Job Discussion Forums

CNexpatesl · Joined: 27 May 2015 Posts: 194

Tried the search but couldn’t really find answers...

Long story short, I got offered a pretty spiffy IELTS teaching job for the spring term. The salary is pretty decent; the highest I’ve gotten thus far in China if I accept the offer. The catch is, it looks like the job is a lot of work. Lots of prep involved, and it appears I’ll be mostly developing my own lesson plans from the school’s curriculum.

I have no experience teaching IELTS. Is it possible to prepare during the holidays and learn how to teach it with no experience? What am I potentially getting myself into if I accept? Or will I likely just be setting myself up for failure?

Osiry · Joined: 19 Mar 2015 Posts: 84 Location: Nanjing

IELTS requires the students to learn a pretty specific skillset. If you have no experience teaching IELTS I'd be a bit wary of jumping into a position like this. The school should know better than to hire an inexperienced teacher for this kind of position.
Will you perhaps be doing supplementary English classes to complement an IELTS course? Or will you be their sole instructor.

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

I am of the opinion that as you have previous experience in other areas, you can get yourself up to snuff over the holidays on how to be effective.

We are talking China here. The standard is IELTS brain dumps and countless hours flipping the pages of Chinese-English IELTS books written by someone who would score a 5. If you can't do better than that...

The only caution would be if the students were already scoring 7+. More likely, they are spoiled semi-motivated little emperors and empresses ranging from 4 to 5.5.

geosmiley · Joined: 25 Jan 2016 Posts: 62

Your post is confusing. Do you understand the difference between test preparation and language acquisition? IELTS isn't based on a schools curriculum. Also, how will the IELTS classes be grouped? If it's not by English ability I would definitely pass because the school knows less than you do. Finally, I think you would likely flounder in this area. It requires a sound basis in psychometrics as well as a thorough understanding of methods that actually improve IELTS scores. In other words, you won't find a lot of things that you need to know in a book. Cheers!

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

twowheel · Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 753

thechangling · Joined: 11 Apr 2013 Posts: 276

I think you should do it if that's what your gut's telling you. Just 'fake it till you make it' cos it's only China after all.
It could be interesting for a while and the money sounds good so be confident and strong and make the best decision for you!

Trevor Wadlow · Joined: 14 Oct 2007 Posts: 103 Location: china

As a former IELTS Examiner I would say yes you can up to snuff over the holidays with a little guidance. Download the public versions of the Examiner's rubric and study it. If you can, get hold of a book called IELTS Scores Guide, published by the British Council (15 pounds). It covers all skills and includes a dvd of live speaking tests (amongst other things) along with Examiners' reports so that you can see how the Rubric was interpreted.

If you have a CELTA or Trinity Cert you might consider becoming an Examiner yourself at some point, though in China it is now a full-time occupation. In other countries it is part-time and makes a nice supplement to your salary from you day job.

Good luck and all the best.