English as a second language teacher : Employers and vacancy sources

Opportunities to work with young learners exist in maintained and independent schools.

Work with adults occurs in a variety of environments, including:

• further education (FE) colleges;
• adult education colleges;
• training centres;
• community language centres;
• centres run by voluntary agencies;
• religious institutions frequented by minority ethnic groups.

In an attempt to take education out into the community, many colleges and local education authorities provide courses in a variety of venues off the main college premises, including local schools and church halls.

Some tutors may also be involved in teaching literacy and numeracy as part of basic skills provision (as part of the national strategy for improving adult literacy, numeracy and English language skills).

There is some demand for teachers in countries where English is used as an official or semi-official language, e.g. Singapore, Nigeria and Kenya. Some posts are also available abroad through voluntary agencies, such as Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) .

Demand for English as a second language (ESOL) teachers varies across the UK, depending upon the proportion of residents whose first language is not English. There are, for example, fewer opportunities in rural areas.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Times Educational Supplement (TES)  
• Guardian Jobs  - Tuesdays.
• The Voice  
• Jobs in Education    
• TALENT (Training Adult Literacy, ESOL and Numeracy Teachers)   
• Local Government Jobs   
• FE Jobs   
• jobsgopublic   

School and college vacancies and opportunities for community work may also be advertised in the local and regional press.

Recruitment agencies sometimes handle vacancies. Look out for agencies specialising in education posts, which advertise in the TES and The Guardian, as well as local newspapers. It is important to check job descriptions carefully.

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