Career advice

Teach English

Want to teach English as an additional language or teach English abroad? Keen to improve your existing English language teaching (ELT) skills? Kickstart your career by joining one of these professional development courses for educators.

  • Median base salary UK £24,500
  • Typical hours 35-37
  • You'll usually need A degree and teaching qualification
Source: National Careers Service

What skills do you need to teach English?

  • Flexibility

    Depending on whether you're planning to work as a TESL, TESOL or TEFL teacher, you could teach English to children or adults and work around the world.

  • Communication

    A good command of English is an obvious requirement, as are strong written and communication skills, plus the ability to listen effectively to students.

  • Organisation

    English language teachers will need to be exceptionally organised. They will need to plan and deliver creative and interesting lessons day in, day out.

  • Self-improvement

    Continuing professional development is a key part of any teacher’s job. Staying abreast of the latest developments in English language teaching is a must.

Develop these skills with online short courses for English language teachers

British Council

Language and Culture

4.8 (330 reviews)

Explore British culture - from music to the countryside - with the British Council to improve your English language skills.

4 weeks

3 hrs per week

Find out more
The British Film Institute (BFI) & Into Film

Short Film in Language Teaching

4.8 (29 reviews)

Find out how teaching with short film can bring alive the learning of languages and introduce rich cultural content to lessons.

3 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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National STEM Learning Centre

The Science of Learning

4.9 (83 reviews)

Discover the scientific research about learning and how it applies to your classroom, on this CPD-certified course for educators.

5 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

Find out more
University of Leicester

Introduction to Applied Linguistics and TESOL

4.8 (91 reviews)

Get an introduction to applied linguistics and how linguistics is applied in a range of fields - from language teaching to law.

6 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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Queensland University of Technology

Teaching Entrepreneurial Thinking

4.8 (12 reviews)

Get an introduction to what entrepreneurial thinking is, and how and why we should teach it.

2 weeks

1 hr per week

Included in Unlimited

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Queensland University of Technology

Teaching Phonics in Early Childhood

4.6 (360 reviews)

Learn what phonics is and how to teach it in the early years

2 weeks

1 hr per week

Included in Unlimited

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British Council

Language Assessment in the Classroom

4.8 (308 reviews)

Assessment is a vital part of language education. Improve your understanding of language assessment with this online course.

4 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

Find out more
Griffith University
New

PTE Success: The Skills You Need

5.0 (14 reviews)

Discover and practise the skills to improve your performance in the PTE test.

4 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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Cambridge Assessment English

Teaching English Online

4.9 (1068 reviews)

Learn how to transfer your teaching skills to an online context and start teaching English online.

4 weeks

5 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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Lancaster University

Dyslexia and Foreign Language Teaching

4.8 (101 reviews)

Learn more about dyslexia, and gain practical teaching tools and insights to help dyslexic students learn foreign languages.

4 weeks

4 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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UEA (University of East Anglia)

Professional Development for Early Career Teachers

4.8 (36 reviews)

Find out how to develop and improve your teaching abilities as you start your career as a teacher.

5 weeks

3 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

Find out more
The University of Glasgow

TESOL Strategies: Supporting ESL Students in Mainstream Classrooms

4.8 (77 reviews)

Learn the basic principles, considerations and strategies for cultivating a rich language-learning environment

3 weeks

4 hrs per week

Included in Unlimited

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Browse more courses in Teaching and Language

What do English teachers say about FutureLearn courses?

I have been favourably impressed by the courses that I have attended and I am attending. First of all, because the teachers and educators are highly experienced and prepared. Secondly, because FutureLearn has been able to provide what usually may be lacking in an online course – the interaction with educators and with other learners that is continuous and of good quality.

Mariella
English teacher from Italy and learner on Teaching for Success

I strongly believe that upgrading the Teaching for Success program will be a significant qualification for my CV. In addition to this, my success on this program will give me more confidence to keep trying to make the difference in the domain of English education and contribute to the welfare of our society.

Effrosyni
English teacher from Greece and learner on Teaching for Success

How professional development for teachers works with FutureLearn

Learn flexibly online, for free

Develop valuable skills with a short, online teaching professional development course wherever you are. Start learning for free, on desktop, tablet or mobile.

Upgrade or buy Unlimited for extra benefits

Upgrade your course for ongoing access to the course content, tests, and the chance to gain a Certificate of Achievement. Buy Unlimited for access to hundreds of short courses in a year and the ability to keep access to courses you gain a certificate on.

Meet English teachers worldwide

Learn with experts from top universities and cultural institutions, and share your experiences with English teachers worldwide.