What is a TEFL teacher's job description?

A TEFL teacher teaches "English as a Foreign Language" (EFL) - also called English as a Second Language (ESL).

Potential EFL employment situations

EFL employers cover a wide spectrum of types. The list below is typical:

• kindergartens
• primary/secondary schools (whether state or private)
• further and higher education institutions
• private language schools
• corporate training departments
• community and adult education centres
• private/freelance teaching
• online teaching
• summer camps and charity organizations

Potential countries and cultures

TEFL teachers are found the world over. They may be teaching English to students in English-speaking countries (think America, Australia, UK) or in non-English-speaking countries (think Chile, Egypt, France, Thailand). Different countries - different cultures.

TEFL teacher job description/responsibilities

Inevitably, TEFL teacher job descriptions vary according to the employment situation and country/culture. The list below is typical for many but not all cases. (Clearly, a teacher's responsibilities in a kindergarten would vary significantly from those in a university.) In general, a TEFL teacher is expected to:

(teaching duties)

• conduct “needs assessments” of students to determine best approach
• prepare for lessons, including
  • writing lesson plans
  • creating teaching materials
• deliver lessons
• follow set syllabus or text books if required
• teach listening, speaking, reading and writing skills
• teach grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation
• teach special areas such as Business English, Young Learners or exam preparation
• help students develop learning strategies
• teach in-class (small classes to large classes, single-level and multi-level classes)
• teach one-to-one
• teach online
• check and mark students' work
• maintain order in class
• ensure class atmosphere is conducive to learning
• encourage students to read out loud
• create tests for students
• assign homework and essays to students
• assign books for students to read
• assess student performance and progress
• be aware of, and sympathetic to, students’ cultural background, history and possible taboos.
• be aware of students’ level of development in own first language and potential effect on EFL learning
• be sensitive to any learning disabilities and special needs

(admin duties)

• keep records
• write progress reports for students/parents
• coordinate with fellow teachers and staff
• go to staff meetings
• attend workshops and ongoing teacher-training
• attend social events
• work with directors of study/academic supervisors to maintain standards
• stand in for other teachers (substitute)
• (if possible) provide clear instructions/materials for substitute teachers
• comply with institutional policies