I’m about to embark on a round of interviews, which will hopefully result in work as a Tutor in English for Academic Purposes on a presessional university course this summer. These courses are designed to help prepare incoming international students, both undergraduates and postgraduates, for the demands of degree study at British universities. They last anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks depending on the specific programme. The focus is on language and skills development; lesson topics include, for example, note-taking in lectures, academic writing and seminar presentations.
Qualified and experienced EAP tutors are in high demand in the summer period; some universities start advertising and recruiting as early as September for a July start. On the plus side, these positions are well-paid, the classes are small, and the contact hours reasonable. Should you choose to work outside of your city of residence, accommodation is offered, either in halls of residence or in shared staff flats, and the cost is subsidised, giving you the chance to work in prestigious universities around the UK to build up your CV. Above all, you have the opportunity to make a real contribution to students’ future studies, to give them confidence in their abilities and to help them to make the transition to British academic culture.
On the down side, it is important to understand that working as an EAP tutor, unless you are one of the few teachers fortunate enough to have secured a rare permanent position as a lecturer, is cyclical. Once the summer is over, you can of course enquire whether there is any hourly paid work going at your university, and if you’ve done a good job on the presessional, they may be happy to keep you on for the subsequent insessional programme; otherwise, you will need to try to get work as an hourly paid lecturer (HPL) elsewhere. This work is part-time and hours can vary widely according to budgets, number of teachers already in the pool, and particular insessional needs. For this reason, many HPLs supplement their income by working at several universities on a part-time basis, or in language schools teaching English as a Foreign Language.
In 6 months of a gruelling search for a permanent job as a Lecturer in EAP, exactly two jobs in London or within commuting distance have opened up; this was ahead of government budget cuts and tuition increases, the effects of which remain to be seen. I heard nothing back from either university despite my considerable qualifications and experience. What I have heard from colleagues who have been doing this in the UK longer than I have is that networking and internal recommendations are extremely important, so short contracts, despite their uncertainty and insecurity, may well prove to have a cumulative effect.
Dear Sonja,
Read your posts with interest. I was wondering if you could advise me. I am one of those HPLs you talk about that work most of the year teaching English Lit at university; I have a PhD in English Literature and I work for the Open University). However, during the summer months my work dries up and I really need to find another way of earning money from English teaching in some capacity. (This summer I find myself in the position of doing catering work – really don’t want to have to go there again next summer!)
My initial plan was to teach A level in FE; I understand you can apply for jobs in FE colleges without a qualification to speak of but often you must demonstrate the ‘intention of’ completing the DTTLS qualification to teach at this level. But jobs in FE colleges in English (at least here in the south east) seem very few and far between; so I am a bit put off by this option. I have also signed on with a tutoring agency; but one-on-one work (teaching A level etc) is something that I would have to learn to do and build up gradually; and also not something I could count on in the summer as a substantial regular income.
I am thinking therefore it might be better to go the EFL or EAP route, particularly because it’s summer work that I am after. Which of these is a sensible choice do you think – in terms of work prospects and particularly summer work prospects – and in the UK? I am also wondering which one would suit me best, given my skills and interests. Because I prefer the academic side of teaching and because EAP is close to what I do already in English Lit teaching (essay writing tuition etc) perhaps it would be best in this respect. But your posts seem to imply that EAP more of a niche area of teaching – so would doing a TEFL course (I assume this is the course you would do to teach EFL) not be a safer bet? Perhaps the TEFL could also offer more flexibility – the possibility of work the year round, better paid etc?
I don’t know anything about CELTA or DELTA.
I’d be really grateful for some pointers as I really don’t want to expend time and money on a course that I don’t end up using and I am a bit clueless here. If you can even point in the right direction for getting advice about this that would also be great.
Many thanks
Bea
Hi Bea,
Thanks for your comment. I can completely understand your situation. I too have found the FE route to be rather a dead end unfortunately. As you say, you already have skills which are transferable to an EAP teaching context – essay writing, for example, is a main focus in summer presessionals. But it’s worth bearing in mind that universities usually require CELTA + DELTA + MA, whereas language schools often only require CELTA as an entry point. About these qualifications: CELTA is the Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults. You would need to take either the Cambridge ESOL or Trinity College accredited course – preferably the former. The CELTA is recognised all over the world and can be completed in 4-week intensive courses, as well as online. You will be observed and assessed on your teaching practice, and there are other written assignments besides. The DELTA (Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults) is also accredited by Cambridge and has recently been reclassified as a Level 7 qualification in the UK, i.e. equivalent to a Master’s. Check http://www.cambridgeesol.org for further information.
There is a lot of summer TEFL work in private language schools and summer camps in the UK – http://www.tefl.com will give you a good indication. If you’re mainly looking to fill in the summer months, I don’t think this will dry up anytime soon – a recent trainee of mine had secured a summer job pending completion of just a 20-hour teaching course with no previous experience. However, with your experience and your PhD, it’s probably worth applying to summer presessionals anyway. Just recently, I saw that the Humanities faculty at Imperial College London was again advertising, which would match your background, and there are more besides. Search jobs.ac.uk and/or the BALEAP web site. EAP teaching is far more lucrative than EFL, but you have more options with the latter.
I hope this helps – don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need further information, and do let me know how you get on!
Good luck,
Sonja
Dear Sonja,
Thank you, this is extremely helpful. To someone who is new to this field it is a bit of a maze! Could you please clarify a few more points as I’m still somewhat confused as to which course to embark on.
‘Presessional’ refers to EAP summer teaching – the stock courses that all universities offer all students – including foreign students – to prepare them for uni – yes?
What I am unclear about is how EFL and EAP teaching are being separated – or not – by the designated courses CELTA, DELTA, TEFL etc); or do they cross-over; in terms of getting both EAP and EFL work, are the courses somewhat interchangeable. On the job ads on the BALEAP site each institution seems to have slightly different requirements and they suggest interchangeability with EFL; many ask for the DELTA or ‘EFL equivalent’, for example Roehampton. Is this because there are a lot of foreign students at summer pre-sessionals? (So if I did a TEFL , for example, this + my current uni teaching might still mean I’d have a chance if I apply for presessionals?) But do CELTA and DELTA refer to EAP teaching only?
Also you say that universities require CELTA+DELTA+MA for EAP presessionals but that language schools only require CELTA ‘as entry point’. Latterly, do you mean the event of language schools offering EAP work – or are you talking about EFL here?
The general idea I am getting is that ultimately to have the best chances of securing work, it is best to get all all of them under your belt – as you yourself have?)!
I did apply yesterday for the presessionals at Sussex university; but they said that for ‘BC accreditation’ (another acronym!) reasons, they can only employ teachers with ELT qualifications. From what you say this may not be the case in every institution, so it would be worth my while applying, at this stage (say for the work at Imperial), although ultimately I will need to get a qualification or two under my belt.
Thanks again for your help – I very much appreciate it.
Best wishes
Bea
Hi Bea,
Your questions are extremely pertinent. I’ll try to take them in order:
1) Presessional refers to a course that *foreign* students must take upon entering a British university. This is to ensure that their language and skills are up to standard, and that they become familiar with the expectations of a British university education. Normally, if entering students have a high enough IELTS score (the standard language entry exam for foreign students), they are either exempted from a presessional or don’t have to do as many weeks of study. Presessionals actually take place before each term, although normally ‘outsiders’ don’t get hired apart from in the summer, as student numbers are at their highest now.
2) Your next question is trickier. In themselves, neither CELTA nor DELTA deal with EAP, though ironically they are usually required to teach on presessionals (!) To be perfectly frank, you will have to learn how to teach EAP on your own, through reading books and through experience. The assumption, I suppose, is that if you have a TEFL qualification, you’re accustomed to teaching foreign students, and as presessional students are foreign…
3) Regarding EFL schools: CELTA is the entry point, but once you’ve been there for awhile, they will most likely ask you to do the DELTA as well, especially if they’re accredited by the British Council (BC). I have noticed that private language schools are now starting to offer pathway courses to universities, and some also offer Business English courses, which are accredited by the ABE (Association of Business Executives). To this extent, you could say some language schools offer ‘EAP’ courses. But EAP typically refers to university courses, and this is where the money is.
4) Regarding your recent application, you may well run into this problem, unfortunately. The British Council are very strict about qualifications. There just seems to be no concept of ‘transferable skills’ in this case. Still, I’m not sure every university is subject to BC requirements. In answer to your final question, yes, the more qualifications you have, the better, although even then there is no security I’m afraid. I would be interested to know the response from Imperial College if you decide to contact them.
Please keep me updated!
Best wishes,
Sonja
Thank so much Sonja, this has cleared up everything! I think doing the CELTA would be the best thing in the first instance. And I will also contact Imperial.
Will certainly keep you updated – via this blog
Many thanks again,
Bea
Hi again,
Actually having had a look at that spec for the Imperial one; the list of requirements is pretty long and specific – including a minimum of 5 years ELT experience – and even ‘exceptional candidates’ (who have an Msc in science or engineering need the minimum of a CELTA. I suppose you never know though so I’ll try!
Bea
Hi Bea,
I’ve just heard through the grapevine that universities are still looking to fill presessional openings, so some places may be prepared to waive some of those requirements.
Good luck!
Sonja
Hi again,
Thanks for that encouragement.
Can I ask you; is it best to find a CELTA course that is British Council accredited? I am shopping around for one in Brighton at the moment (where there seem to be a lot of language schools offering the course); but some are not BC accredited (and declare they aren’t!). Also there seem to be mixed reports about some courses so I am keen to find a reputable one. Also, is it best to get the course under one’s belt well in time for summer job applications, or would doing it in say May still leave enough time to be in the running for work that summer?
Many thanks again,
Bea
Hi Bea,
I only recommend CELTA courses which are accredited by Cambridge ESOL or Trinity College London. There are plenty of other providers out there, but these are the only ones which are recognised everywhere. And if you need to choose between the two, go for the Cambridge one.
Accredited centres in Brighton are 1) Brighton Embassy CES 2) St. Giles College 3) The Intensive School of English. See the following link:
http://cambridgeesol-centres.org/centres/teaching/search.do;jsessionid=8FFB5997C906963A030D8996D59F0D85.node02?source=teacheraward&country=GB-ENG&qualification=10&Input=Search
I have seen universities still advertising in June and July, so doing the course in May might still leave enough time to find work.
Good luck!
Sonja
How can I go about getting into EAP. I have a master’s in TEFL and the CELTA. I have taught in universities, one conversational type course in Japan. Another in Ethiopia, pre-sessional, but it wasn’t well thought out. I am getting to the the interview stages, I have the qualifications and a couple of years of teaching, but not a great deal of EAP. I carried out some research with the issues Mandarin speakers have with English at academic level. Therefore, I don’t think it’s my qualifications since I am getting the interviews. However, the feedback is I don’t have enough EAP experience. It seems a little bit chicken and egg, I can’t get the experience until I am teaching the course. Would universities take kindly to a request to observe a few days of these courses?
Hi Sarah,
Many apologies for the late reply – Imperial College has been keeping me busy!
It sounds like you’ve got good qualifications, and it’s good you’re getting interviews despite not having a DELTA. I’m surprised at the feedback you’re getting since most ads I read say previous EAP experience is an ‘advantage’, but is not essential, as materials are usually provided on presessionals. I think it couldn’t hurt to ask to observe some classes, not sure if they will agree to it, but you won’t know until you ask!
This job market seems quite mysterious to me, I must admit. But the fact that you’re getting interviews means there are things on your CV that are attracting them!
Perhaps you need to really emphasise the knowledge and skills you have that can be transferred to an EAP context, and you might consider playing up your experience in Ethiopia a bit…
Good luck in your search!
Sonja
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