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Been asked to teach English to coworkers

43 replies

Natsku · 02/02/2025 11:03

I live abroad and I'm the only native English speaker in my workplace so they've approached me about conducting a year long language course specific to the professional language of our sector some of my coworkers.

I have no teaching experience (beyond helping out in reception class for a term but I don't think my skills there are quite transferable to this situation Grin) and a couple of weeks work experience in a language school (but not teaching English there) that I remember little about. But I have always been quite good at informally teaching people.

Would it be insane to take on this extra responsibility (will be compensated with a pay rise, which tbh I need as my partner hasn't had work coming in for a couple of months now) with no experience or is it possible to teach English without teaching experience? Anyone taught English in a professional environment?

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 02/02/2025 11:05

Chuck in a paid for full qualification and paid time off for study and you could be onto a good thing there.

AuxArmesCitoyens · 02/02/2025 11:10

Sounds like my worst nightmare! I would hate this, but if you want to go for it I'd ask for them to pay for you to train first. Otherwise explaining when to use the past present progressive vs the past present simple is a killer.

KnickerlessParsons · 02/02/2025 11:12

Ask them to pay for a TEFL course for you.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Natsku · 02/02/2025 11:23

The idea of doing a course first myself is not very appealing (just finished vocational school and I've had enough of studying and taking exams for a while!) but perhaps it would be a wise move but it would depend on their time frame for this, if there would be time to do a course before I start teaching, especially as we're really busy at work right now.

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 02/02/2025 11:28

There is being sensible with costs, and then there is being so tight you squeak.

Not really great to work for an employer in the latter category.

What else are they happy to skimp on ? Not sure I'd like to stick around to find out.

Natsku · 02/02/2025 13:43

I understand them wanting to save costs at this point because the company is not making money yet (early stages) so I don't mind about that. And it's not like I'm teaching people who don't know any English at all, they all know some, to varying degrees, because they learn it in school

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 02/02/2025 16:05

Natsku · 02/02/2025 13:43

I understand them wanting to save costs at this point because the company is not making money yet (early stages) so I don't mind about that. And it's not like I'm teaching people who don't know any English at all, they all know some, to varying degrees, because they learn it in school

So what is your question ? Sounds like you've already decided to do it.

Personally I wouldn't - which was suggested by my reply.

Would refusing adversely affect your employment conditions ? If the answer is "yes" then you aren't being asked, you are being told.

Natsku · 02/02/2025 16:59

SerendipityJane · 02/02/2025 16:05

So what is your question ? Sounds like you've already decided to do it.

Personally I wouldn't - which was suggested by my reply.

Would refusing adversely affect your employment conditions ? If the answer is "yes" then you aren't being asked, you are being told.

I am not sure at all about doing it but trying to look for the positives as well as the negatives.
I don't think saying no would adversely affect anything, they made it clear that its a big responsibility and I should think carefully if I want to take it on before giving my answer.

OP posts:
Natsku · 02/02/2025 16:59

I suppose I was hoping that someone might have experience in teaching 'business' English and could tell me what its like and how difficult it is.

OP posts:
katscamel · 02/02/2025 17:26

Things you need to know:
1.Are you being expected to teach them 'Business English' or 'English for work'?

  1. What is their current level of English?
  2. How many hours of study are they expected to do?
4.What country are you in? What is their L1 (native language)?
  1. What resources do you have?

Once you have answers to these questions it does become easier. However, realistically you will need to know how to group your colleagues ... obviously by level but also in terms of dynamics..putting a management level colleague with the tea maker is not usually a good idea.

I'd speak to your boss and tell them not to be such an idiot and to employ an actual teacher who is qualified and experienced in setting up and teaching.
Good luck from a very qualified and experienced teacher 🤣

Sgtmajormummy · 02/02/2025 17:31

if you’re talking about non-beginners you could look on it as “conversation-based language improvement”. Then you take a look at each persons role and the tasks it involves. You’re in the company so you know the product.

Make a plan of 10 topic based lessons. Our product, our process, our client, our marketing etc.
Set them off with questions (who what when where why).
Listen and note their mistakes.
Review your notes at the end of the lesson. Correct with them.

Without specific language teacher training or experience, that’s the easiest way to give a relevant and useful course.

Natsku · 02/02/2025 17:55

katscamel · 02/02/2025 17:26

Things you need to know:
1.Are you being expected to teach them 'Business English' or 'English for work'?

  1. What is their current level of English?
  2. How many hours of study are they expected to do?
4.What country are you in? What is their L1 (native language)?
  1. What resources do you have?

Once you have answers to these questions it does become easier. However, realistically you will need to know how to group your colleagues ... obviously by level but also in terms of dynamics..putting a management level colleague with the tea maker is not usually a good idea.

I'd speak to your boss and tell them not to be such an idiot and to employ an actual teacher who is qualified and experienced in setting up and teaching.
Good luck from a very qualified and experienced teacher 🤣

its English for work with an emphasis on the terminology of the sector (aviation).
I need to have a chat with my boss and ask about resources. They've made an initial plan for it, with a schedule of what areas to cover over what weeks, with the idea being that its 1 or 2 hours a week teaching time plus homework, but I've not been given more information than that, just got an email about it today.

Its a very small company and only a handful of people will be taught so grouping options will be quite limited but I don't think that would be an issue, not with these people.

OP posts:
Natsku · 02/02/2025 17:56

Sgtmajormummy · 02/02/2025 17:31

if you’re talking about non-beginners you could look on it as “conversation-based language improvement”. Then you take a look at each persons role and the tasks it involves. You’re in the company so you know the product.

Make a plan of 10 topic based lessons. Our product, our process, our client, our marketing etc.
Set them off with questions (who what when where why).
Listen and note their mistakes.
Review your notes at the end of the lesson. Correct with them.

Without specific language teacher training or experience, that’s the easiest way to give a relevant and useful course.

Thanks, that's really helpful.

OP posts:
AuxArmesCitoyens · 02/02/2025 19:57

Honestly, they need a proper teacher.

katscamel · 02/02/2025 20:14

There are a ton of general resources online that you might want to look at. The British Council LearnEnglish would be a start, there is also a British Council TeachEnglish site.
FutureLearn has short courses on teaching English, which might just be enough to cover the basics. NILE run a course for teaching Aviation English designed for people already working in the industry but does expect some teaching experience. It might be worth getting in touch with them.
Remember as well that it's not just the teaching you need to be paid for but lesson prep, creation/adaptation of materials, writing assignments and tests, marking them and homework set and of course, designing the actual course.

Natsku · 03/02/2025 04:31

katscamel · 02/02/2025 20:14

There are a ton of general resources online that you might want to look at. The British Council LearnEnglish would be a start, there is also a British Council TeachEnglish site.
FutureLearn has short courses on teaching English, which might just be enough to cover the basics. NILE run a course for teaching Aviation English designed for people already working in the industry but does expect some teaching experience. It might be worth getting in touch with them.
Remember as well that it's not just the teaching you need to be paid for but lesson prep, creation/adaptation of materials, writing assignments and tests, marking them and homework set and of course, designing the actual course.

Thanks. I need to look into resources to see what I can use before I think about giving an answer.
If I say yes, I intend to ask for time in my working day for doing those things, and of course that the pay rise reflects all the extra work not just the teaching part. I just need to be confident in my worth when I ask, which is a problem for me.
I'll look into those courses, thanks.

OP posts:
Miaowzabella · 03/02/2025 05:13

putting a management level colleague with the tea maker is not usually a good idea

Is there any commercial organisation in existence that still employs a tea maker?

katscamel · 03/02/2025 05:45

@Miaowzabella in certain parts of the world there is still very much a tea maker though more often a very junior member of staff who would have been the 'office boy' in olden days.

Natsku · 03/02/2025 05:54

No tea maker here, whoever isn't busy near coffee break time makes the coffee. Except me, I just make myself tea, I'd only ruin the coffee if I try making it Grin

Well my boss this morning asked me if I think it's a crazy idea so I think it's just an idea he had and sent an email to see what I think. Said I need more information before I can consider it.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 03/02/2025 07:00

I taught English as a foreign language for almost 4 years. As it’s the aviation industry, there is a lot of literature and aircraft and all sorts of manuals, websites out there, newspaper articles etc. If you’re strictly talking vocab, you may find something useful from these as discussion topics or starter conversations.

If you have an hour or two each time with the learners, it’s useful to have a warm up before starting on the main topic. It puts people at ease and ensures everyone is present and not tying up loose ends before heading to you.

Have something as a back up, which can be used if things are getting a bit tough or even as consolidation if you base things around the vocab. You can come back to your plan next time.

We sometimes played silly games as long term learning can get boring for everyone. With one company, I had same class for years. The one, where another person sticks a word to your forehead and you have to guess who / what they are is fun. You then go round the table with the person asking questions trying to guess who / what they are. If you tell them it needs to be a word they’ve learned or a topic of work, they’d be practicing what you’d already taught. And remember to also include yourself in the game. But if you’re struggling, better to play any game than to feel out of your depth so have a couple to hand in your teaching resources. I also bought board games, which don’t take up too much time, something that can be played for about 20 mins or less like Pass the Bomb to use for fun every now and again.

They also may be nervous, as might you be too. So even just basics like introducing themselves the first time and their job title and one thing they like best about their job will help things flow.

You should also ensure that they know these classes are serious and to get the best out of it timings are important. It’s very different giving training to colleagues than having it from somewhere outsourced. So you may need to be careful with the games you may choose. I was in Germany playing these games with high ups in the company btw and it all went down well. Maybe it was because I was confident and positive in what I did. And that is important to trust yourself and to have a back up if things go wrong or if everyone is tired / demoralised etc so you can just say, ‘you know what, let’s pick this up next time. Let’s play x.’

Once you get in the swing of things, it’s possible to get them creating short presentations, have pretend phone conversations or meetings and allocating them job roles. Either internal or a mixture of external and internal roles with someone playing a customer, supplier etc. This extends learning and you mix things up rather than being just solely focused on you. Any pair or group work is good. I appreciate there aren’t that many people in the company and it depends on if their levels are relatively similar.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 03/02/2025 08:28

I’ve done a TEFL course and have taught it.
If it’s your mother tongue, teaching English to speakers of other languages is quite a different thing from teaching (say) French or German to speakers of your own language.

You have to explain, or put across effectively, things you’ve never even had to think about as a native speaker. E.g. I’ve studied several foreign languages including. Russian, but when I once had to teach someone else’s more advanced class the ‘third conditional’ I had to look it up - I hadn’t a clue what it was! But it’s something native speakers use all the time without even thinking.

Obviously some sort of TEFL training would be best, but if that’s not going to happen I dare say there are books you can buy, but one thing I’d recommend is the Thomson and Martinet grammar handbook for EFL.

Natsku · 03/02/2025 10:16

That is true. Grammar wasn't really taught that actively when I was in school so I when I was learning Finnish I ended up learning more about English grammar at the same time, all the concepts I never knew about. I think I definitely would need to study grammar before I could think about teaching it.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 03/02/2025 10:26

This happened to me (same situation, only native English speaker)

I agreed with several caveats (wish i could have got them to pay for my CELTA which i did after i left in case i ever got asked to do it again)

Structured hours - there was a fixed day/time when the English lessons would take place. This was only moveable for Very Rare And Serious Things (CEO visit from home country etc). The lesson was included in my working hours, and everyone else had to sacrifice half an hour of their hour lunchbreak (the latter part not imposed by me, but they all agreed).

Sign up book - i made them sign up for sets of 5 weeks at a time. If they didn't complete the 5 (exceptions for rare cases, business trips etc) they were not allowed to sign for the next 5. And they got an interview with the managing director before being allowed to do more

Credit for promotion - incentive to my students was that on completion of 10 weeks it was noted in their file, they had to achieve particular TOIC (sp?) scores for each promotion, so having been to my classes helped their promotion chances. (we also had separate classes to prepare them for that, extra to work and they paid me cash in hand)

My Promotion - was being blocked by my manager at that time. I only agreed to do the lessons if i got an immediate promotion. This was agreed.

Related costs - any teaching materials i used were paid for by the company. Learning materials were not covered by the company except for the most junior staff.

I did it for 2 years and it worked well. But i had taught before.

Brefugee · 03/02/2025 10:29

sorry forgot to add: there are lots of ways to approach this. I started by taking things i had seen regularly in their emails, and started with improving that.

Their national language is quite brusque, so i taught them a little more about the European approach starting with the German way which is more like theirs. eg. not just starting an email with the recipient's surname. Also regular grammatical mistakes.

Teach chunks of language - phrases, specific vocabulary, and pronunciation. I also got an hour a week to prepare specific vocab for the engineering and manufacturing parts/processes.

I also adopted an approach that i spoke to the students in English outside of the lessons as much as possible, especially social occasions.

senua · 03/02/2025 10:35

I live abroad and I'm the only native English speaker in my workplace so they've approached me about conducting a year long language course specific to the professional language of our sector some of my coworkers.
You are getting a payrise on the back of this which raises expectations somewhat. Will they want measurable outcomes?