How to teach English as a foreign language in the UK?

de1amo

i am just a natural teacher--i did some teaching in spain back in 1994 and i got the bug and a decent reference from an İnternationally recognised institution. My ex wife was spanish and whilst we were visiting her parents her father got ill and we had to stay for 4 months to look after him. i was bored one day and found an advert in the local newspaper asking for a native teacher. İ rang and got the job over the phone. Just being English is enough for most places!--i earnt a decent wage and only gave it up because my wife was jealous and wanted to return to the uk!-i had a well paid job for life according to the well crafted reference i took away! i was earning 10 pounds against 2 pounds for a spaniard with a degree!

İ went back to working in the uk for my employer but leapt at redundency a few years later(and a divorce). i took my 5 GCEs a good reference and then went around the world. i fell back on teaching when i was bored. My best appointment was working for a university in Brasil and living like a king on a paradise island-Santa caterina university in Florianopolis. i gained experience and kept any proof of work until i came to settle in Turkey(i met my now wife).--id like to grow my school until i need another Brit who can teach-i frighten off most of the hairdressers who think they are capable teaching because i ask searching questions and demand lesson plans with demonstrations teaching real students! Most Native teachers in turkey get away with just playing games but i expect them to teach!

İ dont have a TEFL because basically it is only valid in the uk! it teaches how to teach English to foreign students studying in multi-lingual classes but most classes abroad are mono-lingual! -its talent and confidence to communicate that i see as the real quality of a teacher.-if your timid and shy it really isnt the career.

de1amo

how i started my career--i rented out my home to foreign students. they looked after my home and gave me enough money to move about the planet---bournemouth is full of students looking for decent accomodation-a lot of agents refuse to deal with them but i like them as they are usually from decent families and care for things and pay what is demanded --it depends where you live!

patman99

A PTTL is a good idea as it is the minimum requirement to teach in Adult education. However, speak to your local adult education college. If they are interested, they will put you through the various required qualifications at their expense.

briona

de1amo wrote: »

i am just a natural teacher--i did some teaching in spain back in 1994 and i got the bug and a decent reference from an İnternationally recognised institution. ... i was bored one day and found an advert in the local newspaper asking for a native teacher. İ rang and got the job over the phone. Just being English is enough for most places!

An interesting, if rather flawed, post! Several years ago, particularly in Spain, it was possible to land a job simply on the basis that you were a native English speaker. This is no longer the case. Most schools want a CELTA/Trinity CertTESOL at the very minimum. Many will also ask for a degree, but this can be in any subject. Obviously having experience and references will go a long way towards landing the next job!

de1amo wrote: »

i frighten off most of the hairdressers who think they are capable teaching because i ask searching questions and demand lesson plans with demonstrations teaching real students! Most Native teachers in turkey get away with just playing games but i expect them to teach

Considering your questionable grasp of grammar and punctuation, I suspect the irony of sneering at "hairdressers who think they are capable of teaching" is lost on you.

de1amo wrote: »

İ dont have a TEFL because basically it is only valid in the uk! it teaches how to teach English to foreign students studying in multi-lingual classes but most classes abroad are mono-lingual! -its talent and confidence to communicate that i see as the real quality of a teacher.-if your timid and shy it really isnt the career.

I suggest you research TEFL courses in a bit more depth, since your view of them is incorrect. The CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL courses show you how to teach English through English, in other words you are shown how to teach without using your learners' native language(s). This can be applied in either multi-lingual or mono-lingual classes.

***

To the OP: if you intend to teach in the FE sector in the UK, you will need the PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) award, which leads onto the DTLLS (Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector). You could also do a CELTA/Trinity CertTESOL but I'm not sure that these are entirely necessary unless you intend to teach abroad.

Clydefrog

To the OP: if you intend to teach in the FE sector in the UK, you will need the PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) award, which leads onto the DTLLS (Diploma in Teaching in the Lifeling Learning Sector).

Since very recently (Wolf report) you can teach in any sector with a DTLLS, not only in FE.
Not sure about PTLLS, but in case of the DTLLS you must be employed in a full teaching role (a proper teacher, not a tutor or an assistant) in order to study. I think it's also possible to do the training full time and then you don't need to be employed. Don't quote me on this though, I did mine 3 years ago, so things could have changed.

I personally think the easiest way for you OP to proceed would be to find a job in education first. Try something simple like a Learndirect tutor if you haven't got any decent qualifications. You won't exactly be teaching, but at least it will give you a taste of education (well, sort of)
Alternatively, if you have a degree or a technical skill, you could try your local college or county adult education. This obviously would be a much better option - they will pay for your training, because it's a legal requirement to hold a teaching qualification if you want to work in FE (wasn't the case a few years ago).

ferien_uk2011

I am in a very similar position. I have also recently left the Civil Service, and TEFL is one of the areas I am interested in.

I have looked into some local courses (PTLLS and DTLLS) and discovered that I need to be a teaching position to get onto one of these, which I am not likely to get without any experience.

I am now looking for volunteering opportunities to gain some experience. I would suggest you do the same. I have seen one place where I can volunteer as a teaching assistant. I've also just started volunteering with the Refugee Council - not related to teaching English, but will give me some experience working with people from different backgrounds and who may (or may not) have limited English-speaking skills.

saintjammyswine

Clydefrog wrote: »

Since very recently (Wolf report) you can teach in any sector with a DTLLS, not only in FE.
Not sure about PTLLS, but in case of the DTLLS you must be employed in a full teaching role (a proper teacher, not a tutor or an assistant) in order to study. I think it's also possible to do the training full time and then you don't need to be employed. Don't quote me on this though, I did mine 3 years ago, so things could have changed.

I personally think the easiest way for you OP to proceed would be to find a job in education first. Try something simple like a Learndirect tutor if you haven't got any decent qualifications. You won't exactly be teaching, but at least it will give you a taste of education (well, sort of)
Alternatively, if you have a degree or a technical skill, you could try your local college or county adult education. This obviously would be a much better option - they will pay for your training, because it's a legal requirement to hold a teaching qualification if you want to work in FE (wasn't the case a few years ago).

You can be "working towards" an A1 (assessor) qualification and assess while under supervision & in training, a possible route towards teaching if you have industry experience.

Strider590

ThriftyWanabee wrote: »

I'm now wondering if teaching English as a foreign language in the UK may be an option and if so what qualifications would I need. I wouldn't rule out teaching English abroad but for now would like to stay here.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

Confused.....

Who would you be teaching then?

saintjammyswine

Strider590 wrote: »

Confused.....

Who would you be teaching then?

There are thousands of people who either emigrate here or live here with little or no knowledge of english. College courses are often full up months in advance.

Strider590

saintjammyswine wrote: »

There are thousands of people who either emigrate here or live here with little or no knowledge of english. College courses are often full up months in advance.

Oh I see, like Eastern Europeans?
I thought they were all leaving, not coming in :rotfl: