Job Discussion Forums

[lanems]

I'm a recent graduate with a B.A. in Linguistics and a minor in TESL (whatever that is worth...). In any case, I have some experience abroad volunteering as an English teacher and I'm interested in actually getting *paid* to teach for a while. I have some idea of what kind of environment I'd like to be in and I think I'd like to try and work towards a job teaching business English.

What is the best route for someone interested in teaching business English? Do they need experience working in a business setting? (i.e. at a bank or at some corporate setting) Do they need some special certification to teach business english? If I find I enjoy teaching enough to pursue it as a career (another question, can you make it into a career abroad?) I'd probably (have to) go back to the US to pursue a masters degree. What kind of credentials and experience would I need to start focusing on now?

As a related question: if a company that requires English skills hires someone who doesn't score very high on the TOEFL, do they use in-house teachers for getting their English up or rely on an outside eikaiwa or something equivalent?

I know people can sell an English degree as if it counts towards an understanding of the English *language* but does anyone know what kind of reaction people get when they wave around a degree in Linguistics?

Thanks for your advice.

[Glenski]

If you look at the FAQs, you will see some business English companies, and a glance at their web sites will tell you that most of them prefer some level of experience in business. Makes sense. I can't tell you if this is a hard and fast rule, or if this applies to all of the business English agencies, but these seem to be the most popular ones.

I don't believe you need special certification, but it wouldn't hurt. It'd put you one notch up on the candidates without, and in today's market that's a definite advantage.