Teach Business English: Earn More

Teaching Business English in the EFL Classroom

Teaching Business English, or any kind of ESP (English for Specific Purposes – or sometimes for “Special Purposes”), should be considered once you have a some experience in TEFL.

Business English, or other ESP classes, usually pay better than teaching “conversation” English classes, and some teachers find them more enjoyable.

Obviously, these classes will center around a work environment and utilize business or ESP vocabulary. Early in your TEFL career you should probably NOT teach these type classes unless you have prior work experience in business or other ESP areas or some specialized training. Why? Because businesses usually have a very focused aim as to what they want to accomplish and if you have little experience in the business world, you may have little understanding of what is required.

Business English students are usually quite different from typical language school students. They are often older, more experienced, tired from a long day at work and have a definite idea about what they want to learn. Also, sometimes, they are required to take English classes if they want to progress in their company. If you are seen as being “wet behind the ears” and as having little or no knowledge of their world, you will typically be replaced rather quickly.

Some EFL teachers think that teaching Business English is the same as teaching regular English classes, but having a little business vocabulary thrown in. Some teachers think that all you might need to do is to change The book is on the desk to The report is on the photocopier. No, not good enough.

These older, more skilled business people also need you to have some interest and knowledge of the business world – as you need and are expected to pique their interest and create relevant contexts for your lessons. If you have no awareness of the context of their work, this will be quite difficult to do. However, if you do find yourself in this situation – research the business where you will teach and learn as much as you can about what they do – their products and services – and include as much of that as possible in the lessons.

Using a good Business English course book can help get you started, but even better is a custom designed course tailored specifically to meet the needs of the business people that will be in your class. The best way to design such a course is to first identify the needs and wants of the students that will be in the class or their employer. Don’t forget who your client/customer is! It is the people who are paying you.

There can, sometimes, be some differences between what your client/customer is seeking for the class and what your students are wanting and needing. This is not unusual and can require a bit of a balancing act to make sure everyone is satisfied.

Motivating your students by giving them skills they really want and need is important, but your employer must also be satisfied. If the needs and wants of the two sides are very different, you can often make it clear to the students what is required and spend a portion of the class working on “mandatory” material and once that is conquered, the class moves on to what the students might see as being more relevant.

Check out the Ebook – Teach Business English

TED’s Tips™ #1: Teaching Business English is a great way to improve your income and to escape the younger kids.

The BEST EFL Teaching Jobs in China: Government Colleges, Universities and Secondary Schools offer the most reliable and worry-free jobs in China. Click on the Link if you would like to Teach English in China

TEFL Career Ladder

After your first TEFL job – then what?

Another reader (in her late 40s) was wondering what she might do next when she wrote in with this question:

Any suggestions on the type of jobs to pursue? I even thought of joining the Peace corps.

I don’t know where you teach now, but as you get older and/or more experienced it is good to either specialize in an ESP such as Business English, Teaching Examinations like TOEFL or teaching Hospitality English in Resorts and Hotels; move up to university/college teaching and/or if you have enough experience, teacher training. For the ESP angle, some good options for learning more about them are over at TEFL Boot Camp.

Three good options – ESP, University, Teacher Training. I am not sure that the Peace Corps will help you with any of those. Now – I am a Peace Corps fan as I was a volunteer in Botswana 89-91 and I believe in service to your country and/or to humanity – so the Peace Corps option depends a lot on your motivation for joining. If it is to see the world, then you already have the tool – TEFL. If it is to serve and nurture the world a bit, then it is a good option.

One option I haven’t suggested is the position of DOS (director of studies) which is typically a supervisory position in many schools. If supervisory skills come naturally to you and you enjoy such work – then it might be a good option for you. But often the DOS position is the guy/gal who fills in at the last second when someone doesn’t show up and they also do a lot of hiring and firing. Those are three things that I don’t enjoy! So I left it out.

TED’s Tips™ #1: There are lots of options in TEFL, you don’t have to keep doing the same thing on and on and on – unless of course you are super happy with what you are doing – then keep on doing it!

TED’s Tips™ #2: College and university positions often require graduate degrees, but with a TEFL Certification (pretty much any kind) and a degree, you can land a good college level job in China these days.

What’s up in China? Learn what kind of jobs are on offer if would like to Teach English in China. I help place people in China – it is great fun – and you can start your career often at a higher level in China than you would in Korea, Japan, Taiwan or even Thailand.