Using your language skills : Teaching

Teaching in schools

You will need to gain qualified teacher status (QTS) in order to teach. Unless you already have a degree which gives QTS, this is usually achieved through a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or, in Scotland, the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). Full details of different routes and funding are on the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website.

See Secondary school teacher and Primary school teacher.

Teaching English as a foreign language

Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is a worldwide industry with opportunities in Britain and abroad. To teach English as a foreign language, it is not necessary to speak other languages, but it can be a real advantage and can increase your opportunities of working abroad.

See English as a foreign language teacher and English as a second language teacher.

Further education lecturing

Further education (FE) colleges for students aged over 16 offer many language courses, including GCSE, AS and A-level and a variety of vocational courses that may include languages. New full-time and permanent part-time (fractional) lecturers in FE institutions in England and Wales are required to hold or work towards Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills (QTLS) status or the Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE) in Scotland. See Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) for details.

See Further education lecturer.

Higher education lecturing

Language teaching in universities has changed with the increasing number of degrees offering languages in combination with business, law, IT or other vocational courses. Many still offer the traditional language degrees with their in-depth study of foreign language and literature and can provide an opportunity to teach your language at an advanced level.

See Higher education lecturer.

Adult education lecturing

Institutions offer a vast network of evening and daytime courses in a huge variety of subjects, often with a selection of language courses. Many of these are designed for adults who wish to learn a language for pleasure or possibly for business purposes. Most teaching opportunities are part time and only offer a few hours per week. You will also need Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills status.

See the Adult education lecturer.

Freelancing

There are many freelance opportunities to teach languages, from sessional work in FE colleges or adult education centres to being a private language tutor to individuals or commercial organisations. You may be juggling a range of contracts and even combine this with some translating or interpreting.

Along with the usual range of skills required to become a language teacher, you will need excellent time management and organisational skills, particularly if you have several contracts. This may well require you to travel from venue to venue at set times both during the day and the evening. You will need to think about what hours and where you would be willing to work and will need to be flexible in order to maximise opportunities.