Blogs About Traveling Europe

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! These printable conversation cards will help your students develop their speaking skills.     Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Rhea Latchu Alumni Experiences What if I told you it is totally possible to combine your passion with your dream? Teaching English, the Ticket to Being an Expat Not the Typical Tourist The Teaching Aspect The Balancing Act So Are You Ready for Your Journey? Related Articles: Well, it is. You see, for as long as I can remember, I have always had the dream to travel and wander around this globe. Then approximately four years ago, I discovered a passion within me that I didn't even know existed: teaching! And that is how my journey working as an EFL Teacher began! Teaching English for many presents the opportunity needed to become an expat. To live the expat life. This was certainly the case for me. When I accepted a volunteer position as an English Teacher in Chile four years ago, it...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences In April 2018, I quit my job and began traveling around the world. Since then, I taught myself Russian and improved my teaching skills by helping others with languages I am familiar with. The more places I visited on my journey, the more I became interested in foreign languages. "Learn from locals while teaching them." "Traveling is one of the best ways to improve and educate yourself." "Once you're able to communicate, there will be new opportunities!" "It's not just about providing knowledge but also gaining knowledge while teaching." Are you ready to get inspired to teach while traveling? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post I had the chance to teach people German and English, while also learning other languages and alphabets from them. I...  [Read more]

Mia Santarelli Destinations You've renewed your passport, packed durable walking shoes, and typed up a detailed itinerary directing your steps in Italy. Your Italian ducks may seem like they're in a row, but sometimes, a dream adventure to a foreign country can turn into a stress-filled series of mishaps, unless you take advantage of technology and the apps that will make your trip a dream come true. The first time I traveled to Italy, I could not wait to arrive and begin exploring the hidden histories that the winding cobblestone streets offer their visitors. Navigating a city like Florence, in which the streets are decorated with signs indicating streets that curve into twisty knots, like a bowl of al dente spaghetti, or listening to locals speak a language that is equally beautiful...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences In April 2018 I quit my job and began traveling around the world. Since then, I have taught myself Russian and improved my teaching skills by helping others with languages I am familiar with. The more places I visited on my journey, the more I became interested in foreign languages. I had the chance to teach people German and English, while also learning other languages and alphabets from them. I realized that while helping others, I developed a passion for teaching. I then decided to travel to Southeast Asia and acquire a TEFL certificate, which will enable me to teach English and live in a foreign country. My First Experiences Overseas How Travel Can Lead to Personal Development The Mutual Rewards of Structured Teaching Are you ready to teach English...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information The following eight couples have traveled the world together and either started out as ESL teachers or supported their travels teaching English in different parts of the world. Some of them are still teaching, others have started their own businesses. Either way, these 8 traveling power couples are an absolute inspiration for ESL teachers and you should follow them right now! Listen to this blog post: Katie and Jake from Untold Wanderlust Rosie and Dave from Ravenous Travellers Katie and Ben from Two Wandering Soles Ron and Jess from Unearth The Voyage Nick and Dariece from Goats On The Road Sarah and Nathan from Exploring Kiwis Claire and Terry from Past The Pot Holes Scott and Megan from Bobo and Chichi Are you ready to live and teach English abroad?...  [Read more]

Katie and Jake from Untold Wanderlust TEFL Information Teaching English abroad is a thrilling and self-fulfilling job, not to mention the benefits it has upon your students. However, leaving the comforts of your hometown can be quite a difficult thing to do but luckily teaching as a couple helps iron-out those small worries before leaving. Here I have put together an article of my experience of teaching abroad as part of a couple. Life Before Becoming a TEFL Teacher Where We Decided to Teach The Pros of Teaching as a Couple Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles It was never my aspiration to become an ESL teacher. Back in England, I was well on my way to becoming a police officer. My better half, Katie, who has experience working with children and troubled youth,...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching English abroad is a career more popular than ever. However, with so many options and resources about TEFL available online, there is a lot of false information out there. This post uncovers the seven most common misconceptions about TEFL and clears up any confusion! Misconception #1: You need a degree to teach English abroad Misconception #2: TEFL is only for young people Misconception #3: TEFL doesn't pay well Misconception #4: You need to speak another language Misconception #5: It's really hard to find a job teaching English abroad Misconception #6: You don't need a TEFL qualification if you're a native English speaker Misconception #7: You have to teach kids Listen to this blog post Are you ready to start a new career teaching English...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT TEFL Information Whether you want to teach as a volunteer in the depths of the jungle on the Thai-Myanmar border or as a business English instructor to corporate high-flyers in São Paulo, Brazil, you will need most likely need to meet some form of minimum requirement to get the dream job you are looking for. Listen to this blog post: What teaching qualifications will I need? Do I need a degree? Do I need teaching experience? Do I need to be a native speaker of English? Is there an age limit on becoming an English teacher? Do I need to speak the local language? Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: A TEFL qualification of at least 120 hours is becoming a minimum requirement for many teaching positions around the world. Even those places that do not require...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Lesson planning is an important part of being a TEFL teacher. While experienced TEFL teachers may appear to not require a plan it is only because they have probably taught a lesson so many times that the majority of their plan is in their head. They will still have a good idea of how they want and expect the lesson to proceed. Inexperienced TEFL teachers will need the structure a good lesson plan provides. What is the purpose of lesson planning? What are the basic tenets of lesson planning? What is the lesson planning process? Preparation Teaching Reflection Are you planning to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! A good plan acts as a guide to your planning. It helps a TEFL...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT TEFL Information As a newly qualified TEFL teacher you may well find yourself teaching business English either full time or as a means of earning extra income. Business English is a specialized area within English language teaching/learning and comes under the umbrella of English for Specific Purposes (ESP). Business English can refer to the English vocabulary used in business such as international trade, finance etc. It can also refer to business communication such as the language needed for presentation, correspondence, negotiations, socializing etc. Listen to this blog post: What is business English? Who uses business English? Where is business English taught? What types of jobs are available for teaching business English? How do salaries compare with normal English classes?...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT TEFL Information A couple of acronyms that you are likely to come across as a TEFL teacher are IELTS and TOEFL. IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System and is a United Kingdom and Commonwealth based test of English language skills. Whereas TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language and is a United States based English language skills test. Listen to this blog post: Why people need a TOEFL or IELTS test What do the different tests contain? IELTS and TOEFL preparation is a good way to make extra money Where to find resources for teachers and students Are you ready to start teaching English aborad? Related Articles: These two are the main international English-language tests and are used by universities, governments and employers to assess the...  [Read more]

Anna Bondar Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas I've had to attend numerous meetings throughout my career, and it wasn't always a pleasant experience. I'd often get bored, start looking around or doodling. School meetings Types of meetings 1) Meeting for local staff in their home language. 2) English teachers meeting 3) Training (inner session) 4) Training (out session) 5) Additional Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Today, I want to discuss which meetings are the best to attend to ensure one's personal growth, development, and usefulness. Each educational institution or organization has staff meetings approximately once a week. Some even have it 2-3 times a week, which is a bit...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences In this blog post, we will look at 8 of the most widely held misconceptions regarding the teaching of ESL worldwide. Watch the video about this topic Misconception #1: It's really hard to find a job Misconception #1: You need a degree to teach English abroad. Misconception #3: Teaching English abroad doesn't pay well Misconception #4: You need to speak another language to teach ESL abroad Misconception #5: You have to teach kids Misconception #6: Teaching ESL is only a job for young people Misconception #7: You don't need a TEFL qualification, if you're a native English speaker Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! The demand for...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Destinations Teaching English in China is as popular as ever and is one of the best places to put your TEFL certificate to use. In 2014, 7.26 million students graduated with Bachelor's and Master's degrees and the numbers were expected to rise in 2015. There are over 30,000 organizations or companies offering private English classes, with the Chinese market having nearly doubled in size in the last five years and is now worth around $3.1 billion. Money in China is good for English teachers Head away from the famous cities to save money China is increasingly diverse in its metropolitan areas There is an excellent transport network The country is ideally situated for exploring the wider region Chinese food in China is even more delicious than back home Do you want to teach...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Budget and Salary TEFL Information Welcome, I'm Linda from ITTT, and we are doing a live Q&A session today, so let me just check if this is working. Is anybody here if you're here, if you can see me if you can hear me. Please, leave a comment. That would be great so that I know that you are here. And, please, let me know where you guys are tuning in from? I would be super interested to see where you are tuning in from. I'm in South Korea. I'm about an hour and a half outside of Seoul, like in the middle of South Korea in a city called Cheongju. It's not that big. It is quite big, but it's not pretty well known, but um, I've been here for five and a half years already. Watch the live session here So, Marilyn is asking, do you need a bachelor's degree to obtain a TESOL...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT TEFL Information While the majority of teaching jobs abroad require teachers to cover general English, or English for everyday use, some TEFL teachers may be required to teach English to students with a particular context in mind. This branch of English language teaching is called English for Specific Purposes or ESP. Listen to this blog post: What is English for Specific Purposes? How does teaching ESP differ from teaching general English? What language level are ESP students? What age are ESP students? What resources are available to ESP teachers? Do you want to start teaching English abroad? Related Articles: English for Specific Purposes encompasses a number of different disciplines in teaching English including business English, academic English, tourism, aviation...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Destinations TEFL Information For many people looking to teach English abroad, Europe is the number one dream destination. Whether your dreams involve the romance of Paris, the fine art of Florence, or the nightlife of Barcelona, the good news is there are plenty of teaching jobs available, even if you have no previous experience. If you are a native speaker of English, there is really nothing standing in your way. Get TEFL certified Prepare to interview in person Be aware of each country's requirements Make multiple job applications and even accept more than one offer Take on private lessons in your free time Plan your finances Pick and choose your clients wisely Yes, maximize your free time! Listen to this blog post Are you ready to teach English in Europe? Related...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT TEFL Information ITTT's world class in-class TEFL certification course is an excellent way to earn a quality and internationally recognized certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. During this period trainees receive instruction in English language concepts and teaching methodology. The course also contains a considerable amount of practical teaching practice, which gives trainees valuable classroom time along with feedback from experienced, dedicated trainers. Upon successful completion of the course participants receive an internationally recognized TEFL qualification. Where can I take an in-class TEFL course? What does the course involve? What will I gain from the course? When are the courses available? Are you planning to teach English abroad? Related...  [Read more]

Ahmed Taha TEFL Information Teaching Ideas This article explains what TBLT is and how it differs from more traditional approaches to teaching. Why has it become such a popular teaching method for languages? Will it continue to be popular or will it be replaced by another approach? Do you use TBLT in your teaching? What are the challenges and benefits of the approach? Why do you think that a task-based approach in teaching is considered a good approach? What is a task? Rod Ellis' description is especially useful because it focuses on the role as: Three major characteristics of tasks are defined in the description. Conclusion Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! References and further reading...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching English to beginners is a challenge for new and experienced ESL teachers. Although with proper planning, materials, getting the students engaged and motivated in the lessons can make teaching English to beginners fun and rewarding especially when your students start to get the hang of it. It's a great feeling to see them move from having absolutely no knowledge of English to be able to speak basic English. A few things to think about. Talking a lot is just going to waste your time and leave you frustrated. Two keep your lessons fun with as much talk time as possible for the students, allowing them to practice what they are learning in a fun environment. Always praise your students, a student who thinks he or she is doing well will always pay...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A multicultural world urgently needs a culturally sensitive educational system. In most countries around, schools are filled with students who come from different cultures. The variety of cultural backgrounds of students in schools is beneficial for the academic community as it contributes to their different experiences that provide all students with the opportunity to learn about different aspects of life. Benefits of Multicultural Classes Communication Skills Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dainaliz Feliberty H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Students in a multicultural environment...  [Read more]

Christian Davey Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Once you've decided to move abroad for work, I'm sure you'd like to know the pros and cons of the place? Sure, a quick browse online can give you some idea, but it probably won't go into anything specific or any real depth. Well, look no further as I'm going to give you five positives and five negatives about teaching English in Taiwan. Let's start with the positives, in no particular order. The Positives of Teaching English in Taiwan 1. It's quite safe and clean. 2. Everything is super convenient. 3. Taiwan is very foreigner-friendly. 4. Taiwan's nature has a lot to offer! 5. Taiwan has a vibrant indigenous culture. The Negatives of Teaching English in Taiwan 1. The air quality is not the best. 2. You will likely face a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As a teacher who has many years of experience working in kindergarten, I can surely say that teaching English as a foreign language is fun but requires special skills. At that age, children are yet to have their abstract thinking developed, hence teaching should mostly be based on visual aids and games. We must also consider that, apart from their young age, we are dealing with a large group who are very active, unable to stand boredom and are overwhelmingly thirsty for fund and play. Language Experience Engagement International Experience Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joseph Niifio T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Grammar and the correct usage of it is a vital part of all communication whether spoken, written or read. It allows the speaker to correctly convey their message or ideas and for the listener to understand what is been said. Been able to communicate is not just about speaking or listening but been able to do this correctly and therefore the usage of grammar and how it is constructed within a sentence is important to know. Grammar develops effective communication skills and assists in fluency in the language. Simplification of Grammar Notion of Grammar What does it include? Grammar and other aspects Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dawn C. Please note...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas When a student describes a class that they've enjoyed, they often attribute their positive experience to the interesting content of the class, friendly classmates, or an inspiring teacher. A well-organized class can contribute to building these healthy student-student and student-teacher relationships, as well as create an environment in which a student can comfortably listen and learn the content given. From this course, I've learned how an effectively managed classroom can have a significant impact on the student's experience, and furthermore can help a student succeed in an EFL classroom. "My Personal Favorite is the Horseshoe Arrangement" "Pairwork can help students create strong relationships with each other" "A teacher with a dull and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences All people are susceptible to boredom and confusion. Either of these or their combination can lead to frustration. Once frustrated, a learner will find it exponentially more difficult to grasp or retain new information. The student's mind will be elsewhere, unmotivated and uninterested. Therefore, an instructor should make it a priority that each and every student can not only understand the created material but be interested in it as well. Materials for learners with different interests Teaching materials for younger learners Teaching materials depending on the topic Where to find useful materials? Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Patrick O. So...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Here we will look at the best government programs for teaching in Europe. We will mention five different programs in no particular order. Watch the video about this topic TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program In France) Central European Teaching Program (CETP) Teach and Learn in Georgia (TLG) the Academic Information Agency (AIA) Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! The first one is France and the first program is TAPIF ( Teaching Assistant Program In France) so this is a government initiative that places applicants into French state schools to work as teaching assistants. This program has been around for a long time, it's a great opportunity to live and...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Destinations Opportunities abound for the TEFL teacher in Europe and it is a popular destination for many upon completing their TEFL certification. Teachers with a specialist certificate in teaching business English will do well in countries such as France and Germany, but there are plenty of teaching jobs to be found across the whole region. The requirements for English teachers in Europe vary from country to country and this article aims to highlight the differences and similarities between them. Can you teach there if you are from outside the EU? What qualifications are needed? Do you need to be a native speaker? Are you ready to start teaching English abroad? Related Articles: ## Listen to this blog post: European Union member states prefer teachers who are EU citizens...  [Read more]

We are Katie and Jake, an English couple that shares a love for traveling and exploring the world. Our passions are to explore exotic destinations, experience once in a lifetime opportunities & to immerse ourselves in new cultures. Katie and Jake from Untold Wanderlust Destinations Are you interested in teaching English in Vietnam? Here are 5 important things to prepare you for teaching English in Hanoi! Katie and Jake from Untold Wanderlust TEFL Information Teaching English abroad is an exciting adventure and one that is often shared with a loved one! In this article, two traveling teachers share what it's like teaching English abroad as a couple!  [Read more]