READ ABOUT WAYS TO PROGRESS YOUR CAREER AND REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

Find out what opportunities are out there, which roles you're suited to, and how to get where you want to be.

TEFL CAREER DEVELOPMENT GUIDE

LoveTEFLLiving and Teaching Abroad

TEFL Career Development GuideLoveTEFLLiving and Teaching Abroad

2 3

Call UK +44 (0)113 829 3300Call IRL +353 (0)1 5549663

WELCOME TO THE GUIDE TO TEFL CAREER DEVELOPMENT

It is estimated that over 1 billion people are currently learning English worldwide – so you can understand why Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is such a growing industry.

Many people have an amazing experience teaching and travelling for a year or two, before returning to the UK. For others however, TEFL is a career that lasts a lifetime.

Regardless of the path you choose, it is worth investing in your own professional development. Gaining extra skills makes you more valuable and employable and will also help you to teach more effectively.

This guide sets out the main opportunities ahead, and provides some pointers to help with your professional development.

CONTENTSCONTENTS MANAGEMENT ROLES

One of the most obvious career options is to progress up the management chain. This is generally as follows:

TEFL TEACHER

ST

ART HERE

DIRECTOR OF STUDIES

PR

OMOTION 3

SENIOR TEACHER

PR

OMOTION 1

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

OF STUDIES

PR

OMOTION 2

Introduction 2

Management Roles 3Senior Teacher 4

Assistant Director of Studies 4

Director of Studies (DOS) 5

Head of Department 5

Specialist Teacher Roles 6

Non-Teaching Roles 7

Professional Development 8

Professional Organisations 10

To take on a management role, you will normally need to:• Have a CELTA (Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults) qualification• At least 3 years’ experience in TEFL• Have suitable skills for the specific post.

For some roles, you are likely to need a DELTA (Diploma in Language Teaching to Adults) level qualification.

TEFL Career Development GuideLoveTEFLLiving and Teaching Abroad

4 5

Call UK +44 (0)113 829 3300Call IRL +353 (0)1 5549663

SENIOR TEACHER

A senior teacher is an experienced and motivated member of staff. In a large school, a senior teacher may work within a particular level (eg as the senior teacher for advanced level classes). In a small school, the senior teacher may be a resource to assist all teachers.

This is usually an unpaid title, though some schools will pay an extra bonus to senior teachers.

TYPICAL DUTIES INCLUDE:

• Lesson planning• Classroom management• Problems with materials or students • Workshops and professional development.

THIS ROLE COULD BE FOR YOU, IF YOU:

• Want to build up your experience • Have excellent teaching skills• Can incorporate your extra duties into your daily routine, alongside

full-time teaching.

1 DIRECTOR OF STUDIES (DOS)

The Director of Studies (DoS) is the head of the academic team. The position provides a direct link between the business and the academic sides of the school.

TYPICAL DUTIES INCLUDE:

• Recruiting, observing and aiding new teachers• Testing, interviewing and orientation of new students• Room allocation and teacher timetabling• Supervision of all new courses and programmes• Choosing materials and resources• Attending or running school meetings• Academic budgeting• Arranging relief teachers and, occasionally, teaching.

The DoS position is a non-teaching role yet, ironically, most people in this role are excellent teachers.

THIS ROLE COULD BE FOR YOU, IF YOU:

• Are extremely organised• Have excellent people skills (including diplomacy!)• Are very versatile and flexible, as you are likely to move between

many different aspects of the role within a single day.

3

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDIES

The Assistant Director of Studies (ADoS) usually teaches three or four days a week and has one or two days for administrative duties assigned by the Director of Studies. They fill in when the DoS is absent.

TYPICAL DUTIES INCLUDE:

• Teaching• Curriculum design• Timetabling• Administrative duties, such as writing attendance warning letters

and photocopying materials.

THIS ROLE COULD BE FOR YOU, IF YOU:

• Very organised• Able to slip easily between your roles as a teacher and

administrator.

2

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

In addition to the roles outlined above, some schools appoint a Head of Department. This is essentially a “mini-DoS” role, focussing on a specific area, such as exam courses or training courses.

The Head of Department will manage the needs of their particular department, usually reporting to the DoS.