Is English Language Teaching for You?

What qualities does an English language teacher need? A simple question, but not an easy one to answer. Of course, in common with teachers in any discipline, the EL teacher needs enthusiasm for the subject, patience, conscientiousness, an ability to inspire learners to achieve their desired goals. As well these fundamentals, the prospective teachers will need different qualities according to the circumstances and conditions in which the teaching takes place. At one extreme the teacher may be a young volunteer working with children in a remote African village, at the other, s/he may be teaching effective communication skills to top executives in a state-of-the-art seminar room of a multi-national company.

The qualities needed in one situation are not necessarily transferable to another. For those wishing to take their expertise to a distant land with poor resources and a low standard of living, it is essential to be aware of the effects and stages of culture shock and to have some idea of how to cope with it. If, on the other hand, the work involves training senior business and professional people, the teacher needs the presence and confidence to deal with them on equal terms. One of the best ways to gain a perspective on whether or not you have the required qualities is to talk to some practitioners with experience in the areas that interest you. It is also important to read about the countries you are thinking of working in so that you have realistic expectations of daily life there. Look into such issues as climate, local customs, living standards, diet, religious practices, gender issues.

The next stage in preparation for an ELT career is to acquire the necessary qualifications. Good basic qualifications that have a worldwide reputation are those awarded by the University of Cambridge's UCLES CILTRSA division, with training centres in 40 countries, or by Trinity College, London. Both institutions offer initial and more advanced qualifications.

If you do find that you enjoy ELT and want to improve your career prospects, then the next stage in professional development should be a Master's Degree in Applied Linguistics or TESOL. Several universities offer distance learning master's courses. The University of Surrey is one such, with a course that has students in 52 countries. The Institute of Education, London, is another, with a course using computer conferencing and email.

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