What does TESOL stand for?
What do the letters TESOL stand for? Dr Karen Smith, explains:
"It means Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The acronym describes the job of teaching English as a foreign, second, or international language to people whose first language is not English."
Difference between TESOL and TEFL
You might also hear the term TEFL, which means Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It is very similar to TESOL, although TESOL refers to teaching English to people already living in an English-speaking country. TEFL refers to English teaching jobs abroad where English isn’t being spoken widely, such as in China or Brazil.
English is a global language
You may have noticed that all over the world people can speak some English. This is because English is taught from primary school onwards in other countries. English has become a global language in science, technology, business, and academia between people who don’t have a language in common.
Expert teacher educator, Jane Cleary, says:
"Being able to speak English is a must for people in other countries to enter university or to get a promotion at work. It’s no surprise that there’s a great need for teachers to teach English courses everywhere in the world, as well as in the UK."
Career opportunities in TESOL
In truth, there are so many opportunities to find work in TESOL. Jonathan Whittaker, a mature TESOL student at the University of Central Lancashire, wanted to change career during the pandemic.
After earning his TrinityCert qualification in his second year of study, he sought real-life teaching experience during his degree. Jonathan decided to apply for a summer school teaching role at Bede's following a recommendation from a former student. He said:
‘It’s great to see the joy on the students’ faces as they celebrate their accomplishments… It’s been a great way to get a worthwhile, well-paid teaching experience.’
Career opportunities aren’t limited to teaching, there’s also a need for examiners, course book writers and school directors, to name a few. It’s a very varied and interesting profession with great opportunities for progression. Teaching is delivered in different ways, from traditional face-to-face classes, to one-to-one lessons and online teaching.
TESOL certification: How to become an English language teacher
To become an English language teacher, you’ll need TESOL certification as a minimum, plus a degree for the better TESOL jobs. One option is to study for an undergraduate TESOL degree that includes TESOL certification. If you already have a degree, you could consider a Masters in TESOL or a stand-alone TESOL certificate course. Read more about how to become a teacher.
Having a language degree is a great start, but you can become an English teacher whatever your background. In fact, it’s perfect for career-changers if you’re interested in teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP), such as for Business, Engineering, Nursing, or even Aviation!
What to expect in TESOL teacher training
A good quality TESOL course will prepare you for internationally recognised TESOL/TEFL qualifications such as the Trinity Certificate in TESOL, or the Cambridge Certificate of Teaching English to Adults (CELTA). There’s not much of a difference between them. So, what does it involve?
Trinity Course Director Dr. Neil Walker explains:
‘Teacher training will get you up to speed on your English grammar, show you how to teach different language skills communicatively, without the need for you to know your learners’ languages -it’s very clever!’
