Credentials Needed to Get a Business English job?

Discussion on teaching Business English

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Keaneytron
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Joined: 13 Mar 2017, 18:30
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Credentials Needed to Get a Business English job?

Unread post by Keaneytron »

Hi guys,

I've nearly completed a standard TEFL qualification (120 online + 20 classroom) and have worked in a corporate environment for several years. I'd really like to teach Business English in either China or Korea.

Where I'm really lacking though is with regards to i.) not having a CELTA/DELTA and ii.) having no teaching experience.

Do I have a hope in hell of landing a Business English teaching role if I simply take a further specialist certificate in teaching Business English, without any actual teaching experience or a certificate that focuses on teaching adults?

Any info would be greatly appreciated - many thanks.
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John V55
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Re: Credentials Needed to Get a Business English job?

Unread post by John V55 »

Keaneytron wrote:Hi guys,

I've nearly completed a standard TEFL qualification (120 online + 20 classroom) and have worked in a corporate environment for several years. I'd really like to teach Business English in either China or Korea.

Where I'm really lacking though is with regards to i.) not having a CELTA/DELTA and ii.) having no teaching experience.

Do I have a hope in hell of landing a Business English teaching role if I simply take a further specialist certificate in teaching Business English, without any actual teaching experience or a certificate that focuses on teaching adults?

Any info would be greatly appreciated - many thanks.
Hi K,
You don’t need the rest, a TEFL cert’ will do. I presume you already have a degree.
Your problem is lack of experience and all the certificates in the world won’t make up for that.
It’s not simply a matter of walking in and teaching business, it doesn’t work like that.
Start off by teaching ordinary TEFL for a year in places like Thailand, or Cambodia. After a year you’ll have experience and a reference. Then you specialise and start looking for Universities in your chosen location. During this sort of ‘apprenticeship’ time, prepare a syllabus, sets of lesson plans, hone up on your public speaking . . . It takes time.
Murphy
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Re: Credentials Needed to Get a Business English job?

Unread post by Murphy »

John's advice is solid, but don't forget you will also need a bachelor degree (a real one!) and a Z visa to legally work in China. Don't cut corner on your legal compliance or you may end up like these foreign teachers...

https://www.reddit.com/r/tefl_blacklist ... _all_need/

http://opnlttr.com/letter/china-visa-po ... l-teachers

If you have any doubts about current legal requirements for teaching in China, check with your own embassy, SAFEA.gov.cn, or at http://reddit.com/r/chinatefl.
MarcusGohar
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Re: Credentials Needed to Get a Business English job?

Unread post by MarcusGohar »

Not correct. Not usually anyway. At advanced level there may be some genre-specific language but the chances are, the student will know that anyway. It's the more everyday things like, how to negotiate, for example, hedging (being diplomatic or being assertive that they need. Ant then there's the informal or neutral language, both in meetings and in offices. I once taught a senior executive form Shell. She was at least C1 and could read the Financial Times without even breaking sweat. But she said that real business is done at the coffee machine while the meeting is to "rubber stamp". Even in the meeting, it is not always easy for even advanced non-natives, as shown in a BBC Teaching English resource. Would your learner understand, "Let's get the ball rolling", or "How are you getting one?", or, "I've been hearing great things about you", especially if said learner had been taught that "hear" is a state verb so shouldn't be used in a progressive form!

Just like any other class, you need to prepare, act as facilitator not instructor and, given that you will most likely be teaching one-one, act like an interviewer. Ask brief but searching questions, listen and take notes.
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pinliver
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Re: Credentials Needed to Get a Business English job?

Unread post by pinliver »

Sanorn wrote: 14 Dec 2022, 04:26 Hello
Teaching Business English requires a specific set of know-how, techniques and skills. Anyone interested in becoming a Business English Teacher must be fluent in English and possess a sound educational background and must go through a certified Business English Teacher Training course.
English is indispensable in today's society
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