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Teaching Special Groups in ESL - The Types of Beginners - TEFL Blog
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
Teaching Special Groups in ESL - The Types of Beginners
The first thing to bear in mind when we're looking at the category of beginners is that beginners can be of any age and experience, so really what we should do is to break the beginner category down into a number of sub categories.
Table of Contents
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The Absolute Beginner
The False Beginner
Adult Beginners vs. Young Beginners
Beginners without Roman Alphabet
Conclusions
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The Absolute Beginner
Our first group we may call the absolute beginner, the second group we... [Read more]
Teachers & Learners – Language Levels of Learners - TEFL Blog
Wed, 23 Feb 2022 Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
Teachers & Learners – Language Levels of Learners
A consideration for the categorization of your language learners is actually their language level.
Table of Contents
Watch the video about this topic
True Starters and False Beginners
Elementary Level
Pre-Intermediate
Intermediate
Upper Intermediate
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So within any class the language level the students should all have, (assuming that your class is not a mixed ability class) is usually at one particular level.
Typically your students will have had some form of level test to put them into one of the levels and in ESL teaching there... [Read more]
How to Adjust Your Teaching to the Needs of the Beginner Students - TEFL Blog
Sun, 12 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
How to Adjust Your Teaching to the Needs of the Beginner Students
As the term beginner students refers to the level of students knowledge, I have decided to focus on beginner level in different age groups. Therefore, this essay will be divided into teaching beginner young students and beginner adults. My definition of a beginner student is the following: regardless of age, this is a learner with very little or no previous knowledge of the English language. However, there are certain things we should aim to know about every age group:
Table of Contents
Teaching beginner young students
Group 1 – beginners ages 5-9
Group 2 – beginners ages 9-13
Teaching adult beginner learners
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Related... [Read more]
What should I teach English beginners? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What should I teach English beginners?
When teaching English to absolute beginners, it is pivotal to start with foundational elements. Begin with essential vocabulary - items like family names, household objects, basic adjectives, and common places. Introduce them to subject pronouns, commonly used verbs, and foundational sentence structures. While the challenge is real, many English teachers find this level especially rewarding. Remember, every word they grasp is a significant achievement, so using engaging and interactive methods can make the learning process enjoyable and effective.
Table of Contents
How do I start teaching English to total beginners?
How do I teach English pronunciation to total beginners?
How do I quickly build vocabulary for complete beginner students of English?... [Read more]
BLOG TEFL & TESOL courses - Work and Live Abroad! from: 170
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Teaching Special Groups in ESL - Teaching Individuals (One-to-One)
Federico Riva
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
In this blog post we will consider how we need to adjust to teaching a single (one-to-one) student. Methods and techniques will need to be somewhat different from teaching a class where student to student interaction is available.
Teaching Special Groups in ESL - Top 10 Tips When Teaching Beginners
Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
This blog post outlines some of the best tips to use with your various beginner classes. Ideas about keeping them motivated and keeping them using the language are covered. Try these ideas with your beginners.
Never Fear! 7 Ways to Prevent Confusion in the Classroom
Shakira Moss
TEFL Information Alumni... [Read more]
What should I teach English beginners? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What should I teach English beginners?
If you have never taught English to complete novices before, the prospect of spending an entire lesson speaking with students who don't comprehend a single word you say may seem frightening. Teaching absolute beginners differs from teaching other courses, as any ESL teacher will tell you. It can be difficult, but it may also be one of the most enjoyable and gratifying language levels to teach. Every new word your students learn is important at this level, and the greatest approach to teaching it is to be as creative and funny as possible.
How do I start teaching English to total beginners?
Generally, teaching the letters and numbers should be one of your first priorities. You will lay a solid foundation for everything else your students will learn by... [Read more]
What is a TEFL curriculum? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What is a TEFL curriculum?
Across the globe, there are five widely accepted levels of EFL learners, which are represented in the teaching materials and book series available for students and teachers.
These levels are commonly referred to as:
Note: Any levels above these are typically termed 'advanced' and aren't usually taught in standard settings.
Please note that different curricula may categorize these levels in various ways. For instance, the Touchstone series from Cambridge uses a four-level scale, which, however, covers the same content as a conventional five-level scale. Another series, "Cutting Edge," encompasses six levels, including an advanced level, along with the standard five.
Let's examine some representative syllabus content for each level from the "Cutting Edge" series,... [Read more]
Teaching Special Groups in ESL - Top 10 Tips When Teaching Beginners - TEFL Blog
Fri, 04 Feb 2022 Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
Teaching Special Groups in ESL - Top 10 Tips When Teaching Beginners
Regardless of which type of beginner class you are teaching here are my top ten tips for the teaching of beginners.
Table of Contents
Watch the video about this topic
1: Keep it simple
2: Be visual not verbal
3: Keep them talking
4: Repeat Repeat Repeat
5: Use pairwork
6: Praise often
7: Teach to their needs
8: Be patient
9: Play games
10: Don't overcorrect
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Watch the video about this topic
1: Keep it simple
The first thing is to keep it simple, you have to remember when teaching beginners that your language level... [Read more]
Strategies of Teaching ESL Groups Effectively - TEFL Blog
Wed, 26 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Strategies of Teaching ESL Groups Effectively
There are different types of classes. We will be teaching and adults and children. Let's take a more detailed look into each group. ESL teachers are often working with beginners; however, some people could have been exposed to English previously. We can refer to these students as 'false beginners.' This subgroup could include adults who have learned the language before and may have forgotten it without consistent use. Adults beginners may tend to be more motivated than young beginner learners because adults make the decision to study English by themselves. Children may be told to learn and externally motivated by parents or family members. We should keep in mind that a beginner without... [Read more]
What is a TEFL curriculum? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What is a TEFL curriculum?
Across the globe, there are five widely accepted levels of EFL learners, which are represented in the teaching materials and book series available for students and teachers.
These levels are commonly referred to as:
Note: Any levels above these are typically termed 'advanced' and aren't usually taught in standard settings.
Please note that different curricula may categorize these levels in various ways. For instance, the Touchstone series from Cambridge uses a four-level scale, which, however, covers the same content as a conventional five-level scale. Another series, "Cutting Edge," encompasses six levels, including an advanced level, along with the standard five.
Let's examine some representative syllabus content for each level from the "Cutting Edge" series,... [Read more]
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers from: 560
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers
What Measures Should be Taken if Students Misbehave?
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The problem of students behavior is common to every classroom. Our TEFL graduate shares how to correct students in a right way.
What are The Best Speaking Activities for Mixed-Ability Classrooms?
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this article, our TEFL graduate shares their ideas on activities for mixed-ability classrooms.
"Has the Cat Got Your Tongue?": Teaching Slang and Idioms
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Teaching slang and idioms can be difficult but rather important. Our TEFL graduate explains the importance of this language point.
Same, but Different: The Differences Between Teaching High-School and University Students
... [Read more]
Flexibility of the ESA Method For a Fluent Learning Process - TEFL Blog
Tue, 10 Dec 2019 Federico Riva
Alumni Experiences
Flexibility of the ESA Method For a Fluent Learning Process
"Engage-Study-Activate" also known as ESA - is an effective teaching model designed by Jeremy Harmer. This methodology means, that for the best involvement of students in a learning process, the conditions of the lesson should be flexible and divided for different activities.
Table of Contents
ESA Components
Adjusting to a Particular Topic
Flexibility
Model "Straight Arrow" Lesson
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dmitrii Z. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
ESA Components
"Engage" phase is a sequence, where the... [Read more]
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers from: 1890
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers
The 3 Most Important Tricks When Teaching English to Kindergarteners
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
So, you are new to teaching toddler and young children English? Here are the 3 most important tricks when teaching English to kindergarteners.
Songs in the ESL Classroom for Younger Beginners
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
What better way to teach English than with music! Here are some great tips on how to use songs in an ESL classroom for younger beginners!
5 Keywords to Increase Your Confidence in the Classroom as a Teacher
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Are you new to teaching English abroad? Don't fear! These 5 keywords will help you increase your confidence in the... [Read more]
How Important is the Difference Between American English and British English for EFL Learners? - TEFL Blog
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
How Important is the Difference Between American English and British English for EFL Learners?
This summative essay will exam the importance of teaching the differences between American English and British English for EFL learners. I will examine the intention behind teaching these differences, and when these teachings should be applied, and to what effect and purpose. This essay will focus primarily on the problems of pronunciation and spelling, which are the two main differences. I am a British citizen, born and raised in London, England, and currently teach at a public high school in Tokyo.
Table of Contents
Spelling
Challenges for Beginners and Intermediate Learners
What do Students Think?
Grammar
Interesting Experience for... [Read more]
Creating your Own English Immersion Experience for ESL Students - TEFL Blog
Tue, 15 Feb 2022 Estefany Garduño
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Creating your Own English Immersion Experience for ESL Students
When you hear about English lessons, the first thing that comes into your mind is probably lessons taken from a book, answer lesson sheets, and talking in pairs applying a small group of vocabulary, and that's all. Let's change the game by giving a higher immersion of English to your ESL students without going to an English-speaking country to obtain more vocabulary, pronunciation, and speaking practice.
Table of Contents
What is an English Immersion Experience?
How could I start?
Select a topic according to your students' English level
Include as receptive as productive skills.
Build confidence in students
Time to expand during the... [Read more]
Reasons Why Singing Songs Helps Children to Learn English - TEFL Blog
Wed, 21 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Reasons Why Singing Songs Helps Children to Learn English
I have a great fascination and interest to teach English as well as proper study techniques to students of all ages. This next year, I plan on moving to China to teach English to young children. When contemplating these future endeavors, I plan on implementing songs as a method to help young children learn English. Singing songs is a fun, interactive method that engages the attention of children. When teaching children, I argue that singing songs is a great method to cultivate and maintain a strong foundation in their English language level.
Table of Contents
Children and Learning
Lesson Goals
How to Choose Songs for The Lesson
Other Pros
Regular Repetition
Do you want to... [Read more]
Accreditation TEFL Cert - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Accreditation TEFL Cert
Check out tefl tesol about Accreditation TEFL Cert 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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T.D. - U.S.A. said:
Teaching StylesBeing an English Teacher in a foreign country, there are several teaching styles that can be used. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages in its own right. A teacher needs to look at each style carefully to determine which method is the best for his/her class or if a mixture of both should be applied.
This form is similar to lecturing. Lecturing is teaching by giving speech on a specific subject in the classroom. Lecturing is... [Read more]
12 Course Books to Improve Your General English Lessons for Adults - TEFL Blog
Thu, 29 Aug 2019 Jon ITTT
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
12 Course Books to Improve Your General English Lessons for Adults
As a newly qualified TEFL teacher the chances are you will be working for a school which supplies its teachers with all the resources needed to teach successful lessons based on a set course. This article shows a selection of the course books that are available for teaching general English course to adults from a number of publishers in the TEFL industry.
Table of Contents
Oxford University Press
Cambridge University Press
Pearson/Longman
Macmillan
Are you ready to teach English to adults all over the world?
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There are several publishers involved in producing course books for the TEFL classroom. The main publishers are Oxford University... [Read more]
Parents’ Help in ESL Considering Students’ Language Level - TEFL Blog
Fri, 27 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Parents’ Help in ESL Considering Students’ Language Level
Learning English is a continues process and it starts right after the birth of a baby. Parents are the first teachers to the kids. So they must need to understand the importance of the English language. Children are adept at picking up on the family's' attitudes. If they realize that in their family it isn't important they won't give importance to it. So it's the parents' who's responsible for making the environment at home and let this skill nourish and nurture the kid.
Table of Contents
Parents can divide this learning cycle into different stages.
1. Beginner/Pre-kindergarten level
2. Mover/Kindergarten level
3. Elementary/Primary school level
4. Intermediate
5.... [Read more]
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]
4 Main Challenges for ESL Students in China - TEFL Blog
Tue, 30 Apr 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Destinations Alumni Experiences
4 Main Challenges for ESL Students in China
I have been in China for four years; I came here on 15, September 2015, as a student. During this time pursuing my Master's degree, I taught English as a foreign language in training centers, elementary school, high school and currently teaching in a Polytechnics.
Table of Contents
Weak Language Foundation
Late Start:
Weak Language Acquisition Device:
Teen Development Problems:
Curriculum Structure
Combined Topics Per Lesson:
Student Placement:
Course Materials:
Lack of Motivation
Testing of Students:
Student Placement:
Poor Language Training Institutions
Teaching, Learning, and Business:
Unprofessional Teachers:
Lack of Regular Training:
Are you ready to take your TEFL... [Read more]
7 Great Resources for Teaching Business English - TEFL Blog
Thu, 04 Oct 2018 Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
7 Great Resources for Teaching Business English
Business students are most likely already familiar with using computers and particularly the Internet for learning English. The Internet can provide a teacher with an enormous array of teaching resources from non-authentic and authentic materials to lesson plans and ideas. Here are 7 great resources for teaching business English at no cost to the teacher!
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
BusinessEnglishSite.com
Busy Teacher
AnnualReports
Infoplease
VOA Learning English
BBC Learning English
UsingEnglish.com
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This post was written by... [Read more]
What are the best books for teaching ESL? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What are the best books for teaching ESL?
The realm of ESL teaching books is expansive, with renowned publishers offering a plethora of resources. Generally, ESL teaching materials can be categorized into:
These categories encompass a range of tools, from structured lesson plans to interactive activities, essential for any ESL educator.
Table of Contents
Book Series
Teaching Theory Books
Activity Resources
Book Series
There are a number of well known book series. These are specifically written for the ESL teaching market and are generally set at the five levels most often taught. These levels are Starter or Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate.
A typical book series at each level will contain three books. These are the teacher book, student... [Read more]
Improve Your Young Learners Classes with these 30 Course Books - TEFL Blog
Thu, 19 Sep 2019 Jon ITTT
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
Improve Your Young Learners Classes with these 30 Course Books
TEFL teachers both new and experienced will benefit from having a range of course books to draw on for their lessons. General English course books for young learners differ from those for adults in a number of ways. Obviously the types of topics will be geared towards the interests of younger people but there are also differences in the way the language is presented. Course books for adults will generally have sections with explicit presentations of a grammar point,whereas books for young learners do not usually cover grammar in detail.
Table of Contents
Oxford University Press course books for young learners
Cambridge University Press course books for young... [Read more]
Online Workshop: How to Create Lessons Based on Videos - TEFL Blog
Mon, 21 Jun 2021 Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
Online Workshop: How to Create Lessons Based on Videos
Hey there it's Lizzy here and I'm super happy to welcome you to our weekly live stream. This live stream is provided by ITTT, International TEFL and TESOL Training. If you haven't watched our recent live streams please feel free to go to one of our social networks and check out the previous videos, because we share really useful topics on a regular basis. Today's live stream is going to be devoted to creating lessons based on videos.
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!
Watch the live session here
I'm going to change the... [Read more]
Online Workshop: How To Create Lessons Based On Videos - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Online Workshop: How to Create Lessons Based on Videos
Hey there it's Lizzy here and I'm super happy to welcome you to our weekly live stream. This live stream is provided by ITTT, International TEFL and TESOL Training. If you haven't watched our recent live streams please feel free to go to one of our social networks and check out the previous videos, because we share really useful topics on a regular basis. Today's live stream is going to be devoted to creating lessons based on videos.
I'm going to change the size of the slide right now. Let me know if you can see and hear me clearly. There is a comment section in the live stream so feel free to write down any greetings there so I know that someone is there and someone is watching. It's always easier to communicate with the... [Read more]
What are the best books for teaching ESL? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What are the best books for teaching ESL?
The market for ESL teaching books is very large and all the major publishers have some form of involvement in the production and selling of these resources. There are many different types of books and resources that are used in ESL teaching and we will consider three main categories.
1) Book series
2) General teaching theory books
3) Activity resources
Book Series
There are a number of well known book series. These are specifically written for the ESL teaching market and are generally set at the five levels most often taught. These levels are Starter or Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate.
A typical book series at each level will contain three books. These are the teacher book, student book and resources... [Read more]
The Most Impressive TEFL Course Takeaways - TEFL Blog
Fri, 25 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The Most Impressive TEFL Course Takeaways
The key things from this course for me can be summarized under the following topics: teachers and learners; theories, methods, and techniques; teaching a new language, and teaching special groups.
Table of Contents
Teacher-Learner Communication
Practical Methods
ESL
Special Groups
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ewa T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Teacher-Learner Communication
People are all about connection. For a teacher to be able to teach effectively and students to get the most out of a course learning English as a... [Read more]
What are some useful ESL teaching resource books? - TEFL Blog
Sun, 20 Aug 2023 Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
What are some useful ESL teaching resource books?
The market for ESL teaching books is very large and all the major publishers have some form of involvement in the production and selling of these resources. There are many different types of books and resources that are used in ESL teaching and we will consider three main categories.1) General teaching theory books2) ESL book series3) Activity resource books
Table of Contents
General teaching theory books
ESL book series
Activity Resource books
Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language?
Related Articles:
Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
General teaching theory books
As an ESL teacher unless you spend your entire career... [Read more]
The Most Common Challenges For The Turkish ESL Learners - TEFL Blog
Tue, 23 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
The Most Common Challenges For The Turkish ESL Learners
There is nothing comfortable than being in your comfort zone, especially when speaking your language (native language). The feeling that comes with it, how you pronounce words, the use of jokes and proverbs, idioms, and other slang within it, no one can take that joy or even compensate it because it naturally comes from within. It makes you feel safe at home and confident even when speaking about topics that you have never seen or heard before simply because your brain is already rich with enough vocabulary. So it allows you to navigate, swim and tackle the issues from all possible angles.
Table of Contents
Global challenges
Sentence structure... [Read more]