10 Most Difficult Languages To Learn

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences What You Need To Know When Teaching Beginner Students From the 60-year-old successful businessman who has never studied English to the third grader who is learning it for the first time in a school setting, each student has their own motivation and background. Their unique experiences will dictate what they bring to the table and be a factor in their success or difficulty in learning English. Understanding what brought the learners to the classroom, will help a teacher tailor the lessons to be most beneficial to her students. This includes understanding their culture to a certain extent, specifically as it relates to faux pas or misunderstandings that could arise in the classroom setting. Table of Contents Defining the Difficulties...  [Read more]

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Ways to Encourage ESL Students: Common Fears and Challenges This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michela C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Table of Contents I'm afraid of making a mistake But it's too difficult/easy I'm very shy/insecure How will I know if I'm getting better? What can I do to be a good student? Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! I'm afraid of making a mistake You are in a classroom with people that have the same level of linguistic skills as you and your teacher is there to help you, not to judge you. Mistakes...  [Read more]

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teacher’s Self-Analysis: Which Aspect to Improve for Better Teaching A teacher's job is to teach pupils. While that sounds straight forward the question arises what makes a good teacher. If a teacher teaches all day, the outcome of the work lies in what was being taught. Pupils are taught what the teacher teaches. Now an easy thing to say is, that a good teacher should provide good teaching. But what would be, if the majority of students would not learn anything in a specific lesson, that would be regarded by other teachers as good teaching? The answer, of course, is, that all students are individuals and respond differently to the teaching. Making it dependent on the students, a more practical definition of good teaching is: Good...  [Read more]

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Common Issues for Chinese Learners of English Over the decades, the English language has reached the status of a global language and is commonly known as the lingua franca around the world. It has become one of the most widely spoken language as a mother tongue, international communication as well as language taught in millions of schools around the globe. The use of the English language is widespread in many sectors in the global market as many organizations begin to adopt the language as an official language. In the economic world, the language plays a significant role in international trade/business between two of the most powerful global economic powerhouse mainly the United States of America and China. Table of Contents...  [Read more]

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Two Most Common Learning Difficulties For English Students Learning a second language is an adventure, most people find it fascinating. Some people are intimidated, they take a glimpse, and then walk back to the familiar ground; some embark on the journey, but not all of them can truly enjoy the journey that is full of difficulties, some learners quit in the middle of the adventure; thus, only a small amount of people can finally master a second language. Teachers should be able to know what types of difficulty students might face and how to help them deal with these difficulties. In this post, we shall look into two learning difficulties — poor memory and lack of concentration. Table of Contents Poor Memory Lack of...  [Read more]

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Most Common Issues Faced by English Learners in Japan Given the increase in globalization during the late 20th and early 21st centuries and the growing inter-dependencies of domestic economies within the international marketplace, English, as a primary language medium for conducting international business arrangements, has become an increased priority both socially and within the business environment. However, notwithstanding the importance of English fluency within contemporary society, Japan and Japanese English learners face difficulties when trying to achieve competency. These difficulties and issues can be shown by the 2018 EF English Proficiency Index which ranked the English level of Japanese learners as rank 49 out of 88...  [Read more]

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Common Challenges in English for Ecuadorian Learners The native language in Ecuador is Quichua, an Inca language. It is spoken by the Indian population, but Spanish is the most common, widely spoken language. Besides Spanish, ten native languages are spoken in Ecuador. English is the most spoken foreign language amongst tourist providers and professionals. For this reason, English is taught in most schools as a Foreign Language. Table of Contents Lack of practice Possible solution Educational system Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jemma W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT....  [Read more]

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 Linda Dunsmore Destinations Top 10 Cities in Europe with the Highest Demand for English Language Teachers While many people wanting to teach English abroad move to countries in Asia or Latin America, Europe is also a popular destination that cannot be ignored. Despite stricter visa regulations and tougher job markets for teachers, there are still many places in all parts of Europe that have a need for foreign teachers. Here are the top 10 cities in Europe with the highest demand for English language teachers. Table of Contents Madrid - El Foro, The Forum of Spain Prague - The City of a Hundred Spires Rome - The Eternal City London - The Royal City Paris - The City of Love Lisbon - City With a Future Budapest - The Pearl of the Danube Athens - The City of the Violet...  [Read more]

Thu, 09 May 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The Main Problems of Teaching Formal and Informal Language The difference between formal and informal grammar is very apparent both in everyday life and during ones time as a teacher of English as a foreign language. These differences, I believe, play an important part in why many language learners find it so difficult to understand and become fluent. Table of Contents The Problems that Teachers Encounter The Problems that Learners Encounter The Dilemma that Teachers Face Finding the Right Balance in the Future Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daniel B. The Problems that Teachers Encounter As a native English...  [Read more]

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Typical Challenges for Chinese English Learners This essay answers the question for number 10 "what are the main problems for learners in the country of China?" I am a professor at Jiangnan University in Wuxi, China and share my observations. Our students are in the North American College (NAC), with partners in Canada at Lambton College and Northwood University, USA. Three areas are most interesting to their learning challenges: college preparation, listening and writing. Table of Contents Exam System Lexical Units Digital Autism Writing Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Annette P. Please note that this blog post might not...  [Read more]

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Reading to Activate Second Language Skills The use of reading in the course of language acquisition is valuable and often underrated. Before undertaking a detailed explanation, I will first offer a general example to demonstrate the problem of teaching without it. Imagine you are teaching the word "ball" to an older student. You could ask them to say "ball, ball, ball" in a drilling manner. This can be inefficient and above all, boring for the student. But suppose that you do teach it enjoyably. How many words might they learn? Table of Contents Course Structure to Accept English Vocabulary Stephen Krashen Reference: As much as this practice is gaining ground around the world, two major drawbacks should be assessed. Do you want to...  [Read more]

Mon, 20 May 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Why Exposure is Important when Learning a Second Language Unlike learning a first language, learning a second language is a task that can sometimes seem frustrating and at times even impossible. There are many reasons for this as learning a second language is very different than learning your mother tongue. Firstly, there are biological factors involved and the fact that normally children tend to assimilate things more easily than adults. Secondly, it is often harder to get the same level of exposure to the language than it is when learning a native language where repetition from parents etc. is constant. That is why when you sign up for an English class, or any other language for that matter, teachers will try to replicate that...  [Read more]

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Several Ways Parents Can Help TEFL Teachers Often times, when one thinks about teaching English as a Second Language (henceforth 'ESL'), the predominant thought is that of, "[w]hat can I as a teacher do to help my students improve?" For the most part, the reflection is introspective, rarely moving out of these bounds. However, one is of the opinion that parents play a large factor in the child's learning of a foreign language. Canvassed below are some of the reasons why one is of this opinion. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: Non-English Speaking Community Multilingual Education Activities Discipline Collaborative work Do you want to teach English abroad? You're on the right way. Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles:...  [Read more]

Tue, 28 May 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Teaching Multiple Tenses: Should You Do It and If So Which Ones? Teaching multiple tenses might sound frightening as teaching a single tense can sometimes be a challenge on its own. However, while it might seem difficult the first time you try it, it isn't as daunting as you would think. When teaching more than one tense at a time there are two main factors to consider: which tenses to teach together and what language level you are teaching. Table of Contents Simple Rules to Consider When Teaching Tenses Future Tense Forms Perfect Continuous Tenses Other Tense Options Are you ready to teach English grammar abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate...  [Read more]

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Destinations Alumni Experiences 4 Main Challenges for ESL Students in China I have been in China for four years; I came here on 15, September 2015, as a student. During this time pursuing my Master's degree, I taught English as a foreign language in training centers, elementary school, high school and currently teaching in a Polytechnics. Table of Contents Weak Language Foundation Late Start: Weak Language Acquisition Device: Teen Development Problems: Curriculum Structure Combined Topics Per Lesson: Student Placement: Course Materials: Lack of Motivation Testing of Students: Student Placement: Poor Language Training Institutions Teaching, Learning, and Business: Unprofessional Teachers: Lack of Regular Training: Are you ready to take your TEFL...  [Read more]

Older Posts 7 Tips To Become Grammar-Savvy Catia Pereira dos Santos Alumni Experiences Why learn English grammar? What are the benefits of learning it? Grammar is right where accuracy lies! It's the key to speaking any foreign language fluently. A Day in the Life of an EPIK Teacher in South Korea Brittany Varano Destinations Alumni Experiences For those thinking of teaching English in South Korea, the EPIK program offers one of the best job opportunities in Asia. Here's a day in the life of an EPIK teacher. TEFL Alumni Interview with Claire Kaczanowski Federico Riva Alumni Experiences TEFL Reviews & TESOL Reviews For ITTT, our community of students and alumni is the most important to us. That’s why we’d love to share what our course grads have to say! This...  [Read more]

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information 10 Tips to Help You Enjoy Your TEFL Course People have different reasons for taking a TEFL course, but everyone that embarks on the journey surely wants to succeed. It can be a challenging experience, but should also be enjoyable. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting too stressed during the time you spend on the course. Although they're mainly geared towards on-site courses, many of the points apply to working online too. Table of Contents 1. Don't appear to be too serious 2. Accept mistakes – we're not robots 3. Follow your trainer's advice 4. Give yourself free time, but not too much! 5. Dedicate the time 6. Be positive and enthusiastic 7. Show interest in others – help each other- everyone benefits that way 8....  [Read more]

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Miracle Effects of Music and Songs in an EFL Classroom As we know, Music affects human life. Music – a subject that is quite interesting for students. Especially, when children aged 0-6 years old, there is 2-6 years old called the period of sensitive music of children. If at that time, parents give children a lot of music, they will receive very well. So, how do the songs affect children, and how are the benefits of using songs in English classes? Two of these problems will explain clearly the reason why the is song important. Table of Contents Music as a Tool Ways to Use Songs Classroom Atmosphere Communication and Friendship Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by...  [Read more]

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Alumni’s Personal Experience of Teaching English as a Second Language My attachment to teaching starts when I was a child and observing my mom teaching private lessons. I have grown to love teaching. Table of Contents Volunteer Teaching Real Work Homeroom Teaching Practice Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Roza A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Volunteer Teaching My first experience was while I was in my third year of university volunteering to teach my classmates the subjects they were weak at. Then I volunteered in one of the offices of American Corner in my city...  [Read more]

Wed, 29 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Best Thing I’ve Learned From My TEFL Training There are many good things I have learned from the TEFL course I have been taking this past month. Things I had never considered before as a skill is to be a good teacher. I had mentioned it before in my tests that I did not realize how important it is to have those skills until I started taking the course and had read about it. So I guess I am saying that the best thing I have learned from my TEFL course is how to be a good teacher and it reminded me of my previous teachers and how well they taught me and my fellow classmates. Table of Contents Course Structure Useful Suggestions Do you want to learn new TEFL skills? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was...  [Read more]

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Top Reasons to Volunteer Abroad as a Teacher What is volunteer teaching? In my opinion, it is bringing justice to our life. The modern world is made up of contrasts, though it is difficult to realize when living in civilization. But despite the fact that many countries are developing very quickly, there are still many places in the world where people live in much less favorable conditions. Table of Contents Volunteer teachers can teach any subject Volunteer teaching as a solution Gaining work experience through volunteer teaching Living among locals Volunteer teaching as a creative balance Are you ready to teach English Abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This, of course, relates to many areas of life: ecology,...  [Read more]

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences TEFL as an Opportunity for Non-Native Speakers to Explore the World For me specifically, finishing a TEFL course will give me the opportunity to travel and experience various cultures while likewise supporting myself abroad. I've always had a desire to speak unknown languages and visit various nations. Maybe this is because of the way that I was raised bilingual. Growing up with a few languages, including Hebrew and Korean, I built up an affection for unknown languages and traveling. Table of Contents Career Perspectives New Experiences Do you want to teach English all over the world? Related Articles Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Emiliya A. Please note that this blog post...  [Read more]

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Most Common Problems Students in Laos Face When Learning English Learning a second language is never easy but the problems that each learner faces are not all the same. Sometimes the grammar of your first language is completely different from your second language. There might be sounds you do not know how to make because your first language does not have them. You might have limited access to fluent speakers of the language you are learning. All of these are true for Lao learners trying to acquire English as a second language. Table of Contents "Teaching students new vocabulary and how to pronounce it requires patience and creativity." "Spoken and written grammar are huge hurdles." "The Lao writing system is completely different...  [Read more]

Wed, 08 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Why Grammar Shouldn't Be Scary for Both Students and Teachers? The word 'grammar' is often feared by students and teachers alike. It has an image of being difficult to comprehend and hard to teach. However, with planning and a positive approach to the lesson, it can be a fun and interesting way to improve English skills. Also, students can often feel a true sense of accomplishment by being able to use the vocabulary and sentences structures that they have learned. Table of Contents Similar patterns Choice of activities The language level Consistent revision Jokes work best Master your grammar teaching skill with a TEFL course! Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate...  [Read more]

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Students of All Ages: A Look at Cognitive Development In between the lesson structures of teaching a five-year-old how to ride a horse and a 20-year-old did I first witness the relationship between age and abilities, attention spans, and structural needs of the different students. As German riding schools would follow a structured pyramid system to train a horse and rider from the ground up, so can teachers of a first or secondary language. Questions to discuss in this essay are, "What is early childhood development? What comes next?" and "How can a teacher encourage students through the different stages of development?". Table of Contents Childhood Teenage Adulthood Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related...  [Read more]

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences What is Rapport and How Does It Affect the Dynamics of an EFL Classroom? Rapport in this context is the relationship between the students and the teacher, and among the student group within a classroom environment. Why is having rapport within a classroom important? Because without a friendly connection among the participants there is a real danger of disruption to the learning process. Table of Contents The Two-Way Road of Respect Finding the Right Balance The Three Common Scenarios of Classroom Rapport A Brief Example of How to Establish Rapport in a New Classroom Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Juri N. The Two-Way Road of...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore ITTT TEFL Linda is a passionate traveler, language learner and TEFL teacher. After spending some time teaching in China, she moved to Korea in 2015. She now calls South Korea her home. Read my articles Teaching English in Russia - The Salary and Budget Guide | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Budget and Salary Destinations Russia is an up-and-coming EFL destination with vacant positions all across this vast nation. If you are interested in joining the thousands of English teachers in the country, check out this guide on salary and budget for a teacher living in Russia. ESA Methodology - What Is It and Why Should You Use It in the Classroom? | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas The ESA methodology of teaching is one of the most used modern teaching...  [Read more]

Where can I join a TEFL placement program in Europe? If you want to teach English in Europe you will find that most jobs are secured following a face to face interview. If you would like to have a teaching job organised before you leave home, a government placement program might be a good option for you. The following are the most popular programs of their kind in Europe. Table of Contents What is the TAPIF Program for teaching English in France? What are the requirements for the TAPIF Program? How do I apply for the TAPIF Program? Do I need a TEFL/TESOL certificate to apply to the TAPIF Program? What is the Cultural Ambassadors Program for teaching English in Spain? What are the requirements for the Cultural Ambassadors Program? How do I apply for the Cultural Ambassadors...  [Read more]

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences The Most Common Problems Students in Russia Face When Learning English It is not a secret for anyone that native speakers of any language always easily identify "non-native" when they hear at least a few words spoken by them. Often native speakers are able to fairly accurately determine the country from which the person came, based on his pronunciation. This happens due to the fact that it is common for all of us to use the sounds of our native language in the pronunciation of words of a foreign language, as well as to use articulation models we know from childhood the position of the organs of speech (lips, tongue, etc.). Table of Contents The "Russian mistakes" Muting voiced consonants in the endings. Replacing long vowels with short...  [Read more]

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Is it Difficult to Teach Children Online? Most would say it's an almost impossible task, one that requires a lot of patience and repetition. How are you supposed to keep their interest? How do you communicate to them efficiently despite not being physically present? Teaching children may not be an easy task, however, I believe it would be a most rewarding one. Teaching online is something that I have been keen on and would like to venture into after completing this course. We are moving into a digital world where we will all soon be connected over the internet. This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to reach and enrich the lives of children globally. Table of Contents Is it a good choice? Cultural exchange Do you want to teach...  [Read more]