Job Discussion Forums

[JamieMarie]

I am working towards a MA in TESOL, I teach ESL to elementary students and to adults. I am also interested in teaching business English or English for specific purposes. What type of training/certificate do I need?

Also, what type of training is needed to teach a CELTA, TESOL, course?

Thanks
Jamie

[Cdaniels]

You want to check out this thread:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=330784&highlight=#330784
DELTA is the teacher trainer cert for giving CELTAs.

[jr1965]

Jamie,

Have you visited www.tesol.org and checked out the English for Specific Purposes Interest Section? I suspect you'll find lots of info here about teaching ESP (tho' I'm not sure if you'll need to register to view all of their info). Anyway, it's a good starting point.

JR

[sojourner]

Jamie,

In March of this year, there was a thread devoted to the subject of Business English : http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=22068&highlight=

In my posting to that thread, I mentioned a couple of books. Another one that you might be interested in, is: "English for Specific Purposes", by Tom Hutchinson & Alan Waters (C.U.P. 1987).

Check out the distance education unit (or course) entitled, "Language for Specific Purposes", being offered by Macquarie University. If your own uni doesn't have a similar course, enquire with them as to the possibility of you enrolling at Macquarie and, if you pass , of having that course cross-credited to your own degree programme.

Peter

[Justin Trullinger]

Often ESP is taught by people with a background in more than one discipline. For example, I have a teacher working for me now who did a degree in pharmacy, and used to be a pharmaceutical rep in the US. Then she qualified as a teacher, and wound up in Ecuador. Pretty much a natural for my students in a South American pharmaceutical company, right?

I also know a former medical researcher (and qualified MD) now teaching English for medical pratictioners.

Business English means so many different things to so many different people that frankly, I find it hard to respond about business English in general.

Here in Ecuador, where English levels are generally rather low, many people want to learn English for reasons related to business. But the English they need is often general, rather than specific to business. We often offer general English classes with a business "flavour," (Readings and listenings related to business topics) which could be taught by any reasonably well prepared teacher who is willing to do some homework.

We also offer an intensive "Business Preparation" course, for students of a good intermediate level or above. The teacher of this course, ideally, would have education or experience related to a business environment, as the course is pretty detailed in terms of business correspondence, business vocab, presentation forms, etc.

But in general, unless the needs of the students are very specialized, I don't feel that large amounts of specialized training are necessary to teach business English. A trained teacher, with some interest and experience in the business world, should be fine.

Justin

[dmb]