Accuracy Vs Fluency

  Before we move on to the planning of a lesson for speaking skills, something that we need to look at first is the idea of the accuracy versus the fluency of speaking. Accuracy relates to the correct usage of grammar and vocabulary, whereas fluency relates to our ability to continue speaking without any interruption. Now, ultimately within a whole ESA lesson or within language learning itself fluency and accuracy are equally important. Within an ESA lesson, however, depending upon which stage we're at in that lesson, then we're either focusing on accuracy or we're focusing on fluency. Remember in the ESA lesson, in the study phase, this is where we're looking at the target language where we're doing our language learning, so it's very important in this stage that we focus on the...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Discover effective error correction strategies in ESL classrooms! Balance fluency and accuracy, empower learners, and create a supportive teaching environment. Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Discover the power of gamification in ESL education through platforms like Edvibe and Wordwall. Explore how these innovative tools are reshaping language learning and engaging students in online classrooms. Minh Huy Hoang TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Discover the importance of critical thinking in language education and explore engaging exercises for young learners in this insightful blog post.  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences There are many challenges for second language learners to gain the fluency with the English language. That includes reading and listening. It is found that with second language learners there is a sense of being lost when they are attempting to speak to native speakers. Simple greetings are something that is learned to the point where a second language learner would have mastered that concept. But what would happen if the native speaker speaks too fast or they don't enunciate like their teachers do? Reading to increase complex vocabulary Make sure you use the right material Increase exposure of English in and outside the classroom Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

In the field of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), focusing on teaching English language fluency is crucial for students to effectively communicate in English. Fluency goes beyond just vocabulary and grammar; it involves the ability to speak and understand English effortlessly and accurately. TEFL courses that prioritize fluency training help students develop the confidence and skills needed to engage in real-world conversations and interactions in English. By emphasizing fluency, TEFL instructors can better prepare their students for using English in various contexts, whether for travel, work, or academic purposes. Teaching English language fluency requires a combination of strategies and techniques to help students improve their speaking and listening skills. One effective...  [Read more]

Speaking fluency is a crucial aspect of language learning, especially in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). It allows students to communicate effectively in real-life situations, build confidence, and enhance their overall language skills. Fluency enables students to express their thoughts and ideas coherently, engage in meaningful conversations, and develop their listening and comprehension abilities. In the TEFL classroom, prioritizing speaking fluency helps students become more proficient in English and prepares them for future academic or professional endeavors where English proficiency is essential. 1. Encourage Regular Practice: Provide ample opportunities for students to practice speaking in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Incorporate speaking activities...  [Read more]

One of the key factors in promoting language fluency and confidence in TEFL students is creating a supportive learning environment. This includes fostering a classroom atmosphere where students feel comfortable taking risks with their language skills. Encourage open communication, active listening, and mutual respect among students to build a sense of community. By creating a safe space for students to make mistakes and learn from them, you can help them gain confidence in using the language. Incorporating interactive activities into your lessons is essential for promoting language fluency and confidence. Interactive activities such as group discussions, role-plays, debates, and games not only make learning more engaging but also provide students with opportunities to practice their...  [Read more]

  In this video Linda breaks down the difference between "look", "see" and "watch". The differences surrounding these three words can be quite difficult to understand for non-native English learners. However, this video looks at the three words in detail breaking down exactly how to differentiate between them. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! ? have found this task to be quite challenging...  [Read more]

  "They're", "their" and "there" are three words that are often used incorrectly. "They're" is simply the contracted form of "they are". "Their" is a possessive and indicates ownership of something. "There" indicates a place. Due to the Internet and instant messaging, the three words have been icreasingly used incorrectly. However, if you'd like to use them correctly, you should keep their meanings in mind. When trying to decide which word to use remember that "they're" = they are, "their" = ownership and "there" = place. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly...  [Read more]

  In this video Linda explains the differences between "assure", "insure" and "ensure". They not only sound similar, but those three words also make an outcome sure but they are in no way interchangeable. "Assure" is used to speak out a promise or say something with confidence, for example "I assure you that he is a great lawyer". "Ensure" is used to make something certain, such as here: "Please ensure that you will be home at five o'clock today"."Insure" means to protect an object against risk by buying an insurance policy from an insurance company, like here: "I insure my television because it was expensive". Once you have realized the three different meanings and usages, there is no way you'll confuse them again. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one...  [Read more]

  The three words lightening, lightning and lighting are easily confused by English learners and even native speakers. Let's take a look at the differences. Lightening is the present participle of the verb to lighten describing the action of making something less heavy. A good example would be "I was lightening the load on my horse because it was exhausted." Lightning refers to a streak of static electricity through the sky usually accompanied by thunder, as here "I was struck by lightning while playing golf in a storm." Lighting is the arrangement of light especially in photography. A suitable example for this would be "The photo was dull because the lighting wasn't good enough". Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This is a great speaking activity is for developing fluency on the topic of Christmas.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

The generally recognized acronym for the field of teaching English is ELT which simply means: English Language Teaching. Within this huge field there are a number of specialisms. One such specialism is the teaching of English to learners for whom English is not their first language. Three common acronyms that are often used when applied to this scenario are TEFL, TESL and TESOL. By defining the terms we will show that the idea of comparing one versus the other, i.e. “TEFL vs TESOL” is not particularly useful. So what do they mean? When the English teaching is to non native speakers and takes place in a country where the first language is not English. Examples would be teaching English in Peru or teaching English in Taiwan. TESL applies when teaching English to non native speakers in a...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Their and they’re sound the same in English and it is a common mistake to mix them up, even for native English speakers. However they have very different meanings.   THEY’RE – Basic Explanation THEY’RE = THEY ARE They’re is a contraction of they are. THEIR – Basic Explanation THEIR = a possessive adjective. It shows possession, that something belongs to some people you are not talking to right now. Examples of other possessive adjectives are MY, YOUR, HIS, and HER: My car, your car, his car, her car, their car. THEIR is also used for a group of two or more people that are not with you right now. The noun after their can refer to a thing (or person) that these people have. Register...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Let's take a look at how to use CAN and COULD correctly in sentences.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

  The 'going to' future tense is used to make predictions based on evidence and to talk about plans and intentions. This Online TEFL Course video discusses two teaching ideas that can be used with the 'going to' future tense. The first idea encourages students to make predictions based on evidence with a weather forecasting activity. The students are given information about the weather in a particular country and give weather forecasts for the following week or month: On Monday it's going to rain in the morning but then it's going to be sunny for the rest of the day. In the second teaching idea students discuss plans for an upcoming birthday party/holiday: We're going to eat at a fancy restaurant. I'm going to have a massive birthday cake. I'm going to sunbathe the whole time....  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This is a fun speaking activity that is great for developing fluency on the topic of Christmas.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

In a TEFL classroom, vocabulary and idiomatic expressions play a crucial role in language acquisition. Vocabulary forms the building blocks of language, enabling students to communicate effectively. Idioms, on the other hand, provide depth and nuances to language use, helping learners sound more natural and fluent. Thus, a strong focus on vocabulary and idiomatic expressions is essential for well-rounded language proficiency. When teaching English vocabulary in a TEFL classroom, it is important to employ a variety of strategies to cater to different learning styles. One effective approach is to use context-rich activities such as reading passages or dialogues to introduce new words. Mnemonics, word associations, and visual aids can also aid in vocabulary retention. Additionally, engaging...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!   We use "there is" and "there are" to say that something exists. The two phrases are often confused so below we take a look at the differences between "there is" and "there are".   We use there is and there are to say that something exists.   We use "there is" for singular and "there are" for plural.   We also use "there is" with uncountable nouns:   The contraction of "there is" is "there's". You cannot contract "there are".   The negative is formed by putting not after is or are: We almost always use contractions when speaking. The Negative contractions are:   When we want to indicate that a zero quantity of something exists we use there aren't any. We also use...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The content of online courses and onsite courses is similar. As for the effect of learning, it varies from person to person. Some students like online courses. Because online courses do not need to go to the site to attend classes, they can go to class directly at home, which is convenient and time-consuming. It is more flexible, you can choose the time of the lecture, and you can listen to it repeatedly during the validity period. In particular, most of the users of our drop-out network are in-service personnel, and they can use the time to watch the video to learn. Face-to-face courses are convenient，some students prefer onsite courses because the courses are more direct, and they can communicate directly with teachers on the spot. Any...  [Read more]

Enhance your English language fluency through interactive online speaking practice sessions. Engage in real-time conversations with experienced instructors and fellow learners to boost your confidence and proficiency in speaking English. Join our online platform to practice speaking English with certified instructors who provide personalized feedback and guidance. Improve your pronunciation, vocabulary, and conversational skills in a supportive and interactive environment. Participate in engaging conversations and role-playing activities to simulate real-life communication scenarios. Develop your ability to express ideas, opinions, and emotions confidently in English through interactive practice sessions. Enjoy the flexibility of scheduling online English speaking practice sessions at...  [Read more]

Are you looking to improve your English language skills and boost your confidence in conversations? Look no further than the best English conversation classes in Toronto offered by ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training). Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, our expert instructors are here to help you achieve your language learning goals. At ITTT, we understand the importance of practical language skills, especially in the context of real-life conversations. Our English conversation classes are designed to provide you with the opportunity to practice speaking, listening, and engaging in meaningful discussions. Through interactive activities, role-plays, and group discussions, you will enhance your fluency and communication skills in a supportive and dynamic learning...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This is a guided speaking activity where students talk about routines or things happening right now. The pictures and sentences help them to use the correct tense.   It takes about 45 minutes if students talk about every picture. Put students in pairs of 2 - 4. Use counters.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

One detail that people should consider when deciding where to work as an English teacher is how their potential salary weighs up against the local cost of living. Of course actual salaries vary and depend on a number of factors such as individual schools, a teacher's experience and qualifications. Similarly, cost of living depends greatly on personal lifestyle, wants and needs. It is possible to gain an idea of the average salary and cost of living for individual countries and that is what we have tried to present here. Comparing salaries with cost of living is important because a high salary does not necessarily mean you will have more money at your disposal. In Asia for example, Japan has the highest salary but also has a cost of living to match, whereas Vietnam and South Korea...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! When to use "will" and when to use "going to" for expressing the future is a very confusing concept for some English learners. Both of these terms refer to the future but there is a slight difference between them. Let's take a look at the differences in the infographic below.   The structure "be going to" is normally used to indicate the future but with some type of connection to the present. It can be used in the following situations: The decision has been made before the moment of speaking, for example:   Something is likely to happen based on the evidence or experience you have, for instance:     In other cases, where there is no implicit or explicit connection to the present, use "will": This...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!   In many situations, the two words "specially" and "especially" are used with the same meaning, but this is not always correct. Let's take a closer look at the difference between "specially" and "especially".   The word "specially" means 'for a particular reason' and is used with an adjective in the past participle form, for example:   The word "specially" means 'particularly' and it is used at the beginning of a phrase but never at the beginning of a whole sentence, for example:   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!   Older and elder are two similar sounding words that can sometimes be used incorrectly by both native and non-native English speakers. Let’s take a look at how they should be used correctly.   When teaching the English language you often come across words that sound and look similar. Sometimes these words can be used interchangeably to mean the same thing and sometimes they cannot. In this example older and elder can sometimes be used to say the same thing, but they have to be used differently. The adjective old has a base form, a comparative form, and a superlative form: OLD, OLDER, and OLDEST. Examples of the three forms: These can all be used when talking about things and also people. For example: However,...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Weather and whether are a pair of homophones which means they sound the same, but they have different spellings and meanings. Here we explain how to use these words correctly.   WEATHER Definition and Examples Weather can be a noun or a verb. WEATHER Examples: WHETHER Definition and Examples Whether is a conjunction, which joins two words or phrases together. WHETHER Examples: Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Further and farther are easily confused as both words can be used to say “at a greater distance”. To be sure you are using them correctly take a look at the following explanation.   How to Use Further Further Examples: How to Use Farther Farther Examples: Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This is a great speaking activity to develop fluency at Christmas time. Students take turns choosing a question to ask another student in their group.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!   The two expressions "everyday" and "every day" are frequently used in English but often confused. Take a look at the below infographic to find out the difference!       Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]