Damian Johnstone

Thinking about going into teaching ESL / EFL / ESOL? Damian Johnstone

This short book is for you if you are considering going into the field of teaching English as a second/foreign language, whether English is your first (native) language or not. I have written it with those who are contemplating pursuing English teaching (ESL, EFL or ESOL) as a career option particularly in mind, but it would also be of interest to individuals who might be thinking about engaging in English teaching on a short term or voluntary basis.


My purpose in writing this book is to help you decide whether or not teaching English as a second/foreign language is something you might want to pursue.


Based upon my own experience of teaching English as a second language, and my knowledge of the English language teaching field more broadly, I discuss:


- what it is like in practical terms to be an ESL/EFL/ESOL teacher


- what the job involves and what to expect


- beyond the practicalities, to give some insight into how EFL teachers think about their task


- the skills, qualities and knowledge needed to be an ESL/EFL/ESOL teacher


- the kind of opportunities available


I also give some ideas about where to begin with getting into English teaching, and I provide recommendations on how to find out more about the field.


Although the focus of this book is the teaching of the English language, much of what is written will be equally relevant to teaching any language. So, if English is not your first language and you are interested in teaching your native language to those who do not know it, this book is for you too.