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Employment opportunities
TEFL certification can lead to a variety of employment possibilities with schools and language institutes, development agency and mission work, and international business training. Opportunities vary with previous educational and work experience. The certificate can prepare you with hands-on classroom experience and a portfolio showcasing your knowledge and skills developed in TEFL course work. English teachers are needed all over the world. Areas of expanding interest currently exist in Asia, South America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
Job outlook and earning potential
As the world economy becomes more international, the need for people with knowledge of and communication skills in English has been increasing. Opportunities to teach English outside the U.S. exist from preschool through higher education worldwide. Additionally, many opportunities exist in private and corporate settings—from after-school enrichment programs and specialized test preparation to cultural and business English training for international executives and managers.
Earnings vary widely according to the country/ region you would like to work in, level of English expertise required in that setting, and your educational and work experience. Teaching abroad can offer career enhancement and exciting travel opportunities and valuable intercultural skills.
Placement
Parkland College’s Career Center, 217/351-2536, receives notification of local, state, and nationwide job openings in this field and can assist students in developing job search skills. International listings and job contacts are available through the Office of International Education.
Career advancement
The teacher-training certificate in TEFL focuses on training language instructors in practical skills for working abroad. While it does not offer state certification for K-12, the program includes many of the courses that can count toward professional development credits for already certified teachers. For beginning teachers, the TEFL certificate can be a good first step in continuing on to a higher degree in ESL education.
Career choices with your certificate:
• Teacher of English in international schools
• English-language trainer in international businesses
• English language writer or editor in international settings
• Curriculum designer for English as a foreign language programs
• Post-secondary teacher of English as a second language in some higher education settings
With experience and/or further education you may go on to:
• Teacher of English in American ESL or bilingual programs
• Teacher of ESL in U.S. post-secondary and literacy ESL programs
• ESL specialist in education-training programs
For more information
Contact International Education at 217/353-2263.
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Parkland College • 2400 West Bradley Ave. • Champaign, IL 61821217/351-2200 • 800/346-8089
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