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Is English language teaching for you? A guide to a new career 

Marie Therese Swabey

June 14, 2021

Whether you’re just starting out or thinking of a career change, teaching English as a foreign language is one of the most rewarding professional journeys you can embark on.

In English language teaching, there is a lot of career potential. As you develop your skills and take on more responsibilities, you can enjoy a long-term career. Many professionals become senior teachers or teacher trainers, or move into management or materials writing.

Why become an English language teacher? 

There are lots of reasons you might want to become an English language teacher. For a start, you can make a real difference in people’s lives. According to a 2019 survey by Wall Street English, 18% of professionals who have learned English report that they feel happier at work; 12% say they feel happier in general; and half of English speakers earn 25% more because of their language skills.

Moreover, English language teaching is an immensely flexible profession. You can decide whether to take a public or private job, or offer lessons on your own. Your working conditions are flexible too. You might prefer to work in a local school or academy, but many English language teaching jobs also allow you to work online from home. And if you’re feeling adventurous, there are lots of opportunities to live and work abroad, in a new country and culture. If you do travel further afield, you might even learn a new language of your own.

English language teaching is a career that encourages creativity. You’ll become an expert at designing lessons and making learning materials to meet the needs of your students. Best of all ... it’s fun! You spend your day with interesting, engaging people who are keen to learn. What could be better than that?

What do English language teachers do every day? 

It probably goes without saying that language educators teach students English on a day-to-day basis. But there are plenty of other aspects to the job as well.

English language teachers assess their learners through quick tests and official exams. They use this information to define learning objectives, and then plan courses and classes that meet their students’ needs.

Language teachers use a range of coursebooks and English language teaching materials, including a variety of audio, visual and digital tools. At the same time, they find and create teaching and learning materials of their own.

In the process of developing learners’ reading, listening, speaking andwriting abilities, teachers also help students develop confidence in presenting and communicating ideas. Furthermore, language teachers encourage students to develop important 21st century skills, such as creativity, collaboration, leadership, autonomous learning and adaptability. These skills are transferable and will help learners in many areas throughout their lives.

What do you need to become an English language teacher? 

Being a good English teacher requires more than just being able to speak the language fluently. You’ll also need a comprehensive knowledge of English grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary, combined with excellent communication skills. Teachers of young learners will also need to have an understanding of how to teach engaging, effective classes to children.

It helps if you are comfortable speaking in front of other people, managing groups of learners, and able to plan and organise your time. And it’s important to have a friendly, sympathetic nature and a good degree of cultural sensitivity. After all, you’ll be working with people from all over the world and all walks of life.

Where can you teach? 

There are opportunities to teach the English language almost everywhere. For example, you can teach English in an Englishspeaking country such as the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland. You’ll find many private and public programmes and classes for people who have come to work or study, and who need to improve their English.

Alternatively, you can teach English in schools and universities in countries where English is the official language – but not always how people communicate on a daily basis. Nigeria, Malta, India and Sierra Leone are examples. You might also prefer to teach in non-English-speaking countries, where you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and learn a new language too.

In terms of teaching environments, there are opportunities to teach in private academies, public schools, universities, offices, private homes and online. 

Who do you teach? 

There is an extensive list of people who want to learn to speak English. Many teachers start out with a variety of class types to find out which they like best. Your options include (but are not limited to):

• • adults in private groups or one-to-one classes
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• • adults in language schools, colleges or universities
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• • professionals such as business people, medical professionals, pilots, etc. who require English for a specific purpose
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• • students who are preparing for an official exam
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• • people who have moved to an English-speaking country and need to improve their English 
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• • young learners in one-to-one classes or groups, or online
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• • young learners in private language schools, or in secondary/ primary schools.

Adapted from: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/blog/is-english-language-teachingfor-you. Accessed on May 2, 2024

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Legendary shoe shop to shut store for good as string of locations have already disappeared in 'end for high street'

(1º§) The retailer, which has more than 300 stores, has confirmed it'll shut for good at High Street in Newcastle under Lyme by the end of 2023. It comes after Clarks announced that it'll pull down the shutters in High Street Inverness before the end of this month. It'll also shut in Westwood Cross Shopping Centre in Kent in mid-November.

(2º§) Several Clarks stores closed earlier this year too, with its branch in Fareham Shopping Centre shutting on August 5 and the Dundee store closing on July 25. Before this, it closed the doors on two stores in Kent in Ashford and Gillingham at the end of 2022. Shoppers have reacted with disappointment at the Newcastle closure, with one writing on social media: "The end of the high street it's all gone now." While another added: "Another one so sad." And a third said: "I can't cope with this."

(3º§) A Clarks spokesperson told The Sun: "We have a strong duty of care to all our employees, and we are working closely with the store team as they now go through a period of consultation. "Customers can continue to shop from our full range of products online and at our nearby Clarks stores in Leek, Crewe and Nantwich, as well as our outlet store in Talke." The popular footwear chain was founded in 1825 and operated across over 1,400 stores and franchises internationally at its peak. But as of July 2023, the brand had just 320 stores.

(4º§) Clarks brought in management consultants McKinsey & Co to help with restructuring plans after posting a £82.9million post-tax loss in 2019. It was then rescued from the brink of collapse with a £100million investment deal by private equity firm LionRock Capital.

(5º§) A Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) was agreed which saw the Clarks family lose overall control of the company. A CVA allows firms that have run out of cash to look at ways to save the business, such as reducing rent rates with landlords. Companies often agree to a CVA to avoid insolvency, which can lead to closures or the whole business going bust.

(6º§) More than 50 stores were set to close following this announcement in November 2020 - but dozens more have shut since then. All is not lost for shoppers though, as the retailer has also relocated and opened new shops in recent months. The brand opened a new store on East Street in Taunton in April following the closure of its original high street store.

(7º§) Clarks also opened up a new store in Newcastle's Eldon Square shopping centre on May 14. Meanwhile, fellow footwear retailer Shoezone is pulling down the shutters on another store in its latest round of closures. Plus, we have the full list of 78 shops closing this week including Wetherspoons and House of Fraser. The cost of living crisis on top of a rise in online shopping has made it tougher than ever for businesses to keep physical stores open. Retailers and shoppers alike are also hit hard by stubbornly high energy costs and inflation.

Fonte: https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/24188403/clarks-shop-close-high-street/