How To Teach English As A Second Language To Beginners

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 Watch the video about this topic The Absolute Beginner The False Beginner Adult Beginners vs. Young Beginners Beginners without Roman Alphabet Conclusions Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Watch the video about this topic The Absolute Beginner Our first group we may call the absolute beginner, the second group we...  [Read more]

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Main Principles of Teaching Beginners Whom a student is defined within about same parameters by different sources. The Collins COBUILD Advanced Dictionary also has two definitions of the word student. Table of Contents The Basis of the Article Useful Tips Program Core Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: The Merriam Webster dictionary (online) has two definitions of students which are as reproduced below: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate PAUL D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The Basis of the Article For this summative assignment, the second definition by the Merriam-Webster and Collins COBUILD...  [Read more]

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]

Fri, 17 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas 7 Useful Tips on Teaching Beginner Students Teaching beginner students is a very challenging task for anyone. Personally, I have always found teaching English to beginners as a tough prospect, whether it is monolingual group and you know nothing of their language or it's a multilingual group and the only common language is English. However, with some work and knowledge, everything is possible to teach beginners the English language. And I believe this is one of the most rewarding to teach. Table of Contents 1. Give simple and clear instructions 2. Let them listen first 3. Speak English only and don't use their own mother tongue 4. Teach the basics 5. Drilling and Repeating 6. Make every English lessons fun and easy 7. Prepare well...  [Read more]

Older Posts Do's and Don'ts When Teaching Young Learners Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences In this blog, we will look at some general do's and don'ts when teaching young learners. These ideas will cover general classroom management and class dynamics, giving a range of useful advice 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...  [Read more]

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How to Approach the Teaching of Beginner Students? We can notice two approaches of teachers to the possibility of teaching to beginner students: the first is the craze, the second is the fear. Table of Contents Several factors are at the root of his two conflicting emotions such as the teacher's experience, for example. What must be done for this? Some problems can sometimes occur but that we can meet in all classes: boredom, a disruptive, a provocateur, a lack of confidence, ... Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Cassandre F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Several...  [Read more]

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]

The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers The Main Principles of Teaching New Vocabulary Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, you will find out how to work on building students' vocabulary and create lesson plans around this teaching point. 5 More Activities to Play in Your Classroom Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this article, our TEFL graduate shares their favorite games to play with students in the classroom. Why and How Should We Learn Teaching Skills? Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This blog post contains information on teaching skills and the ways to learn them. Simple and Effective Ways to Teach English Vocabulary Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This article is devoted to the most effective ways to teach English vocabulary. 5...  [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 5 More Activities to Play in Your Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this article, our TEFL graduate shares their favorite games to play with students in the classroom. Why and How Should We Learn Teaching Skills? | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This blog post contains information on teaching skills and the ways to learn them. Simple and Effective Ways to Teach English Vocabulary | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This article is devoted to the most...  [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 How Punishment Influences A Student's Motivation | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate considers punishment as ineffective method and offers some alternatives to it. Common Pronunciation Mistakes of Japanese Students | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Our TEFL graduate listed a number of pronunciation issues occuring around Japanese learners of English. Reading as a Part of Leadership | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This...  [Read more]

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Establishing Rapport in Rural Japan I first decided to take this TEFL course because I am currently teaching English in rural Japan. I plan and execute English lessons for Junior High School students, as well as serve as a cultural representative of my country and foster cultural exchange. Here's the catch though - I don't speak Japanese. Table of Contents Setting up good relationships Beginning of the study Inspiring students Rewarding system Role model English only Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Gwendolen J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Setting up good...  [Read more]

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How did This TEFL Course Improve My Personal Teaching Experience? Having been professionally teaching for a year now, this course provided me with a lot of new information, which I can incorporate in my teachings of the English language. I am not able to narrow down to a specific unit within this course because every unit had some information which I was not familiar with prior; however, I would have to say the units that stood out to me the most were: theories, methods, and techniques, managing classes, and teaching special groups. I currently teach students ranging from ages 4-12, and these three units, in particular, helped me to better understand the different levels of students, how to teach each level accordingly, the ESA...  [Read more]

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Differences of Acquiring Mandarin Chinese as the First Language and English as the Second This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Susan T S G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Table of Contents Background Definition of First vs Second Language My Own Experiences with Acquired vs Learning Languages Sentence Structures Verbs and Alphabets Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Background Singapore is a multilingual and multi-ethnic society. We have four official languages Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin), and Tamil, with Malay as our...  [Read more]

Will TEFL certification help you teach English? Definitely! Just as we expect professionals like surgeons or pilots to be trained, students expect their English instructors to be both knowledgeable and skilled. A TEFL certification ensures two primary competencies: Thus, being TEFL-certified not only bolsters your expertise but also fosters trust and credibility among students. Table of Contents So how can taking a TEFL certification provide this knowledge? The second major component mentioned at the start, that of Classroom skills. In conclusion: So how can taking a TEFL certification provide this knowledge? First you need to find a course that offers these components. While many native English speakers have learned the rules of English grammar sub-consciously as part of their language...  [Read more]

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Beginner Students: Easy to Teach Them or Not? Being a student at the elementary or beginner level in any language, not just English, is not only a challenging task when beginning to learn the target language but also a clean slate to progress the learning in the correct way. Having never learned English before, it can sometimes be a difficult feat of where to begin. However, this allows the teacher to start the student or students off in the correct way so that the challenges for the student will become less and less as they progress through the language difficulties. Table of Contents Clean State Nothing to Change Learning Strategies Are you ready to work with beginner students? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post...  [Read more]

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Native Language Experience in Second Language Acquisition A language is a tool for people to communicate, so there must be some connections among different languages, include similarities and differences. If we can use their similarities properly and pay attention to differences, different languages can be interlinked. Therefore, the first language not only has a positive impact but also hurts second language acquisition. We call these effects 'language transfer'. There are two kinds of language transfer, positive transfer, and negative transfer. Table of Contents Benefits and Drawbacks Research in the Field Anticipated Problems Results Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was...  [Read more]

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 Federico Riva Teaching Ideas The Principles of Building a Strong Vocabulary Perhaps more than anything, the size of a student's vocabulary puts a limit on what he or she can and cannot do in English! Because although I think that grammar certainly has a place in the teaching of English, my own experience has shown me that the number of words and phrases in your language arsenal will be a bigger determining factor of your ability to understand and to use a language actively. Here I will explain why I believe that vocabulary is key when it comes to mastering English and at the same time give some examples of how to teach English vocabulary effectively to students in line with the ESA methodology. Table of Contents Active vs. Passive Vocabulary Benefits of a Large...  [Read more]

Wed, 27 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How Kindergarteners Learn English as a Foreign Language Kindergarten students are at the "Beginner" phase of learning English. Therefore, you must treat the students and the learning experience in a fun and appropriate manner. Being kind, friendly, and entertaining is vital for young learners and your rapport as a teacher. Building a good rapport is essential to truly provide the best English course and helping the Kindergarteners progress throughout the semester. Since the students are so young and open to learning, talking only easy, simple words are beneficial to them at the moment. Do not go into further detail in the time being. They are beginners and need to learn the absolute basics before going into further detail about...  [Read more]

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Being a Good English Teacher Even if You’re not a Native Speaker As a Spaniard in love with languages, I can't start this essay without saying anything other than, "it's not who the teacher is, but the will of teaching that they have". Through all these years of learning English, I just know for sure that a learner learns more when they live in and with the language throughout each day. They need to become hooked to it, and it does not matter if the person who transmits this feeling is a native speaker or not. Table of Contents Modern Opportunities Benefits of a Non-Native English Speaking Teacher Downsides Advantages of Native Speakers Is it fair enough? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related...  [Read more]

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Methods of Teaching Vocabulary in the Classroom While sentence structure and grammar are the foundation of the English Language, vocabulary is the glue that holds it together. An expansive vocabulary allows students to feel confident in their abilities and communicate more effectively. There are many methods of teaching vocabulary and in each class, the teacher may need to use different methods. This is because each class will be made up of different students each with their own learning style. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: What is vocabulary for? Lesson structure Sample Lesson Plan Depending on students' age An example of a more beginner class could entail: Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today?...  [Read more]

Will TEFL certification help you teach English? In the same way that we would expect our surgeon, dentist or airline pilot to have undertaken some training, our students of English might also expect their teachers to be trained and competent. What does it mean that our English teacher is competent? Possibly there are two major components to the answer: 1. The teacher has adequate subject knowledge. 2. The teacher has some classroom delivery skills. So how can taking a TEFL certification provide this knowledge? First you need to find a course that offers these components. While many native English speakers have learned the rules of English grammar sub-consciously as part of their language development, this does not give them the necessary subject knowledge required to teach English. So...  [Read more]

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas 5 Strategies for Teaching English to Adult Learners Online Online English teaching has become more and more popular and worldwide, it not only can save a lot of time but also supply many possibilities to study at any time, any place as long as you have wifi. Nowadays, many adults choose online courses because of the convenience. I have taught adults online for almost a year, I chose this job because the working time is more flexible, and also I feel self-satisfied when I see my students making progress. But how to teach English to adults online? Table of Contents 1. Planning 2. Building Their Confidence 3. Know their needs well and monitor their progress 4. Choose Appropriate Activities 5. Create a Positive Atmosphere Do you want to...  [Read more]

Our ITTT TEFL and TESOL Alumni Stories The Importance of Home Tutoring in Vietnam Tho Nguyen Destinations Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Discover the advantages of 1-on-1 home tutoring over conventional methods in Vietnam. Learn how personalized attention can improve self-esteem, address learning disabilities, and shorten the learning curve for students. Read this blog post to find out how small changes can make a big difference in a student's education. The Importance of Speaking English in Today's World Hoàng Minh Huy TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Speaking skills are crucial for language learners. Learn the benefits of fluent speaking in a second language & strategies to improve your English speaking skills in this informative blog post. Top 5 ESL Teacher...  [Read more]

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Natural Way of Learning One of the most basic aspects of life is learning, we start learning the moment we are born, the first thing we learn is how to breathe and after that, the learning process just keeps going on. On most families kids grow up listening to just one language and that language becomes what we call as mother tongue or native language, this language is the one that the kid will always hold on into and have it as his/her primary language, so we as English teachers in foreign countries have to be aware of this, because this native language is going to have a huge impact on the learning process of the students, for example if you are teaching in a class that the student's native language has a different grammar...  [Read more]

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]

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences How Teaching English In Brazil Inspired Me To Take My TEFL and Pursue A Teaching Career In 2016, I was given the amazing opportunity to teach English in the beautiful country of Brazil. In my first few weeks there, I learned how to teach by observing a professional instructor at the English language school and then practicing in front of my new colleagues. These were my first steps into the world of teaching. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: This post was written by our ITTT graduate Kyler J. During my first month at the English school in Brazil, I learned as much about the culture of Brazil and the students who lived there as I did about being a teacher. When I...  [Read more]

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching English as a Non-Native Speaker Can a non-native speaking English be a TEFL teacher? Generally, employers will consider candidates from Us, Canada, England, and Australia for their hiring position. Therefore this may imply some difficulty to who is trying to establish a career teaching path. The answer to the question is YES! Table of Contents Benefits Second Language Experience Native vs. Non-Native Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Angela S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Benefits Despite all the difficulty, a non-native may encounter, the knowledge and...  [Read more]

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Benefits of Completing a TEFL Course Many people who begin teaching English as a second language are new to the teaching world, and thus many times, need basic strategies and information on teaching. For example, I have entered education upon moving to Italy. My previous work experience was in marketing/events for large corporations and nonprofits, with no experience in teaching anything, let alone English as a second language. While I have a very good grasp of the English language and speak it well, how to teach it to others is a different ballgame. Hence, taking the TEFL courses to obtain a certification was essential in my development as a teacher. Table of Contents Teaching Methodology and Planning Grammar Explanation...  [Read more]

Tue, 21 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Foreign Language Experience in The Teaching Practice Although many ESL teachers do have foreign language experience, many are not aware of how much this experience benefits them. Sure, if they are teaching English in Japan, having Japanese language experience is helpful for daily life situations, but how could it bleed into the classroom as well? And the language experience doesn't necessarily have to involve the first language of the students, either. Having foreign language experiences allows the teacher to understand just how hard learning a language is, can understand where certain errors may come from, see English from a different perspective, and gives them a stronger grasp on English grammar. Table of Contents Having...  [Read more]

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How to Benefit Using ICALL? Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Learning (ICALL), the subfield of CALL integrating natural language processing and artificial intelligence, has typically equated language acquisition with the learning of linguistic patterns and grammatical structures. ICALL system, therefore, has focused on identifying and providing feedback to problems in student performance that are exclusively related to linguistic structures. Table of Contents Basis of L2 Acquisition How does it Work? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Omer Shahid R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]