Become An English Teacher This Summer
Whether you have just completed your first year at university or have recently graduated, the long summer ahead can seem daunting. If you find that the last few Pounds of your student loan have already been allocated to cover the mounting end-of-term bills, or find yourself increasingly disillusioned with the depressed job market, a job teaching English language courses could provide you with a thoroughly fulfilling summer, as well as being an excellent addition to your CV.
Teaching is a truly rewarding vocation, and no two days are ever alike, one day you could find yourself teaching an overseas professional, and the next day a group of nine year-olds. Whether you're teaching adults or children, you will notice your confidence, communication and teaching style evolve with each lesson.
It isn't all about standing in front of the class either, one day you could be planning a disco or supervising a trip, while another could be spent assisting with a sports tournament.
Language is one of the most open-ended subjects and English courses in UK based activity camps and educational institutions can be taught in lots of exciting, engaging and practical ways, such as games and group activities. These make a welcome change to traditional text books and blackboards, and in such a multicultural environment there are sure to be days where you learn just as much as your students.
Typically teachers will be expected to carry out a 30-hour week, spread over five days (in most cases Monday to Friday). The way in which your week is structured will greatly depend on which teaching programme your designated teaching centre is running.
Two examples of different programmes are zigzag and non-zigzag. The former requires teachers to teach both morning and afternoon sessions, with the possibility of testing and inducting new students. The latter, on the other hand, is based around 15 hours of teaching per week (but only in the mornings), with the remaining 15 hours consisting of supervising day trips, projects, local visits, tournaments or even transferring students to and from the airport.
To ensure that lessons run smoothly, and that students receive an excellent standard of teaching, all teachers are expected to spend a little time planning lessons. Teachers should plan each lesson in accordance with the abilities of their students and should ensure they have the appropriate materials prepared before the lesson begins. Brief teacher meetings are held weekly to ensure that staff standards remain at their highest, also allowing teachers to give their feedback about how things are going.
If, upon enquiring into a teaching position, you find that the teaching centres and activity camps are too far away for you to commute to work, there is a possibility of becoming a residential member of staff. In such cases accommodation and full board is provided free of charge in exchange for various pastoral duties one or two nights per week. The pastoral duties are undertaken in addition to the 30-hour week and can include tasks such as helping younger students get ready for bed or dealing with general accommodation issues.
Many teaching positions also offer further opportunities for staff to earn money and gain experience; for example by volunteering their services at the weekend. Working over the weekend will generally involve supervising excursions and helping new arrivals feel at home. Working for a well-recognised and established language school will not only open up many new job opportunities, it will also provide you with some superb experiences and some great new friends, so whether you are studying to enter the teaching profession, or are just keen and enthusiastic, becoming an English teacher this summer could be the smartest move you ever make.
