Language school teacher

Description

Language school teachers educate non-age-specific students in a language that is not their native language at a specialised school, not bound by a level of education. They focus less on the academic aspect of language teaching, as opposed to language teachers in secondary or higher education, but instead on the theory and practice that will be most helpful to their students in real-life situations since most choose instruction for either business, immigration, or leisure reasons. They organise their classes using a variety of lesson materials, work interactively with the group, and assess and evaluate their individual progress through assignments and examinations, putting emphasis on active language skills such as writing and speaking.

Language school teachers typically do the following:

  • Create and develop comprehensive language curricula tailored to different proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced. Design lesson plans, instructional materials, and assessments that align with educational standards and learning objectives.
  • Teach core language skills, including vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, conversation, and comprehension. Use a variety of teaching methods, such as interactive activities, multimedia resources, and immersive techniques, to engage students and enhance learning.
  • Introduce students to the culture, customs, and traditions associated with the target language. Promote cultural understanding and appreciation through discussions, cultural events, and multimedia presentations.
  • Regularly assess students’ progress through quizzes, tests, oral exams, and written assignments. Provide constructive feedback and individualized support to help students improve their language skills and achieve their learning goals.
  • Facilitate interactive and immersive learning experiences, such as role-playing, group discussions, language games, and real-life simulations, to encourage practical use of the language in various contexts.
  • Utilize technology and digital resources, including language learning apps, online platforms, videos, and audio recordings, to enhance instruction and provide additional practice opportunities for students.
  • Create a positive and inclusive classroom environment that encourages active participation, collaboration, and mutual respect among students. Manage classroom dynamics effectively and address any challenges or conflicts that may arise.
  • Stay current with advancements in language education, teaching methodologies, and linguistic research by attending workshops, conferences, and professional development programs. Continuously refine teaching practices to ensure effective and engaging instruction.
  • Maintain open communication with parents or guardians regarding students’ progress, achievements, and areas for improvement. Provide regular updates and collaborate with parents to support students’ language learning journey.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to language school teacher:

language school educator
TESOL teacher
instructor in language school
teacher in a language school
ESOL teacher
English for speakers of other languages teacher
language school lecturer
teacher of english to speakers of other languages
language school instructor
TESOL practitioner

Working conditions

Language School Teachers typically work in classroom settings within language schools, educational institutions, or community centers. They may also offer private tutoring sessions, either in person or online. The work schedule can include daytime, evening, and weekend classes to accommodate students’ availability. Language School Teachers often use a variety of teaching aids, such as textbooks, audio-visual materials, language software, and cultural artifacts, to create an engaging and dynamic learning environment.

Minimum qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as linguistics, language education, or the specific language being taught, is typically required for positions as a Language School Teacher. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree or teaching certification in language education. Proficiency in the target language, as well as a deep understanding of its grammar, vocabulary, and cultural nuances, is essential. Practical teaching experience, either through internships, teaching assistantships, or previous teaching positions, is highly beneficial. Continuous professional development and engagement in language learning communities contribute to ongoing growth and expertise as a Language School Teacher.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Language school teacher is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Language school teacher career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to language school teacher.

further education teacher
adult literacy teacher
digital literacy teacher
university teaching assistant
modern languages teacher secondary school

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of language school teacher.

  • Assessment processes: Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, summative and self-assessment are used for varying purposes.
  • Learning difficulties: The learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.
  • Language teaching methods: The techniques used to teach students a foreign language, such as audio-lingual, communicative language teaching (CLT), and immersion.
  • Curriculum objectives: The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of language school teacher.

  • Guarantee students’ safety: Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.
  • Employ pedagogic strategies to facilitate creative engagement: Communicate to others on devising and facilitating creative processes through the use of a range of tasks and activities appropriate to the target group.
  • Prepare lesson content: Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.
  • Monitor developments in field of expertise: Keep up with new research, regulations, and other significant changes, labour market related or otherwise, occurring within the field of specialisation.
  • Observe student’s progress: Follow up on students’ learning progress and assess their achievements and needs.
  • Liaise with educational support staff: Communicate with education management, such as the school principal and board members, and with the education support team, such as the teaching assistant, school counselor or academic advisor on issues relating to the student’s well-being.
  • Show consideration for student’s situation: Take students’ personal backgrounds into consideration when teaching, showing empathy and respect.
  • Manage student relationships: Manage the relations between students and between student and teacher. Act as a just authority and create an environment of trust and stability.
  • Adapt teaching to student’s capabilities: Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.
  • Supervise spoken language learning: Conduct active, foreign language learning classes focused on speaking and evaluate students on their progress regarding pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar through oral tests and assignments.
  • Assess students: Evaluate the students’ (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.
  • Assess students’ preliminary learning experiences: Evaluate students’ preliminary learning experiences, including academic progress, achievements, course knowledge, and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations.
  • Teach languages: Instruct students in the theory and practice of a language. Use a wide range of teaching and learning techniques to promote proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in that language.
  • Adapt teaching to target group: Instruct students in the most fitting manner in regards to the teaching context or the age group, such as a formal versus an informal teaching context, and teaching peers as opposed to children.
  • Demonstrate when teaching: Present to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.
  • Give constructive feedback: Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.
  • Perform classroom management: Maintain discipline and engage students during instruction.
  • Provide lesson materials: Ensure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.
  • Assist students in their learning: Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.
  • Apply intercultural teaching strategies: Ensure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Explore individual and social stereotypes and develop cross-cultural teaching strategies.
  • Encourage students to acknowledge their achievements: Stimulate students to appreciate their own achievements and actions to nurture confidence and educational growth.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of language school teacher. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Adult education: Instruction targeted at adult students, both in a recreational and in an academic context, for self-improvement purposes, or to better equip the students for the labour market.
  • Ethnolinguistics: The field of linguistics that studies the relation between a language and the culture of the people who speak it.
  • Teamwork principles: The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.
  • Education administration: The processes related to the administrative areas of an education institution, its director, employees, and students.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of language school teacher. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Assist in the organisation of school events: Provide assistance in the planning and organisation of school events, such as the school’s open house day, a sports game or a talent show.
  • Deliver online training: Provide training by using online technologies, adapting the learning materials, using e-learning methods and communicating online. Instruct virtual classrooms.
  • Assign homework: Provide additional exercises and assignments that the students will prepare at home, explain them clearly, and determine the deadline and evaluation method.
  • Consult students on learning content: Take students’ opinions and preferences into consideration when determining learning content.
  • Facilitate teamwork between students: Encourage students to cooperate with others in their learning by working in teams, for example through group activities.
  • Escort students on a field trip: Accompany students on an educational trip outside the school environment and ensure their safety and cooperation.
  • Teach ESOL language class: Provide English as a second language instruction to students who do not have literacy difficulties in their native language. Observe and follow closely their education progress and assess their abilities in the English language.
  • Promote education course: Advertise and market the programme or class to potential students and the education organisation with the aim of maximising registration numbers and allocated budget.
  • Provide immigration advice: Provide immigration advice to people seeking to move abroad or require entry in a nation in terms of necessary procedures and documentation, or procedures dealing with integration.
  • Develop curriculum: Develop and plan the learning goals and outcomes for education institutions, as well as the required teaching methods and potential education resources.
  • Manage resources for educational purposes: Identify the necessary resources for learning purposes, such as class materials or arranged transportation for a field trip. Apply for the corresponding budget and follow up on the orders.
  • Improve students’ examination skills: Inform students on the different examination systems including ECL language tests. Provide students with language expertise and improve their language skills so that they can complete these tests successfully.
  • Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
  • Keep records of attendance: Keep track of the pupils who are absent by recording their names on a list of absentees.
  • Adapt instruction to labour market: Identify developments in the labour market and recognise their relevance to the training of students.
  • Work with virtual learning environments: Incorporate the use of online learning environments and platforms into the process of instruction.
  • Advise on lesson plans: Analyse policy issues that impact students’ education experience. Advise on how lesson plans for specific lessons can be improved to reach education goals, engage students, and adhere to the curriculum.
  • Teach ESOL literacy class: Instruct students with literacy difficulties in their native language in the English language and in literacy development in English to facilitate their progress in learning English as a second language.
  • Oversee extra-curricular activities: Supervise and potentially organise educational or recreational activities for the students outside of mandatory classes.
  • Support migrants to integrate in the receiving country: Assist and offer support to migrants with their integration in the receiving society, both from an administrative and social point of view.
  • Teach further education: Instruct adult students, not participating in standard higher education, in the theory and practice of one or several subjects with the aim of self-enrichment, ranging from academic areas such as mathematics and history to practical courses including languages and IT.
  • Provide career counselling: Advise beneficiaries on future career options through counselling and, potentially, through career testing and evaluation.
  • Teach translation techniques: Instruct students or future translators in the practice and theory of translation, and more specifically in topics such as text translation, text modulation, calque, and transposition.

ISCO group and title

2353 – Other language teachers


References
  1. Language school teacher – ESCO
  2. Featured image: By Tunesh247 – Own work, CC0
Last updated on May 21, 2024