Proof of ESL qualifications ‘growing in popularity’

Posted 26 Feb 2010

A growing number of foreign students are looking to demonstrate the skills they have learned from those teaching English as a foreign language by sitting IELTS proficiency tests.

According to the US regional manager of IELTS International, Richard Halstead, "more and more" people want to get this qualification in order to show they have the English language capabilities needed to succeed academically.

More than one million people take the test each year and further growth could suggest the demand for TEFL and TESOL teachers is set to rise as well.

Mr Halstead’s organisation is hosting a professional development day focusing on IELTS next month, which will precede the TESOL Convention in Boston.

His remarks appear to support those made this week by Teresa Tinsley of CILT, the National Centre for Languages, who claimed native English speakers are going to experience increased competition for jobs in the future in light of the growing number of foreigners who can speak the language, as well as another tongue.

Category: TEFL Industry