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Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Research careers and find opportunities in teaching English as a foreign language
About teaching English as a foreign language
Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is a popular option for graduates wishing to spend time living and working abroad.
You can also teach English as a second language (TESL) to people living in an English-speaking country whose first language isn’t English.
Experienced TEFL teachers can progress on to roles including teacher training, school management and publishing.
Job profiles
These are some of the job profiles available on Prospects and targetjobs:
Skills employers look for
- excellent standard of written and spoken English
- good interpersonal skills and the ability to get on well with people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures
- good listening skills
- ability to plan and deliver interesting lessons
- flexibility and the ability to adapt lessons to suit the needs of pupils
- ability to work under pressure
An effective teacher also needs to be confident, patient and have a good sense of humour.
Inspiration from people working in the industry
- browse our Work Experience and Graduate Employment directories. See where our students and graduates have had work experience, or been employed
- use LinkedIn’s Alumni tool to find out what Newcastle graduates are doing now. You could ask to connect with them, to gain advice and insights into their career. See Newcastle Alumni on LinkedIn to help you get started or watch our quick tutorial on Getting inspiration from others [3:13]
- attend alumni events, such as Newcastle Develop, to hear directly from our graduates
- sign up for mentoring support with Graduate Mentor and The 1 Hour Project. These aim to match students with industry professionals who can provide invaluable insights. Register to be connected for a one-hour meeting
- attend events, including recruitment fairs and employer and sector insights. Hear about graduate jobs, placement schemes, build your network and ask questions.
Online reviews
Searching for reviews online can be a useful way to get an idea of what to expect from certain roles or employers. Reviews are written by employees with different opinions about what makes a good employer.
Use the following review sites for inspiration and insight into the recruitment process:
- RateMyPlacement placement year reviews written by students.
- The Job Crowd – graduate job reviews
- Glassdoor – company reviews from employees
Not sure what you want to do?
If you’re not sure exactly what you want to do, we can help. You can book a guidance appointment via MyCareer. Our careers consultants can help you explore your options or plan your career.
Attend events
Attend events, including our recruitment events and employer and sector insights to hear directly from professionals in the industry.
Social media
Use social media to find industry insights.
Join sector-specific groups on LinkedIn to keep up to date. Posts often include news, events and opportunities. You can also find useful insights on careers on X and TikTok. Treat these with caution, as not all content may be accurate.
Find out more about how to use social media for your career.
Professional bodies
Consider joining a relevant professional body/industry network.
Professional bodies often:
- run networking events
- have specialist groups you could join
- post vacancies on behalf of their members
- have member directories, useful for speculative applications
Key organisations include:
- British Council
- International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language
- National Association for Teaching English and Community Languages to Adults
- English UK – national association of accredited English language centres in the UK
Finding professional bodies worldwide
GoinGlobal’s country guides include details of professional bodies. Find them under ‘Professional and Personal Networking’ on each individual country guide.
Guide to finding opportunities
In this sector it is unlikely that you will find large graduate employers offering internships, placements and graduate schemes.
It is more common in this sector to arrange your own work experience and apply for teaching jobs after you have completed your TEFL/TESL training.
We’ve included some advice below to help you get started.
- search for or using the vacancy sites listed below
- look into the British Council's Accredited centres, and check individual schools' websites for vacancies. This is useful for speculative applications
- attend such as recruitment fairs and employer and sector insights
- contact employers speculatively – see to help you find organisations to approach
- follow companies on for latest news and updates
- consider registering with a recruitment agency for graduate jobs
- register with EmployAbility if you are disabled, neurodivergent or have a mental health condition. They can offer advice and support on applications to Newcastle students. They also run first year, internship and graduate programmes with inclusive employer partners.
- ask family and friends if they have any useful contacts who may be able to offer you work experience
- consider alternative ways to find relevant experience and
- by starting your own business or working freelance
Advertised work experience
In this sector it is unlikely that you will find large graduate employers offering internships or placements.
Work experience in an education setting is useful. This can be gained in a school or community setting, as a teacher, teaching assistant, language assistant, or private tutor.
You can arrange work experience in an education setting through a speculative approach, see the Non-advertised work experience and graduate jobs section below for more information.
Some advertised opportunities are available:
- MyCareer – includes paid opportunities such as tutoring
- take the Student Tutoring Career Development module to gain experience in a school
- Newcastle University Students’ Union: Volunteering offer a range of voluntary opportunities
- Explore Learning lists paid, part-time and English teaching roles. These would usually be to native English speakers
- Teaching in schools has information on gaining school-based work experience
NCL internships
The Careers Service runs flexible term-time and summer internships with local employers and on campus. NCL internships are aimed at all students, from any stage.
You can search for these under Vacancies on MyCareer - just type in ‘NCL internship’ into the text search box.
Worldwide experience
Access GoinGlobal for experience in over 120 global locations, updated daily. Search for opportunities in the local language, as well as in English. You can also use their country guides to find:
- additional vacancy websites
- CV, application and interview advice
- advice on living and working in different countries and cities around the world
Looking for ideas
If you’re looking for inspiration, try searching our NU Work Experience Directory. You can see where our students have had internships and placements in the last five years. To see all results in a search category, keep the search field blank.
Advertised graduate opportunities
Graduate training schemes are not common in this sector. You would usually apply for a job once you have completed your TEFL/TESL training course. See the Training section below for more information about qualifications.
Many TEFL jobs are based outside of the UK in language schools, development agencies and voluntary organisations.
TESL jobs in the UK are advertised by schools, colleges, community organisations and charities.
Use the following resources to find advertised graduate schemes and graduate jobs
Vacancy sites
- MyCareer - search for graduate schemes and graduate jobs in the North East, UK and overseas. Register/log in to access vacancies and sign up for personalised email alerts
- Careers Service: Graduate Jobs – lists graduate vacancy sites
Worldwide vacancy sites
See International jobs for details of overseas vacancy sites.
Access GoinGlobal for job adverts in over 120 global locations, updated daily. Search for opportunities in the local language, as well as in English. You can also use their country guides to find:
- additional vacancy websites
- CV, application and interview advice
- advice on living and working in different countries and cities around the world
Non-advertised work experience and graduate jobs
Not all work experience and graduate jobs are advertised. In fact, many people create opportunities through:
- networking and making contacts
- developing their own business ideas
A speculative approach is common for finding work experience and graduate jobs. This is where you approach a company directly to ask if they have any opportunities available.
How to access hidden opportunities
Start by identifying organisations you are interested in. Our guide to finding organisations below can help. Then use the following steps to approach them speculatively about possible opportunities:
- Identify a contact name to address your cover letter to. Call or email to find out who handles recruitment within the organisation. Or, find a key contact in the department you want to work in
- Send them a tailored CV and cover letter. Express your enthusiasm for the sector. Show that you have researched the company
- Follow up your speculative application with a phone call, or email, around a week later. This shows you are serious and motivated
- If your application was unsuccessful, ask for feedback or advice, and keep trying!
How to find organisations
- find organisations on MyCareer. Select ‘search' then 'organisations’
- use the business directories and databases on our Researching employers page
- search for companies on LinkedIn. The Find Alumni tool shows you where Newcastle graduates are currently working
- browse our Work Experience and Graduate Employment directories. See where our students and graduates have had work experience, or been employed
Organisations in the UK
- find companies on MyCareer - click ‘Search' then 'Organisations’ to find companies the Careers Service has worked with. Can filter by keyword, sector and region
- LinkedIn Find Alumni tool – search through Newcastle University graduate profiles for inspiration. Filter by location, area of work, degree studied and skills to see where they are working. Consider how they got into their career, where they have worked, what kind of experience have they had etc
- researching employers – includes ways to source and research companies
- professional body websites sometimes include member directories, which are helpful for finding employers
- look into the British Council's Accredited centres, and check individual schools' websites for vacancies. This is useful for speculative applications
Worldwide organisations
Search GoinGlobal's employer directory for company information in 196 countries. Their country guides list professional bodies around the world.
Specialist recruitment agencies
Agencies specialising in teaching may offer some TESL jobs in the UK. These tend to be immediate start positions. It's worth registering with one or two agencies towards the end of your course.
Specialist agencies include:
See recruitment agencies to find more agencies.
Finding overseas recruitment agencies
GoinGlobal’s country guides include details of recruitment agencies in specific countries. They are listed under the following headings:
- staffing agencies and temporary help firms
- executive recruiters and search firms
Recruitment agencies may not operate in the same way in different countries. In the UK agencies are free for job seekers, but this may not be the case elsewhere. Explore the terms and conditions of an agency before signing up to use them.
Other ways to gain relevant experience
We've added some suggestions to help you develop your skills and gain relevant experience.
- sign up for free online courses. Future Learn offers courses in teaching and education
- volunteer. NUSU has a range of education related volunteering opportunities. See Volunteering for more opportunities
- attend events and network to make contacts and connections
- complete a free virtual internship. For example, with Forage, you can filter by career interest to find virtual internships
Training
Most employers will expect a recognised teaching qualification such as:
- Cambridge CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults)
- Trinity CertTESOL (Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL are externally assessed and accredited by an examination board. They generally take four to six weeks full-time but can be taken part-time.
Many other courses offer a similar structure but are known simply as TEFL courses and provide trainees with the school's own TEFL certificate.
Prices for courses depend on:
- the level of qualification
- length of course
- prestige of the school or course provider
It is also possible to study for a TEFL qualification outside of the UK.
Before you choose a course make sure you have done some research into the type of qualification needed for the role you want, in the country you want.
The following websites provides information on choosing a TEFL qualification:
- TargetJobs - How to choose a TEFL course
- DoTEFL - scroll down to 'Which TEFL course would you like to take?'
Finding TEFL courses in the UK
Use the following resources to find TEFL courses in the UK:
- English UK – directory of accredited language centres in the UK
- TEFL.net
- DoTEFL
- eslbase – directory of TEFL and TESOL courses
If you want to study in Newcastle, International House is a British Council accredited English language school.
Work for yourself
Working as self-employed or freelance is common in the TEFL sector.
Our START UP team can help you explore working for yourself at any stage. Whether you want to explore an idea or have already launched a business or freelance career, you can access the following help:
- support with idea generation
- provide tailored advice
- help you develop your skills
- introduce you to like-minded peers
- refer you to further support from mentors
- award grant funding up to £3,000