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Common Factors that Affect 1st Language and 2nd Language Learning - TEFL Blog
Sun, 31 Mar 2019 Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences
Common Factors that Affect 1st Language and 2nd Language Learning
Language is everywhere. It plays an essential role in our life. We use it as a tool to communicate with the people around us. But do we understand how the brain processes the language and the many factors that influence language learning?
Table of Contents
The difference between language acquisition and language learning
The difference in language learning for children and adults
The process of language learning and acquisition
The difference in expectations for children and adults
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Juri N.
The difference between language acquisition... [Read more]
The Difference Between Teaching ESL and Teaching EFL - TEFL Blog
Wed, 13 Mar 2019 Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences
The Difference Between Teaching ESL and Teaching EFL
In my experience, many teachers are not really sure about the difference between teaching ESL and teaching EFL in the classroom. In this post I will try to explain both situations and give some insight into each as they are actually quite distinct.
Table of Contents
The Basic Difference
Potential Problems of Both Situations
Typical Students of EFL and ESL
The Importance of Speaking English in the Classroom
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Amal S.
The Basic Difference
ESL refers to teaching English as a Second Language in a English-speaking country where the... [Read more]
The Differences Between British English and American English, and How to Teach It - TEFL Blog
Wed, 10 Apr 2019 Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
The Differences Between British English and American English, and How to Teach It
How to teach the differences between American English and British English can be quite fun for the teacher and students alike. The differences are very interesting and cool to discover. I know that as an American I find it quite amusing to see what British speakers say compared to Americans.
Table of Contents
Biscuit or Cookie? The Differences in British and American Words
Color or Colour? The Differences in Spelling
Teaching Ideas for the Classroom
Teachers Should Be Familiar With Both Forms of the Language
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This post was written by our TEFL certification... [Read more]
Comparing L1 and L2 Acquisition: Teaching Implications - TEFL Blog
Wed, 30 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Comparing L1 and L2 Acquisition: Teaching Implications
Language is a fascinating and unique aspect to the human species: it enables communication using a set of sounds and written symbols, combined in a coherent system. Even though a person can be proficient -to various degrees- in many languages, he or she usually has only one First Language (L1) that is the person's native language, acquired in a subconscious effortless way. On the contrary, L2 (or second language) is usually effortfully learned, involving both explicit and implicit processes. These characteristics may have important implications in L2 teaching methods, in that teachers can help students in both these processes, leveraging similarities and differences to... [Read more]
What Are The Differences Between Foreign Language and Mother Tongue Acquisition? - TEFL Blog
Mon, 17 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
What Are The Differences Between Foreign Language and Mother Tongue Acquisition?
I chose this topic because I have first-hand experience with my trilingual child. She is 3 years old now, we are a couple of Romanians living in China, and my husband is a middle school English teacher. My daughter was born in China and I can both speak Chinese. 'What language will my daughter learn first?' Was one of the questions that haunted me and I thought it would be the greatest challenge of motherhood. Well, the reality proved me wrong – it was the easiest task and now my daughter can speak perfect English, she can understand and speak Romanian very well and she understands Chinese and can speak when she has to.
Table of Contents
There is... [Read more]
The Differences of Acquiring Mandarin Chinese as the First Language and English as the Second - TEFL Blog
Wed, 05 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
The Differences of Acquiring Mandarin Chinese as the First Language and English as the Second
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Susan T S G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Table of Contents
Background
Definition of First vs Second Language
My Own Experiences with Acquired vs Learning Languages
Sentence Structures
Verbs and Alphabets
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Background
Singapore is a multilingual and multi-ethnic society. We have four official languages Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin), and Tamil, with Malay as our... [Read more]
Contrasts Between Adult and Young Learner Language Acquisition - TEFL Blog
Mon, 28 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Contrasts Between Adult and Young Learner Language Acquisition
Many variances exist between teaching English as a Foreign Language to Young Learners vs adults. Despite these dissimilarities, the fundamentals will remain the same. Teachers should motivate their students to communicate in the target language, and utilize students' previous knowledge while maintaining an engaging atmosphere in the classroom.
Table of Contents
Teaching Practice
Level of Motivation
English Atmosphere
Communication Challenges
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Marlon W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions... [Read more]
How L2 Language Acquisition Differs from the L1 Language - TEFL Blog
Mon, 25 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
How L2 Language Acquisition Differs from the L1 Language
L1 language refers to students' first language or native language while L2 language refers to the language they are learning in particular. Hence, L1 has a 'natural' environment for the students to learn while for L2, the environment has to be 'built' and requires certain ways of catching up. Specifically, they are different from the following perspectives.
Table of Contents
Environment:
Role model:
Interaction:
Frequency:
Willingness:
The principles of acquiring the first language
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Yixun C. Please note that this blog post might not... [Read more]
How Learning Differs for Young Learners and Adults - TEFL Blog
Tue, 17 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
How Learning Differs for Young Learners and Adults
Young learners and adults have different needs and goals in the classroom. Young learners want to be engaged and have rapidly changing activities while adult learners will enjoy a more serious classroom setting. It is the job of the teacher to ensure that these needs are met for both age groups.
Table of Contents
Visual
Activities
Speaking
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Preston M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Visual
If a teacher is teaching classes with young learners, visual cues are very important. Many young... [Read more]
The Main Problems of Teaching Formal and Informal Language - TEFL Blog
Thu, 09 May 2019 Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
The Main Problems of Teaching Formal and Informal Language
The difference between formal and informal grammar is very apparent both in everyday life and during ones time as a teacher of English as a foreign language. These differences, I believe, play an important part in why many language learners find it so difficult to understand and become fluent.
Table of Contents
The Problems that Teachers Encounter
The Problems that Learners Encounter
The Dilemma that Teachers Face
Finding the Right Balance in the Future
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daniel B.
The Problems that Teachers Encounter
As a native English... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 2208
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
Supporting Outer Motivation of Younger Learners | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their ideas on motivating younger learners of English.
6 Teaching Skills to Support Your Students Learning Process | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their ideas on teaching skills which help students learn English better.
The Differences Between Learning Your First Language vs. A Second One | ITTT | TEFL Blog
... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 180
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
A Sample Lesson Plan For a 2nd Grade Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Here, our TEFL graduate shares a sample lesson plan for teaching 2nd grade.
What Are The Differences Between Foreign Language and Mother Tongue Acquisition? | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, our TEFL graduate considers the main differences between first and second language acquisition.
Several Ways to Implement Popular Songs in the Young ESL Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
... [Read more]
Are public or private schools better for teaching English in South Korea? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
Are public or private schools better for teaching English in South Korea?
The vast majority of teachers who work in South Korea are employed by either a government run public school or a private language school known as a hagwon. Both types of employer offer good salaries and other benefits but there are a few differences that might sway your decision either way.
What are the differences in the hiring process?
Most public and private school positions are filled in advance, meaning you will apply and interview for the job before you leave your home country. The hiring process for public schools generally follows a set timetable that includes two regular start dates. Online applications begin in April for start dates in August/September, and in October for start dates in February/March.... [Read more]
What are the main differences between American and British English? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What are the main differences between American and British English?
The divergence between British and American English can create confusion for English language learners and their teachers. The distinct accents alone can pose challenges in understanding, while differences in pronunciation of identical words can also be perplexing. However, the most significant difficulties often arise when the two variations use entirely different words to express the same concept, encompassing both vocabulary and grammar. Moreover, students must grapple with divergent spellings and date formats, further complicating matters.
Differences in vocabulary
Vocabulary discrepancies constitute a major source of confusion. Numerous words have distinct meanings in the two language versions. While teaching... [Read more]
Is there discrimination in TEFL? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
Is there discrimination in TEFL?
While teaching English abroad you are unlikely to face any type of discrimination from fellow teachers as most are like-minded people who are easy-going and accepting of the world in all its diversity. However, it can be a different story when it comes to employers. In some parts of the world, including some of the most popular teaching destinations, traditional, conservative views and opinions are still commonplace and this can lead to some uncomfortable situations.
First language discrimination in TEFL
Many people still have the mistaken belief that all you need to teach English is to be a native English speaker and those that aren’t will never be as good at it. However, this view on teaching couldn’t be more wrong. To be an effective TEFL teacher... [Read more]
Last posts written by Mark from: 48
Mark Crocker ITTT TEFL
After leaving the UK to travel in the mid-1990s, Mark has to date visited over 50 countries across six continents. After completing a TEFL course in Phuket, Thailand, he decided to make it his base and has since worked as an online TEFL trainer and a freelance writer.
Read my articles
How and When Should a TEFL Teacher Adjust Their Teaching Style? | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
No two classrooms are ever the same so it is important that a teacher is able to adjust their style to suit each individual set of students. In this post, an ITTT graduate discusses how and when to make changes to your teaching in an ESL classroom.
TEFL Options - Alternatives to Working in a State School or Language Center | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Mark... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 1404
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
Songs in the Classroom: How to Create a Positive Environment and Achieve Teaching Goals | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This blog post is about teaching English with the help of songs. Our TEFL graduate shares their ideas.
Differences for Children and Adults When Acquiring a Second Language | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
In this article, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on how adults and children learn languages.
How To Encourage Your Students to Overcome Stress and... [Read more]
Easy TEFL - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Easy TEFL
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C. P. - U.S.A. said:
British English vs. American English English is the international language that links people all around the world. From business, to education, to ministries, most people have been exposed to the English language. The question that we must ask ourselves is which dialect where we exposed too? The most common reference to the English language dialect is the American English and the British English. Although both languages are similar, they differ in many components such as... [Read more]
College Online TEFL - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
College Online TEFL
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This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned:
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Z.K. - USA said:
British English American EnglishThere are myriad differences between English as it is used in the united kingdom and English as it is used in the united states. These differences have developed over centuries from a common root. While some may believe that American English diverged from British English, which has remained unchanged, this is not the case. Both dialects have mutated over the years and that is what accounts for their differences more than anything... [Read more]
ESL Education in Turkey: ✅ British English vs. American English - TEFL Blog
Tue, 27 Apr 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
ESL Education in Turkey: ✅ British English vs. American English
Today, English has become a common language of people with different native languages in many fields such as science, aviation, communication, and commerce. For this reason, knowledge of English has become a necessity for those who want to pursue an academic career or who want to work in internationally recognized business sectors. This fact puts English in the first place among the officially taught foreign languages in most countries. But which English should be referenced in English education? British or American English? The answer to this question is not clear in Turkey yet. In seeking a heuristic explanation, one can dwell on... [Read more]
The Biggest Differences Between British English and American English - TEFL Blog
Mon, 23 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
The Biggest Differences Between British English and American English
While both Americans and the British speak English, there are a few variations in the language which can cause some confusion for non-native speakers. Therefore, it is important to take a look at the most notable differences between these two versions of the English language.
Table of Contents
Spelling
Grammar
Pronunciation
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joseph Bart van der K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Spelling
One of the key differences in the spelling of words. British English usually has... [Read more]
What is the difference between TESOL and TEFL? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What is the difference between TESOL and TEFL?
TESOL and TEFL, though frequently confused, address distinct teaching environments. TESOL encompasses teaching English to non-native speakers, whether in English-speaking countries like the U.S. or elsewhere. Conversely, TEFL is specifically geared towards instructing English in regions where the language is foreign.
TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Table of Contents
Where are TEFL and TESOL most commonly used?
What are the technical differences between TEFL and TESOL?
Where are TEFL and TESOL most commonly used?
TEFL is predominantly used in the UK and Europe, whereas TESOL is the preferred term in the United States, Canada, and Australia. These terms, while often... [Read more]
Differences Between Tefl Tesol Delta And Celta - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Differences Between TEFL, TESOL, DELTA and CELTA
TEFL, TESOL, DELTA, CELTA: In this live session, you will find out about the main differences between TEFL and Delta and how to choose the course that will suit you best!
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The Difference In Teaching ESL vs. EFL - TEFL Blog
Fri, 22 Feb 2019 Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
The Difference In Teaching ESL vs. EFL
There are many similarities, but also many differences, in teaching English as a foreign language and teaching English as a second language. Teaching English as a foreign language is when you teach English in a country that does not have English as an official language. Teaching English as a second language is when you teach English to someone who speaks another language as their first language, normally in a country where English is the official language. I have taught both English as a foreign language (EFL) and English as a second language (ESL) and these two experiences had quite a few similarities and quite a few differences.
Table of Contents
EFL and ESL Example
Similarities between EFL... [Read more]
Cert TEFL - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Cert TEFL
Check out tefl tesol about Cert TEFL and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad.
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This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned:
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V.R. & P.L - Laos said:
British English vs American EnglishIntro
English is spoken worldwide, either as the mother tongue or second language. Consequently a substantial variety of different dialects exist in the English language. Two most widely recognised of these dialects used when teaching TEFL are British English (BE), defined as the form of English used in the united kingdom, and American English (AE) the particular form of English used in the united states
History
By 1921 the British... [Read more]
English in Britain and in America - TEFL Blog
Thu, 26 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
English in Britain and in America
British English versus American English are often discussed during the class, students frequently ask which one is the standard English to learn and would it cause any difficulties in communication. Both of them have differences and similarities, but individuals from the UK and the US can communicate without too much difficulty.
Table of Contents
What is Correct?
The History of English
Pronunciation Differences
Spelling
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate JIN G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
What is Correct?
Besides, there is no right... [Read more]
Comparing British and American Standards of English - TEFL Blog
Tue, 24 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Comparing British and American Standards of English
Why are British and American versions of English so different? British and American English, while, broadly speaking, are mutually intelligible (each party can understand and communicate with each other), there are notable differences that make one wonder why there is a difference at all? In this essay, I'll briefly discuss some key differences in these two dialects, and further, provide reasons and evidence explaining said differences.
Table of Contents
Differences between variants
Reasons of variants derivation
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Betsy W. Please note that this blog... [Read more]
There Is No L (And Other Differences Between Japanese and English) - TEFL Blog
Fri, 18 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
There Is No L (And Other Differences Between Japanese and English)
Throughout high school and college, I mainly focused on learning how to speak Japanese as my second language. Unlike English, Japanese is a fairly phonetic language. Two of its three writing systems, hiragana and katakana, are phonetic. This makes it easy for foreigners to learn because each syllable, also known as sound clusters in some circles, is almost always said exactly how it is spelled. The third writing system, kanji, is not and, as such, is much more difficult for foreigners to learn because kanji are essentially pictures that describe their meaning. They are much more difficult to learn and use in everyday speech.
Table of Contents
Differences in... [Read more]
The Principles of Acquiring a First and Second Language - TEFL Blog
Tue, 30 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The Principles of Acquiring a First and Second Language
Learning a language is a process that consists of different factors that have their influence on the mastery of the language. One of the major factors that define how the language is learned and the whole process itself is the answer to the question is it 1st or 2nd language acquisition. In other words, under which circumstances the language or languages are learned. There are several differences between 1st and 2nd language acquisition: immersion, need of the language, and dynamics of the learning.
Table of Contents
Differences in the process of acquisition
Instinct vs. Need
Dynamis
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This post was... [Read more]
The Most Common Problems Students in South Korea Face When Learning English - TEFL Blog
Wed, 14 Nov 2018 Linda Dunsmore
Destinations Alumni Experiences
The Most Common Problems Students in South Korea Face When Learning English
Korean learners of the English language face numerous challenges in acquiring the language on a proficient level, although English is introduced to children at an early age. English is incorporated into the primary school curriculum from the age of four, yet only a small minority master the language on a proficient conversational level. Unfortunately, the reasons seem to stem from cultural and social differences, the significant differences between the two languages; Korean and English, and the Korean Educational System is also a contributing factor.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
Problems Relating to Cultural Differences
Problems... [Read more]