Certification program are at least one year of prior teaching experience at any level (young learners, teenagers, or adults).

At the bottom of this post, you’ll find a summary of the course curriculum.

What Level is DELTA Certification?

The UK Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) has accredited and rated DELTA as Level 7 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), it equals a 60-credit qualification.

Is DELTA a Master’s degree?

Yes, recognized Level 7 qualifications like DELTA are the same level as a Master’s degree.

Who Is the DELTA Certification for?

As mentioned above the minimum requirement for participating in the DELTA Certification program is at least one year of prior teaching experience.

It is also highly recommended that people wishing to participate have a completed 120-hour TEFL certification. Much of the material which is presented in the DELTA Certification program is covered in most TEFL certification courses, only more in-depth in the Delta.

This points to the DELTA being more appropriate for teachers who intend to teach for more than just a few years and wish to advance to higher levels of ESL teaching.

The DELTA Certification will not be appropriate for anyone who is simply taking a year off after graduating from university, or who is teaching as a means to travel and explore another country. For most people, a TEFL Certification is going to be the most suitable and affordable qualification they will need.

On the other hand, people with career ambitions in TEFL education will find the DELTA to be a meaningful qualification to add to their profile when applying to senior administrative, teacher training, or curriculum design positions.

How Much Does the DELTA Certification Cost?

Obtaining a DELTA Certification is quite pricey and can set a teacher back quite a bit. Costs for the certification can be as high as $3,000 or more. This is just for the course. Examination costs will be extra and run almost $500 for all three modules.

That’s quite an upfront investment, and understandably more than many teachers are willing to pay. Advanced certifications such as the DELTA Certification are thus recommended for teachers looking to advance their careers in ESL and work in more lucrative positions and markets.

Anyone interested in an advanced level certification should view the cost from a long-term perspective. This is an investment into your career that, if planned well, should pay itself back through high-paying opportunities in ESL.

How Long Does a DELTA Course Take?

This will largely depend on where you are taking the certification and how you are taking it. The DELTA Certification course can be completed both in a traditional classroom as well as through distance learning online.

Courses can range from full-time two-month courses all the way to nine months or more part-time courses. Teachers may choose to take a month or two off from teaching to complete the certification quickly, or may have to complete the course more slowly.

Where Can You Enroll in DELTA Courses?

On the Cambridge English website, you can search for teaching qualification centers nearby you.

These four institutes provide distance learning course online:

• Bell
• The Distance DELTA
• ITI Istanbul
• NILE

Is getting a DELTA Certification Worth Getting?

Now that you know about the DELTA Certification, the real question is whether you should even get it in the first place. In most cases, it is not worth completing.

While the DELTA certainly looks nice on your resume, there are better options for teachers who want higher paid teaching jobs abroad or who are trying to get into management positions. Specifically, a better career choice will almost certainly be completing a Masters of Education Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (M.Ed TESOL)

Employers in countries known for high-paying jobs will require at least a Bachelor’s in English and a teaching certification from your home country. Because jobs in these countries are highly paid and thus highly competitive, candidates who have completed an M.Ed TESOL are coveted.

Completing the DELTA certification, on the other hand, might not yield you any better results than completing a TEFL Certification with a practical teaching component, and will cost you much more.

Even though a Masters in TESOL is going to cost significantly more (potentially tens of thousands of dollars), the payoff will be greater.

A teacher with a Masters in TESOL who lands a job in the United Arab Emirates, for example, can easily command a salary of $4,000 or more per month; plus housing, health insurance, flights and other perks paid for by the employer.

Combined with a teaching certificate from your home country, the doors to top jobs at international schools and universities open up, and the investment you made in your career will pay itself off.

Completing the DELTA isn’t necessarily a bad decision. Depending on other qualifications you already have on hand, and specific career goals you may have in mind, a DELTA may be something to consider.

If your aim is to develop a career in curriculum design, then a DELTA Certification is one option. In most cases, however, completing a TEFL certification will suffice, and cost you less.

A common theme among ESL teachers is having a strong preference for teaching specific ESL age groups. This is really no different from licensed teachers who specialize in teaching subjects to specific student age groups or student levels.

Much of this may be attributed to one’s personality type and the comfort level one feels with people of certain ages. Other factors, such as previous work or life experience, and the demands of the ESL job market, can also greatly influence ESL teachers’ career paths and the age groups they eventually gain most experience working with.

In this article, you’ll learn anything you need to know to decide: Which Age Group Should You Teach?

Types of Teachers in the ESL Teaching Industry

In nearly every major ESL job market, you will find teachers working in different capacities and contexts. Most of these correspond to specific ESL age groups:

• Preschool/Kindergarten ESL Teachers
• Elementary School Teachers
• High School Teachers
• University Teachers
• Standardized Test Preparation Teachers (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS)
• Business English Teachers
• Conversation Teachers for Adults

It’s often the case ESL teachers fit tightly into one of these capacities, though some teachers are more versatile in their ability to work across the spectrum.

For example, most Business English Teachers find it difficult to work with toddlers because their personalities and life experience tend to lean more towards adult interactions. The reverse is also often true, where the Preschool ESL teacher has little interest or desire to teach Business English.

If you’re relatively new to teaching, an important step in your decision-making process is understanding your personality type and preference of ESL age levels to teach. You should be clear about that before making any major commitments such as moving abroad and accepting a teaching you will not enjoy.

Beware of falling into the trap of concentrating only on the salary without taking into consideration whether you will be able to withstand the job.

ESL Job Market Demands

Another factor you need to consider is the job market itself.

In China, the highest demand for ESL teachers is among young learners. (However, due to the new legislation in China, called the “foreign teacher ban“, the demand isn’t nearly as big as before.) The same applies to other countries in south-east Asia and Latin America.

This contrasts with markets like Japan or Russia, where there is a significant demand for ESL teachers to teach adult ESL learners, but where the earning potential may not be as lucrative.

If you teach in regular schools in your home country, you will teach mainly kids and teens. For online teachers, opportunities to teach young and adult learners are available equally.

The ESL job market, is more favorable, of course, to more adaptable ESL teachers who can switch gears and work with different age groups effectively. ESL teachers who can align themselves to the job market, rather than expecting the job market to align to them, will have better opportunities and earning potential.

For the most part, ESL employers are blind towards a teacher’s preferences for teaching specific groups of age levels. Rather, employers are more concerned with the teacher’s credentials (native fluency, university degree, TEFL certification, teaching experience).

Therefore, at present, the hiring practices of most schools and organizations in the ESL industry are not designed to effectively recruit and select teachers based on age group preferences and experiences.

Understanding Different Age Groups and How to Teach Them

Let’s look at the various ESL age groups, the typical characteristics of ESL learners in each group, and what methodologies are effective for working with each group.

Preschool/Kindergarten ESL Learners

Many ESL teachers cringe at the thought of teaching preschool learners. It is often equated to babysitting, except there can be as many as 15 – 25 students in a preschool ESL class, and that is definitely not babysitting!

Teaching preschool English classes is undoubtedly challenging, and you will need a high level of energy. Yet, preschool ESL classes can be extremely rewarding for teachers, both intrinsically and financially.

If you have the right personality type and use effective teaching techniques, preschool lessons can be a lot of fun. What’s more because parents are invested in their children’s education, there is the potential to earn a higher income with preschool lessons.

Characteristics of Preschool ESL Learners

Preschool learners are particularly challenging because of their shorter attention spans, so teaching at this level requires patience as well as teaching techniques to hold the attention of the students.

It goes without saying that formal training in early childhood education is a key factor in a teacher’s effectiveness with this group, as there are many unique aspects to teaching preschool learners.

Unlike older learners, preschools learners do not generally learn in a compartmentalized manner. At this age, children are practically taking in everything, so their learning experience is more integrated, and requires a combination of visual, physical and aural activities. Much of their language learning experience at this stage is through repetition, and one-sided communication between teacher and student.

Here is a video by Wattsenglish of an actual ESL class for preschool children in Czechia:

Here is another example of Mark Kulek teaching a class of kindergarten ESL learners in Japan:

Here is yet another example of Teacher Marco eliciting high engagement from this class of Japanese ESL preschool students:

In each of these examples, it’s evident that the teachers engage very young learners by using a number of techniques:

• Give clear and simple instructions to guide students throughout the lesson
• Ask age-appropriate questions to capture interest and elicit responses
• Engage students using Total Physical Response (TPR) to help aid understanding and internalization of English
• Incorporate high-energy activities, songs, stories, games, and dance throughout the lesson
• Have fun, and make it fun for the children
• Set up the lesson for children to feel comfortable and safe with you
• Use teaching aids like flash cards, balls, and other props
• Use of encouragement

Characteristics of ESL Teachers who Perform Well with Preschool ESL Learners

Without a doubt, ESL teachers who thrive with very young learners are:

• Adaptable
• Communicative
• Creative
• Empathetic
• Energetic
• Observant
• Patient
• Playful

To be an effective ESL teacher for this age group, you really do need all of the above traits. Formal training in Early Childhood Education would definitely be a valuable credential for teachers who want to work with Preschool/Kindergarten ESL learners. If you’re still undecided if this is the right age group for you, FutureLearn offers a course: English in Early Childhood: Language Learning and Development. The teaser version offers free access to the course for 8 weeks.

Elementary School ESL Learners

Because Elementary School ESL learners fit inside a group with a wider age range, anyone intending to teach this age group should have a high level of patience and be adaptable. As with Preschool learners, teaching English to kids can be extremely rewarding on a personal level, and be lucrative due to the high investment parents make in their children’s education.

ESL teachers who teach this age group can earn decent incomes and supplement that income through private tutoring and online ESL teaching.

Because of the wider age range of this group, there are going to be some major differences in the characteristics between younger and older Elementary ESL learners. Still, there are several commonalities. Elementary ESL students learn English:

• As an independent subject or subjects
• For contexts (greetings, introductions, expressing feelings and opinions, making descriptions, etc.)
• With an emphasis on correct pronunciation and grammar use
• With a focus on specific skill-building in listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills development

In addition to these, Elementary ESL learners participate in a range of activities to evaluate and strengthen both general and specific English language proficiency. These can include participating in tests, speech or public speaking competitions, English clubs, English camps, and other school-organized projects and activities.

One major theme for Elementary ESL learners is that during these formative years, they begin to develop two-way communication skills: they learn to express their feelings and opinions, describe people, places and objects, and apply critical thinking skills to solve problems.

In essence, they gradually shed their dependency on the ESL teacher, and develop some independence using English to communicate and accomplish tasks.

As their ability to listen, read, speak and write also improves, their exposure to English extends beyond what they learn in the classroom, through various media such as moves, and life experiences such as world travel.

In the below lesson, you can see how Teacher Matthew Van Orden effectively teaches a Grade 5 ESL class in China.

 Key aspects of his methodology are:

• Providing clear instructions and guidance throughout the lesson
• Use TPR to encourage and reinforce language acquisition
• Using a quick warm-up activity (games, songs, play) to set up the lesson and create a comfortable space for learners
• Set classroom rules at the start of the lesson
• Establish the lesson learning goals and stay on point
• Engaging the whole class as well as individual students
• Creating a safe and comfortable environment for students
• Correct students and have them make the corrections
• Give continuous positive feedback
• Make it fun

Characteristics of ESL Teachers who Perform Well with Elementary School ESL Learners

Teaching Elementary ESL students requires a high level of energy, positivity, and patience. ESL teachers should be effective at guide and engaging students using a blend of activities, games, play, quizzes, stories, arts and crafts, and other techniques.

For Lower Elementary ESL classes, many of the characteristics for teaching Preschool will carry over. ESL Teachers should be:

• Adaptable
• Communicative
• Creative
• Empathetic
• Energetic
• Observant
• Patient
• Playful

Older Elementary ESL students have developed some abilities to communicate independently. Typically, they are able to describe objects and simple concepts, and express basic feelings and opinions. They can construct more cohesive sentences and use descriptors and modifiers, albeit with some imperfections, which ESL teachers should help them overcome.

ESL teachers working with Upper Elementary students should develop and organize their lessons around encouraging more independent communication, where students not only interact with the teacher, but also with each other, in English, using both group activities and independent exercises.

An emphasis should be made on encouraging improvement and use of complete sentences, correct pronunciation and intonations.

High School ESL Learners

High School ESL learners can be challenging, yet rewarding to teach if the teacher has the right skill set. As high school students transitioning into adolescents, many personal, social, and psychological aspects come into play, and teachers need to be equipped to work effectively with this age group.

Aside from these, High School ESL learners have academic pressures as they prepare themselves for post-secondary education. Depending on the location and culture where your ESL classes are, academic pressures can be intense.

For example, Chinese students have high stress levels due to the pressures placed on them, not only by the Chinese education system itself, but also from well-meaning but demanding parents, who want to ensure their children’s success. In fact, these pressures begin as early as primary school, but naturally intensify as students prepare for entrance into university.

It’s important that ESL teachers are cognizant of these pressures, and create an open and positive dialog with their students. It’s also vital that ESL teachers don’t limit their lessons to pure teaching, but allow an outlet for students to enjoy learning through games.

One great benefit of teaching this student age level is that they have typically developed a higher level of competency in English, coupled with analytical skills. This gives teachers a wider range of topics to cover, and opportunities for students to apply their critical thinking skills.

Here is a class of High School ESL students in a demonstration lesson in Japan. Professor Shawn Clankie gives a brief self-introduction, confirms with the students that they can follow his pace of speech, then organizes the class into groups to complete a task: What is the best way to improve your English ability? 

He employs a mixture of group work and class discussions throughout the lesson. He asks relevant questions to encourage student participation.

Notice he is wearing a suit and tie, as this is a Japanese ESL class, and Japan is largely a formal culture. Therefore, he is well aware of the cultural expectations of a teacher and the respect that is attached to the role.

Here is a small class of High School ESL students playing a vocabulary review activity. The students are highly engaged throughout the activity. Before the activity, the teacher organizes the class into teams, and sets up the activity by giving clear instructions about how to perform the activity.

Rather than teaching via the typical word review, the ESL teacher has tasked the students to elicit the words from their team members. This increases their talk time, reduces the teacher’s talk time, and makes the learning experience more fun.

Characteristics of ESL Teachers Who Perform Well with High School ESL Students

Some ESL teachers prefer to teach High School ESL learners because the students typically have acquired a level of fluency that makes the lesson more discussion-oriented and allows for group activities. However, with this ESL age group comes some challenges mentioned, as well as possible behavioral issues with some students.

To teach effectively at the High School ESL learner level, an ESL teacher should:

• Be calm and composed
• Provide clear instructions and guidance at the start of the lesson
• Be effective at engaging students through questions and discussion topics
• Have a range of activities that can be performed both individually and in groups
• Be able to explain ideas, concepts, and language functions clearly and comprehensively, and to elicit student input and analysis with these
• Manage and limit their talking time to allow more student interaction
• Wear appropriate attire (aligned with cultural expectations) to command respect from students
• Be aware and respectful of cultural norms and nuances

University ESL Learners

Teaching ESL classes to university students has a certain allure, because of the prestige that comes from being a university teacher or lecturer. However, gaining employment at a university often requires an ESL teacher to have some credentials, such as a postgraduate degree and some years of teaching experience.

University ESL classes can also have very diverse goals and content. For instance, university ESL classes can be centered on developing academic writing skills, listening and speaking skills, presentation skills, and English literature. 

University ESL learners often extend their education outside of the university’s official courses. Many University ESL learners enroll in courses for to prepare for taking IELTS, TOEFL, or TOEIC, which are often required for admission into a university, or to satisfy a job requirement.

So, opportunities for teaching this ESL age group can be lucrative, but also require specific knowledge and experience in the aforementioned subject areas.

One of the most distinguishing aspects of teaching University ESL classes is that by this stage of their lives, students have generally developed strong critical thinking skills and opinions. On the other hand, one of the challenges with this group is that they have often not developed the ability to express themselves fluidly in English.

This is sometimes due to cultural factors, such as cultures where expressing one’s opinions about certain topics is often perceived inappropriate or taboo. It can also be a consequence of having endured ESL education heavily focused on the mechanics of the language, rigorous test taking, and a lack of consistent exposure to English outside the classroom.

In the below video, Professor Roberto Guzman talks about ESL classes he has taught at the University of Puerto Rico. In this TEDx Talk, he discusses how his early lessons were heavily designed around English language mechanics, and how he came to the conclusion that these lessons were disempowering his students for life after studies.

As a result, his students were ill-prepared for careers in which applied critical thinking skills in English are necessary. He changed up his mode of teaching, no longer focusing on grammar and parts of speech, and formulated his lessons around encouraging students to develop and utilize their critical thinking skills in English.

Characteristics of ESL Teachers Who Perform Well with University ESL Students

ESL teachers who perform well with University ESL learners tend to have a preference for interactions with adults. Aside from their credentials, teachers who enjoy working with this ESL age group are effective at engaging learners with topics that require a high degree of maturity and critical thinking.

Though it is possible to make lessons fun through games, most students are focused on improving their English proficiency to attain a high score on tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, or TOEIC. They may even be required to attain a minimum score on local standardized tests in order to graduate.

ESL teachers should be capable of creating opportunities for interaction through an array of topics and themes centered around historical as well as current events, predictions about the future, and concepts about society, morality, and ethics.

At the same time, anyone considering teaching ESL abroad at the university level should have a level of composure and cultural sensitivity, to avoid topics or themes that can offend or violate local laws.

Adult ESL Learners

Although technically, university students are adult ESL learners, there is usually a distinction in priorities between university students who learn English and adults who are in the workforce, and adult ESL learners often have diverse reasons for learning English.

While many adult ESL learners enroll in English conversation classes at a private language school, it is also common for them to hire an ESL teacher and take private lessons with them. In either of these cases, adult ESL learners are learning English out of their desire or need to become proficient.

Others may be learning English because the company they work for has arranged ESL lessons for them. While in these cases, many classes are focused on conversational English, a large proportion of the Business English courses are focused on developing soft skills, such as presenting, meeting, negotiating, and writing business documents in English.

There are a number of ESL teachers who only want to teach adults. They feel more inclined to interact with students closer to their age, who can relate and discuss topics and concepts that they may share common views, or focus on themes which are relevant to their generation.

Not every teacher can relate well with younger ESL learners, particularly due to generational gaps, but can relate very well with mature learners.

Many ESL teachers also view teaching this ESL age group as a way to establish a local network. It is not uncommon to see ESL teachers teaching Business English and developing relationships with their students and client companies, to open doors to bigger opportunities in the local market.

Many ESL teachers have moved on from teaching to working in sales, human resources management, training and development, and other fields due to having their start with adult ESL learners. 

Even though it may seem like a selfish move on the teacher’s part, it is often the case that grown-up learners also have other motivations for learning English with a foreign teacher.

Despite the benefits of teaching adults, there are some challenges as well. Adult ESL learners usually have other priorities besides their studies. Unlike younger students, they have work and family obligations that may take priority over their language lessons. As a result, there are often classes cancellations, postponements, and a higher student dropout rate.

Another challenge with adult learners is that many intend to learn English, enroll in a course, and then give up after a while. Learning English might be a New Year’s resolutions or a bucket list item, but as time goes on, it is common for adults to lose their motivation or to decide that learning English is too hard.

Also, because most adults are working during the day time on weekdays, and have family commitments during weekends, most Adult ESL learners study in the mornings or evenings. This means ESL teachers for this group have early morning lessons, followed by significant downtime, before resuming lessons in the evening. Late nights and early mornings is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Business English classes arranged by companies for their staff typically expect the classes to be in-house. Companies often have good meeting facilities, which helps with creating a suitable learning environment. However, it also means that staff are not removed from their workplace, and thus can arrive late or skip out of the lesson to carry on with work.

Most importantly, though, it means that Business English teachers can expect to include significant travel time into the daily schedule, commuting from one client company to another. This can be a drain on one’s energy, and some people may just not feel it is worth the effort.

The upside of teaching Business English in-company is that the hourly rate is often higher than the typical going rate for ESL lessons, and employers often include a travel allowance for commuting.

Finally, perhaps the biggest challenge teaching adult ESL learners is the range of English proficiency from one learner to another. For various reasons, the learners have different levels of fluency in English, and while ideally students would be grouped into classes by their level, this does not always happen. It can be a challenge accomplishing the learning goals when students have different levels of fluency.

The following videos by Chris Westergaard show how lessons with Adult ESL learners are performed at different levels.

Beginner adult ESL learners

Intermediate adult ESL learners

Characteristics of ESL Teachers Who Perform Well with Adult ESL Students

ESL teachers for this ESL age group should be versatile in their teaching and communication styles. They should be able to adapt to different personality types, fluency levels, and learning targets.

Adults are arguably the most diverse group because they have different experiences and exposure to English from childhood through to adulthood. Additionally, there are cultural sensitivities to consider. Though cultural sensitivity is important for all age levels, adult ESL learners have approached an age where they may take more serious offense to any form of cultural insensitivity, and process it much differently as younger learners.

Many adult ESL teachers also have prior work experience outside the ESL industry. This gives them a perspective about their students’ needs as far as communicating in English in various contexts.

Final Thoughts

When embarking on a career in ESL teaching, many people focus primarily on where they want to teach English. However, it is just as important to evaluate yourself and determine which of the different age groups you want to teach, based on your personality, life experience, and personal goals.

Are you more comfortable teaching ESL to young learners or adults? To beginners or advanced learners?

It’s also vital to think about the demand for learning English in the country or city where you intend to work, and how the ESL job market impacts your decision.

Though many ESL teachers we have encountered have an avid passion for studying and imparting knowledge on the English language, some ESL teachers seek advancement opportunities in ESL beyond the classroom. We often hear of teachers becoming managers, sales consultants, recruiters, and private tutors.

But one avenue that is often overlooked is becoming an IELTS Examiner. This is not only a great way to gain career experience, but also to earn an additional income that can be well-paid, and sometimes more than the income earned in a regular teaching job.

What’s more, many former IELTS Examiners have gone on to become successful IELTS preparation trainers, making full-time careers helping people accomplish their academic and professional goals by achieving the desired IELTS score.

There’s a world of opportunity to those who meet the qualifications and have a strong work ethic. Read this post to discover what it takes to become an IELTS Examiner and whether it’s a good fit for you​.

What Does an IELTS Examiner Do?​

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a standardized test developed and administered by British Council, IDP Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. The test has been designed to assess an individual’s English language proficiency. For those intending to study, work or immigrate to an English-speaking country, IELTS is an accepted (and often required) proof of one’s English language proficiency.

According to British Council  more than 5 million people across 140 countries take the IELTS each year. The cost to take the IELTS ranges between $215 – $250.

IELTS is comprised of the following tests:

• Listening
• Reading (Academic or General)
• Writing (Academic or General)
• Speaking

IELTS Examiners are responsible for administering and scoring the writing and speaking tests.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become an IELTS Examiner?

To become an IELTS Examiner, you must have:

• An undergraduate degree or higher, or demonstrated equivalent qualification(s)
• A TEFL/TESOL qualification from a recognized institution
• Substantial relevant teaching experience, the majority of which must relate to adult students (16 years and over)
• Two references to include with your application
• Original education degrees and certificates to present at the interview

Aside from these qualifications, IELTS Examiners are required to demonstrate consistency in how they evaluate tests in accordance with very stringent standards. For example, one of the prerequisites an IELTS Examiner must meet is to consistently score a specific number of written tests with accuracy. Thus, IELTS Examiners need to be consistent, objective, and attentive to detail.

Evaluating and scoring tests can also be tedious, and people who are a good fit for the role of IELTS Examiner have a high level of comfort assessing many tests and ensuring their assessments adhere to standards.

It’s also important that IELTS Examiners have the ability to set candidates at ease during the Speaking Test, as they will undoubtedly feel nervous before and during the test. IELTS Examiners should be particularly effective at getting candidates to relax and setting up an atmosphere that encourages them to speak comfortably and naturally.

IELTS Examiners often work between 2 and 7 hours during each testing session. Punctuality, diligence, and accountability are vital traits to being successful in this role.

The upside is that IELTS Examiners are well-paid. According to PaySa the average pay for IELTS Examiners is $50,000 per year, with top earners pulling in over $66,000 per year.

What Steps Do You Need to Take?

If you meet the minimum qualifications to be an IELTS Examiner and feel you would be a good fit for the role, you can begin the process as follows:

1. Apply at an IELTS test center

IELTS test centers are located across the world, and each test center is responsible for recruiting and training its pool of IELTS Examiners. Depending on openings, applications are reviewed, and candidates are shortlisted for an interview.

2. Complete the induction

Shortlisted candidates who have successfully completed the interview will be required to complete an induction process.

3. Complete a 4-Day training

Upon completing the induction process, the shortlisted candidate must complete the IELTS Examiner training, which is facilitated by an experienced IELTS Trainer. The training is conducted over four days.

4. Complete the certification process

Applicants must then complete a certification set to demonstrate that they can apply the assessment criteria accurately and reliably. If successful, they become certificated as examiners.

5. Undergo regular monitoring

IELTS Examiners are monitored up to four times in a year, and at least once in two years. During your first year as an examiner, you will be monitored at least three times. The purpose of monitoring is to ensure examiners score IELTS speaking and writing tests consistently and reliably, and implement the corrective actions as provided to them in written feedback.

Is it Difficult to become an IELTS Examiner?

If you are an experienced ESL teacher with the required qualifications, you can apply for an IELTS Examiner position at an IELTS Test Center. You will first want to check that the IELTS Test Center is hiring new people to join their pool of examiners.

The induction, training and certification processes are both intensive and rigorous, so you need to be committed to go through that process with a strong intention of learning and developing the skills needed to be an effective examiner.

You will also need to be open to receiving feedback, particularly during your first year, as the purpose of the monitoring processes is to ensure examiners are not only consistent with their test scoring, but implementing improvements to their performance. To maintain your IELTS Examiner status, you will need to re-certify every two years.

Finally, as long as you are an active IELTS Examiner, you are not allowed to reveal this to anyone, and not permitted to give IELTS band scores outside the exam itself. So, beyond the qualifications, skills and personality traits required to be successful as an IELTS Examiner, you will be bound to a strict confidentiality agreement.

Wrapping Up

We hope this quick introduction to becoming an IELTS Examiner has helped you take a step forward. Becoming an IELTS Examiner is one of the most overlooked, yet highly rewarding opportunities for advancement for ESL teachers looking to take their careers to the next level.