The Covid-19 lockdown has seen a global increase in demand for Business English skills among both foreign language and native speakers. With businesses working remotely, the need for clear and effective communication is greater than ever. As a result, job opportunities for qualified Business English teachers are on the rise.
“South Africans fluent in English and in search of employment can teach Business English online to earn an income, improve their own communication skills and boost their CV – all while empowering international adult students to progress professionally,” says Toms Gibbons, Director at The TEFL Academy, South Africa’s leading provider of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualifications.
As the fastest-spreading language in human history, English is spoken at a useful level by 1.75-billion people worldwide. With an estimated 565-million people using it to communicate on the internet, it is also the most popular language used online. Since the shared language allows for easier communication between people from different countries, English has become the dominant business language.
Topics covered in a Business English class include how to participate in meetings, writing emails, speaking on the phone, dealing with customers, conducting interviews and giving presentations. “Each class has their own needs, which will depend entirely on your students’ professions. You may be teaching a team of accountants from Hong Kong, a CFO from France or the HR department of a German company,” says Gibbons.
For those interested in teaching Business English, getting started is as easy as securing an official qualification from a registered provider. An online TEFL course can be completed within four to six weeks and accessed from anywhere in the world. Once qualified, a TEFL teacher can teach Business English even if they have no business experience. All that they need to learn is business terminology and where to find the right resources.
“While it’s beneficial to have worked in the same profession as your students or worked in a corporate environment, this is not essential when teaching Business English – much like you don’t have to be a doctor or nurse to teach Medical English. There are coursebooks to help you and endless online resources, and we believe you’ll grasp it after your first lesson,” says Gibbons.
“There is a common misconception that teaching English as a foreign language exclusively means teaching young children. Those interested in teaching English, but not necessarily interested in teaching young students, can use their TEFL qualification to empower adult learners. This increases both their students’ employability as well as their own,” concludes Gibbons.
