Don't Move In Japanese

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Anticipated Problems: Japanese Speakers and Their Issues in ESL I have been living in Japan for the past one and a half years. Needless to say, the experience has been enthralling. This country would have never been my first choice for a country to relocate to, from my home country, India. But if my stay has taught me anything, it is that never judge a book by its cover. When we think of Japan, the first thing that pops up is that it is a country of workaholics; it has zero English presence, and the people are highly prejudiced against foreigners and foreign culture. I was proven wrong. Japan is a beautiful country. It is culturally so rich, it makes me want to live here forever. The people, though tend to be a little distant...  [Read more]

Alumni TEFL Chat with Maddy & Georgia - Two Aussie Sisters Teaching English in Japan 07/08/2021 all right hi hey everyone hi as you can see it's not only me this week welcome to our live stream we have guests today i'm super happy about it hi maddie hi georgia hello hey so yeah back here another for another week and i'm live on a different day i usually go live on fridays so today is very special and also because we have guests so i'm super happy about that and yeah if you are watching if you can see us if you can hear us please just leave a high in the comments that would be really cool and where you're watching from i'm always really curious about where people are watching from and um yeah i'm in south korea my name is linda from itt if you don't know me and i'm yeah about an hour...  [Read more]

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How Can Teachers Develop the Productive Skills of Japanese Junior High School Students Change is coming to the way that English is taught in Japanese public schools. The changes to the curriculum by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) increase the teaching of English at all levels of schooling. The goal of this change is, in the words of Ikuko Tsuboya-Newel, founder and chair of Tokyo International School, "The government has decided that beginning in 2020 all high school graduates must achieve a level of English equivalent to B1" ("Why do Japanese have trouble learning English?", The Japan Times, October 29, 2017). To achieve that goal, high school entrance exams are expected to include more...  [Read more]

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 Linda Dunsmore Budget and Salary Destinations The 10 Best Cities in Japan for Teaching English Japan has been a popular destination for teaching English abroad for many years. This is mainly due to the country's vibrant culture, the great food and friendly locals. Japan has a lot to offer and it can be overwhelming to find the ideal city to move to. This post looks at the 10 best cities in Japan for teaching English abroad. All cities are listed in no particular order. Table of Contents 1. Tokyo 2. Yokohama 3. Kyoto 4. Osaka 5. Nagoya 6. Hiroshima 7. Fukuoka 8. Kobe 9. Sapporo 10. Takayama Are you ready for your teaching adventure in Japan? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Also check out our other related Japan...  [Read more]

Our ITTT TEFL and TESOL Alumni Stories What is Reported Speech? Federico Riva Alumni Experiences We can quote people through what's called direct speech. In written form it would look like “Corey said we're moving house next week”. We've used quotes and we've quoted Corey directly, i.e. used the exact words that he used. There is however another way we can quote people, and this is through reported speech. We don't quote their exact words, but we simply let people know what has been said. Evaluation and Testing of Students - Placements Tests Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences In this blog we will show how a simple speaking interview with the student, can be used to place them in one of the five ESL teaching bands, from Starter to Upper-Intermediate....  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore ITTT TEFL Linda is a passionate traveler, language learner and TEFL teacher. After spending some time teaching in China, she moved to Korea in 2015. She now calls South Korea her home. Read my articles 7 Amazing Winter and Christmas ESL Activities Your Students Will Love | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas Are you not sure what to do this winter with your EFL students? Don't worry we've got you covered! Try these 7 amazing winter and Christmas ESL activities your students will absolutely love! What TEFL course is most useful? | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information The first step to a career in teaching English abroad is a TEFL or TESOL certificate. However, with so many courses to choose from you will probably ask yourself: What TEFL...  [Read more]

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas How to Teach English Knowledge Instead of Teaching Skills What comes to mind when one thinks of an English classroom? Is it organized rows of desks filled with students writing vocabulary and grammar into their notebooks while the teacher talks in the front? This is the classic image of a classroom. A student goes to school to learn what they don't already know. When teaching English, it can be easy to fall into the trap of rote memorization and reliance on grammar and vocabulary. However, is this method effective? Does this way of learning motivate students to become lifelong learners of a foreign language? It is less useful to teach students many things than to teach them the skills needed to...  [Read more]

Why You Should Take a TEFL Course Right Now - Even If You Aren't Leaving Yet   Hi everybody, thanks so much for tuning in. It’s Linda here from ITTT with my morning coffee, because if you've watched me before in one of our live sessions you will know that I am in South Korea and it's currently 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning. So I'm having my morning coffee and I'm going to have a chat with you guys. If you can see me and hear me, please drop a hi or something into the comment box, I would really appreciate it. As you may or may not know, at ITTT we go live twice every week, me on Fridays or maybe Thursdays depending on where you're watching from, and my colleague Liza she goes live every Tuesday. Actually Liza went live on Tuesday and also on Saturday last week because she had a...  [Read more]

The Dos & Don'ts Of Teaching English Abroad 02/27/2023 hi guys hey Linda here from ITTT back this week with another live session thank you so much for joining me today and taking some time out of your day today to be here with me and learn something new hopefully about teaching English and today we're going to talk about the do's and don'ts of teaching English abroad sort of everything you need to know you should know before you embark on this exciting journey of teaching English abroad so yeah let me know if you can hear me if you can see me uh drop a hi in the comment section oh perfect and also let me know where are you watching from today I already see crystalline here Hi crystaline how are you doing good to see you again awesome great where are you guys watching from today where...  [Read more]

Wed, 25 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Several Points Which Can Surprise You about Teaching EFL in a Kindergarten I am an EFL teacher in a kindergarten in Japan. I have two years of experience teaching English in kindergarten. It is only a 30 minutes session every day. In my first week, I made a lesson plan for them that is good for one month. I was surprised that they didn't get the lesson, memorized it or even pronounce it properly. Then the lesson plan I had to prepare last for about 3 to 4 months. I find it hard teaching English as a foreign language to my students even though I am only teaching them the basic vocabularies and some nursery rhymes. But their curiosity in the English language and their eagerness to talk with a foreigner in school helps me to find my...  [Read more]

The Best Countries for Solo Women to Teach English Abroad 02/19/2021 hi everybody hello and good morning or good evening wherever you are right now i'm in south korea it's 10 a.m friday and so good morning um yeah i'm back here again today my name is linda from itt um if you've been here before hi and if this is your first time watching thanks so much for tuning in and taking the time we really really appreciate it um yeah so if any if at any time during this live session today you have any questions feel free to drop your comments in the comment section from whichever platform you're watching from so we are streaming live on facebook and on youtube at the same time if you can see me if you can hear me just leave a high into the comment box that would be really highly appreciated so that...  [Read more]

Fri, 14 May 2021 Federico Riva TEFL Information Why You Should Take a TEFL Course Right Now - Even If You Aren't Leaving Yet Hi everybody, thanks so much for tuning in. It's Linda here from ITTT with my morning coffee, because if you've watched me before in one of our live sessions you will know that I am in South Korea and it's currently 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning. So I'm having my morning coffee and I'm going to have a chat with you guys. If you can see me and hear me, please drop a hi or something into the comment box, I would really appreciate it. Table of Contents Watch the live session here We have a question from Rebecca. Do these certifications ever expire? Anyway, why should you take a TEFL course right now, even if you are not leaving yet? Okay, why you should take a...  [Read more]

Reasons to Take an English Level Test as a Non-Native English Teacher   Hi everybody wherever you are right now. I'm in South Korea and it's 10 a.m. Friday, so good morning. I'm back here again today, my name is Linda from ITTT if you've been here before hi and if this is your first time watching thanks so much for tuning in and taking the time, we really appreciate it. If at any time during this live session you have any questions, feel free to drop your comments in the comment section from whichever platform you're watching from. We are streaming live on Facebook and on YouTube at the same time. If you can see me and hear me just leave a hi in the comment box, that would be highly appreciated so that I know that everything is working well. For the first couple of minutes let's...  [Read more]

Why You Should Take a TEFL Course Right Now - Even If You Aren't Leaving Yet 04/18/2021 hi hey everybody uh thanks so much for tuning in linda here from itt with my morning coffee because if you've watched me before if you've seen me before in one of our lives you know i am in south korea and it's currently 10 a.m friday morning so i'm having my morning coffee and i'm gonna have a chat with you guys so if you can see me if you can hear me if everything's working well please just drop a hi or something into the comment box i would really appreciate it hello hello back for another live session this week as you know or you might not know we at itt we go live um every week twice um me on fridays or maybe thursdays depending on where you're watching from and my colleague lisa she goes live...  [Read more]

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 Regan McAllister TEFL Information Teaching Ideas The Challenges of Teaching Behind a Mask (and Some Possible Solutions) The pandemic has caused many changes in our daily lives. While I'm lucky to still have the opportunity to teach ESL in person, doing so with face masks has proved to be slightly more challenging. Table of Contents Challenge #1 - Delayed Comprehension Challenge #2 - Mis-Pronunciation Challenge #3 - Lack of Emotional Cues Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Face masks. A year ago, the thought of society operating with face masks seemed like some sort of ominous movie plot. Apocalyptic almost. Yet now they are on the same level as our phone or...  [Read more]

The Peak Hiring Seasons for Teaching English Abroad 02/20/2023 hello welcome Linda here from ITT back this week with another live session welcome welcome today we're going to talk about the top hiring seasons for teaching English abroad so we're going to cover different regions Europe Asia Latin America Central America um and different countries specifically in these regions and the top hiring seasons for each of those countries so you know exactly when to apply for the job for an English teaching job in the country that you want to teach in so um a couple weeks ago we talked about um tefl interviews and how to find jobs Etc so now this is kind of part of this series and just to yeah give you an overview of the top hiring season so that you know exactly when you should be applying for...  [Read more]

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 Federico Riva Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences The Best Countries for Solo Women to Teach English Abroad Hi everybody wherever you are right now. I'm in South Korea and it's 10 a.m. Friday, so good morning. I'm back here again today, my name is Linda from ITTT if you've been here before hi and if this is your first time watching thanks so much for tuning in and taking the time, we really appreciate it. If at any time during this live session you have any questions, feel free to drop your comments in the comment section from whichever platform you're watching from. We are streaming live on Facebook and on YouTube at the same time. If you can see me and hear me just leave a hi in the comment box, that would be highly appreciated so that I know that...  [Read more]

Mon, 07 May 2018 Linda Dunsmore Destinations Alumni Experiences Teaching English in Japan - Alumni Report by Gabriella S. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF! What is your nationality? Hungarian Table of Contents What is your nationality? What city and state are you from? How old are you? What is your education level and background? Have you traveled abroad in the past? If so, where have you been? Where did you study? What made you interested in going to teach English abroad? What were some of your concerns before teaching abroad? Why did you decide to get TEFL certified and choose ITTT? Which TEFL certification course did you take? How did you like the course? How has your TEFL training helped you in your current teaching position? Which city and country did you decide to teach English in and...  [Read more]

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 Laura Payne Destinations 5 Reasons Why You Should Teach English in Rural Japan Japan is full of vibrant, world-famous cities that many people dream of living and working in. However, when I first decided to become an English teacher in Japan, I never held such a dream. I am an introvert who prefers quiet spaces, and being close to nature is especially important for me. This is why when my goal of teaching English in Japan came true, I was ecstatic that I could find a place to work in the inaka (countryside). Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: 1. Smaller towns have cheaper rent 2. Fewer people, fewer crowds 3. The market for English is everywhere 4. Your presence can have a big impact 5. You may discover a hidden gem When are you heading to Japan? Related...  [Read more]

Should we teach culture in the EFL classroom? Absolutely. Language is deeply intertwined with culture, serving as its vocal representation. While mastering vocabulary and grammar is crucial, to fully understand the essence of English, EFL students should immerse themselves in the culture of English-speaking nations. This entails exploring cultural facets like music, films, literature, culinary traditions, and even fashion. Incorporating cultural elements not only enriches EFL lessons but also resonates with students, making the learning process more engaging and comprehensive. Table of Contents Use authentic materials Compare two cultures Introduce live native speakers Use food as a tool Use songs as a tool Use Online Resources Use authentic materials Authentic materials can be anything...  [Read more]

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 Federico Riva Teaching Ideas Online ESL Game Design Workshop for Teachers Hello everybody and welcome to the ITTT weekly live stream. It's Liza here and I'm super excited that this stream happens every week and we can talk about teaching and TEFL and stuff like that. So welcome and thank you for joining me. Table of Contents Watch the live session here Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Today, we are going to talk about online ESL game design. Last week I started showing you the game I was designing, it was Monopoly. Today I'm going to show you the outcome of the game and also tell you a little bit more about online game design. Watch the live session here Thanks a...  [Read more]

Online ESL Game Design Workshop for Teachers   Hello everybody and welcome to the ITTT weekly live stream. It's Liza here and I'm super excited that this stream happens every week and we can talk about teaching and TEFL and stuff like that. So welcome and thank you for joining me. Today, we are going to talk about online ESL game design. Last week I started showing you the game I was designing, it was Monopoly. Today I'm going to show you the outcome of the game and also tell you a little bit more about online game design. Thanks a lot for letting me know that you are watching and right now please let me know at what stage of your ESL career you are at. As for me, I'm an online ESL teacher currently. I used to teach in a real classroom several years ago, but then I decided to...  [Read more]

Should we teach culture in the EFL classroom? Put simply, language is a verbal expression of culture which means that culture clearly has to be seen as an important part of language learning. Although it is important to learn the vocabulary and grammar of English during lessons, to truly grasp what the language means to native speakers it is vital that EFL students learn as much as possible about the culture of English speaking nations. The good news is that students generally love learning about cultural issues, whether it is music, films, books, and TV, or other things such as food or fashion. So, how can we incorporate culture into our EFL lessons to make them interesting and productive? Use authentic materials Authentic materials can be anything that native English speakers might use...  [Read more]

Top 8 Resources for Researching Teaching English Abroad 06/17/2021 guys hello linda here from itt hope you are doing well today um thanks so much for joining today's live stream and as you can see today we're talking about this way top eight resources for finding the right teaching destination that's the topic for today i hope um you're going to enjoy it it's probably going to take about 30 to 40 minutes and then as always at the end there will be a q a part so you will be able to ask your own questions at that time but also feel free to just leave your comments as we go we are live on facebook and on youtube at the same time and if you can see me if you can hear me if you are there please please just leave a quick hi in the comment box that would really mean a lot and then i can see...  [Read more]

Tue, 15 May 2018 Linda Dunsmore Destinations TEFL Information Why Seoul Is the Ideal Place to Teach English in 2018 South Korea's capital is one of the most important and fastest-growing cities in Asia and indeed the world. Across the city you will find some of the world's largest companies in the technology and automobile industries. On top of that, Seoul is an exciting city with lots of historic attractions, as well as modern museums, hot fashion shows, and a wide variety of music acts. Seoul is also home to thousands of foreign English teachers, many of whom are not ready to leave and have made the city their permanent home base. Table of Contents Major Trading Hub In Asia Vibrant Culture and History City of the Future Unique Food Options Education Paradise Competitive Salaries...  [Read more]

Teaching Abroad: How to Save Money & Pay off Loans 02/24/2023 hi welcome Linda here back this week with another live session for ITT the tefl and tesol training um yeah thank you so much for joining and for being here today uh if you're seeing this for the first time thank you so much for tuning in I'm going to introduce myself in a little bit and I'm also going to share a 30 off discount opportunity today um that you can use to uh get 30 off any of itt's tefl or tesol courses today so we have a wide variety of different courses um you can take a look at our website tefl course.net and you'll see all of the different courses that we offer if you are not new here and you have seen me before and you have joined this live stream before thank you so much um I really appreciate all the...  [Read more]

These are the Best Government Programs for Teaching English Abroad   Hi my name is Linda from ITTT, international TEFL and TESOL Training and I'm back again today for another live session. If you can hear me and see me please let me know as I'm trying out a new mic today so if that is working well it would be good to know. So please leave a quick comment to say hi and where you're watching from. I have been living in South Korea for five and a half years, so for me right now it's 10:00 a.m. Friday morning. Let me know where you are tuning in from and what time it is where you are. Okay cool, hi South Africa, welcome and thanks so much for joining. I guess you can see me and you can hear me so that's really great. Let's just wait for a few more people to join and then we can get...  [Read more]

China's Ban on Private ESL Tutoring: What You Need To Know 10/29/2021 hello hi welcome to another live session my name is linda from i t t t and as you can see today we're going to talk about china's ban on private esl tutoring everything you need to know what we know so far there's still a lot of ambiguity but i've done a lot of research i talked to a lot of people so hopefully i'll be able to tell you something you might not know yet and give a little bit of clarity into this topic but uh disclaimer you know things change all the time and there's still like i said a lot of ambiguity around this whole topic a lot of even experts aren't sure yet how everything is going to be implemented how it's going to look like in the future so just i want to say that up front and ittttt this is also...  [Read more]

ESA Methodology of Teaching - Why Every Teacher Should Use It 08/26/2021 hello oh my gosh hello welcome hi linda here from itt back with another live session this week hi guys how are you doing um first of all if you can see me if you can hear me just drop a quick hi into um the comment box we are actually live on facebook and we're also live on youtube at the same time so if you can see me if you can hear me please just let me know and also let me know where you're watching from where are you at right now i am in south korea it is 10 a.m friday morning i'm super excited to be here again so um yeah sometimes there are some technical difficulties i had some issues i think last week so um there was no sound for some reason for for a few seconds so if that happens just let me know and then...  [Read more]

Teaching English in 2023: Setting Realistic TEFL Goals 01/08/2023 Hi, Linda here. Welcome back with another live session this week. Welcome, thank you so much for joining me today and taking some time out of your day today to spend it with me. I really appreciate it. I know it's a busy time of the year. You know we're almost New Year's Eve so we're heading into the new year, busy time. Busy time, but um I'm here and thank you that you're here as well. I appreciate that. How is everybody doing? Um, let me know guys, where are you watching from right now? I'm in South Korea, it is 10:30 a.m. Friday morning. And yeah, how about you? Where are you watching from today? What time is it? Let me know. I'm always super curious. Let me know in the comments and let me know if there's an issue if...  [Read more]