Concept Questions

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 Ramon Perez Teaching Ideas Techniques to Transmit New and Difficult Concepts to Students Every day, we learn something new. It can happen on the street, at work, at school and even in our home. We can attain new skills and knowledge through our interactions with our surroundings. Utilizing our 5 senses and past experiences to make sense of what is going on, we can ascertain new concepts and make proper use of them in our daily lives. However, as a teacher, we are tasked with transmitting abstract concepts that become difficult to fully grasp through traditional methods. Consequently, some teachers rely on literal translations to bring the point across. Table of Contents VISUAL AIDS ACTING/ROLE PLAY ENUNCIATION AND SPEECH MIMING CONCLUSION Related Articles: Since...  [Read more]

Providers TEFL Teaching Check out tefl tesol about Providers TEFL Teaching and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts G.K. - Russia said: Teaching GrammarGrammar is central to the teaching and learning of languages. It is also one of the more difficult aspects of language to teach well. We all know what words are, for example: met, she, yesterday her friend. These words tell us little but what we can do is combine all these words to make sentences, which can tell us a lot more: She met her friend yesterday. This is not as simple as it may seem ? we can?t simply put words together in a...  [Read more]

Tue, 14 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Simple Rules Which Help to Keep Students Motivated Emphasize the most critical concepts continuously. Reiterate these concepts in lectures and assignments throughout the course. Include questions relating to these critical subjects on every exam, thus rewarding students for learning, retaining, and, hopefully, applying this knowledge in a variety of contexts. Table of Contents 1. Use visual aid 2. Organize in-class activities 3. Show that the content is related 4. Show the importance of the vocabulary 5. Praise 6. Challenge Are you ready to teach English to ESL students? Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Maurine M. S. 1. Use visual aid Provide students with a "visual aid" when possible to...  [Read more]

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 Mudita Yajnik TEFL Information Teaching Ideas The Benefits of Open-Note Tests What's the best way to find out what your students know? Or, how much they've been paying attention, or what you need to revisit? Table of Contents Every teacher reading this already knows the answer to those questions. The cycle of traditional testing is predictable Open-note tests can help students feel more comfortable with testing, Benefits of Open-note Tests Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Every teacher reading this already knows the answer to those questions. Tests. Tests can be a great way to find out if the class is ready to move forward or if they need to revisit some...  [Read more]

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How to Use Songs to Teach English to Young Children Songs are used as a pedagogical tool for many reasons, especially with young children. This approach to teaching can empower young students and it recognizes differing abilities and skills. Activities are designed to support the goals of the curriculum and will accommodate multiple learning styles. Songs are universal and used all over the world to teach cultural information and they play an important role in a young child's learning and development. The use of songs is a teaching method that helps students comprehend the information taught. Songs encourage fluency, vocabulary, structures, patterns as well as speaking skills. Table of Contents Reasons to Use Songs Understanding...  [Read more]

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What are the Most Effective Methodologies for Teaching Beginner Students? In my experience gained the past few years, one of the most challenging experiences for me was to effectively teach beginner students. Since all my students were absolute beginners (learners who have had no contact with English at all), I had to find ways to make the learning effective, differently to teaching false beginners, who have some form of understanding of the English language. Table of Contents Effective methodologies Circle Time Approach to Teacher's Behavior Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! This post was written by our TEFL certification...  [Read more]

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 Maria del Carme Domínguez Félez TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Seeing things in a new light: What TEFL brings to your future self? I moved to Argentina almost 2 years ago now, and, surprisingly to most of my family and friends, I started teaching Catalan in a language school. I say "surprisingly" because they have made fun of my Catalan accent since I can remember, as it is more of a mix of accents put into one. Fun fact: you can't really tell from which part of Catalonia I am only from listening to me. Although I try my best to speak "standard Catalan" when I teach, my accent does slip away sometimes, which makes it quite interesting. The sentence "all's well that ends well" comes to mind in this situation. I ended up turning this into an opportunity to...  [Read more]

Cheaper TEFL Diploma Check out tefl tesol about Cheaper TEFL Diploma and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts A.L. - Canada said: Motivation in the ClassroomThis research article is about the effect of non-verbal communication on motivation in the ESL classroom. This paper will attempt to demonstrate that non-verbal communication in the classroom enhances learning for English learners by conveying clear and distinct messages to students which aid in their comprehension by allowing students to transfer concepts and ideas in English to those of their native language. The process in...  [Read more]

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Personal Teaching Experience: How I started as a Multiple Intelligences Practitioner The popular saying which states: never judge a book by the cover has once again reminded me to always be optimistic about a new experience. Before I entered the school I had already concluded what a bad experience it would be in this new environment which I would pass on numerous occasions and hear different external noises coming from inside of the school, I imagined how hard the job of a teacher could be. Table of Contents My First Day at School Using Resources Multiple Intelligences Evaluation Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Chantal S. Please...  [Read more]

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Drilling: Effective or Outdated in a Modern EFL Classroom? As an instructional strategy, drilling is familiar to all educators. It is best defined as a disciplined and repetitious exercise, used as a mean of teaching and perfecting a skill or procedure. As an instructional strategy, it promotes the acquisition of knowledge or skill through systematic training by multiple repetitions, rehearse, practice, and engages in a rehearsal to learn or become proficient. It is also a common method used by many teachers when introducing new languages to their students. The skills built through drill-and-practice become the foundational building blocks for more meaningful learning. Table of Contents Benefits Disadvantages Personal Experience Do...  [Read more]

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How to Approach Lesson Planning to Develop Independent Problem Solving Abstraction is in essence, the formation of broader, and more difficult and subjective systems from inputs. It is a concept that can be applied to the four language skills: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. As an idea becomes more abstract and subjective, it requires more information and becomes more difficult to answer. Some of the easiest and least abstract pieces of language are simple Yes/No statements and questions. "Do you like ice-cream?" "Yes, I do." "No, I don't." A more difficult question might be, "Who likes ice-cream?" More difficult still would be, "Why do you like ice-cream?" A simple, but by no means an exhaustive list of abstraction moving...  [Read more]

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Private Classes in EFL Teaching There are many ways to teach students English or any other language. You can learn in an immersive environment, a formal classroom setting, or even try to learn from watching and listening to media. One common format is one to one teaching. This means there are one student and one teacher working on the curriculum together. This can be in person or on the internet, which is becoming increasingly more common. As with all things in life, there are both good and bad aspects resulting from this teaching format. Individual attention has benefits and drawbacks, as does the lack of peers. Table of Contents Advantages of One-to-one Teaching Online Lessons Disadvantages Do you want to teach English abroad? Take...  [Read more]

Thu, 21 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences MI Theory Implementation in an ESL Classroom There are many types of multiple intelligences such as (Visual intelligence-Musical intelligence – Kinesthetic intelligence – Verbal intelligence – interpersonal & intrapersonal intelligences … etc.) we must take care of our students' types and design our lesson according to their intelligences. The verbal intelligence involves knowing which comes through language. Mathematical intelligence uses numbers, math, and logic to understand any topic. Visual intelligence represents knowing through shapes, patterns, and pictures. Intrapersonal intelligence is showing people who prefer to work individually. Also, kinesthetic intelligence is based on physical...  [Read more]

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Why ESA is Still the Most Effective Methodology in the English Language Classroom Throughout my ITTT TEFL course a specific teaching concept persisted, entitled "ESA". This methodology has been proven over several years to be effective in teaching English to students in the classroom. A precursor to this concept was "PPP" (Presentation, Practice, Production) which has been used by many teachers, though it lacks in engaging the students resulting in a less successful environment. Jeremy Harmer noticed this and in turn put forth a new and improved model, labeled "ESA", consisting of three steps; Engage, Study, and Activate. This methodology has continued to remain relevant to this day through its flexible and fluid approach to teaching...  [Read more]

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 Erica Sunarjo TEFL Information Teaching Ideas 5 Great Ways to Make Online Lessons More Interactive Due to the way most businesses tend to operate and with the increasing rate of digitalization which has started over a decade ago, most schools are starting to catch up with the online teaching trend that private courses have grown used to. Table of Contents 1) Don't just speak 2) Use online apps and tools 3) Ask for feedback 4) Keep it short 5) Keep up with the trends in online learning Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! With the ever more growing population that is both teaching and learning over the internet, there is a need for efficient, fun and interactive...  [Read more]

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Important Personal Qualities an English Teacher Must Have As teachers set expectations for their students, students naturally have expectations for their teachers. To be an effective teacher, regardless of the subject being taught, one must be knowledgeable in their field. However, teaching English calls for specific personal qualities that can ultimately distinguish a good teacher from a great teacher. These qualities include, but are not limited to patience, dedication, and compassion. With these attributes, the teacher can foster a comfortable learning environment for their students. Table of Contents Teaching students whose first language is not English Love for what you are doing Observations and inferences Do you want to teach...  [Read more]

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How to Reduce Teacher Talk Time The main goal of reducing teacher talk time or TTT is to have the teacher speaking less and the students engaging more. This essay will explore the benefits of doing this for the teacher and student, complications that could arise and how to deal with them, and how this can be implemented into any ESL lesson. It will cover a few key areas in an ESA lesson such as planning, questioning, student participation, silence, and instructions. Table of Contents Instructions Planning Classroom discipline Students participation Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Benjamin R. Please note that this blog post might not...  [Read more]

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Why Teaching in Groups Furthers Learning Learning a new language is intimidating, stressful, and confusing. Learning English feels the same way for our students. Teaching our students in groups is essential for their learning to progress. By grouping students they will be more confident in their learning experience, be able to teach one another, and more efficient for the teacher to monitor. Table of Contents Confidence Peer Learning Convenience for the Teacher Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kendyl C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Confidence One of the most...  [Read more]

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How Language Transfers Cultural Sensitivity As I've had to study several foreign languages, I've realized many things about what's necessary and helpful in studying foreign languages. And I think many of these things could come under the heading of sensitivity to the culture that the language one is studying comes from, as well as an awareness of one's own culture. Table of Contents Cultural Attitude How cultural peculiarities are transferred by a language The importance of learning about a different culture Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Peter B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or...  [Read more]

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Personal Experience in Teaching Multilingual Classes in the US Having previously been a small business owner, I began teaching an English conversation class as a volunteer at my local library just over two years ago to fulfill a community service requirement for my degree program. The experience of teaching English as a second language has been so personally rewarding that I am now pursuing it as a career change. Table of Contents Teaching Multilingual Classes Anticipated Problems Beginning of My Teaching Career Students Feedback Are you ready to start your teaching career? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daniel E. Please note that this blog...  [Read more]

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 Kavinna Batra Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas How to Make a Classroom More Interactive Interactive education is all about teaching students in a way that engages them directly in their learning process. There are numerous ways of building an engagement like this. Most of the time, it is by Table of Contents Think, pair, and share Brainstorming Buzz session Exit slips Misconception check Circle the questions Ask the winner Pair-share-repeat Teacher and student Wisdom from another Are you ready to teach English? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! You inspire the students to be involved in class participation, think independently, and use their minds, leading to a longer memory retention. The students' awareness...  [Read more]

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 Federico Riva Alumni Experiences 7 Teaching Ideas to Spice up your ESL Classes Listen to this blog post: Do you want to make your English lessons more exciting? We have the perfect teaching ideas for you! Here are 7 amazing activities to spice up your ESL classes. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: 1. Headlines 2. Controversial Issues 3. Twenty Questions 4. My Routine 5. If I Were Rich 6. Grammar Story 7. Plans and Predictions Which is your favorite teaching activity? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! 1. Headlines This is a great one to practice different tenses, especially the passive voice. Have your students come up with headlines for their class; such as "The teacher's purse was stolen," "the students...  [Read more]

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 Michela Coticone TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Interesting Ideas for Having an Effective ESL Circle Time Teaching a new language to children can come with many challenges because there is limited time and sometimes limited attention spans. To effectively teach a new language, children need to have a feeling of confidence in the fact that they can perform what they are being taught, and the element of having fun while learning. Children, just like adults, need repetition to effectively learn a task. Repetition Repetition alias Drilling: Is it an Effective Way to Remember Language Points? will allow a child to mentally prepare themselves for a task that will happen at a certain time of the day, therefore they can begin to anticipate what their...  [Read more]

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Top Tips for Teaching Reading to Younger Groups of Students There are four basic skills in any language: receptive skills – reading and listening, and productive skills – speaking and writing. Usually, when we learn a new language, we tend to access our learning process and result by checking how our productive skills are and forget that before we can the product, we need to receive first. Data says that the production of every 100 words in writing needs a receipt of 1000 words in reading which means to be able to produce anything, one must get as much as 10 times receipt. Similarly in listening and speaking. Table of Contents Receptive Skills: Writing vs. Reading Decoding Reading aloud for fluency Learning how to read...  [Read more]

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Consequences of My Personal TEFL Experience I began my TEFL/TESOL experience not having had any prior teaching experience. Therefore, teaching was something that I was learning step-by-step, reading the units and using Internet resources for additional examples when needed. Even though there is no straightforward answer to this question, the ITTT course taught me that being a teacher is so much more than just transferring knowledge to someone else. Table of Contents Practical Importance Modern Teaching Methods Future Perspectives Effectiveness of My Methods Final Thoughts Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sofija A. Please note...  [Read more]

Mon, 20 May 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas How My Personal Classroom Experiences Have Shaped My Teaching Philosophy Teaching and learning are processes that go hand in hand with one another. Effective teachers are able to inspire and engage students with a desire to learn. They must be able to impart their abilities of learning into students in various ways. Through my personal teaching experiences, I firmly believe in establishing high, yet attainable expectations, creating a curriculum that is student centered, and providing real life experiences for students to help them grasp the concepts taught in the lesson. Table of Contents Classroom Management is the Foundation of Learning Student Centered Lesson Content is Key Real Life Experiences Make a Real...  [Read more]

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Understanding the Purpose of Lesson Planning When entering the realm of teaching, lesson planning is a very beneficial skill to have. Lesson planning is done in many different ways; many educators create their format over the years that cater to their teaching styles. However, the typical lesson planning methodologies include ESA (Engage, Study, Activate) and PPP (Presentation, Practice, Production). For this task, we will be diving into the ESA methodology. Table of Contents Engage your students Lead them through the study process Help students to "switch on" their skills Other Techniques Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Gabrielle R....  [Read more]

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Difficulties and Rewards of Teaching Chinese Students For the past twenty years, I have had the pleasure of teaching English to Chinese students of all ages in both Taiwan and mainland China. The following are my observations: Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: Ancient Culture Differences in Students' Behavior Lack of Confidence Acceptance Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Eugene E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Listen to this blog post: Ancient Culture If one were to argue that Socrates was the beginning of modern Western Civilization, one could...  [Read more]

Tue, 12 May 2020 Dana W Alumni Experiences Top Four Reasons to Learn English There are so many reasons it is important to learn the English language. Before you begin or continue on your learning journey, it is also important to consider your 'why'. Why are you learning English? Is it simply a personal desire you have always had? Is it because you want to land a better job or career? Is it because you have a big upcoming presentation at work and you are nervous to speak English in front of your boss and colleagues? Let's take a look at the benefits of learning English. Table of Contents English is Spoken in More Than 50 Countries Worldwide It Makes Traveling Easier and More Enjoyable You Will Have More Job Opportunities You Will Become More Intelligent The Bottom Line Or are you...  [Read more]

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Using Flashcards in Teaching EFL Teenagers and Adults Flashcards are a simple, versatile, yet often underexploited resource, and they are instrumental in eliciting more obscure words. They are a great way to present, practice, and recycle vocabulary and some grammar structures. Table of Contents Benefits to Use Flashcards Lesson Planning with Flashcards Ideas on Using Flashcards in the Classroom Vocabulary Group Work Recollection Grammar Boost Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate FatoÅŸ T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]