Excerpted from the Belgium Career Guide

According to recent Statistics Belgium figures, Belgium’s educational sector was among the fastest growing, even during the recession. The internationalism of Belgium also means there are many prospects for teachers coming from outside the country. In particular, opportunities exist for language teachers (especially English) and for teachers of all subjects at the many private international schools.

Teachers of English as a second language (ESL) can find positions at universities, public schools and private institutions. There are also many private language schools catering to the adult international community. While teaching English as a foreign language is often seen as a way to experience living in a foreign culture, language teachers in Belgium are expected to have certification and experience; however, certification can take as little as one month. As many teachers are temporary expats, there is continual turnover of available positions.

Certification and Education Requirements

There are several different courses and certificates that one can follow to teach English:

• TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This is the most common teaching certificate; it is used for teaching students who need to speak the English language for specialty areas like business or tourism.
• TESL: Teaching English as a Second Language. This is for teaching English to use in day-to-day life.
• ESL, EFL: English as Second/Foreign Language. This is a master’s degree program for teaching abroad (one to three years). Some teaching schools may have their own certificates/degrees.

Organizations and Trade Associations

European University Association (EUA)
http://www.eua.be  (English)
The European University Association (EUA) represents and supports higher education institutions in 46 countries, providing them with a unique forum to cooperate and keep abreast of the latest trends in higher education and research policies. Members of the association are European universities involved in teaching and research, national associations of rectors, and other organizations active in higher education and research.

EUA
rue d'Egmont, 13  
1000 - Brussels  
Tel: +32 2 230 55 44 
Fax: +32 2 230 57 51 
Email: info@eua.be

Periodicals

NewsLinks
http://www.iss.edu/about-us/newslinks/ (English)
NewsLinks is a quarterly publication that “connects teachers and administrators at more than 500 schools worldwide.” This English-language newspaper features news from different schools, updates on staff and faculty members, trends in education and other current information. The fall and winter issues include advertising sections on upcoming vacancies at schools. This information can be invaluable to those seeking educational careers overseas. A fee is required for an annual subscription.

International School Services
Princeton, New Jersey
United States of America
Tel: 1 (609) 452-0990
Fax: 1 (609) 452-2690
Email: directory@iss.edu

This is just a short sample of what you’ll find in over 100 pages of information in the Belgium Guide.