A couple of acronyms that you are likely to come across as an English teacher are IELTS and TOEFL. IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System and is a United Kingdom and Commonwealth based test of English language skills. TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language and is a U.S. based English language skills test. These two are the main international English-language tests and are used by universities, governments and employers to assess the English proficiency of international students, immigrants and potential employees. TOEFL tests are mainly aimed at foreign students looking to study in U.S. universities and a Junior TOEFL test is also offered for middle school children. IELTS on the other hand has two types of test, there is the academic test for students and a general test aimed at immigrants and job seekers. Both tests aim to assess the test-taker’s skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. As more and more people around the world look to attend universities in English speaking countries the demand for tutors to help students prepare for their IELTS or TOEFL exams is increasing.
Work in this area can easily be found either in language schools offering preparation programs or as a private tutor and working part-time as an IELTS or TOEFL tutor is a great way to supplement your income. There is a wide range of resources available for both teachers and students including old tests and study strategies. These can often be found in the English language learning section of your local bookshop and there are plenty of resources available online. The official sites of IELTS and TOEFL contain both complimentary and paid for resources for students and teachers and there are plenty of websites where suitable materials can be found for free. Additionally, any language school offering IELTS or TOEFL preparation courses should have all the resources a teacher or student needs in order to effectively prepare for the tests.
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