English as a second language teacher : Job description

Teachers of English as a second language work with adults and children whose first language is not English, and who live (or are seeking to live) on a long-term or permanent basis in the UK.

They work in a range of locations providing government or voluntary sector funded courses to help learners develop linguistic and cultural competence to participate fully in British education, work and cultural environments.

The role differs from that of an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher, who delivers courses to fee-paying learners.

The abbreviation EAL (English as an additional language) is current in schools, as is ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) within adult education.

Typical work activities

Teachers or tutors deliver classes to adults at colleges and in community and language centres. In primary and secondary schools, tuition is provided on an individual basis or support is provided in a classroom setting. Some teaching also takes place with adult migrants, one-to-one and in small groups.

Typical activities include:

• planning, preparing and delivering lessons and workshops for groups and individuals;
• designing and producing teaching materials and adapting existing materials;
• carrying out assessments of students' needs;
• planning schemes of work;
• assessing students' progress;
• keeping records;
• attending team meetings;
• attending and contributing to training sessions;
• providing mainstream language support;
• collaborating with class and subject teachers;
• cooperating with bilingual classroom assistants;
• advising colleagues;
• facilitating home/school liaison;
• preparing information for inspection visits and other quality assurance exercises;
• helping to draft and review institutional policies relating to the education of students with English as a second or additional language;
• engaging in continuing professional development (CPD);
• assisting in bidding for project funding.