Like any other teaching job, teaching English in Kenya requires a teacher to be patient, open-minded and professional. While teaching English worldwide continues to be a way for people to combine travel with career, those looking to teach English in Kenya (and in Africa as a whole) should be prepared to make certain sacrifices that an EFL teacher may not see elsewhere in the world.
How to Get a Job Teaching English in Kenya
Teachers should get certified to teach English as a foreign language, and make sure that the certificate includes classroom teaching practice. Unlike many countries, the Kenyan government does not require its English teachers to have university degrees. However, some individual schools do require degrees, and a job seeker must be qualified to teach English, and a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) certificate is the only way to certify this.
Teachers should apply to schools that are advertising for teachers on job forums like Teach Abroad or Dave's ESL Cafe. Many organizations are in need of teachers but lack the funds to hire them, and so a job seeker may find that many "teaching positions" are actually volunteer positions. In most cases, jobs that actually pay are limited to Christian schools that receive funds from their parishes. This special circumstance in Kenya may require English teachers to either be a member of the Christian faith or be willing to incorporate Christian teachings in their classroom.
Tips on How to Teach English in Kenya
Teachers should incorporate Kenyan culture into their English class curriculum. For example, one way to make sure that students are learning English that pertains to their culture is to have students read texts that have been translated to English from native Kiswahili.
While English is the national language of Kenya, students who study English may be studying for citizenship tests, TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for college admission, or other reasons to further their careers. Nonetheless, English teaching in Kenya adheres to the communicative method of teaching, which encompasses teaching English by communicating about local issues in the English language.
Practical Information on Choosing Kenya to Teach English
Foreign teachers must prepared to live in Kenya. There is a high turnover rate of English teachers in African countries, and forums often show that young teachers are unprepared for harsh climates and limited resources. Before making the move to live and teach in English, prospective teachers should study as much about Kenya as they possibly can, and make sure to have monetary resources as a backup, just in case funding falls through for a school, or accommodations turn out to be unacceptable.
Teachers should always check the name of the school on Dave's ESL Cafe. Although most schools are reputable, there are rogue schools that run scams. Teachers should never pay any organization for a teaching job. Teachers should always check in with their embassy's website and keep an eye out for warnings about the political climate in Kenya.
Read more about the popular Communicative Method of Teaching English.
