| Teaching English as foreign language (or second | | | | There are many opportunities around the world to |
| language) is an excellent option for visiting new parts | | | | teach English without a certificate. However, |
| of the world. Because English is commonly used for | | | | certification does help, especially if there is an |
| diplomacy, higher education, business and technology, | | | | application process involved and positions are |
| English teachers and classes are in high demand | | | | competitive. |
| around the worldwide. | | | | Do I need to speak a foreign language to teach people |
| Knowing how to teach English also provides you with | | | | English? |
| an excellent skill to be used in volunteering. There are | | | | Theoretically, to teach English you should only need to |
| opportunities around the world where people would | | | | speak one language. However, if you are teaching in a |
| benefit from knowing English, yet they do not have the | | | | foreign country, there is no doubt that some |
| funds to enroll in classes, or perhaps they don't have | | | | knowledge of that country's culture and language can |
| access to any classes at all. | | | | make your job much easier, and probably allow you to |
| If teaching English isn't for you, international schools | | | | make your lessons more relevant and interesting for |
| require native English speakers to teach other subjects | | | | your students. If your students are of mixed |
| as well, such as mathematics, science, history, and the | | | | international backgrounds, then knowing one or two |
| arts. | | | | foreign languages may not be of assistance to the |
| What is TEFL, ESL, EFL, etc.? | | | | entirety of the group. |
| There are lots of different abbreviations and | | | | There is some benefit to your teaching if you do in |
| acronyms to refer to teaching English. Here is a quick | | | | fact know a foreign language or have learnt one. By |
| simplifier... | | | | having first hand experience of being a student, you |
| ELT: English Language Teaching or English | | | | are able to have a more complete perspective of the |
| Language Training | | | | student/teacher relationship and the trials and |
| EFL: English as a Foreign Language | | | | tribulations of those you teach. Moreover, learning |
| ESL: English as a Second Language | | | | another language provides you with valuable insight |
| ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages | | | | about grammar, such as verb conjugations and tenses, |
| EAL: English as an Additional Language | | | | which come naturally to a native speaker. Many other |
| TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language | | | | languages use similar grammatical formats as English, |
| TESL: Teaching English as a Second Language | | | | and by learning a foreign language you might be able |
| TEAL: Teaching English as an Additional Language | | | | to examine your native language more carefully. |
| TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other | | | | Do I need to speak English as my native language to |
| Languages | | | | teach English? |
| All of the above abbreviations are used for essentially | | | | You certainly don't have to speak English as your |
| the same thing, however, you may notice that | | | | native tongue; however you must have excellent |
| generally ESL is used for non-native speakers learning | | | | fluency and writing skills to start a training course for |
| English in an English speaking country, and EFL is for | | | | certification. Oftentimes non-native speakers make the |
| non-native-speaks learning English in a non-English | | | | best teachers, however. If you've been through it |
| speaking environment, such as their own country. | | | | yourself then you are able to relate to what your |
| Moreover, Americans tend to use ESL more, and | | | | students will be dealing with. |
| British teachers tend to use EFL. EAL is an attempt to | | | | How long will it take to become certified? |
| bridge the gap between the two. Oftentimes people | | | | Certification is a pretty quick process, usually taking |
| learn English not as their second language, but as their | | | | four weeks or considerably less. You can take the |
| third, fourth or more. Also, EAL avoids using the word | | | | course full time, part time, or through distance learning. |
| "foreign", which is considered by the more politically | | | | There are options to suit whichever method or time |
| correct to have an unpleasant inference. | | | | frame you prefer. |
| Do I need a certificate to teach English? | | | | |