FAQ

In recent years, the term EAL/D (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) has, in most sectors, taken the place of ESL (English as a Second Language) as it more accurately reflects that many of our students already speak more than one language.

It also includes students who speak dialects (e.g., Aboriginal English, Liberian English etc.)

In many references to teacher training, TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is used to refer to the field.

CELTA (Certificate for English Language Teaching to Adults) is issued by Cambridge English, part of Cambridge University Press and Assessment, itself a part of the University of Cambridge.

The certificate can be obtained after completing a 4 week full-time course or an equivalent period part time.

The CELTA is a practically oriented short course which is widely recognised overseas. It teaches important practical skills but is not sufficient on its own to gain employment as an EAL/D teacher in Australian schools. Most ELICOS colleges require this qualification.

The CELTA is accepted as credit for previous learning in some university TESOL certificate, diploma and masters courses. The CELTA course is usually offered through private ELICOS institutions.

For further information please visit the Cambridge English website.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is a very satisfying profession. As a teacher you may:

• help refugees overcome great hardship to make new lives in Australia
• teach migrant children who are eager to learn and whose parents are strongly committed to education
• assist adult migrants to participate more fully in Australian life through newly acquired English skills
• teach young adult travellers attending short intensive ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) courses in Australia and enjoy stimulating cultural exchange with people from many countries.
• A recognised TESOL qualification can provide a ticket to work throughout the world.

WATESOL receives many enquiries from people who are thinking of undertaking TESOL training and who want to know the best courses for prospective teachers to undertake.

We hope that this introduction to the field provides a starting point for your further research.

It can be time-consuming to obtain the information you need but detailed, up-to-date information is only available from training, employing and accrediting authorities.

To undertake TESOL education in Australia if English is not your first language, you might need to demonstrate a high level of competence in English on the IELTS or an equivalent test.

If you have a good level of English language proficiency and a good understanding of language teaching and learning, there is nothing to stop you becoming a successful EAL/D teacher.

 ACTA
The Australian Council of TESOL Associations Inc – the national coordinating body representing all TESOL teachers. All WATESOL members automatically gain ACTA membership.

AMEP
The Adult Migrant English Program is an Australian Government-funded programme which provides tuition in English language to help eligible adult migrants and refugees settle successfully in Australia.

CaLD
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse has replaced NESB but is currently also widely critiqued and contested by multilingual communities themselves and academics as othering and labelling diverse peoples into one big group. Also, CaLD mainly refers to people of colour from the Global South not people speaking European languages (which is part of the critique).

CELTA
Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (taught by providers accredited by Cambridge English)

CLIL
Content and Language Integrated Learning

CLOTE
Community Language Other Than English

CL
Community Languages

DELTA
Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults  (taught by providers accredited by Cambridge English) 

EA
English Australia (EA) is the national peak body and professional association for ELICOS colleges in Australia. 

EAL
English as an Additional Language.

EAL/D
English as an Additional Language or Dialect. This term is used in schools in Western Australia to refer to students whose first language is not English as well as to their English language courses. 

EAP
English for Academic Purposes

EFL
English as a Foreign Language refers to English taught to students in settings where they will either return to their own countries to use the English (e.g., Australia) or where they are learning English as a subject in their own countries. Compare with ESL, EAL/D or TESOL.

ELICOS
English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students

ESP
English for Special Purposes

ESL
English as a Second Language

IELTS
The International English Language Testing System measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills (listening – reading – writing – speaking) for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. Secondary level overseas students who intend to study in Australian institutions must achieve a minimum score in the IELTS exam which varies according to type of institution and course which students intend to attend.

LBOTE
Language Background Other than English

LEP
Limited English Proficiency

LOTE
Language Other Than English

NEAS
The National English Language Teaching (ELT) Accreditation Scheme Limited (NEAS) is Australia’s national accreditation scheme for English Language Teaching centres (it is not involved in accrediting government schools nor independent schools for Australian students).

NESB
Non-English Speaking Background. This term is critiqued because of its othering and negative connotations

TAFE
Technical and Further Education

TEFL
Teaching English as a Foreign Language

TESL
Teaching English as a Second Language

TESOL
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

TESOL Inc.
An international professional association of teachers of ESOL.

TESOL teachers work in a variety of Western Australian primary schools, high schools and Intensive English Centres. Schools in Western Australia are run by three sectors, Department of Education (DoE), Association of Independent Schools WA (AISWA)  and Catholic Education WA (CEWA). 

Teaching in schools in WA requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a relevant major or a Bachelor’s degree with a relevant major plus a Diploma of Education or a Master of Teaching.

In addition to these qualifications, intending EAL/D teachers need a post-graduate TESOL certificate or diploma (if TESOL methodology was not part of the education qualification).

All teachers in Western Australian schools must also be registered with the Teacher Registration Board of WA and adhere to the AITSL teaching standards.

To gain an idea of job prospects in WA, look at job advertisements at sites such as SEEK.

All DoE jobs are advertised on the JobsWA website. Graduates or teachers hoping to work within Western Australian public schools should also register for the Graduate / Fixed Term pools via JobsWA. 

TESOL can be studied as part of an undergraduate degree in education. Contact Education faculties at universities for more details:

Edith Cowan University

Edith Cowan University offers four types of TESOL degrees:

1. Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary: TESOL minor);
2. Graduate Certificate of Education (TESOL);
3. Master of Applied Linguistics;
4. Master of Education (TESOL)

University of Western Australia

University of Western Australia does not currently offer TESOL as a part of any of their Master of Teaching qualifications.

Curtin University

Curtin University offers three types of TESOL degrees:

1. Graduate Certificate in TESOL (one year duration part time mode);
2. Master of Arts Applied Linguistics (one year duration);
3. Master of TESOL (two year duration)

We are not able to recommend any particular course or institution but suggest that initial enquiries be made to universities which teach TESOL.

For information on what qualifications and experience are required to teach in accredited private English Language schools or university English language centres and requirements for teaching the AMEP, please check the website of the National English Language Teaching Accreditation Scheme Limited (NEAS).

No single course will qualify you to teach in all the scenarios described above so you need to think about the types of work situations which most interest you before choosing a course. These are some matters which you need to consider:

• Where do you want to teach? In Australia or overseas?
• Who do you want to teach? Young people (primary, secondary, tertiary)? Adults? Migrants? Refugees?
• Do you want to teach in a government school, an independent school, an IEC (Intensive English Centre), a private English language college (ELICOS), at TAFE, university or elsewhere?
• Do you want to study a course which is covered by HELP or a full fee paying course?
• How do you want to study? Full time? Part-time? By distance education?
• Are you considering TESOL as a career or are you looking for a way to combine work and overseas travel for a year or two?
• Do you want your TESOL course to be counted toward a higher degree (eg Graduate Certificate in TESOL; Master of TESOL or Master of Education)?
• If you have a course or institution in mind, what is the quality of the course and institution you are considering? Does it have a supervised and assessed practical teaching component of at least 6 hours?
• How well regarded and recognised is the course and institution in Australia and/or overseas?

Qualifications required vary according to institution. A university degree is usually required. In many countries a degree plus a TESOL qualification such as the CELTA or other TESOL certificate are required.

Requirements to gain employment in government schools and universities are becoming more stringent. In some countries, such institutions now require qualifications similar to those needed for Australian government schools.

People who want to make a career in TESOL and aspire to senior, better paid roles such as Director of Studies may need to consider undertaking relevant masters’ qualifications such as an M. TESOL or MA. Applied Linguistics. Many countries will only provide a relevant work visa to applicants who have a university degree.

For further information, see the following websites:

• Dave’s ESL Café
• TEFL Professional Network

The TESOL field is rapidly expanding. With the growth of English as an International Language, there is demand internationally for EAL/D teachers from primary school level upwards.

In Australia, teachers are needed to teach migrants and refugees, and also international students. The demand for teachers in Australia fluctuates in line with migrant and refugee intakes, government funding, and with varying enrolments of international students. To assess current job prospects internationally, look at job boards at websites such as JobsWA

Please note, due to a reduction in TESOL Major courses within university teacher training courses, there is currently a shortage of qualified teachers within schools and the Adult Migrant Education sector in Western Australia.