← UK Occupations
🇬🇧 UKSOC 2317· Teaching and Other Educational Professionals

Teachers of English as a foreign language

Teachers of English as a foreign language teach students to speak and write the English language, either for the first time or building on their existing knowledge.

TEFLEnglish as a second language teacherESOL tutor
26,400
currently employed
34,769
projected 2035
Strong growth
5 tasks scored1 AI Automates2 AI Assists2 Human-Led

Task Bundle Breakdown

How AI interacts with this occupation's task bundle

20%
40%
40%
20%
AI automates
40%
AI assists
40%
Human-led

Task-by-Task Breakdown

Every task scored individually — sorted highest to lowest AI exposure

78

plans and prepares language lessons and materials

AI Automates

ChatGPT and Claude can rapidly generate lesson plans, worksheets, reading passages, and differentiated materials tailored to specific CEFR levels, saving hours of preparation time.

67

sets and marks tests and gives feedback on student's performance

AI Assists

AI tools like Gradescope and ChatGPT can auto-mark written tests and generate structured feedback reports, but nuanced assessment of spoken fluency, tone, and communicative intent still requires a skilled teacher.

44

teaches English as a foreign language and assists in the tuition of foreign languages

AI Assists

AI tools like Duolingo, ChatGPT, and Khanmigo can deliver personalised language drills and explanations, but human teachers provide cultural nuance, real-time conversational responsiveness, and emotional encouragement that AI cannot fully replicate.

33

encourages conversations in English to improve students confidence and understanding

Human-Led

AI chatbots like ChatGPT can simulate conversation practice, but building genuine student confidence requires human empathy, spontaneous interaction, and the social dynamics of a real classroom.

22

organises students' participation in cultural activities and social events

Human-Led

AI can help research and suggest cultural events or create promotional materials, but organising real-world participation, managing logistics, and fostering genuine social engagement is inherently human work.

ROI Calculator

Teachers of English as a foreign language

Enter your salary to see your personalised ROI

How is this calculated?▾

Task weights — each task is weighted by its O*NET frequency rating. Where frequency data is absent, equal weighting is applied.

AI time reduction — tasks scored as "AI Automates" assume 80% time saving; "AI Assists" assumes 40%; "Human-Led" assumes 5%.

Salary equivalent — annual hours saved × (salary ÷ 1,800 working hours/year).

Value at risk — salary × share of role time in AI-automate or AI-assist tasks.

Figures are indicative estimates for planning purposes, not guarantees of productivity gain or job loss risk.