English Learning Teaching

Thu, 09 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching Vocabulary: Is it essential for English learning? Just as quarks are the building blocks of atoms and the periodic table of elements, letters are the building blocks of words. And just as the 118 elements are the foundation of our physical life, the 26 letters of the English alphabet are the foundation of the 470 000 words English language (Wikipedia, 2019), so that each word with all its variation and diversity is part of a living and evolving cosmos of vocabulary. Table of Contents Vocabulary teaching methods An effective way to teach vocabulary Important skills Are you ready to master your teaching skills? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: Listen to this blog post Today the English language is one of the...  [Read more]

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching and Learning English in a Large Classroom There is no agreed definition of a large class in the dictionary, nor should there be. One person's large class is what some others consider as 'regular', 'small' or 'normal'. Some simply define "large" as "too many students to learn names by the end of the term or semester." Whether something feels like a large class is partly a matter of the resources put into teaching it and of the skill employed by the. A large class is one that feels large. A sign that a class is 'large' can be: the resources can no longer cope with the number of students if you desire individual attention for the students. Here are some tips to help with teaching large classes. Table of Contents Be organized:...  [Read more]

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Relevance and Impact of Computer-Aided Language Learning in Teaching English Today's technology-based society has a significant impact on how English is both experienced and taught. A great number of professionals spend a large part of their day on the Internet and interacting with all that it and ICT, in general, has to offer. Through it, they absorb information, generate knowledge and are both indirectly and directly educated and influenced. Computer-assisted language learning tools provide us with a vast number of resources that we can use both in the classroom when teaching collective language lessons or in a group and individual students assignments. I would like to elaborate on different aspects of Computer-Aided Language...  [Read more]

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Tips for Teaching Different Types of English Learning Groups There are many types of English learning groups and each group requires different teaching techniques. In my opinion, English learners can be divided into 2 groups: beginners and English learners for specific purposes. Beginners can be students who have no English at all or know a few simple structures. They can be children or adults. English learners for specific purposes are students who have a basic English level and want to achieve their specific aims of learning. Table of Contents Young Beginners Adult Beginners English Learners for Specific Purposes Conversation Learners Business Students Examination Classes Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related...  [Read more]

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Grammar as a Core of English Teaching and Learning Grammar lays the groundwork for effective communication. Just as an improperly configured telephone wire can cause static during a phone conversation, improper grammar can likewise affect the meaning and clarity of an intended message. Table of Contents How is grammar useful in the real world? Importance of English Grammar. Why is Grammar Important in Communication? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: Some common errors are with sentence structure, subject/verb tense, punctuation, spelling, and other basic mechanics and parts of speech. Even something as simple as a misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence. For...  [Read more]

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How English Teaching Should be Adjusted to Online Learning? Teaching English online has long become a worldwide trend, and that holds no surprise as it is easy, cheap, global, and requires no more than a computer and a stable internet connection. However, it also holds a lot of potential problems, such as adapting the learning materials for the online classroom or keeping students engaged and building rapport. In this essay, I am going to look at these problems in detail and suggest tools to solve them. Table of Contents Adapting materials and activities How to solve the problem? Challenging issues How to solve the problem? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Thu, 23 May 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Learning Chinese While Teaching English as a Second Language in China While attempting to actively assimilate into a foreign language environment overseas, it has been an ongoing journey and challenging adventure in these previous three years. There have been a few noted observations and insightful discoveries indeed. Table of Contents Life in China as a Teacher Language is a rich, colorful and multidimensional medium Practice Makes Perfect Teaching Business English Lack of Exposure and English Proficiency Having a lesson plan ready Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Angela W. Please note that this blog post might not...  [Read more]

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 Amanda Stern Destinations Teaching Ideas Top Tips for Learning the Local Lingo When Teaching English Abroad Foreign language learning is a massively rewarding undertaking; going from stilted greetings to lively conversations can make you feel like a multi-million lottery winner. Of course, it's also quite intimidating to start the learning process. In your home country, it's simple to find a spot in a classroom with a native speaker, or for those who are more intrinsically motivated, self-study may be a viable option. Table of Contents Making the Leap One-on-One Tutors Language Exchange Community Centres Mixing it Together Related Articles: Making the Leap You're most likely here because you're interested in teaching abroad, and may feel intimidated by the future...  [Read more]

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 Elaheh Rezvani Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas How Online Education Bridges Learning Gaps Nothing can undoubtedly match the experience of face-to-face classrooms. An offline or physical set of an educational platform is an indispensable part of a student's life since it is essential for their growth in all aspects. However, the potentiality of technology in education also plays an equally important part. Virtual or online learning represents a set of new learning opportunities. Technology gives this opportunity to teachers and students to enjoy more enchantment in lesson plans and provides a multi-dimensional chance to the classrooms. Table of Contents What are the positive features? What are the capabilities of online learning? Conclusion Are you ready to teach...  [Read more]

Sat, 24 Nov 2018 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Most Common Problems Students in Italy Face When Learning English According to the EF English Proficiency Index, in the year 2017 Italy ranked last - among European countries - in English proficiency skills. Being an Italian myself and having studied foreign languages up to my Master's Degree, I have progressively grown aware of the main factors which cause Italy to perform so poorly. Other than grammatical gaps, which are not to be analyzed in this context, I have noticed how the extremely limited exposition to spoken words can affect not only the students' ability to understand and follow conversations or arguments, but even the possibility for them to be understood when trying to speak. Table of Contents Lack of Proper...  [Read more]

Amanda Stern Snacking ramen by moonlight, teaching English by daylight. Amanda spent a year abroad in Tokyo, living the quintessential metropolitan life. Now, she is an ALT in rural Japan, enjoying the slower pace and local flavours. Read my articles Team-teaching: The Good and The Ugly | ITTT | TEFL Blog Amanda Stern Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas A preferred method of teaching abroad is the team-teaching approach. This is where two teachers, dubbed T1 (often the “main” teacher”) and T2 (often the “assistant”), work together to develop a syllabus, prepare materials and lessons, teach students, then evaluate the results and make changes whenever deemed necessary. As the base, unless T2 has strong language skills in the local language, T1 will be expected to explain...  [Read more]

Wed, 22 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Ins and Outs of Lifelong Learning A life long learner, to me, is one who desires to learn new things based on interests, motivations, and knowledge to be gained. As one who is a certified teacher in first through eighth grades (in Louisiana, USA), possesses a master degree in education, as well as having a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a minor in Leadership and Supervision, does not mean that I know it all; far from it. In my middle school teaching days and years of teaching in higher education preparing teachers to teach, I encountered students from other culturally diverse backgrounds; yet, I did not have the basic fundamentals of teaching students whose first language was not English. This I regret. Table of...  [Read more]

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Benefit of New Technology in the Classroom Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun. Students are also able to collaborate with their own classmates through technological applications. By using technology in the classroom, both teachers and students can develop skills essential for the 21st century. These are very important skills that can be developed in the classroom. Benefits for teachers. When teachers effectively integrate technology into class learning becomes more meaningful and fun which motivates the pupils/student to collaborate with their own classmates and acquire knowledge faster and with ease. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: Improve digital skills and retention Encourage...  [Read more]

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 Learning with Diversity | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences This blog post overviews the importance of cultural diversity in the ESL classroom. Moving Forward: My Personal Teaching Experience, Changing Careers | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our TEFL graduate shares their thoughts and experiences of changing a career path. What is the Role of an Effective EFL Teacher? | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences This blog post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

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]

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 Linda Dunsmore Visa and Legal TEFL Information Overcoming Challenges: TEFL/TESOL and Teaching English Abroad at 40+ Are you over 40 and considering a thrilling journey teaching English abroad? Join us as we uncover the growing demand, benefits, and strategies for a successful career in ESL education. Explore how age can be your advantage in the world of teaching English. Table of Contents Understanding the Global EFL Market Global Demand for English Teachers: Teacher Shortages and Prioritizing Qualifications: Embracing Cultural Exchange and Diversity: Leveraging Professionalism and Work Ethic: Specialized Opportunities and Higher-Level Positions: Career Transition Possibilities: Advantages of Teaching English Abroad at 40+ Life Experience, Maturity, and Professional...  [Read more]

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 The Extreme Difference Between Teaching Individual Students and Groups | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on teaching classes and one-to-one. Reasons Why You Can’t Avoid Teaching Grammar | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Grammar is essential for English learners. In this blog post, you will find out how to teach it in a modern classroom. Teaching and Learning English in a Large Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina ...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Read my articles Navigating Learning Difficulties: Understanding, Strategies, and Success | ITTT | TEFL Blog Federico Riva Alumni Experiences Unveil the realm of learning difficulties. Discover insights into causes, strategies, and resilience against challenges. Benefits and Challenges of Personalized Language Learning through 1-to-1 Teaching | ITTT | TEFL Blog Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Explore the pros and cons of one-to-one language teaching. Personalized learning vs. limited peer interaction. Top 5 Free Resources for ESL Teachers | ITTT | TEFL Blog Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Teachers, new and experienced spend a lot of time planning lessons and preparing materials. Anything that can help reduce...  [Read more]

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas How to Make a Living Teaching ESL Online Online learning has expanded rapidly to meet increasing demand over the past decade and appears to be continuing to grow. This change is unlikely to be reversed despite future conditions changing. This being the case, we should consider that online ESL teaching will probably be the dominant teaching approach in the future and remain a good employment opportunity for many years to come. Table of Contents Working for a company Freelancing Profile marketplace Pros Cons Conclusion Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Over the last two decades, the ESL industry has...  [Read more]

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Grammar as The Soul of The English Language Learning a new language can be many things: memorizing new words, understanding foreign movies and foreign music, meeting foreigners, playing fun games, enrich our unique culture, exercising our brains, or getting a new job, but overall learning a new language is structuring our thoughts in a new different form. Speaking a new language means thinking about our communication with new structures. Those structures are called language grammar. Thus grammar is the soul of the language. Table of Contents What's it like learning a foreign language Communication What is Grammar Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say...  [Read more]

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Why Learning Grammar is Essential Some may conclude that the correct usage of English grammar only matters to teachers and have no real relevance in day to day life. We have to conclude that this is incorrect because grammar, disregarding the country or the language, is the infrastructure of communication. For instance, in the simplest of examples, when a message is delivered with the correct usage of grammar, it is much more understandable and precise to comprehend the intent and meaning of that message. Table of Contents Knowing proper grammar use is key Grammar in writing Grammar to cultivate habits Improving grammar at its best Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by...  [Read more]

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 Top Tips For Teaching English Through Stories | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on teaching English with the help of stories. Teaching and Learning Through Multiple Intelligences | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on teaching English with the help of multiple intelligences theory. 3 Main Difficulties for English Learners in Turkey | ITTT | TEFL Blog ...  [Read more]

Course Books for English for Specific Purposes and English for Academic Purposes  English for Specific Purposes is an area of English language teaching and learning that encompasses business English, English for Academic Purposes as well as courses that teach English needed for specific professions. In this infographic we look at course books aimed at teaching English to those in certain professions such as finance, law, tourism, medicine and aviation. We also look at course books available for teaching English for Academic Purposes. EAP focuses on the language and skills needed for students to study in English at university level. As with other English teaching, EAP deals with reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as vocabulary and grammar but these are linked to the...  [Read more]

Course Books for Business English  Business English is an area of English language teaching and learning that is part of the wider category of English for Specific Purposes. Unlike general English, business English focuses on the language students need in order to function in an international business setting. Students taking business English classes will generally already have a reasonable level of English language ability and course books tend to be aimed at pre-intermediate level students and above.   There are several publishers involved in producing course books for the business English classroom. The main ones are Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. These two publishers produce business English course books across a range of levels in British,...  [Read more]

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Most Common Learning Techniques As Observed By An ESL Teacher My biggest takeaway from my TEFL certification course with ITTT is the topic of learning techniques. Learning techniques vary depending on race, gender, age, cultural background , past experiences and several other variables of the students involved. I will describe my personal past experiences in regards to the subject at hand. Table of Contents Visual vs. Auditory Learners The Auditory Learner The Visual Learner Gender Culture Age Willing vs. Unwilling Students Are you ready to teach English abroad? Listen to this blog post Related Articles: I would like to take a moment to thank the ITTT staff for putting together this highly informative and enlightening TEFL...  [Read more]

Archives for October 2023 A Journey in English Teaching: From Language School to Personalized Success Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Explore a seasoned English teacher's transformative journey, from battling traditional teaching methods to crafting a personalized approach, in this engaging tale of educational innovation. What is ESP in Relation to ESL Teaching? Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas In order to explain this we will look at a series of questions about this topic, ranging from what ESP is for and how it differs from general English teaching. We will also look at some of the attributes of ESP students. 5 Reasons Why Grammar Is Vital in Language Learning Federico Riva Destinations TEFL...  [Read more]

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences What Are The Problems For English Language Learners In Saudi Arabia? I was born in Saudi Arabia and I had to finish my education from kindergarten to high school in Jeddah and other cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Table of Contents The history of teaching English English Level Problems Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: As a student and a resident for more than 12 years there, I think that I have some experience in the education system in Saudi Arabia. I will try here to explain English learners' problems in Saudi Arabia with my personal opinion and experience. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hesham Z. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information Alumni Experiences 7 Amazing Games for Learning English with Preschoolers Today, as English teachers, we have better equipment and materials, improved teaching methods and techniques, endless ideas and tips on how to maintain discipline and keep our students motivated. Sounds impressive, doesn't it? It seems that we should just enjoy our classes and drink some nice tea during the breaks. However, along with all these improvements come greater demands. Each year more and more parents would like their children to learn English to ensure a better future. In our time, knowledge of English no more is your advantage, but the number one requirement for a good position. That is why our students are getting younger, sometimes to a point when...  [Read more]

Thu, 31 May 2018 Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information The 5 Best Ways to Build Rapport With Your TEFL Students Having a good relationship with your students has many benefits as a teacher. They will become more interested in your lesson, they will learn a lot more and it creates an overall comfortable classroom environment for both the teacher and the students. However, it's often easier said than done to build rapport with those in your class. So how do you do it? This article highlights the 5 best ways to build rapport with your TEFL students. Table of Contents 1. Learn the Names of Your Students 2. Be Energetic and Enjoy Yourself 3. Be Patient but Set Boundaries 4. Learn Something About Your Students' Personal Lives 5. Share Some Things About Your Own Personal Life Listen to this blog...  [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 The Most Common Problems Students in China Face When Learning English | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas Are you planning on becoming an EFL teacher in China? There are certain difficulties Chinese students face when learning English and every EFL teacher should be aware of these. Top 10 Qualities Every Great Teacher Should Have | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information Are you planning on becoming an EFL teacher abroad? Be sure to check out the top 10 qualities every great teacher should have before stepping into your classroom. Teaching...  [Read more]