EDUCATING TEACHERS OF ENGLISH FOR FUTURE EUROPE – FRAMEWORK OF COMPETENCES FOR EMPLOYABILITY

Doc. Eva Reid, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia

In the context of an Erasmus+ project, Teachers of English for Future Europe (TEFE), a unique partnership has been established among universities from six different countries. Each participating university currently produces high-quality teachers for its national job market. However, the primary goal of the TEFE project is to provide guidance on how to produce high quality teachers who are not only qualified for their national job markets but also employable in any European country. The project aligns with EU policies that promote cross-border mobility for employment. Such mobility requires specific competences, including language skills, adaptability, flexibility, intercultural competence, resilience, and more. These competences, coupled with a willingness to learn, curiosity, and a positive attitude, can greatly contribute to successful cross-border mobility experiences. The profession of English language teachers already encompasses several of these competences necessary for success in cross-border employment. However, these competences can be further enhanced through the proposed framework. The framework outlines the specific competences that English language teachers need to become modern and effective educators who can find employment across different EU countries. It is essential to clarify that the intention behind this framework is not to duplicate existing English language teacher training programmes. Instead, it aims to complement and enhance these existing programmes to better prepare teachers for a broader European context.