what is an english teacher?
If you have a passion for creative writing, English literature, and reading, becoming an English teacher may be a fulfilling career choice for you. Your role as an English teacher involves sharing your love for language arts with your students and developing their writing and verbal skills. You cover foundational academic areas such as vocabulary, punctuation, essay writing, and sentence or paragraph structure while also helping your students improve their listening skills to better understand language. You also assist them in cultivating basic speaking skills like voice inflection.
In addition to teaching, you are responsible for developing class lesson plans and preparing teaching materials. It is also your duty to supervise group sessions and classroom activities to improve comprehension in students. You evaluate your pupils' progress and prepare them for examinations.
To excel in this role, you need exceptional communication skills to teach pronunciation and writing effectively. Your grammar skills and verbal communication ability are essential for improving your students' learning outcomes. Good planning and organisational skills are also valuable in your role as an English teacher.
find jobsaverage english teacher salary
If you work as a case manager, your annual salary is typically around $83,000. Starting in a junior position, your initial salary is $75,000 per year for entry-level tasks that require minimal qualifications. As you gain more skills and experience, your earnings increase due to the valuable knowledge you bring to the table. With a few years of experience, case managers can earn up to $90,000 per year.
how to increase your salary as an english teacher
The compensation package for case managers is dependent on their qualifications and expertise. Although it is possible to pursue this career without formal education, your earnings may be lower compared to those with academic credentials. By taking social work and community services courses, you can enhance your knowledge of the role and increase your earning potential.
During the initial years of your career, you will be acquiring new skills and gaining experience in the role. As a result, your salary may be lower than that of a case manager with several years of experience. Additionally, the specialisation area may also impact your remuneration. For example, a home case manager may earn less than a clinical or health insurance case manager who handles multiple patients daily.
types of english teachers
The types of English teachers depend on the level they teach in schools. They include:
- primary school English teachers: as an English teacher in primary schools, you focus on teaching the English language to pupils and enhancing reading and comprehension through group activities.
- secondary school English teachers: as an English teacher, you specialise in teaching English to students between 12 and 18 years old, following the curriculum of the secondary school system. Your job is to teach students more advanced reading and comprehension skills, as well as helping them improve their creative writing abilities.
working as an english teacher
Working as an English teacher involves helping students improve their learning outcomes. Discover the daily tasks, work activities and career outcomes of English teachers.
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english teacher job description
As an English teacher, you perform the following tasks and responsibilities:
- preparing instructional materials: as an English teacher, you develop lesson plans that state the students' learning outcomes. You also prepare instructional materials based on the curriculum to help students understand various English principles.
- teaching the English language: as an English teacher, you instruct students on basic verbal and written principles of the English language. Your job is to improve comprehension while building students’ analytical knowledge. The lessons cover reading comprehension, writing, literacy and grammar skills.
- organising and supervising student activities: as an English teacher, you organise various activities to improve overall learning outcomes. For instance, you prepare group discussions to improve reading and comprehension. You also supervise other school activities and attend events with the students.
- reporting students’ progress: as an English teacher, you assign work to students and monitor their progress through examinations. You report the progress of the students to the school administration. You also evaluate performance to determine students who require extra help and pupils with learning disabilities.
- attending teachers’ meetings: as an English teacher, you are part of the school community. That means you participate in all the activities in the school. For instance, you attend staff meetings and parent-teacher conferences. Sometimes, you plan meetings with parents to organise classroom activities that improve learning outcomes.
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work environment
As an English teacher, you work in primary and secondary schools. Some English teachers work in higher education institutions and community education centres. For instance, you can work in adult education centres like mining communities and centres sponsored by non-governmental organisations. As an English teacher, you mainly work indoors in a classroom setting. Sometimes, you plan learning activities outdoors or travel to attend workshops and other school events.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include early childhood teachers, secondary teachers, math teachers, primary school teachers, PE teachers, nurses, doctors and social workers. You might also be working in close proximity to mental health nurses and psychologists, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, paediatricians, care assistants, and care home managers.
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work schedule
The typical work schedule of an English teacher follows the school curriculum. That means your day starts as early as 8 am to 4 pm, depending on your planned lessons. Sometimes, you work evenings and weekends to prepare the learning materials, mark assignments, or attend important workshops. Most English teachers are employed on a full-time basis. However, you can find part-time jobs teaching in community colleges or adult education centres.
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job outlook
As an English teacher, you have various career progression opportunities. For instance, you can improve your qualifications and teach higher education and learning institutions. English teachers teach at colleges or universities after completing a master’s degree or PhD studies. If you want to take up administrative duties in schools, improving your skills prepares you for a headteacher role. Some English teachers become school administrators.
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advantages of finding an english teacher job through randstad
Finding your English teacher job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as an English teacher is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
You require the following tertiary education qualifications to become an English teacher:
- bachelor's degree: to become an English teacher, pursue a bachelor's degree in education after completing Year 12 and attaining the required University entrance. The bachelor of education (secondary) typically takes three years. The course should have the Initial Teacher Education (ITE). If you have a previous tertiary qualification recognised by Australian schools, complete a two-year master of teaching (secondary).
- experience: you require experience to teach students in Australia. You gain experience through work placement after university. It is also important to seek entry-level roles to improve your teaching skills. Before working as an English teacher, apply for teacher registration. Every state requires teachers to register before teaching.
english teacher skills and competencies
Aside from the educational requirements, you require the following skills:
- communication skills: you need excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills. You rely on your communication skills to deliver lessons, interact with students, and communicate with parents and colleagues to improve learning outcomes. Your communication skills help you improve engagement in the classroom and create an interactive learning environment.
- patience: you require patience to teach the principles of English. Students have different comprehension abilities, and some may learn slower than others. You require patience to help students with learning difficulties understand the concepts.
- organisational skills: your responsibilities include making lesson plans, supervising activities, conducting classes and performing assessments. You require organisational skills to manage various tasks associated with the role. With time management, you can track student records and learning progress and complete student assessments.
- teamwork skills: you work with teachers from various departments to improve your students' learning outcomes. Your teamwork skills help you collaborate with colleagues and discuss student performance with the parents.
FAQs about working as an english teacher
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of an English teacher.
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what are the main duties of an english teacher?
As an English teacher, you teach students the English language. You deliver the lessons and help pupils improve their listening, speaking and reading skills. The role involves organising group sessions to help students improve their English language. You also check and assess students' work and provide feedback.
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how much do english teachers get paid?
English teachers in New Zealand earn $83,000 per year. The remuneration package ranges from $75,000 to $90,000 annually. Your earnings depend on work experience and educational qualifications. As you improve your academic qualifications, your remuneration package increases gradually. The school you work for and your additional duties also influence your earnings.
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how do I become an english teacher?
English teachers require educational qualifications to teach secondary or primary schools. For instance, you require a relevant tertiary degree like a bachelor of education. The course should have Initial Teacher Education (ITE) approval for you to work as a teacher in New Zealand. You are also required to complete an application for teacher registration in your state.
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what are the skills of a good english teacher?
A good English teacher requires excellent English pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary skills. That means you should improve your language skills regularly. English teacher training usually includes intensive lessons in vocabulary and pronunciation. You require creativity to find exciting ways to help students concentrate and understand complex concepts.
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how do I apply for an english teacher vacancy?
Applying for an English teacher job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.
