I Can Speak Arabic

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 Umber Sherjeel Destinations Alumni Experiences What is it like teaching English in Saudi Arabia? Being in the teaching field for more than a decade and having taught in Saudi Arabia for the last 7+ years, I will give some pointers about my experience here as an English Language teacher. Table of Contents A Booming Job Market Financial Aspects Fuel is cheap Multifaceted Culture Good news for English Native Speakers Tips for Teaching Arab Students Things to avoid during the lesson Duties to be fulfilled along with teaching Overall working environment Related Articles: A Booming Job Market The education industry in Saudi Arabia is very blooming. There are many international schools, colleges, and universities - and the English education field in Saudi Arabia...  [Read more]

Fri, 29 May 2020 Gökhan Yilmaz Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas 5 Common Problems for Arab Learners When Studying English This topic is very dear to my heart as I have been an English teacher in Arab countries for a long time. Therefore, I am writing this article as someone who has experience in learning both Arabic and English. In my observation, most of these difficulties either have to do with the students' native language (Arabic) or their cultural backgrounds. Here are the 5 most common problems for Arab learners when studying English. Table of Contents The Arabic Language Writing is Important Grammatical Differences Pronunciation Issues Reasons for learning English Related Articles: The Arabic Language As Arabic is written from right to left, English looks very strange to...  [Read more]

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences My Unforgettable Experience Teaching Kindergarten in the Middle East Teaching English to non-English speaking students can be a big and challenging task. You need to be full of patience, understanding and passion if you decide to enter this vocation. I worked for ten years as a kindergarten teacher in the Middle East and at times it seemed like I was in a "jungle survival" competition. Table of Contents My first day in the 'Jungle' My second day in the 'Jungle' Major breakthrough! Embracing the local culture All my hard work paid off Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alona J. My first day in the 'Jungle' I was really in shock when...  [Read more]

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Building Student Confidence Gradually Throughout a Course Being a student learning a new, foreign language I can acknowledge that feelings of insecurity and fear of making mistakes are often present. This can lead to students being quiet or non- participating. As a teacher, it is important to understand this and to make the students feel comfortable in class. Table of Contents From my experience Teaching styles Lesson structure Pace of teaching new material Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Adela J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. From my experience In my first month of...  [Read more]

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Grammar as a Starting Point of Your ESL Teaching Learning a language is acquiring the ability to produce the language and to produce the language accurately, a student needs to learn the grammar of that language. So, what is grammar? Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: Definition of Grammar Tricky Issue The Way of Explanation Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sheila A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Listen to this blog post: Definition of Grammar Grammar is the study of the way words are used to make sentences. It is a set of rules that provides the...  [Read more]

Qualifications TEFL Weekend Check out tefl tesol about Qualifications TEFL Weekend and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts H. H. - Egypt said: Pronunciation Problems in EgyptI have been teaching English for almost eight years for Egyptian university students at the English Department. Out of my experience of teaching Phonetics and Phonology for those students, I can conclude that the Egyptian learners of English encounter many pronunciation problems because of two main reasons: the English spelling as a poor reflection of the English pronunciation as well as the differences between...  [Read more]

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How The Location Influences Your Teaching Resources One of the many challenges I will face as a new teacher will be the uncertainty of the location where I will be teaching. The location and educational environment will impact the resources which will be available. Regardless of the location, however, in light of the rapid expansion of the internet, and vast array of websites, I think it is likely that students will be anticipating and expecting some use of the internet. As a member of the baby-boomer generation, I grew up and was educated prior to the development of the internet and when computer use was in its infancy. I am very accustomed to the traditional classroom with large class size, the teacher in the front of the room...  [Read more]

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How Can English Influence a Student's Career English is my first language, however, I studied Spanish throughout high school growing up in the Midwest and eventually received a Master's degree in Spanish Literature. I learned to speak Spanish very well after becoming a high school Spanish teacher for eight years and then a principal for elementary and secondary schools for 26 more years speaking Spanish to new immigrant students and parents the whole time. Table of Contents Bilingualism Confidence Advantages and Perspectives Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rex P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences My Experience of Learning a Second Language as an American Second language acquisition in native English speakers from the United States is one aspect of American culture that is not widely discussed and seemingly overlooked in terms of its importance. Many factors contribute to the United States' largely monolingual culture despite have a "melting pot" of sorts with a population comprised of multiple ethnicities and nationalities. This culture of English speakers points to strong geographic features of its continental location and debatably its position in the world's economic index and political landscape. Table of Contents How language learning in Europe differs from America The difficulties for second language learners in America...  [Read more]

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences These Are the Most Common English Pronunciation Mistakes Made by Italian Native Speakers This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Stefania F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Table of Contents Teaching English pronunciation to students of other languages is always a big deal. One of the biggest challenges when teaching English to Italians is its phonetics. I personally witnessed pronunciation difficulties when I taught English in Italy in high school last year. Apart from Italian students, I also taught a small group of French, Latin-American, and Arabic migrants, recently arrived in Italy. Not only did they have a low level of Italian, but they were...  [Read more]

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 Elizaveta Pachina Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Alumnus Experience: ✅ Teaching in Saudi Arabia Depending on which part of the world you are in, more often than not, you will find that majority of your learners, especially the younger ones, tend to be very tech-savvy nowadays. This is especially true in a Prep-Year setting in Saudi Arabia, where I'm currently based. When I speak about a Prep-Year location, I refer to young adults between the ages of 18-20 who have just finished high school and must complete a year of English language studies to begin their major. Table of Contents Main Challenges How to solve the problem Alumnus Idea Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads...  [Read more]

Sun, 12 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences English Pronunciation Problems of Italian Native Speakers Teaching English pronunciation to students of other languages is always a big deal. English teachers from other countries may think that it is a topic to be skipped or only briefly introduced to students, but it is one of the most important subjects and it should be an integral part of an English course. As a matter of fact, the full understanding of a language and good communication actually depend, to a certain extent, on how correctly words are pronounced. Also, it is not only a matter of pronunciation but intonation. Every language has its own intonation and stress on words, so an English learner could find it difficult to get used to a new way of pronouncing words in...  [Read more]

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

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Utilizing New Technology in an ESL Setting to Limit Smartphone Use Depending on which part of the world you are in, more often than not, you will find that majority of your learners, especially the younger ones, tend to be very tech-savvy nowadays. This is especially true in a Prep-Year setting in Saudi Arabia, where I'm currently based. When I speak about a Prep-Year setting, I am referring to young adults, between the ages of 18-20 who have just finished high school and must complete a year of English language studies to begin their major. Table of Contents Teaching such learners brings about several challenges. So, we know the problem and we know the restrictions. What can we do? So, how do we address this while at the same...  [Read more]

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 Umber Sherjeel Destinations The 11 Best Places to Visit in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has a rich cultural heritage. The old historical buildings, different types of beaches, and deserts distinguish it from other countries. If you come here, you will find yourself enjoying hiking, camping, swimming, and exploring historical buildings and castles. The following are the 11 best places to visit in Saudi Arabia. Table of Contents 1. Jabal Hassan Island 2. Al Duqm Beach 3. Al Zuraib Castle 4. Ibrahim Palace: 5.Wadi Khamal 6. Yanbu-Al-bahr 7. Al Wahbah Volcanic Crater 8. The Ancient City of Mada'in Saleh 9. Murabba Palace 10. Kingdom Tower 11. Edge of the World When will you visit Saudi Arabia? Related Articles: 1. Jabal Hassan Island If you like quiet and exotic beaches,...  [Read more]

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Benefits of Speaking a Foreign Language There are about 6500 spoken languages in the world today. 11 of those are here from my home country of South Africa. The most spoken language of them all is Mandarin. Language is what defines us. It is what divides us. It what we are taught and brought up to understand and one day pass on to the next generation. It is like being a unicorn. When there are none left, you will only read about it in books and professors who learned and studied about it. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: Linguistic Diversity Challenges Pros of Learning a New Language Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate...  [Read more]

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences One More Look at American English and British English The United States and the United Kingdom's imperial histories and modern influences have had a significant effect on the English wording. Since English was exported to different countries across the world, the language has undergone different variations, the most common one being the British English vs. American English. The British introduced the language to Americans in the 17th century. At that time, the spelling had not been standardized. Given the number of regions where English is used, differences are bound to arise. Even though British and American English may seem similar, there are disparities in vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. Table of Contents Listen to this...  [Read more]

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Common Problems for English Learners in Morocco Morocco's official languages are classical Arabic, and Berber ( indigenous language in North Africa) Classical Arabic, and second unofficial language in Morocco is the French language taught in General educational curriculum from primary school, and Spanish taught in the north as a second unofficial language, Thus learning a third or even fourth language for a Moroccan learner is not a big challenge, however, there are some difficulties to learn a language efficiently and accurately. Table of Contents Demand Teaching Quality Socio-economical situation Huge classes School types Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our...  [Read more]

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas My Personal Teaching Experience With Young Non-English Speaking Learners I have always felt that I have got a message to deliver to the people around me. I thought and realized that spreading knowledge of books, society, and value to the community is one important way to circulate background and civilization. Education is for life and a fundamental pillar in our lives for it arms us with a passport that enables us to grow, improve, and succeed socially and professionally. Table of Contents Positive Learning Environment Working in Saudi Arabia Why do Students Need to Come to a Classroom? Exchanging Ideas Working on Important Skills Students Motivation Lessons According to a Plan Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a...  [Read more]

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 Mark Crocker Destinations Ultimate Country Match Guide for Teaching EFL in the Middle East Whether you are a newly qualified EFL teacher, or you have some experience in the classroom already, there comes a time when you have to decide where to look for a teaching job. Across the world there are many regions and individual countries that offer a variety of opportunities, but which ones would suit you best? One big consideration is your own personal motivation for wanting to do it. Do you want to earn money to fund world travel or to pay off your student loans, or are you simply looking to escape the daily 9 to 5 grind? Are you looking to explore a foreign culture or to learn another language? Table of Contents "I want to earn as much money as possible so I can pay...  [Read more]

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Why is English Considered a Global Language? Most people consider English to be a global language because it is the one language that is spoken and understood by the majority of the population in almost every region of the world. What is a global language? While there is no official definition, it refers to a language that is learned and spoken internationally by native and second language speakers (Mastin, 2011). There are approximately 360 million native English speakers and almost twice as many speaking it as a second language, making English one of the topmost spoken languages in the world (Klappenbach, 2019). English is undoubtedly in just about every sector whether it is in education, medicine, business, technology,...  [Read more]

Tue, 12 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Role of Mothers and Fathers in Children’s Learning Process There are no words to fully describe the importance of parents in the education of children. They are the foremost educators in all aspects of their children's development. Whatever a child studies - be it a subject in a classroom or private lessons for music, language, etc... they will greatly benefit from the impact of having this reinforced in their home environment through their parents' efforts. Multiple studies have shown the increase and improvement in educational attainment when parents closely follow and are involved in encouraging the educational development of their children. Related studies also show how the more parents are involved in school...  [Read more]

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 Mark Crocker TEFL Information The Lowdown on Teaching English Abroad With a Family If you do a quick online search for teaching English abroad, it would be easy to assume that it is only an option for young, single people. However, this is far from the truth, as there are countless thousands of people of all ages who are currently teaching abroad with their families. Many parents see it as a great opportunity to provide their children with an international education that is far removed from the one-dimensional option that most of us experience in our home country. Although moving abroad to teach English as a family is a great option for many people, there are obviously several things to consider before jumping on a plane. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post:...  [Read more]

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences English as a Driver of Future Results I chose to pass "teaching English as a second language" because In my opinion I have great experience and practice in my life and I would love to give knowledge to young learners after what they could open the whole world for themselves, because the English language is international, everywhere you go, you can communicate with others. Table of Contents Great Expectations Opportunities Learning Horizons 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! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Iuliia K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Helping Students Conquer Stress in the ESL Classroom Learning a new language can elicit stress/fear responses in students. This is especially prominent in speaking as it can make people feel vulnerable/ashamed in front of their peers. It is very common for students to feel shy, especially if they are one of the weaker students in English or don't have the motivation to learn the language. Table of Contents My Personal Language Learning Experience Ways to Support Students 1. Classroom Dynamics 2. Attention to a Group, not to an Individual 3. Team Building and Peer Work Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daniela A. Please note that this...  [Read more]

Can TEFL be a career? Contrary to the common misconception that teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is just a temporary gig or a way to pay off student debt, many educators have turned it into a lucrative, long-term profession. Whether teaching abroad or online, TEFL can indeed be a fulfilling lifelong career. Table of Contents Is it possible to make a long-term career out of teaching English as a foreign language? What qualifications do I need to pursue a career in TEFL? What skills will I need to pursue a career in TEFL? What other TEFL-related jobs are there in the long run? What are the advantages of a long-term TEFL career? Is it possible to make a long-term career out of teaching English as a foreign language? Absolutely. While many initially venture into EFL teaching to...  [Read more]

Is TEFL a good career choice? Anyone who has considered teaching English abroad has probably had a reaction from a friend or family member along the lines of “that sounds like fun, but what will you do when you get back?” In some quarters, teaching English as a foreign language has the reputation of not being a ‘real job’, just something that people do to pay off student loans or simply for fun and adventure before settling down into a normal job and lifestyle. There are many people who do choose teaching abroad for these reasons, but there are also plenty who have made a successful and lucrative career out of TEFL. Can I really make a long-term career out of TEFL? YES, you absolutely can have a long-term career as an EFL teacher. For the majority of people who head overseas to...  [Read more]

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 Najwa Sabih Destinations Alumni Experiences Who Your Students will be when Teaching English in Turkey Teaching English in Turkey can be challenging as this language is not very common here. Turkish people are very loyal to their country and language, so they consider it unimportant to learn a new language. Moreover, in their opinion, foreigners must learn Turkish to communicate with them and never the opposite. Thus, if your target population to teach the English language is Turkish, your chance of finding a job is very low. However, it is well known that Turkey, especially Istanbul, Ankara, and Kutahya, are full of foreigners willing to learn the English language in Turkey for many reasons that we will discuss later in this article. Table of Contents Language...  [Read more]

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Importance of Teaching Slang to ESL Students In January, I stood in front of a class of breakthrough English students at a university in Bogotá, Colombia. I'd never taught students in an ESL classroom before, but I was pretty confident having seven years of experience under my belt and a degree in literature. I was naive. I began the lesson with the class that my co-teacher had lent me for the first time. The objective of the lesson was to practice using past tense through storytelling; five minutes into it, I called on a student with his hand in the air. " What up, My Nigga!" He said it and I almost lost all of my composure on the first day while I should have been thinking about building rapport. Table of Contents Tool for...  [Read more]

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How to Become a Self-Assured Teacher Before getting into teaching I had a good experience in the corporate sector. Training always had my interest, but never I thought that my first day would be so unpredictable. As I was a fresher in the training field, I could always relate with my students. I could just feel that if after having reasonable knowledge I could be nervous and unconfident, students can sure be. The day I am talking about was my first demo lecture for a group of students. As the students started entering the classroom, my mind was just running towards the unknown queries I may have to face. But, gradually I understood that to have an answer to all questions was a very wrong expectation to keep from oneself. The...  [Read more]