Teaching Adults as a Career

Teaching adults can be as much of a career as teaching children, and can be either full- or part-time. People can teach academic subjects that lead to GCSEs, A levels and degrees; work-related subjects that lead to vocational qualifications; or subjects for interest that don’t lead to any qualifications, just a new skill.

People who teach adults do need different skills to people who teach children. Adults are generally there because they want to be, though some have been sent there by their employer or the benefits office.

For some areas of teaching, people may need a formal teaching qualification; in others, simply qualifications, skills and experience in the area being taught

Teaching English

Teaching English as a second language in non-English speaking countries is generally known as ‘teaching English as a foreign language’ (TEFL). Teaching English as a second language in English speaking countries (e.g. to immigrants or asylum seekers) is generally known as ‘teaching English to speakers of other languages’ (TESOL). TESOL courses may also include basic literacy and other life skills.

Teaching English overseas could be a way of funding a trip around the world, or the beginning of a new career. To teach English overseas needs a qualification – these can be studied full- or part-time. These can be taken at a number of levels:

  • Certificate – e.g. Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) or Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Cert. TESOL).
  • Diplomas – e.g. Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA).
  • Degrees – e.g. BA or MA in TEFL/TESOL.
As well as these qualifications, teachers of English as ESOL in the UK need to be a qualified teacher. Volunteers or mentors will just need an ESOL qualification. TEFL and TESOL teaching is likely to involve teaching evenings and weekends, as well as during the working day.

Teaching Basic Skills

In 2008, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) published a report saying employers were concerned about the basic literacy and numeracy skills of two-fifths of the UK workforce. Teaching basic skills includes literacy, numeracy and basic ICT (information and communication technology) skills, and as well as being a potential career choice, could make a huge difference to people’s lives.

To teach literacy, numeracy or ICT, teachers need a level three or level four specialist certificate as well as a teaching qualification. Volunteers or mentors will just need a level two certificate. Basic skills teaching is likely to involve teaching evenings and weekends, as well as during the working day.

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Teaching Specialist Courses

Many people teach specialist courses based on their own skills and experience. These may lead to specific qualifications for the attendees, or to informal certificates issued by the attendees’ employers or simply the acquisition of new skills.

There are companies that run courses for people in work and these often employ people with skills and experience rather than formal teaching qualifications. Teaching specialist courses may mean working flexible hours – some courses will be during the day, and some will be over weekends and evenings.

Teaching in Colleges and Universities

Further Education To teach in a further education (FE) college, employers are likely to require significant experience or a degree in the relevant subject, and may also require tutors to take a teaching qualification within the first couple of years of employment, such as a PGCE, a teaching degree, or a certificate or diploma in teaching. These often can be studied part-time alongside teaching work. Teaching in an FE college may mean working flexible hours – some courses will be during the day, and some will be over weekends and evenings.

Higher Education There are no formal teaching qualifications needed to teach in higher education (HE), though most employers will require a degree and a PhD in the appropriate subject. Teaching in higher education is likely to be mostly during the day, though some people study degree level courses through part-time classes, which may include evening and weekend study, and some people study through distance learning, which is likely to require flexible hours.