TEFL/TEYL Instructor (Teacher Trainer)

UC San Diego Extension’s International Programs offers a variety of TEFL programs to serve both local and international students who are interested in teaching English to language learners in countries where English is not the common language outside the classroom. We offer programs of different lengths and specializations including Teaching English to the Young Learner (TEYL) and Teaching English Grammar (TEG). Our diverse student population creates a unique classroom dynamic that includes students of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. We offer courses all year-round and in a variety of delivery methods (in-person and online) to meet the demands of the students both locally and globally.

Our program focuses on global English and cultural competency to increase effectiveness in training students for a wide variety of professional and academic uses of English in their own countries and around the world. We also emphasize a thorough knowledge of the basic concepts of pronunciation and fluency, grammar concepts necessary for communication, and the language arts skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Lastly, we provide our teachers-in-training with differentiated teaching methods and practical techniques to rapidly increase students’ proficiency and fluency.

We invite applicants who have first-hand experience teaching ESL/EFL as well as teacher-training experience to apply to join our TEFL programs. We look forward to receiving your application!  

A reasonable estimate of compensation for teaching one section of this course is $600-$5,040. The amount determined within the compensation range is dependent upon course modality, units of instruction, and number of enrollments. Instructional agreements are made on a section-by-section basis at the discretion of the University with no guarantee to teach future sections of this course or any other courses.

Specific Duties

• Teach all scheduled class meetings for the quarter
• Use subject-matter expertise to impart knowledge to students
• Stay current regarding the professional body of knowledge in field of practice
• Design syllabus and curriculum as assigned. Curriculum must follow prescribed course description and student learning outcomes.
• Clearly communicate expectations to students of varying English language levels
• Prepare and deliver course materials: face-to-face, online (asynchronous & synchronous), and/or in combination
• Evaluate student learning and assign grades
• Hold conferences with students as needed to address individual needs
• Design interactive and motivational activities to fully engage participants and to reinforce student learning
• Update materials periodically, and regularly monitor course evaluations to make adjustments and improvement to the curriculum
• Respond to student needs and questions in a timely manner
• Handle a diverse student classroom of varying ethnicities, languages, ages, and educational backgrounds
• Create a high-performance environment in which students of diverse backgrounds are motivated to succeed
• Employ cultural competencies to reach international students
• Learn and comply with all departmental academic and administrative policies and procedures
• Handle mechanics of position according to deadlines (LOAs, texts, A/V, grade submission, etc.)
• Apply technology and leverage resources appropriately to enhance the curriculum (e.g. us Canvas or make arrangements for guest speakers)
• Collaborate with other instructors when necessary
• Communicate with Program Manager and Instructor Services Team on a timely basis

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in TESOL, or Master’s degree in closely related field (e.g. Applied  Linguistics) with a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours successfully completed in the following areas:

       • Language teaching methodology
       • The nature of language (e.g. linguistics)
       • English structure
       • Second language acquisition
       • Intercultural communication
       • Practicum

• Minimum 5 years of directly relevant teaching experience, including ESL/EFL teaching experience in intensive ESL programs (IEPs) or in elementary schools in non-English speaking countries.
• A minimum of 2 years of successful TEFL/TESL/TESOL teacher-training experience.
• University-level teaching experience (or corporate environment).
• Experience designing curriculum and measuring student performance.
• Proficiency in the use of online teaching tools, especially Canvas.
• Excellent proficiency in English.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Flexibility and collaborative approach to work responsibilities.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Maximum teaching hours are 3-9 hours per week, and the salary range is $60-$70/per hour based on qualifications and experience.
• Candidates must have native English-speaking proficiency and proof of eligibility for employment in the United States.
• We are looking for high-quality, energetic, creative, knowledgeable, and professional instructors to join our team of teacher trainers. Courses are offered in-person at our La Jolla campus, online asynchronous, live online synchronous. In-person and live online class meetings are typically held in the afternoon and evening between the hours of 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. 
• You will work with a wide variety of students of all ages (18-65+) and from various cultures and backgrounds. You have the freedom to design your course material and assessments providing you follow the official course description and student learning outcomes approved by Extension & UC San Diego. We encourage the use of a variety of teaching methods and strategies, especially those that promote opportunities for interaction among students (pair and group work).
• Although the teaching period is typically 10 weeks, there is usually preparation required (confirming schedule, preparing syllabus, updating course materials) as well as post course grade submission and follow-up. Course assignments are typically arranged approximately 3-4 months before the course start date and are not guaranteed; courses are dependent on sufficient enrollments. 
• Position is by-agreement. A by-agreement teacher will only work when there is a Letter of Agreement that spells out the terms for a particular teaching assignment. Factors that determine the number of teaching assignments that an instructor undertakes/completes include: instructor variability and desire to teach, Extension course offerings and enrollments, instructor effectiveness, and UC San Diego academic systems. By-agreement instructors have no guarantee of future work/courses. 
• As an academic department within UC San Diego, all Extension Program instructors and courses must be formally approved according to the regulations of the Academic Senate of the University of California. Eligibility to teach a course is contingent upon this formal academic approval. Once approved, teaching assignments are "by agreement". The instructor's Letter of Agreement outlines the deliverables for the course, the course schedule, and compensation terms, and is subject to department policies and procedures. UC San Diego Extension makes no commitment to hire an instructor until it has sent and received a signed instructor Letter of Agreement. Should the course section an instructor plans to teach be cancelled for any reason, the instructor agreement, including rights to compensation for future section meetings, is voided. Remuneration is for classroom hours only and does not include time spent for course preparation or other events.

Application Requirements

Please complete all relevant fields in the application and attach the requested document(s). Even if you upload a resume, cover letter, and/or additional documentation, you must answer all of the questions in the application, when applicable. Failure to do so may result in the rejection of your application.

Please note: We receive and review applications for instructors on an ongoing basis. If we do not currently have teaching opportunities available, we may keep your application on file and contact you if an opportunity that matches your specific skills becomes available. Most UC San Diego Extension courses are offered on a quarterly schedule and course planning typically takes place six weeks to six months in advance of the start of any quarter.

UC San Diego is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values a diverse workforce.