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The Importance of Lesson Planning for ESL Teaching - TEFL Blog
Thu, 31 Jan 2019 Linda Dunsmore
TEFL Information
The Importance of Lesson Planning for ESL Teaching
Having a form of structure has always been a vital element in order to perform any task to my best ability. Therefore, lesson planning was a subject which I knew would be a large factor in order for me to become a successful teacher.
Table of Contents
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1. A lesson plan keeps a check on time within a class.
2. A lesson plan is a written record.
3. A lesson plan allows the teacher to be prepared.
Other things to keep in mind
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jessica M.
The two main principles of a successful class... [Read more]
Great Ideas for Teaching Listening Skills in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Wed, 26 Sep 2018 Mark Crocker
Teaching Ideas
Great Ideas for Teaching Listening Skills in the ESL Classroom
Of the four language skills taught in an ESL classroom, listening skills are often overlooked as teachers can be unsure how to make these lessons interesting and relevant to their students. However, as listening skills are a fundamental part of the language learning process, it is vital that we give them the classroom time they deserve. The good news is that there are many ways to make listening skills lessons both fun and productive. Here are 6 ideas for livening up your lesson plans.
Table of Contents
Popular Culture
Secret Phrase
Celebrity Squares
Describe the Picture
Listen and Quiz
Vowel Cards
Listen to this blog post
Are you ready to teach listening skills in the... [Read more]
3 Crucial Factors to Use a Lesson Plan in Your TEFL Teaching - TEFL Blog
Tue, 13 Apr 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
3 Crucial Factors to Use a Lesson Plan in Your TEFL Teaching
Lesson plans are a guiding document created by teachers for a specific learning objective for a target group of learners. Lesson plans are essential to every teacher, whether you teach young learners just starting or adult students business language. Lesson plans are necessary because they are a guided plan, visual and written documentation to work from, and a historical record.
Table of Contents
1. Needs Analysis
2. Flexibility
3. Record for Future Reflections
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A Patchwork Example Lesson Plan For Teaching Productive and Receptive Skills - TEFL Blog
Thu, 04 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
A Patchwork Example Lesson Plan For Teaching Productive and Receptive Skills
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Abraham F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Table of Contents
Lesson Materials
Grouping
Activate Part 1
Elicitation Ideas
Activate Part 2
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Lesson Materials
Teaching tools used for learners: One bucket with nontoxic learner-approved clay. Each bucket of clay will have five sticks, each stick a different color. Paper plates matching the color of the clay. Scissors and... [Read more]
A Sample ESA Lesson Plan for English Teaching - TEFL Blog
Wed, 31 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
A Sample ESA Lesson Plan for English Teaching
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Thom P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Table of Contents
First Step
Second Step
Grammar (15 minutes)
a/an
the
no article
Pronunciation (15 minutes)
Third Step
Cool Down (5 minutes)
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First Step
Lesson Objectives: Students will practice recognizing homophones and practice the correct, indefinite, and zero articles.Summary of tasks/actionsWarm-Up: Vocabulary Review (10 minutes)
Tell students that they... [Read more]
Lesson Planning Essentials - TEFL Blog
Wed, 29 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Lesson Planning Essentials
In my experience and the experience of my teacher colleagues, lesson planning has never been among the most interesting or engaging activities. The reasons are always different: some believe that lesson planning is not effective because a teacher cannot predict the direction of the lesson. Others think that it is a complete waste of time because the process of planning a lesson may seem boring and time-consuming. As a beginner teacher, I had a false belief that lesson planning is not important for an ESL teacher, especially if the group of students has a high level of English. However, after teaching for a longer period, I have realized that only with a certain amount of planning can an ESL lesson be not... [Read more]
Where can I get free TEFL lesson plans? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
Where can I get free TEFL lesson plans?
For educators in the TEFL field, having a structured lesson plan is a key to successful teaching. While some prefer crafting their own, others benefit from readily available online resources. Leveraging free online resources not only saves time but also offers insights into diverse teaching strategies. If you are looking for free TEFL lesson plans, there are numerous online platforms worth exploring. Here is a curated list of recommended sites where you can access these invaluable resources:
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Where can I get free TEFL lesson plans?
UsingEnglish.com
TEFL.NET
The British Council
Lanternfish ESL
ThoughtCo
BusyTeacher
English Is a Piece of Cake
The Internet TESL Journal
iSLCollective
Online English Expert
Off2Class
Where can I get free... [Read more]
Alumni Recommendations on Obtaining a TEFL Course - TEFL Blog
Mon, 04 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Alumni Recommendations on Obtaining a TEFL Course
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) as a course contains a variety of units that are meant to enable an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher to be prepared for the classroom and everything that they may face. Some of the most important benefits of the course are the units on the three main components of lesson structure, lesson planning, possible problems in the classroom, grammar overviews and classroom management. Even if the TEFL is not a requirement, it is an invaluable resource meant to provide support to ESL teachers wherever they may teach.
Table of Contents
ESA Methodology
Grammar Review
Preparing for Classes
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL... [Read more]
Where can I get free TEFL lesson plans? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
Where can I get free TEFL lesson plans?
Having a meticulously constructed lesson plan is an essential tool for any educator. It provides a roadmap, without which the trajectory of a lesson can go astray rapidly. Although as you amass experience, you may find that you don't need to invest as much time in detailed planning, in the early days of your teaching career, a robust plan can make the difference between a smooth, successful class and a chaotic one. A comprehensive lesson plan enables you to articulate your learning objectives, organize your time efficiently, prepare the required materials and equipment, and anticipate potential issues along with their solutions. A well-prepared plan serves as your guide, ensuring you navigate each phase of the lesson without undue stress or wasted... [Read more]
The Life of an ESL Teacher in Hong Kong - TEFL Blog
Mon, 19 Oct 2020 Gianluca Costa
Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
The Life of an ESL Teacher in Hong Kong
If you are thinking of moving to Hong Kong to teach English, this article is a great overview of how an ESL teacher's life in Hong Kong can be. English is widely spoken in Hong Kong, and even young children start their English education very early. Many parents place their children in English institutions early on, which shows how important English education is in Hong Kong. That's why Hong Kong offers many opportunities for ESL teachers, and you can find placements in a variety of school settings, from kindergartens, learning centers to private tutoring lessons.
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Let's take a look what a typical day in the life of an ESL teacher in Hong Kong... [Read more]
How to Get Ready for Unforeseen Circumstances in The Classroom? - TEFL Blog
Tue, 14 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
How to Get Ready for Unforeseen Circumstances in The Classroom?
There can be a lot of difficulties a teacher might face in the future lesson. You might have to manage a class without any help or you might have students from different nationalities, ages, interests or so on. I believe, however, that most of the problems you might have would be solved if you planned the lessons carefully in advance. There are some reasons to support my idea.
Table of Contents
What's your lesson goal?
You can manage your class anyways
Know your students
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Eri S.
What's your lesson goal?
First, you can find what you should exactly do in a... [Read more]
Key Functions and Principles of Lesson Planning - TEFL Blog
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 Jon ITTT
Alumni Experiences
Key Functions and Principles of Lesson Planning
Lesson planning is an indispensable part of successful lessons. Generally speaking, lesson plans have various functions that are conducive to the classes.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
The function of a lesson plan
Lesson planning principles
What should a lesson plan include?
The ESA method
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Juan W.
Listen to this blog post:
The function of a lesson plan
First and most importantly, lesson plans can help teachers think and deliver classes logically through different stages of the classes. It can... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 132
Elizaveta Pachina
Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job.
Read my articles
5 ESL Classroom Halloween Decor Ideas | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, our TEFL experts share five Halloween decor ideas for your ESL classroom. Get inspired and create incredible atmosphere of this fun holiday.
7 Easy Ways to Make Money Online as an English Teacher | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Budget and Salary TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
This blog post was written by an ITTT TEFL expert who shares 7 ideas on how to make... [Read more]
Top 5 Free Resources for ESL Teachers - TEFL Blog
Fri, 25 Aug 2023 Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
Top 5 Free Resources for ESL Teachers
Even experienced teachers have difficulty sometimes thinking of new ways to plan and deliver their lessons. The following list gives a set of 'go to' resources, for new and experienced teacher alike, to use for ideas and activities. These examples have been chosen on the basis that they are actually useful, saving teacher time when looking for lesson ideas and materials at all levels and in a wide variety of teaching situationsEach of the websites indicated were correct for the time of writing. You may need to find alternatives if domain names have changed. Also be aware that over time, popular free website resources are sometimes later monetized, either partly or in full.
Table of... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 96
Elizaveta Pachina
Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job.
Read my articles
Would You Rather Teach One-to-One or a Group? | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on teaching ESL one-to-one or a group. ✅ Read this article to learn the key-points.
A Patchwork Example Lesson Plan For Teaching Productive and Receptive Skills | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their example patchwork lesson... [Read more]
3 Apps for Digital ESL Lesson Plans - TEFL Blog
Fri, 18 Sep 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
3 Apps for Digital ESL Lesson Plans
Being an ESL teacher is not an easy task, especially if you work as a freelancer TEFL teacher online. In this case, you have to be even more organized to provide better services to your students. This blog post offers you 3 apps for digital ESL lesson plans that will save you a lot of time.
Table of Contents
Why do you need a digital lesson planner?
Evernote
Some more essential features will work accurately for your digital ESL lesson plans:
Pricing
Trello
Pricing
Notion
Pricing
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The Basics of Planning and Reviewing a Lesson - TEFL Blog
Mon, 16 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The Basics of Planning and Reviewing a Lesson
The lesson plan functions as a roadmap for the teacher, providing an organized framework for the planning, preparation, and execution of the lesson and serving as a record of what has been completed. It should not be a detailed script, but rather a guide that allows for flexibility and adaptation in the classroom. The plan is a living document that may continue to be refined and enhanced after execution, incorporating lessons learned.
Table of Contents
Basic Class Identification
Learner Objectives
Personal Aim
Language Point
Anticipated Problems and Solutions
Procedure Information
Lesson Review
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This post was... [Read more]
The World Of TEFL and TESOL Explained from: 370
The World Of TEFL and TESOL Explained
How to Use Videos in Online ESL Lessons
Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, our TEFL experts talks about the reasons and ways to use videos in online ESL lessons. If you want to spice up your online classes, read this article and try these exciting ideas!
Linguistics for ESL Teachers
Sahil Gazi
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
How can being a linguist help you when teaching English as a foreign language? This blog post will explore this topic.
What is it like teaching English in Bangladesh?
Sahil Gazi
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
Are you interested in moving to Bangladesh to teach English as a foreign language? This article takes a look at what you will... [Read more]
How Materials are Incorporated in Teaching English Online - TEFL Blog
Mon, 09 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
How Materials are Incorporated in Teaching English Online
Online English teachers are divided into two groups. The first group is online ESL teachers that work for an education company. The second group is online ESL teachers who freelance. I will explain the two types of teaching materials, authentic and created materials, and how materials are incorporated in teaching English online to students. The focus of this article will be young learners as that is my personal career goal.
Table of Contents
Authentic Materials
Created Materials
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dora E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily... [Read more]
Top 10 Mistakes of an Online English Teacher - TEFL Blog
Mon, 11 Jan 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Top 10 Mistakes of an Online English Teacher
Ever since online English teaching became a common means of delivering lessons, every online English teacher must strive for excellence to guarantee their students' best learning experience.
Table of Contents
1. Imbalanced Lesson Planning
2. Lack of Equipment
3. Poor Lesson Design
4. Inappropriate Teaching Content
Lack of Interaction and Personalized Approach
Increased Teacher Talking Time
Insufficient Lesson Flow
Distractors
Not Enough Feedback
Miscommunication With Students and Parents
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In this article, we will... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 1488
Elizaveta Pachina
Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job.
Read my articles
Alumni Experience: Passionate Teaching in China | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this article, an ITTT TEFL course graduate tells about their personal experience of teaching English in China.
Motivating Students in the Everyday Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This blog post is devoted to the problem of students' motivation. Our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts and ideas on helping students feel comfortable in your lessons.
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My Plans as an EFL/ESL Teacher - TEFL Blog
Mon, 19 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
My Plans as an EFL/ESL Teacher
When I envision myself in a classroom full of new English learners, I see myself striving to encourage and motivate students through positive student-to-student and student-to-teacher relationships. One of the key components of successfully learning a new topic is to enjoy it and to see a purpose in doing so. Creating a safe and welcoming environment is one of the most important things a teacher can do to ensure student learning by building confidence in every individual.
Table of Contents
Personal Language Learning Experience
Lesson Plan
Understanding Students' Needs
Favorite Classes
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Lesson Planning: Necessary or Not? - TEFL Blog
Sun, 05 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Lesson Planning: Necessary or Not?
This blog post will focus on answering why lesson planning is important. The fundamentals of lesson planning will be discussed while also covering topics such as teacher demeanor, necessary preparation, and flexibility.
Table of Contents
Necessary or Not?
Benefits
Preparation
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Listen to this blog post
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hannah C.
Necessary or Not?
Firstly it's important to point out that lesson planning isn't seen as a necessary tool for all teachers yet is largely considered helpful and if done so effectively, ensures the smooth running of a class. This means not having a rigid, unchangeable plan but... [Read more]
Planning Lessons to Achieve Better Results in ESL - TEFL Blog
Wed, 24 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Planning Lessons to Achieve Better Results in ESL
In all times when we need to do some activity, we need to think about what to do first, what to do second and what to do last. The same thing when we want to teach; we need to think about the order and the content of this lesson. In other words, we need to plan our lessons. A lesson plan is a detailed tool gathered in a soft or hard form to give instructions to the teacher. So, why planning lessons is important?
Table of Contents
The act of planning a lesson is a very capturing process.
The essential purpose of the lesson plan is to guide teachers.
Also, lesson planning is of great importance for new teachers.
Another outstanding factor is that learners are considered as main benefits... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 780
Elizaveta Pachina
Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job.
Read my articles
Is Culture a Part of Language Learning? | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Our TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on language as a part of a culture.
How to Choose Songs for Your ESL Lessons | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Songs in the classroom can be helpful but it is important to choose them correctly. In this blog post, our TEFL graduate explains how to do it.
Under Control: Parents in Children’s’ Education | ITTT | TEFL Blog
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How to Use Learners’ Internal Motivation - TEFL Blog
Thu, 02 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
How to Use Learners’ Internal Motivation
Motivating students is always a challenge and can, in fact, be one of the most difficult parts of education. There are countless ways to either encourage or intimidate a student into completing their work or participating in class but these external motivators have a limited effect. Encouragement and praise may only motivate a student while they are seated in the classroom. A teacher expressing disappointment on an uncompleted assignment may only encourage the student to avoid the subject or course work altogether. One of the best ways I have found for motivating students is to find a student's internal motivation.
Table of Contents
Finding Students' Future Goals
Setting Up The... [Read more]
One More View on Consistent Lesson Planning - TEFL Blog
Fri, 24 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
One More View on Consistent Lesson Planning
This is different thoughts on this as with on one hand some people say that it makes the lesson too rigid and on the other side other people say that it is essential for every teacher to do. I have been teaching English for about 3 years now. I feel I have improved in different areas of my teaching. The area that I have noticed the biggest change in over the course of those 3 years is my lesson planning. When I started teaching I would mostly just get the topic of the lesson and then basically just teach from my head using that topic. However, after a while, I got to speak to my fellow teachers and they introduced me to the importance of lesson planning and how to do this the proper... [Read more]
Designing a Plan for a Preschool ESL Class - TEFL Blog
Wed, 15 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Designing a Plan for a Preschool ESL Class
Although I have spent many years as an English tutor and teacher of children, I always relied on my own innate skill and have never been formally trained. Within my circle, I was the resident expert on the English language, as I was one of the few native speakers. From my own efforts and studies, I developed my own program for my students. I often felt unsure if I was applying the right methods and longed for some formal training. Now I can say that I have learned a great deal from studying the ESA method, and have a better understanding of what good lesson planning and classroom management involves. From my own intuition and experience, I learned to apply some of the techniques and methods... [Read more]
Why Preparing a Plan is Compulsory for New Teachers - TEFL Blog
Thu, 23 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Why Preparing a Plan is Compulsory for New Teachers
Lesson planning is one of the most important elements of successful teaching in the ESL (English as Second Language) classroom and every TEFL (Teaching English as Foreign Language) lesson needs a plan, particularly so in the case of the less experienced teacher starting their career in a foreign country. The often-cited argument that over planning can create a less fluent atmosphere in the classroom does hold some truth but just as the artist is tutored not to attempt abstract art until first mastering the art of realism, the teacher likewise is best placed not to address a class unprepared until first mastering the art of pre-planning.
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What does your success... [Read more]
Top Online Lesson Plan Resources for New and Advanced Teachers - TEFL Blog
Tue, 12 Jun 2018 Mark Crocker
Teaching Ideas
Top Online Lesson Plan Resources for New and Advanced Teachers
For many new and experienced EFL teachers, one of the most challenging aspects of their career is coming up with lesson plans that are both engaging and effective. Even if your employer provides a specific textbook to follow as a curriculum, you will often find that this can be rather dull for the students unless you spice things up by adding in some fun and original ideas from an outside source. By searching online you will find a huge amount of sites offering all manner of resources of varying quality and relevance. To save you the hassle of searching through them all, we have listed our 5 favorite websites that you can use to find quality lesson plans free of charge.
Table... [Read more]