Teaching English as a Foreign Language offers you a bunch of different teaching opportunities:

• kindergarten
• primary/high school
• University
• summer camps
• in-company
• private 1-to-1lessons
• online

One teaching scenario which many TEFL teachers are not aware of but which is very in demand, is teaching in a language centre.

What is a language centre?

A language centre is also known as a language school or academy. In some Asian countries they are also known as cram schools. 

Language centres cater for students of different ages and English abilities. Some offer classes mostly for Young Learners, others for adults, and others both. Young Learners attend language centres after school, on weekends and in school holidays. Adult learners attend any time they are available, which could be after work in the evenings or on weekends. 

Read more: The Differences Between Teaching Adults And Young Learners

Language centres can offer General English classes, specific exam classes (such as IELTS), or English for Specific Purposes. 

What is the purpose of a language centre?

A language centre provides language lessons to language learners. For TEFL teachers, we’re interested in language centres which offer English lessons. 

These centres exist because students (or their parents)  want extra tuition over and above their English lessons at school, or maybe a learner has completed their education without a very high level of English. Many adults need a certain level of English for their jobs, or to study English at an English-medium institution. 

Language centres provide tuition in addition to school education. In these instances the the language centres are in the same town or city as the learners and their school. In the case of adult learners, the language centre could be where they live, or they might travel to an English-speaking country to attend a language centre there. 

What is the teacher’s role in a language centre?

The teacher’s role in a language centre is more than that of a teacher. 

Language centres are run like businesses. They focus on profit first, education second. What this means is that teachers are employees, and the students are their clients. Language centres are run by Directors of Study and not Principals. Members of staff include Academic Managers, Marketing Managers and Customer Services Managers. 

In a language centre, teachers may be required to communicate with students’ parents, socialise with the students, and accompany students on excursions. They are expected to produce their schedule of work on a weekly, monthly or termly basis. They are required to keep track of their classroom activities. Teachers in language centres need to submit invoices at the end of each month in order to be paid. 

Popular language centres

There are hundreds if not thousands of different language centres around the world. Some are massive chain schools with branches in loads of different countries. Others are small, boutique, independent language schools.

The major names in language centres you’ll probably come across are:

English First (EF)

International House (IH)

Wall Street English

Bell International

Disney English

Berlitz

The British Council

Read more: How To Find The TEFL Job Of Your Dreams

Should I teach in a school or a language centre?

Starting out in your TEFL journey you may need to make a choice between teaching English in a public, private or international school or teaching in a language centre. Which one should you choose?

Obviously, this is a personal choice but there are certain factors you need to keep in mind:

• Class sizes are likely to be bigger in a school. Language centres usually restrict their class sizes to 12 or 14. Schools can have classes of more than 30 learners.
• Schools often require their teachers to be present at extra-mural activities or events. This is not common at language centres but if you are asked to attend a social function or cultural event with your students, you should be remunerated. 
• Language centres are run as businesses. This suits some teachers but not others. 
• Teaching students in schools you are more likely to have to deal with parents of students. In language centres, this would be the responsibility of the administrative staff or management.
• Schools have school holidays, which are the same for students and teachers. This may or may not be paid. Language centres pay on an hourly basis and holidays need to be requested. Often holidays are not paid, because holiday pay is included in your hourly rate. 
• Language centres are more flexible with schedules than schools. Schools generally have set teaching hours, even hours you need to be on the school premises even if you are not teaching. Language centre hours can change every week. But if you’re not teaching you don’t need to be at the centre.
• Some language centres require you to work in the early mornings or evenings and possibly weekends. 
• Opportunities for professional development are higher in language centres which tend to invest in their teachers. They also have higher teaching standards. 
• Students can be more motivated in language centres because they (or their parents) are paying extra for these lessons. 
• Teaching in schools can mean teaching the same lesson to different classes a few times a day. Language centres offer variety in terms of teaching subjects. You can teach Pre-Intermediate General English, Advanced IELTS and a 1-to-1 on the same day.

Teaching in language centres has its pros and cons. If it suits you will depend on your personality and work preferences. But teaching in a language centre is definitely a way for you to get your foot in the door of TEFL!