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The Importance of Using Online ESL Games in TEYL - TEFL Blog
Mon, 29 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
The Importance of Using Online ESL Games in TEYL
When it comes to learning ESL, most learners associate it with memorizing spelling rules, doing countless grammar exercises, making abstract speaking topics, and translating sentences from L1 into English. In these, there is little or no listening and speaking practice involved, making English just one of the numerous boring school subjects. However, there is so much more to learning and activating the language if the fun element is involved. This doesn't only include traditional classroom games but also learning both at school and home with the usage of modern technology. Most children born in the 2000s have grown up using iPads and mobile phones, which makes them much more... [Read more]
7 Non-Trivial Online ESL Games - TEFL Blog
Tue, 15 Sep 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
7 Non-Trivial Online ESL Games
There are many famous games used by TEFL teachers that students know like the back of their hand. If you want to change up your online lessons and bring even more fun in your teaching, check out these seven non-trivial online ESL games to help you in every stage of the TEFL class.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
1. Connect The Dots
2. Simon Says
3. Online Word Chain
4. Catchphrase
5. I Went to The Market and Bought
6. Don't Say Yes or No
7. Would You Rather?
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Listen to this blog post:
1. Connect The Dots
... [Read more]
Games as a Game-Changer in an ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Mon, 14 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Games as a Game-Changer in an ESL Classroom
There are many benefits to using games in the classroom, including the creation of an engaging learning experience for students, a positive learning environment, and the potential for students to practice real-life situations with instant feedback. Also, gamification of learning can use students' natural inclination for socialization, achievement, and award. Thus, games can be a great tool for teaching English as a foreign language.
Table of Contents
Reasons to use games
Ready-to-use games
Games in grammar and vocabulary teaching
Pitfalls of using games
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tassyn... [Read more]
ESL Classroom Gamification: ✅ Pros and Cons - TEFL Blog
Tue, 23 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
ESL Classroom Gamification: ✅ Pros and Cons
I am an English teacher for preschool children in a small village. My students are excited about the new English subject. However, after a period of studying, they become tired and distracted. "This is hard" or "why don't we play games?", My student said. I have found that traditional teaching methods make children feel bored and hard to absorb. So why don't we use games in the classroom? I tried applying some preschool games to the lesson. My students were thrilled and excited about the games.
Table of Contents
Classroom dynamics
Ideas for different lesson stages
Are you ready to teach English abroad or online?
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Check out what our... [Read more]
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers from: 1220
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers
Teaching English to Adult Students Online
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This blog post is devoted to the topic of online teaching. Our TEFL graduate shares their ideas on how to work with students online.
Volunteer Teaching: A Meaningful Exchange
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This blog post was written by our TEFL graduate who told about their experience in volunteer teaching.
Top Tips for Teaching Reading to Younger Groups of Students
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this article, you will find information on how to teach reading to young students effectively.
The Importance of Game-Based Learning in the Classroom
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This blog post is based on our TEFL student's experience of... [Read more]
3 Steps for Teaching ESL Vocabulary Effectively - TEFL Blog
Wed, 17 Feb 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
3 Steps for Teaching ESL Vocabulary Effectively
Words are an essential part of the structure of English sentences. If we want to speak English as a foreign language, we need to know new words and even progress. Considering a student who needs to know and learn new words as a teacher, we have to answer this question "What impressive ways do you have in teaching ESL vocabulary?"
Table of Contents
To effectively acquire new ESL vocabulary, students must go through four essential stages:
1. Noticing and understanding new words
Introducing nouns, things, objects, animals, etc.
Introducing adjectives
Introducing abstracts
2. Recognizing new words
Bingo
Matching
3. Producing ESL vocabulary
Descriptions... [Read more]
5 Challenges of Teaching EFL to Kindergarten Level Students - TEFL Blog
Thu, 21 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
5 Challenges of Teaching EFL to Kindergarten Level Students
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Susan W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Table of Contents
1. Self-introduction
2. Reasons for practicing as an EFL Teacher
3. Ways in which EFL will guide me achieve my goals
4. Games and activities in the classroom
5. Planning my New Lesson
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1. Self-introduction
I am Susan and I'm 40 years female from Kenya and I have graduated with a bachelor's degree in Art in Education. I have been teaching young learners in Kenya for two years and I was invited to teach English in southern... [Read more]
Inspiration to Create Teaching Materials - TEFL Blog
Tue, 27 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Inspiration to Create Teaching Materials
Teaching is a creative enterprise and creating your materials is very satisfying. There are many positive reasons for a teacher to create their materials. Purposely created materials are inexpensive, tailored to specific grammar and language topics, adaptable for different language levels, specific expansions on the course resources, culturally sensitive and correct. From my perspective, among the most important reasons for creating your materials are that it adds a personal touch to your class, and it enables you to have a sense of ownership in the curriculum.
Table of Contents
Topics to discuss
Online resources
Printed materials
Second-hand materials
Life-learning
Self-made materials... [Read more]
4 Activities to Use When Teaching Online - TEFL Blog
Mon, 10 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
4 Activities to Use When Teaching Online
Teaching English in the classroom remains a popular educational choice for families and children in decades. However, a lot of students cannot attend in-classroom all the time for many reasons. That's why teaching online has a potential extension possibility despite their limited competitive advantages in comparison with the general education method. Hence, online teachers need to be more creative in their lessons to increase learner's interest. As a result, many interactive activities have been developed in online English courses.
Table of Contents
1. Pair Work
2. Game Play
3. Singing a Song
4. Quiz
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Check out... [Read more]
7 Fun Activities for Teaching Vocabulary in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Mon, 06 Aug 2018 Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
7 Fun Activities for Teaching Vocabulary in the ESL Classroom
You will find the web full of ideas for teaching vocabulary and, although most of them are undoubtedly good activities, some are only suited to a particular level. Here are some tried and tested activities that can be adapted to suit any level of student and a variety of class sizes.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
1. Hot seat
2. Beat the clock
3. Crosswords
4. Board games
5. Slow Pictionary
6. Vocabulary tennis
7. Pelmanism ("Concentration")
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Listen to this blog post:
1. Hot seat
This is a great activity that can be used as a warm-up at the... [Read more]
Top Tips for Using TPR in Preschool ESL Teaching - TEFL Blog
Fri, 09 Jul 2021 Anna Domiczek
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Top Tips for Using TPR in Preschool ESL Teaching
Total Physical Response is a very successful teaching method that can be used for both children and adults, particularly for beginner and lower-level learners. This English teaching approach, developed by Dr. James Asher, has been applied for almost thirty years. Asher's language learning method is built around the coordination of speech and action, and its purpose is to teach language through physical activity.
Table of Contents
Is TPR Beneficial in Online ESL Teaching?
How Can TPR be Used in Teaching ESL to Young Learners?
Simon Says
TPR Storytelling
TPR Songs
Scavenger Hunt Challenge
Charades
Pronunciation
Conclusion
Are you ready to teach English abroad or online?... [Read more]
Top-5 Fun Flashcard Activities - TEFL Blog
Thu, 03 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Top-5 Fun Flashcard Activities
Flashcards can be great tools for eliciting vocabulary, but teachers should not overlook the numerous other uses for these great tools. Flashcard games can add excitement to young learners' classes. The following activities are aimed to drill the vocabulary in the second study phase of the lesson, after the elicitation of vocabulary.
Table of Contents
1. Game for liars
2. Get on the other side of the bridge
3. Memory challenge
4. Keyword race
5. More for listening skills
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kiyomi Ann H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions... [Read more]
Games in The ESL Classroom: ✅ Common Misconceptions - TEFL Blog
Wed, 17 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Games in The ESL Classroom: ✅ Common Misconceptions
Let's think about a definition of the word 'game' and try to find it in dictionaries or encyclopedias. We will see that apart from amusement value, a game is considered to be a valuable educational tool. Undoubtedly different games are used mainly to entertain and bring fun, and only the secondary aim can be perceived as having teaching or educational significance. Whether students can or cannot understand the teacher's hidden purpose in applying games during a lesson, the process will bring fun, relaxation, and interaction. At the same time, the result will be meaningful and long-lasting.
Table of Contents
Are games for children only?
Games as... [Read more]
5 Communicative ESL Speaking Activities Your Students Will Love - TEFL Blog
Wed, 28 Oct 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
5 Communicative ESL Speaking Activities Your Students Will Love
Speaking activities are essential for English learning as they give a chance to learn new linguistic points, including grammar and real-life listening skills.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
Speaking Cards
Collaborative Discussion
Interview
Giving Directions
Speaking Boardgame
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Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
Unfortunately, teachers often omit communicative tasks in the classroom because they feel that it is difficult to manage them. There is also a lack of time to practice speaking; many course books provide ESL... [Read more]
Last posts written by Linda from: 12
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 Back-to-School Ideas for Your ESL Class | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Schools are starting again and students and teachers flock back to the classroom. Check out these simple and powerful back-to-school ideas and your students will surely remember this first lesson of yours for a long time!
7 Go-To Activities For Your ESL Conversation Class | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
As an ESL teacher, getting your students talking can be one of the most difficult things to accomplish. English learners often lack the necessary... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 132
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
5 ESL Classroom Halloween Decor Ideas | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, our TEFL experts share five Halloween decor ideas for your ESL classroom. Get inspired and create incredible atmosphere of this fun holiday.
7 Easy Ways to Make Money Online as an English Teacher | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Budget and Salary TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
This blog post was written by an ITTT TEFL expert who shares 7 ideas on how to make... [Read more]
Top 3 ESL Games for Teaching Online - TEFL Blog
Tue, 08 Aug 2023 Sara Stojanovic
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Top 3 ESL Games for Teaching Online
With the introduction of technology, teaching English as a foreign language has changed a lot. Computers opened many new doors for both the teacher and the students. Technology has allowed us to use many resources that were unavailable before.
Table of Contents
Kahoot
Scavenger Hunt
Tow Truths One Lie
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!
With the outbreak of the pandemic, most of the language teaching and learning switched to the online variant.
Despite having all the previously stated advantages, online language teaching can be challenging as well.... [Read more]
Game On – Using Icebreaker Games in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Tue, 30 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
Game On – Using Icebreaker Games in the ESL Classroom
We must up our game as ESL teachers in the 21st century – both figuratively and literally. I use games to engage students and promote learning in my classroom for a wide range of learning objectives. Below is a short list of icebreaker games that I regularly use in my classroom, and I will discuss the learning target(s) that each game aims to facilitate and deliver as well as the context in which the game is used. Since I work with high school age and adult students, the games are geared for English Language Learners in these age groups. As learning communities become more globalized and data give more information on how people learn, one major challenge I find with... [Read more]
How can Game-Based Learning be Helpful to EFL Students? - TEFL Blog
Wed, 29 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
How can Game-Based Learning be Helpful to EFL Students?
Games are a useful tool for teachers of EFL students because they help with motivation, engagement, and graceful failure (Plass 260-261). I will present a successful example of a teacher using games in an adult grammar class from Indonesia. Second, since I plan to teach online EFL students, I will present free digital games online teachers can use in their virtual classrooms.
Table of Contents
Advantages of the Theory
The First Research
Popular Games
Access to Materials
My Choice
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Christopher C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily... [Read more]
Why Games are an Integral Part of ESL Classrooms - TEFL Blog
Tue, 17 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Why Games are an Integral Part of ESL Classrooms
Learning an unfamiliar language is no easy feat and with the globalization of the English language, more and more people are faced with the task of learning English to better their lives. It is no secret that English is one of the more difficult languages to learn given its many peculiarities and the lack of clues to pronunciation. This makes learning English not only more complicated but often frustrating for students who have difficulties understanding certain concepts. This is where games can have a huge impact.
Table of Contents
Motivation and Interest
Confidence
Needs
Useful Materials
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This post was written... [Read more]
Online ESL Game Design Workshop for Teachers - TEFL Blog
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]
5 Fun ESL Flashcard Games to Activate New English Skills - TEFL Blog
Thu, 25 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
5 Fun ESL Flashcard Games to Activate New English Skills
During the lessons, teachers usually use a variety of materials and teaching aids. One of the most common is flashcards. They have so many benefits:
Table of Contents
1. Hit the flashcard
2. What's missing?
3. Pass the envelope
4. Am I?
5. Jump and name
Are you ready to teach English abroad or online?
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Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Oksana K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Flashcards can be used both for learning new vocabulary and for revision.Here are some of the... [Read more]
Online ESL Game Design Workshop For Teachers - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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]
5 Unusual Ways to Build Strong English Vocabulary - TEFL Blog
Tue, 01 Sep 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
5 Unusual Ways to Build Strong English Vocabulary
Vocabulary lessons are quite easy to teach and students love them because of the many exciting games teachers usually implement. In this article, we want to share several unusual ideas for building strong English vocabulary that will definitely help you in your classroom.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
1. PlayDough Wordbuilding
2. Greek and Latin Word Roots
3. Interactive Word Wall
4. Labelling Real Objects
5. Find a Native-Speaking Pen Pals
Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a TEFL course!
Related Articles:
Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
Listen to this blog post:
1. PlayDough Wordbuilding
You can approach any age... [Read more]
7 Best Get-to-Know Games for ESL Lessons - TEFL Blog
Thu, 03 Sep 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
7 Best Get-to-Know Games for ESL Lessons
First lessons are always a little bit overwhelming because the students and teacher don't know each other yet. That's why it's very important to break the ice and help your ESL learners to relax. Plus, for future planning, you need to learn more about your students and their likes and dislikes. Get-to-know games are great for these purposes and work best if you play them during the first 3-5 lessons.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
1. Are you more like…?
2. Me/not me
3. Never have I ever
4. Alphabet
5. Random number
6. Top 5
7. Deserted Island
Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a TEFL course!
Related Articles:
Check out... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 1344
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
Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement in an ESL Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
This blog post is devoted to the problem of punishment. Our TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on whether it is appropriate to punish in the classroom or not.
Phrasal Verbs and Idioms as an Important Part of Vocabulary Teaching | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on teaching phrasal verbs and idioms as a part of a vocabulary course.
... [Read more]
BLOG TEFL & TESOL courses - Work and Live Abroad! from: 380
Older Posts
Online Teaching and Interacting with Parents
Linda Dunsmore
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
Are you looking to teach English online? Here are some useful tips for online teaching and interacting with parents.
7 Activities for Teaching the Present Progressive for the ESL Classroom
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
The present progressive is one of the most important tenses in the English language. As it describes actions currently happening, it's quite an easy tense to teach using a variety of fun and interactive activities. Here are 7 activities for teaching the present progressive for the ESL classroom.
7 Great Games for Your ESL Conversation Class
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Teaching speaking skills is an important part of an ESL class. Sometimes, entire... [Read more]
How to Engage Young ESL Learners in an Online Classroom - TEFL Blog
Mon, 26 Apr 2021 Anna Domiczek
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
How to Engage Young ESL Learners in an Online Classroom
Shifting from a traditional classroom to a virtual setting can be daunting for teachers who do not have experience teaching online. This is especially the case if one has to keep young students engaged and motivated. What are the tricks to instill excitement and interest in preschoolers who do not have the intrinsic motivation to perform to achieve good grades? Their parents' primary desire is for them to speak like the native and one day go off to an internationally renowned US university or work for a foreign company. Young students are motivated by something else- a desire to have fun in a welcoming environment.
Table of Contents
English learners are getting... [Read more]
Where can I get free TEFL lesson plans? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
Where can I get free TEFL lesson plans?
For educators in the TEFL field, having a structured lesson plan is a key to successful teaching. While some prefer crafting their own, others benefit from readily available online resources. Leveraging free online resources not only saves time but also offers insights into diverse teaching strategies. If you are looking for free TEFL lesson plans, there are numerous online platforms worth exploring. Here is a curated list of recommended sites where you can access these invaluable resources:
Table of Contents
Where can I get free TEFL lesson plans?
UsingEnglish.com
TEFL.NET
The British Council
Lanternfish ESL
ThoughtCo
BusyTeacher
English Is a Piece of Cake
The Internet TESL Journal
iSLCollective
Online English Expert
Off2Class
Where can I get free... [Read more]
Last posts written by Elizaveta from: 276
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 Value of Encouragement in EFL Teaching | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Why is it necessary to encourage students in the ESL classroom? Our TEFL graduate shares their opinion and experiences on this point.
Sources and Significance of Motivation in Second Language Learning | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Motivating students is extremely important in terms of teaching EFL students. Our TEFL graduate shares their experiences and explains how to approach to it.
7 Effective Ways to Teach... [Read more]