The Best Ways to Travel and Teach in the UK

More and more people are becoming familiar with teaching English as a Foreign Language, but many people mistakenly believe that this can only be done in non-English speaking countries. In fact, there is a huge demand for TEFL teachers in countries where English in spoken as a first or official language. The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa all have big TEFL markets, because students want to immerse themselves in the language while they are studying it. And which country would be at the top of any student’s list? The UK, of course! Here are the best ways to travel and teach in the UK.

How can I teach English in the UK?

In the UK, there are a few options available for TEFL teachers: language schools, summer camps and universities. Each option comes with its own pluses and minuses and which route you choose will depend on what you want from a teaching job.

If you’re happy to work hard and are trying to save money, then you should look into the private language schools. In UK language schools there are usually plenty of students, which means a need for teachers and especially teachers who are willing to work long hours. TEFL teachers working in a language school are usually paid an hourly rate so the more hours you work the more money you’ll make!

If you are already a fair way down your TEFL journey and are looking for a position which will challenge you professionally then you should try find a job at a university. As you can imagine, many foreign students want to study at a British university but they don’t have the language skills necessary to survive the academic environment. So, many universities offer a foundation year for foreign students so that they can improve their English language proficiency as well as prepare themselves to study in an English-speaking environment. As a TEFL teacher this will mean teaching General English but also English for Academic Purposes.

But, if you would like to live and work in the UK so that you can explore, then you should definitely try and get onto a summer camp.

What do you teach on a summer camp?

Summer camps are run by specialized companies. International students sign up for a week or two or three or even up to eight weeks to be on the camp. These students can be Young Learners but are mostly teens who are spending their school holidays on camp.

There are different types of TEFL teachers on a summer camp. Some TEFL teachers will live off-site and teach EFL lessons for the morning and then take part in the activities during the day. Other TEFL teachers are residential, meaning they have the same responsibilities but they are given room and board on the camp site. Still others are pastoral, meaning they stay with the campers themselves, so they have added responsibilities relating to meals and bedtimes.

How can I travel while on a summer camp?

The beauty of summer camps is that they are usually in picturesque holiday destinations. In the UK, you are likely to be placed on a summer camp in Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Manchester, Nottingham, Canterbury and Edinburgh. Summer camps offer you the opportunity to live in a part of the UK you might otherwise not have known.

What’s more, on summer camps there are days dedicated to excursions and sightseeing. You might jump on a bus to visit the tourist sites of the city you are in, you might take a bus to a nearby town, or you might spend the day at a local attraction. While you will be expected to be on duty for most of the outing, you will also get to enjoy the outing yourself – for free of charge! Plus, you are guaranteed a couple of hours of time to yourself to have lunch or go for a quick shop.

 So if you are thinking of teaching English in the UK, have a look at the summer camp options available to you and pick your next holiday destination!