How Was Hanukkah Celebrated

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Christmas Definitions ESL Worksheet This ESL worksheet with Christmas definitions is great for teaching your students more about Christmas, its customs, and how it is celebrated.   Answer Key 1. An imaginary creature that looks like a small person and has magical powers is a pixie. 2. A fat man with a white beard and a red suit who gives toys to children at Chriswtmas is Santa Claus. 3. Animals that are in front of Santa's sleigh are reindeer. 4. A shiny ball hung on a Christmas tree is a bable. 5. Wax formed into a stick with a string in the middle is a candle. 6. The "green" thing you decorate is called a Christmas tree. 7. Tinsel is shiny metal strips. 8. The red-nosed reindeer is called Rudolph. 9. Something...  [Read more]

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How I Was Introduced to the World of Foreign Language Teaching My interest in ESL began without the intention of becoming an ESL instructor in the first place. It was mostly born out of curiosity and interest in relocating to a foreign country which at the time (2009) was China. At the time I had been deeply contemplating a career living abroad. The contemplation came more from a cultural motivation than from a financial or career-minded motivation. Throughout my childhood and beyond, my parents were both avid travelers. Both my Mother and Father had spent considerable periods traveling in Asia, East Asia and Central Asia in particular. Table of Contents Parental Supervision Real Inspiration Chinese Experience Do you want to teach...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Halloween Facts Worksheet This is a worksheet to learn facts about Halloween. It is a reading task and there also are some activities to check the pupils' reading comprehension. The students also can learn about the origins of Halloween and how the Ancient Celtics used to celebrate it.   Here are the exercises for after the reading:   Are you interested in teaching English as a foreign language? ​Get your TESOL certificate with ITTT. Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Check out ITTT's Blog Posts  [Read more]

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Course Materials: How to Engage Students There are many goals for English as a second language teacher (ESL). The teacher must inform and evaluate student abilities to competently produce written and verbal communication in the English language. Ultimately, one of the most important goals for the teacher to achieve is a reduction in their own talk time and an increase in student talk time (STT), using the target language. Creating a positive classroom environment is essential in generating students that have high levels of productivity. This environment is established well by building rapport and engaging the students. Having varied course materials incorporated in each lesson will help to maintain engagement for the learner and with...  [Read more]

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Stories for Teaching English to Different Groups of Students Reading is one of the key elements for all English learners. By reading authentic stories and books, not only do we learn reading and understanding the text we are working with, but we also expand our vocabulary by discovering new authentic words you wouldn't be able to find in your course books, and more importantly, you can see it in context which makes it easier to remember and use those words and structures in the future. Table of Contents Younger Students Teens and Adults Resources Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Julia P. Please note that this blog post might not...  [Read more]

Fri, 22 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Effects of Teaching Vocabulary Learning Strategies on EFL Learners Vocabulary Development Vocabulary has always been one language area about which students usually complain and claim that it impedes language learning. The main purpose of this study is to investigate whether using the context for guessing the meaning of new vocabulary can solve this problem. The learning of vocabulary is an important part of foreign language learning. The meaning of new words is very frequently emphasized, whether in books or verbal communication. And also, English teachers have an important role in teaching new vocabularies. In this research, we will study different kinds of teaching vocabulary by using a dictionary or guessing on the context....  [Read more]

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Business English: The Medium of Globalization Without a doubt, English is the most popular second language around the globe. It has served as a bridge of communication in the rise of globalization. Business English has found its way in the global business market and has also worked its way up to the digital age with all of the technological advancements available. Table of Contents Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Clarence A. There has been a significant increase of non-native English speakers using the English language as a specific tool in competing inside the international market. It has turned into the universal language...  [Read more]

Sat, 24 Nov 2018 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences How Learning A Foreign Language Made Me a Better ESL Teacher I've taken four years of college Russian. Throughout my time at my university, I learned a few things about both learning and teaching a language that have helped me become a better ESL teacher. Table of Contents Creating a Comfortable Classroom Environment The teacher doesn't know everything. Using a Variety of Teaching Aids and Materials Always Be Respectful and Use the Right Language Listen to this blog post Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: This post was written by our ITTT graduate Leif O. Creating a Comfortable Classroom Environment One crucial aspect of learning a language is making sure that everyone in the class is comfortable. While this...  [Read more]

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Positive Alternatives to Old-Fashioned Punishment Are there alternatives to punishment? In this essay, we will explore what punishment sought to achieve within a classroom environment versus its applicability when seeking alternatives. Particular attention will be placed on measures that teachers may promote to achieve a class-culture that favors deterrence above sanction. Table of Contents What is punishment? Should teachers avoid it? Motivation Respect and Authority Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Aaron T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. What is punishment? Before we...  [Read more]

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Easy Ways to Keep Students Motivated Motivating students starts with the teacher. A teacher who enters the classroom with an unkempt and indifferent appearance would less likely to motivated students. Teachers are the best role model of students and must look presentable in front of their students. But do not overdress or overdress may look unapproachable. Table of Contents Things that matter Activities for the Classroom Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Lara K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Things that matter Not only the appearance matters but also the teachers'...  [Read more]

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences 3 Keywords For Using New Technology in the Classroom Technology these days is evolving at a massive pace. As a product is released into the market, newer versions or updates follow almost simultaneously, making previous versions obsolete. Back when I was in school, the only technology we had was the basic computer, calculators, VCR players and slide projectors. In a few years, technology allowed us to learn through apps on our smartphones, compact and more user-friendly laptops, tablets, and so on. Table of Contents Artificial Intelligence Mixed Reality Quantum Computing Learn how to put technology to use in your classroom with a TEFL course! Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification...  [Read more]

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas 6 Steps To Becoming a More Confident Teacher Every teacher needs a confidence boost, whether they are new or experience doesn't matter. It all depends on oneself to constantly develop and nurture one's level of self-confidence in the classroom because being confident in teaching is crucial as this is something transmittable. Your students always reflect your confidence level and this might affect their way of absorbing the language taught in the classroom. Table of Contents 1. Prepare before Teaching 2. Don't be a Perfectionist 3. Accept your mistakes 4. Realize your strengths 5. Set your own classroom rules 6. Clothing and Body Language Are you ready to teach English abroad? Listen to this blog post Related Articles:...  [Read more]

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences 11 Steps to Teaching Confidence in the ESL Classroom The teacher with no experience or little experience can face issues like fear of teaching, lack of confidence, or empowerment. This can happen to the experienced teacher as well, especially in the situations of changing jobs, type of the group, institution, or topics he/she is accustomed to teaching. Table of Contents To gain more confidence during your lessons there are few tips and words of advice to bear in mind: 1. The teacher is the center of the lesson. 2. Work on your special 'teacher's' voice and intonation. 3. Find an online or offline course about developing effective presentation skills. 4. Be prepared for the lesson as much as you can, try to organize your material....  [Read more]

Wed, 29 May 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences How Does Seating Arrangement in the Classroom Influence Classroom Management? The seating arrangement is one of the most important topics in classroom management. Classroom management refers to the various skills and techniques that teachers use to keep students organized, orderly, focused, attentive, on task and academically productive during the class. However, this essay is going to explore more on the various methods of seating arrangement and how they influence classroom management. There are three most common seating arrangement methods that can be used by the teacher. These include the traditional rows and columns, horseshoe or U-shape and clusters. These are going to be explained in detail outlining their advantages and...  [Read more]

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Parental Help in Students English Learning In the Chinese area, English as a compulsory course in school has to be learned by students for years. Since the government has strengthened the importance of English in Gaokao (College Entrance Examination ) these days, every Chinese family wants their children to start on English learning as early as possible. There is no need to highlight the importance of English to a Chinese family at all. Table of Contents Bilingual daily life Create English surroundings Apply for online English course Find a foreign teacher Be a good example Regular reading Communicate with teachers Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Thu, 02 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences 3 Easy Ways to Motivate Students Keeping students motivated to learn can be one of the biggest challenges a teacher may face. Without motivation, the students can become bored and complacent; they may even start to act out and disrupt the class. A few ways a teacher can keep their students motivated are by participating in games and physical activity, reward, and praise, and having a good attitude as a teacher. Table of Contents 1. Use Games and Activities 2. Praise and Reward 3. Have a Positive Attitude Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Victoria O. Also read: Top Online Lesson Plan Resources for New and Advanced Teachers 1....  [Read more]

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Classroom Management - What is it and how do I implement it? Many texts on this subject begin primarily by defining the term 'classroom management'. I equally think it is not out of place to begin a discussion on classroom management from the same perspective. Classroom management refers to the variety of skills employed by which teachers and schools to curtail disruptive behavior of learners so as to create a congenial environment for teaching and learning. It is the case from the definition that the classroom setting may not always be as well-ordered and peaceful for teaching and learning as it should be and may require certain organizational skills and the ability to create of a friendly and disciplined atmosphere in order for...  [Read more]

TEFL Review For In-class Corinth Course   The four-week in-class TEFL course in Corinth was a great experience for these three TEFL graduates. They learned how to effectively teach English to non-native speakers of different ages. Moreover, they have learned how to create and executed lesson plans in a professional manner to suit the needs of their students. They enjoyed staying in Corinth and are ready to start their careers in teaching English overseas. With their internationally recognized certificate, they can apply for teaching positions all over the world. Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Check out ITTT's Blog Posts  [Read more]

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How to Become Self-Confident if you Lost Your Temper with the Students? Throughout one's schooling, it is not uncommon to come across that particular teacher that resolves every type of altercation, or moment of class disturbance, with excessive shouting and loss of temper. Although these are the teachers we tend to recall the most when we are swapping stories with friends of our bygone school days, I feel that the number of "louder", "loss-of-temper-type" teachers, however, is heavily outweighed by the number of easier going, mild-tempered teachers. Generally, teachers tend to have an understanding of younger learners' behaviors and therefore occasional bouts in student behavior are expected and dealt with methodically and...  [Read more]

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]

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences How Taking a TEFL Certification Course Has Improved My Online English Teaching When I was young, I dreamt about thousands of different jobs, but being an online English teacher was never one of them. However, I've had the opportunity to work with Chinese students ranging from 5 to 13 years old and it has been one of the best experiences of my life so far. How am I going to communicate with them? Am I ready to be a teacher? How will I transmit what I want to teach? These are some of the questions that went through my mind before accepting the job, but when I finally decided to take it and started to be an ESL teacher I knew I was doing what I love the most, transmitting knowledge. Table of Contents Starting at the bottom and working...  [Read more]

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How to Effectively Integrate Slang and Idioms into TEFL Intelligence has been defined in many ways, including the capacity for logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More generally, it can be described as the ability to perceive or infer information and to retain it as knowledge to be applied towards adaptive behaviors within an environment or context (Wikipedia, 2019). Table of Contents Considering Language Habits Iconic Approach to Teaching Why Slang? Verb First Clauses Usually Play one of Three Roles: Teaching Slang and Idioms Incorporating Idioms and Slang into English language Teaching Do you want to teach English abroad? Take...  [Read more]

Wed, 01 May 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences How an English Teacher Can Help Their Students Increase their Level of Motivation Intrinsic motivation is the type of motivation that comes from within a person. An intrinsically motivated student who is highly motivated will always, all things being equal, outperform the less motivated one. These are the students who simply enjoy what they are doing. They just like learning English. Table of Contents Create a learning environment Have an upbeat, positive attitude Increase verbal communication Praise consistently Group activities are key Encourage classroom conversation Create a fun class Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Scott...  [Read more]

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Cultural Sensitivity in the Classroom – Focus on Teaching English To Non-Native Speakers Today's classroom is a global entity and unless appropriately addressed, issues of cultural diversity have the potential to severely diminish the success of even the most dedicated teachers and promising students. In order to promote an atmosphere that enables all students to be successful in learning English in the ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom, it is critical that each student feels safe, respected and appreciated. In today's diverse and multi-cultural climate, this sensitivity has never been more important. Table of Contents Creating An Environment To Promote Cultural Sensitivity Showing interest in your...  [Read more]

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences How 10 Years of Teaching English Has Changed My Life This blog post was written by recent ITTT graduate Kaitlin F., who shares her 10 years of teaching experience with us talking about the many different jobs in the English education field she was fortunate to work in. Table of Contents What is an educator? "I often dealt with preschool children who made my experience memorable and from there my passion to teach continued" "Every day I would receive a call not knowing what to expect when I walked into a school" "My experience while being a paraprofessional has let me become a more knowledgeable person in order to cater to students needs." "I received an opportunity to teach as an education instructor at my neighborhoods local zoo."...  [Read more]

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How to Establish Rapport With Students in The ESL Classroom The relationship a teacher has with their students or clients is critical to their learning experience. It is often overlooked and deemed unimportant, especially compared to the lesson itself. However, the rapport a teacher establishes is the foundation on which the class stands. It affects how the students feel about the class and sometimes helps motivate them as well. Good rapport with the students makes teaching a lot livelier and learning a lot easier. Table of Contents Head of the class Good and bad examples The approach to relationships Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video...  [Read more]

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences What Distinguishes a Good Teacher from an Ordinary One? As you all know, these days, English plays a vital role in life for many good reasons. As English is an international language, it enables learners to get a well-paid job and gives great opportunities to travel all over the world. Moreover, they can gain a scholarship to study abroad. If you are good at English, you will be more confident. It is really important in our lives. If you are good at English, you will. Table of Contents Firstly, one of the best qualities of a good teacher is energy. Secondly, a good teacher should be patient. Thirdly, be an enthusiastic teacher. Last but not least, great teachers are prepared and organized. Do you want to teach English abroad or...  [Read more]

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Why EFL Teachers Need to Develop Their Teaching Skills A teacher must possess several skills to teach effectively. The skills required include, but are not limited to, communication, organization, patience, flexibility, adaptability, creativity, in-depth knowledge and understanding of teaching approaches, techniques, and the subject matter. The combination of these skills contributes to the teacher's success in educating students in any country. Table of Contents Communication Organization and Creativity Patience and Adaptability Flexibility Knowledge and Understanding Research and seek improvement Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video...  [Read more]

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 Linda Dunsmore Destinations 8 Amazing Places to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Asia Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in a variety of Asian countries. This holiday marks the beginning of a calendar year whose months are cycles of the moon. Typically, the Lunar New Year is celebrated in January or February depending on the lunar calendar. Table of Contents Here are 8 amazing places to celebrate Lunar New Year in Asia. 1. China - Chinese New Year 2. South Korea - Seollal 3. Japan - Shōgatsu 4. Mongolia - Tsagaan Sar 5. Tibet - Losar 6. Vietnam - Tết nguyên Đán 7. Singapore - Lunar New Year 8. Laos - Pi Mai Are you ready to teach English in Asia? Related Articles: Teaching English in Asia is a great way to experience Lunar New Year...  [Read more]

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas 7 Principles of Effective ESL Classroom Management Try picturing this: students running around their desks, paper airplanes flying everywhere, and students yelling loudly, giving you a migraine. Does this sound familiar? It's a teacher's worst nightmare - an out-of-control classroom. Table of Contents 1. Lay Down The Rules 2. Build Rapport With Your Students 3. Be Prepared 4. Offer Your Students Praise 5. Give Incentives To Students To Do Their Best 6. Keep Your Temper In Check 7. Act As An Ideal Model Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate VICTOR...  [Read more]