The Economic Impact of TEFL Certification on Global Employment and Trade
As the world’s current lingua franca, English is needed more than ever. From international trade to university studies – the demand will differ, but what remains is the demand itself. The best way to meet it? TEFL certifications.
With a TEFL certification, English teachers have the necessary training to help students across the globe and online. Through English lessons, their students can gain access to global employment opportunities.
In short, there’s a clear correlation between TEFL certifications and their economic impact on global employment and trade – but to what extent?
The Global Importance of TEFL
English remains an important skill regardless of whether you need it for work or studies. With the increasing use of technology and rising global demand for travel – an estimated 790 million tourists travelled internationally in the first seven months of 2024 – having some knowledge of the language is a must.While this skill can certainly be improved via home efforts such as watching TV and videos in English and reading, nailing the basics of conversation and establishing a solid understanding of grammar will require a teacher.
For teachers, this means getting TEFL certified. This qualification involves studying the ins and outs of English grammar and introduces teachers to various teaching methodologies they can implement without relying on translation.
Moreover, teachers in training will often have the opportunity to receive feedback on their lessons from experienced tutors who have real-life experience in the industry and even pick their brains about where they can find the best teaching opportunities abroad.
TEFL and Global Employment
There are a variety of ways in which job opportunities are created for TEFL teachers. The first is through schools and language institutions. Teachers can browse job boards and apply for numerous open positions across the globe, so long as they’re TEFL qualified, and meet other requirements specified by employers.
On average, teachers can expect to find the highest salaries in countries such as Japan, where monthly earnings can range from £1600 to £2000. Countries such as Brazil, meanwhile, have significantly lower salaries at around £643 to £1038 per month, though with the bonus of having fewer requirements to teach there.
Alternatively, there are plenty of online teaching opportunities thanks to the growth of online teaching platforms. With this kind of role, English teachers have the option to work remotely from the comfort of their own homes or travel and work on the road.
The impact of these roles on local economies is twofold. Teachers abroad can help support local economies through their spending on their living expenses and travel – as further explained by Economics Online. Industries such as teacher training centres and recruitment agencies, meanwhile, are supported by the demand for English teachers.
TEFL Certification and Global Labour Mobility
What’s particularly significant about a TEFL certification is how inclusive it is. You are not required to hold a degree or even be a native speaker to obtain a TEFL certification. This ultimately opens job opportunities up to people from a variety of different backgrounds and countries.
Moreover, working abroad and immersing themselves in new customs and traditions can help teachers develop their communication in another language and even their cultural awareness. These are both useful and transferable skills to other careers, should a teacher not wish to pursue teaching long-term.
Global employment with TEFL certifications also isn’t only for teachers. By achieving proficiency and passing the required exams with the help of their qualified teachers, English students can go on to study at universities across the globe, work in international companies or move abroad to pursue their career goals.
Challenges Facing the TEFL Industry
It’s important to note that despite the economic impact of TEFL certifications on global employment and trade, the industry is not without its difficulties. Wages can vary greatly from country to country, and English teaching contracts aren’t always the most competitive in the job market.
Popular teaching destinations such as Thailand and Vietnam can also become oversaturated. This causes increased competition and potentially lower wages which may have a knock-on effect on the standards of teaching as more qualified teachers leave in search of better opportunities.
Despite these difficulties, standardisation and quality control are excellent ways to overcome the challenges teachers may face. By ensuring all TEFL certification courses uphold the highest standards of training, the industry can guarantee an influx of well-trained teachers. This in turn can encourage more competitive salaries.
Future Trends and Policy Recommendations
English teaching spans all ages, meaning there’s a continual need for English teachers with a whole host of interests and different skill sets. For young learners, teachers will require patience and creativity to make their lessons as engaging as possible. For Business English, a working knowledge of technical terms may be needed.
Technology will also increasingly play a role in classrooms, reshaping language education. New digital tools and AI could help create lessons that are both more accessible and efficient, which means teachers will need to be technologically savvy and willing to adapt to the times.
None of this is a given, however, without first making teaching English as appealing as possible to potential future teachers. Only with policies that ensure fair wages and aim to improve visa regulations will English education – and thus TEFL certifications – be able to continue to positively impact global employment and trade.
As a whole, TEFL certifications can contribute to job creation, global labour mobility and international trade. However, they can only do this thanks to the teachers undertaking the qualification, and for this to continue, there must be substantial changes in the industry to help improve standards and wages.
A good teacher needs a TEFL certification, but TEFL certification courses need potential future teachers who are excited to pursue a career in the industry. For its economic impact to remain positive, more economic stability for teachers must be the industry’s priority.