Teaching English to Refugees: How to Support, Empower, and Make a Difference (2025)

Across the world, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes—escaping war, persecution, and natural disasters. From Syria to Sudan, Ukraine to Afghanistan, the refugee crisis isn’t a passing headline—it’s an ongoing, global reality. And for those who survive the journey, the challenges don’t stop at a border. A new life in a new country often means starting from scratch—without the language, without connections, and without a clear path forward.

That’s where language comes in.

English isn’t just another subject. It’s a tool for independence. It helps refugees access education, apply for jobs, speak with doctors, understand legal paperwork, and build community. And for many, it’s a crucial step toward rebuilding confidence and reclaiming a sense of identity.

If you're TEFL certified—or thinking of getting certified—your skills are more valuable than you might realize. Teaching English to refugees is one of the most powerful ways to make a difference in someone’s life, right where they are. Whether you volunteer locally, teach online, or find work with refugee support programs, you're not just delivering grammar lessons. You're offering dignity, hope, and a way forward.

Why English Matters for Refugees

When someone arrives in a new country as a refugee or asylum seeker, everything from finding a place to live to buying groceries becomes a challenge without language. English often serves as a bridge—not only in traditionally English-speaking countries, but in multicultural refugee centers worldwide. It’s the language of paperwork, health systems, and job applications. It’s also the common tongue in many refugee camps, multinational aid programs, and NGOs.

But English does more than open doors to practical opportunities—it plays a deeper role in recovery and empowerment. For a refugee who has lost their home, community, or loved ones, learning to speak and be understood again can restore a sense of control and personal agency. It can also break the isolation that many displaced people feel.

Whether the goal is to reunite with family, pass an interview, or simply feel less invisible in a supermarket, language is the thread that connects someone back to the world. That’s why TEFL teachers—especially those who approach the work with empathy and patience—can have such a profound impact in this space.

Getting Qualified: What You Need to Start Teaching

Even if you're planning to volunteer, getting TEFL certified isn’t just a formality—it’s the foundation that allows you to teach responsibly and effectively. A 120-hour TEFL certificate is widely considered the industry standard, and it prepares you with the basics: lesson planning, classroom management, grammar instruction, and how to adapt your approach to different learner levels.

Refugees often arrive with vastly different educational backgrounds. Some may be highly educated in their native language; others may have had their schooling disrupted for years. TEFL training helps you recognize these differences and adjust your teaching style accordingly. It also ensures you’re not relying solely on intuition or fluency, but instead bringing structure and professionalism to each class.

For those looking to specialize, there are useful course add-ons to consider. An IELTS prep module can help you guide students through the English exams often required for work or residency. Trauma-informed teaching electives can help you approach sensitive situations with empathy and care. And a focus on teaching young learners is invaluable if you’ll be working with refugee families and children.

Getting qualified doesn’t just help you land roles—it helps you serve your students better.

Volunteering Locally: How to Get Involved in Your Community

You don’t need to go abroad to make an impact. Refugee communities exist in cities and towns all over the world—and many are in desperate need of English teachers. Whether you live in London, Toronto, Sydney, or a small town in between, chances are there’s an opportunity to help right where you are.

Start by checking with local councils, libraries, and community centers. Many host free language classes or partner with grassroots initiatives that rely on volunteers. Churches, mosques, and cultural associations also play a central role in supporting newly arrived families and often welcome English teachers to support their efforts.

You might work one-on-one with an adult preparing for a job interview, help children with their homework, or lead a small weekly conversation group. Some roles are highly structured; others are more casual and flexible. Either way, the impact is real—and often deeply personal.

Expect challenges: irregular attendance, limited resources, or students arriving with trauma. But also expect moments of connection and joy. Helping someone fill out a housing application, understand school notices, or share their story for the first time in English is powerful. It’s where language meets dignity—and where your skills truly matter.

Paid Work: ESOL Roles in Colleges and Adult Learning

If you’re looking to turn your TEFL skills into paid work while still making a meaningful impact, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) roles offer a solid path. Many colleges and adult learning centers run government- or charity-funded programs designed to help refugees and asylum seekers build the language skills needed for life in their new country.

To be eligible, you'll typically need at least a 120-hour TEFL certificate and some hands-on experience—either abroad, online, or through local volunteering. Some institutions may prefer a CELTA or require a diploma in education for more formal roles, but this varies by country and program.

Hiring for these positions often follows an academic calendar, with recruitment peaking in late spring and summer. Look for openings in community colleges, continuing education departments, or through publicly funded refugee integration programs. These roles may be part-time or full-time, and in many cases, they offer a stable income alongside the reward of helping people rebuild their lives through language.

Working in this space also puts you in contact with social workers, job placement officers, and housing coordinators—broadening your impact beyond the classroom.

Teaching Refugees Online: A Growing Opportunity

As internet access becomes more widespread—even in refugee camps and rural areas—online English classes have emerged as a vital tool for inclusion. Whether it’s through donated laptops, public Wi-Fi at libraries, or NGO-funded learning centers, thousands of refugees are gaining access to online instruction for the first time.

Several major initiatives now offer virtual classes to displaced learners. For example, Oxford International Education Group’s free courses teach everything from daily conversation skills to cultural awareness in English-speaking countries. In the U.S., the Immigrant Learning Center (ILC) runs remote ESL programs focusing on career prep, literacy, and college readiness.

You don’t have to join a large program to get started. With a TEFL qualification and a Zoom account, you can create your own online class. Start by connecting with local refugee groups, nonprofits, or faith-based organizations. Post notices in community centers or libraries offering free online English help. Keep it simple—a weekly conversation class or beginner grammar session can be life-changing.

Teaching online gives you flexibility and reach. You might work with a mother learning English from a resettlement camp in Jordan or a teen preparing for school in Canada. What they need most isn’t flashy tech—it’s your patience, encouragement, and consistency.

Teaching Tips: What Makes Refugee Education Different

Teaching refugees requires more than just knowing grammar rules—it demands empathy, flexibility, and awareness of the unique challenges your students face. Many learners arrive in the classroom carrying the weight of trauma, uncertainty, and upheaval. Your job isn’t to act as a therapist, but to create a space where they feel safe, seen, and supported.

Start with trauma-sensitive practices: avoid putting students on the spot, be mindful of sensitive topics (e.g., family, travel, conflict), and focus on encouragement over correction. A smile, a calm tone, and consistent structure go a long way in helping students feel secure.

Your lessons should be practical and focused on survival English—filling out forms, reading street signs, asking for help, or talking to a doctor. Aim for real-life functionality over academic perfection. It’s okay if grammar takes a back seat to conversation, confidence, and comprehension.

Be prepared for mixed-level classes where one student is fluent in conversation and another is learning the alphabet. Use small group work, pair stronger students with newcomers, and celebrate every small win. Keep your pacing flexible—learning might be slow, but the impact is huge.

Global Organizations That Need Teachers

If you’re ready to get involved, you don’t have to go far. Across the world, numerous organizations are looking for volunteers or qualified TEFL teachers to support refugee communities. Some are grassroots initiatives, others are government-funded or NGO-run—but all share one goal: empowering displaced people through language.

United Kingdom

British Red Cross – Offers English support services as part of its refugee assistance programs.
Refugee Action – Connects volunteers with community-based English programs.
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) – Advocates for immigrants’ rights and often recruits volunteers.
Groundwork – A community-focused charity involved in education and refugee inclusion projects.

United States

Refugee Council USA – A national coalition with a range of teaching and resettlement support roles.
Alight – Runs international and domestic programs with a focus on education and healing.
Immigrant Learning Center (ILC) – Provides ESOL classes and literacy training, especially in Massachusetts.

Ireland

Spirasi (Dublin) – Offers multi-level English courses tailored to asylum seekers and torture survivors.
Fáilte Isteach – A community project with conversational English classes run by local volunteers.
SaorEd – An innovative online education platform linking students with teachers remotely.

Canada

Immigrant Education (Calgary) – Offers structured volunteering roles for certified or aspiring TEFL teachers.
Volunteer Success – A national portal where you can find opportunities suited to your location and experience.

Australia

ASRC (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre) – One-on-one home tutoring and classroom teaching opportunities.
Navitas Skilled Futures – Supports English teaching and community integration through volunteer ESL roles.
TAFE Volunteer Tutor Program – Available in multiple states; trains volunteers to assist in adult English programs.
The Smith Family – Offers tutoring programs including home-based English language support.

Each of these organizations has its own focus, requirements, and teaching environments. Whether you’re looking to volunteer part-time or get involved in structured ESL programs, there’s likely a place where your skills are needed—today.

Teaching Refugees vs Teaching Abroad: Key Differences

While both involve teaching English, working with refugees is fundamentally different from traditional TEFL jobs abroad—and it’s important to understand the shift.

Volunteer-based vs employer-led
When you teach abroad, you’re usually hired by a school or company with set hours, curriculum, and pay. In contrast, refugee education often runs on volunteer power, with flexible schedules, fewer resources, and a stronger sense of community-driven purpose.

Student goals: survival English vs fluency
Refugee learners may not care about fluency as much as they do about getting by—buying food, seeing a doctor, finding work. You’re not preparing them for exams or business meetings; you’re helping them navigate daily life with dignity and independence.

The teacher’s role
In refugee contexts, you may become more than just a language teacher. You might be a listener, advocate, or cultural bridge. While boundaries are still important, the emotional weight of the work—and the reward—can be far greater.

It’s not always easy, but it’s deeply human. If you’re motivated by impact rather than paycheck, this type of teaching can be one of the most meaningful things you ever do.

The Personal Impact: Why It’s One of the Most Meaningful TEFL Paths

Ask anyone who’s taught English to refugees, and you’ll likely hear the same thing: it changes you as much as it helps your students. The progress might be slow, the classroom improvised, and the resources limited—but the connections are real, and the growth is profound.

You’ll meet people who’ve lost almost everything and still show up with determination to learn. You’ll witness students write their first sentences in English, make their first joke, or navigate their first job interview—all thanks in part to you.

As a TEFL teacher in this space, you're not just teaching vocabulary or grammar. You’re restoring confidence, creating stability, and helping people reclaim their voices in a new world. It’s humbling, challenging, and deeply rewarding.

If you’re looking for a teaching path with purpose, this is it.

Final Thoughts: How to Start Making a Difference Today

You don’t need to be perfect to start teaching refugees. You just need training, patience, and a genuine desire to help. Whether you have a TEFL certificate already or you’re thinking of getting one, there are countless ways to use those skills for good—locally or online, full-time or just a few hours a week.

The impact you make won’t always be measured by test scores or paychecks. It’ll be in the student who finds the courage to speak, the mother who applies for her first job, the teenager who begins to dream again.

So if you're wondering whether your skills are needed—yes, they are. And there’s no better time to begin than now.

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Teaching English to Refugees: How to Support, Empower, and Make a Difference

Last Updated on February 4, 2023