{"id":9589,"date":"2026-08-14T11:06:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T09:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/london-school.com\/?p=9589\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T11:09:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T09:09:24","slug":"finding-an-english-teaching-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/london-school.com\/en\/finding-an-english-teaching-job\/","title":{"rendered":"FINDING AN ENGLISH TEACHING JOB"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Karen McGhie. You can find more content related to English teaching at \u00a0london-school-online.com<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

There are few jobs nowadays that you know you can do <\/span>anywhere in the world<\/b>, and teaching English as a foreign language is one of them. It\u2019s one of the most flexible jobs around, and means that you can work for a <\/span>language school or on a freelance basis<\/b> delivering both <\/span>face-to-face and online<\/b> classes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is so much about teaching English which makes it a great and <\/span>extremely rewarding job, the big question is how to make sure you find the best job for you and one which will help develop your teaching career. After having worked in the industry for many years, we have a pretty good idea of what you need to look out for when searching and applying for English teaching jobs around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

What qualifications do I need to find a job?<\/b><\/h4>\n

By far, the most <\/span>widely accepted English teaching qualification<\/b> is the <\/span>Cambridge English CELTA<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). This qualification will open doors to jobs in the most reputable language schools in the world. Another widely accepted qualification is the <\/span>Trinity CertTESOL<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, which is mainly offered by centres in the UK. Other online courses which claim to be related to TEFL (but at a vastly reduced price) are not worth the paper they\u2019re written on, and you\u2019ll soon find it <\/span>hard to get a good job without a CELTA or CertTESOL<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for management jobs in the industry, then you\u2019ll need to hold a <\/span>Cambridge DELTA<\/a><\/strong><\/span> or <\/span>Trinity DipTESOL<\/a><\/strong><\/span> qualification, which can be taken after having completed around 2 years of full-time teaching post-CELTA\/CertTESOL.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some language schools may also ask you to have a <\/span>degree level qualification (in any subject) on top of your English Language Teaching qualification, but this very much depends on the school and the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where can I work?<\/b><\/h4>\n

ELT qualifications will enable you to work in <\/span>private institutions<\/b>, whether they be private language schools, international schools or some private primary and secondary schools. The great thing about this industry is that you\u2019ll find language schools in most cities across the globe, with English being the most widely used international language for both business and travel.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>English-speaking countries<\/b>, you can expect to work in year-round or seasonal (mainly summer) language schools which host international students from around the world. In year-round schools, these students are often adults, and they stay in the host country for longer periods of time. Year-round schools offer General English classes as well as more specific courses for academic or professional purposes (EAP\/ESP). The seasonal schools mainly host teenage students for study holidays for around 2-3 weeks and General English classes are taught. Teachers may be asked to stay on campus with the students during these seasonal schools and may have to take on other non-academic (pastoral) duties alongside teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>non-English speaking countries,<\/b> you\u2019ll be working in language schools for children, teenagers or adults. There is also a big market for business English classes in non-English speaking countries, which can be delivered online or in person at the company.<\/span><\/p>\n

What can I expect?<\/b><\/h4>\n

Being an ELT teacher requires you to be <\/span>incredibly flexible<\/b>, as you will be expected to teach a <\/span>variety of ages and levels as part of your weekly timetable. You might well have to teach exam classes (usually Cambridge or Trinity), so it goes without saying that you\u2019ll have to do some extra research when it comes to understanding the exams you will have to teach.<\/span><\/p>\n

In most cases, you <\/span>should also expect to receive some CPD<\/b> (Continuing Professional Development) or in-service training in your place of work. If there is no mention of any training in the application process, then this might be a workplace to avoid.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also expect to find workmates from around the globe who may have taught in various countries. <\/span>It\u2019s common for English teachers to move around quite a bit, especially at the beginning of their careers, so you\u2019ll be able to learn from their wealth of professional and life experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

What questions should I ask at interview?<\/b><\/h4>\n

We always consider the interview process to be about potential employers assessing our suitability for the job, but it\u2019s equally important for us to assess them. Therefore, it\u2019s essential that you <\/span>think about what your expectations are before the interview<\/b> so you can prepare some questions in advance. Here are some ideas for the areas you might want to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n