Language teaching
The shortage of teachers across the UK is well known, and teachers are in demand at all levels in the education system. However there are many good reasons to pursue this specialist career path. Financial incentives are offered to those who complete training to become a language teacher, and there is strong support from CILT, the National Centre for Languages and other organisations such as the Association for Language Learning in terms of continuing professional development. It can be an extremely rewarding and varied profession, but can also be demanding emotionally, and requires confidence, organisational ability and enthusiasm in order to succeed.
Primary teaching with a languages specialism
Under the National Languages Strategy for England, the government intends to make available an entitlement to primary language learning for all pupils by 2010. This means that more places are now available for language teachers in primary teacher training posts.
NACELL (National Advisory Centre for Early Language Learning) provides details of courses being offered as part of the Primary Language Teacher Training Project, a shared initiative involving the Teacher Training Agency and equivalent institutions from European partners, supported by CILT. The site also offers details of institutions offering other postgraduate and PGCE courses that confer QTS for those teaching in Key Stages 2 and 3. More information is available from the NACELL website.
Adult and further education
For a career in post 16 language teaching a high level of competence is needed in the language you wish to teach. Since September 2001, it has also been a statutory requirement for new entrants to FE teaching in England to be teacher trained and to have a recognised teaching qualification. There are a range of PGCE courses for the post-compulsory sector – information can be found on CILT’s Information Sheet 8.
Case studies
Take a look at our teaching case studies.
Go to professional associations and links, and
our information on finding a teaching course
for more.