Job Discussion Forums

[Russell Hadd]

The closure of London Met's LDU may not seem immediately relevant to EFL teachers but it's impact may be immense. Univerities in the UK have for many years had individuals and departments dedicated to helping students adapt to learning and assessment at university. This development has proven to be a natural career progression for those teachers looking to develop their career back in the UK in Higher Education.

We saw the privatisation of the University Language Centres, a popular route for EFL teachers, a few years back which has lead to the suppression of salaries for EFL teachers choosing this route. So now, unless teachers are able to secure one of the few relevant positions which arise in Language or Education Faculties the top end career progression for EFL teachers seems to be closing off.

The paradox is that universities are now focussing even more on the overseas market and the help required from EFL professionals will heighten but at the same time, and I speak from personal experience, the IELTS requirement is becoming less and less relevant in the rush to increase overseas recruitment.

Here's the link to the THES article http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=414310&c=1

[LH123]

EAP jobs in the UK are a godsend. In terms of remuneration and professionalism, EAP beats ESL hands down. (It's a lot duller though...)

The big concern where I currently work is that the EAP department will be sold to INTO, a worrying trend (this has already happened in Newcastle, Exeter and Glasgow, for example).

[Perilla]

Judging by what you're saying, it seems the only remotely viable job to justify returning to the UK (in the TESL sector) is now going to become even more elusive. Having said that, I had already come to assume that, if I return to the UK to work, I won't be doing anything connected with TESL. These developments probably confirm that assumption.

[LH123]

If you can get a permanent EAP gig in the UK, then life can be okay. I earn �2,100 (US$3,273) per month after tax (income and national insurance), that works out to be an annual salary of �25,200 (US$39,270). That's more than most people, although admittedly not mega-bucks.

On that, in the UK, you could live comfortably albeit modestly. (There is no doubting, however, that you would find a better standard of living in lots of other countries abroad.)

Bearing in mind that I only work 18 hours a week (and of those, at the moment, only teach for 6, over 3 days a week), all of a sudden the situation doesn't seem so rotten.

The problems are threefold:

1. There are not many of these jobs advertised very often.

2. The contracts are usually quite short, like between 1 and 6 months. While universities like to keep on teachers that they like for future contracts, there is no guarantee of this. Indefinite, or long term, contracts are virtually unheard of. This is no biggy if you're young and free, but more of a concern if you have a mortgage to pay and children to feed. All of this said, many of my colleagues have worked non-stop at the same place for years, on continually renewed 6-month or yearly contracts.

3. The competition is fierce and the demands for qualifications and experience are quite high. A DELTA and relevant Masters are pretty much pre-requisites.

So is EAP in the UK a dream job? Nope. But if you're well qualified and experienced, and in the right place at the right time, it's not bad.

[Perilla]

[Mr_Monkey]

[LH123]

[coledavis]

In general, the ever hard-pressed further education sector is under particular pressure under the current government. So ESOL jobs in the FE sector are likely to be less and less available. And by the way, although the pay is better, the paperwork in FE is horrendous.