Lowering The Affective Filter

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Guess Who Halloween Activity Sheet Read the clues and guess the spooky characters from this Halloween activity sheet! Either print it off and use it as a worksheet or read the clues as a time-filler activity.   Answers: 1. I have four of something. 2. I can jump and leap. 3. It is said that I have 9 lives. 4. I have whisters on my face. Answer: I am a cat.   1. You can buy me or grow me. 2. You can put a candle in me to light me up. 3. Sometimes I can look scary. 4. I am orange and round. Answer: I am a pumpkin. 1. I have sharp teeth. 2. I like to drink a red liquid. 3. I can turn into a flying animal. 4. I sleep inside a coffin. Answer: I am a vampire.     1. I have a pet. 2. I can...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Name 3 Things Board Game This is the perfect board game to play as a time filler activity for your ESL class. Your students take turns rolling the die and naming three things around the topic on the board.   Are you interested in teaching English as a foreign language? ​Get your TEFL Certificate with ITTT. Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Check out ITTT's Blog Posts  [Read more]

Fri, 20 May 2022 Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Theories, Methods & Techniques of Teaching - Suggestopedia Which methodology uses music to calm us down before learning? It is called Suggestopedia. How does that work? Table of Contents Watch the video about this topic 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 In the 1970's Georgi Lozanov introduced a new teaching method called Suggestopedia. As psychological theory was developing, one of the ideas that emerged was called the affective filter. The affective filter is a barrier to learning; it's one of the reasons why we are inhibited in our learning of a language. There are two main...  [Read more]

Mon, 13 May 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Motivation and the Language Learner - The Major Factors That Influence It Motivation is one of the most influential aspects of learning a new language. For all language learners motivation varies, but it is surely an essential part in achieving fluency within any given language. Motivation can be dependent upon age, language fluency (both first language and second language), affective filter (i.e. an individual's comfort level within a particular setting), and many other factors. Table of Contents How Age Can Influence Motivation How Language Fluency Can Influence Motivation How the Affective Filter Can Influence Motivation Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our...  [Read more]

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas 5 Important Things You Should Know About Second Language Acquisition In educational literature, the term Second Language Acquisition (SLA) is defined in various ways, influenced by factors such as socio-cultural aspects, the specific language being learned (e.g., second, third, or fourth language), and whether the learning occurs solely in a classroom. Table of Contents Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis Monitor Hypothesis Natural Order Hypothesis Input Hypothesis Affective Filter Hypothesis Ready to teach English as a Foreign Language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Let's examine SLA theory through the lens of Stephen Krashen's five hypotheses:...  [Read more]

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 Shirin Sophy TEFL Information Teaching Ideas An Overview of Stephen Krashen's Theories of Second Language Acquisition Second or foreign language learning, which appears to be an ever-present hurdle for many, has constantly been a topical issue with numerous Hypotheses centered around it, including language acquisition theory or monitor model with its sweeping effects on language learning in classrooms around the world. This well-known theory, first presented by Stephen Krashen in the 1970s, is initially based on six Hypotheses ( The Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis, the Natural Order Hypothesis, the Monitor Hypothesis, the Input Hypothesis, the Affective Filter Hypothesis, and the Reading Hypothesis) that will be discussed in this article. Table of Contents The...  [Read more]

Theories, Methods & Techniques of Teaching - Suggestopedia   Also in the 1970s la señal came up with a new methodology called "Suggestopedia". As psychological theory was developing, one of the ideas that came up was something called ?the effective filter?. Basically, the effective filter is a barrier to learning. It's the reasons why we inhibit our learning of a particular language. There are two main elements to the effective filter, two sets of factors, if you like, those are known as internal and external factors. The external factors to learning, the reasons why we have barriers to learning, may be just simple things such as external noise. So, people talking to us while we're trying to learn and so on and so forth. Perhaps more important are these internal factors and...  [Read more]

Sat, 19 Aug 2023 Sara Stojanovic TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Krashen's Hypotheses and Second Language Acquisition During the previous century, there were many different discussions on second language learning. Hence, many theories were formed by different researchers. The most famous hypothesis was proposed by an American linguist Steven Krashen. Table of Contents Nature vs Nurture Krashen's Hypothesis Acquisition or learning Krashen's Natural Approach 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! Nature vs Nurture Researchers have divided second language acquisition into two categories: nurture and nature. The former proposes that human interaction with...  [Read more]

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 Federico Riva Teaching Ideas Theories - Methods & Techniques of Teaching English: An Overview This blog post focuses on the theories, methods and techniques of teaching, which are the three elements that make up any methodology and we can start with a statement; Table of Contents Watch the video about this topic 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 Some teachers believe that the intelligence of their own children is due to their genes, whilst the intelligence shown by their students is due to their teaching. This is an interesting statement because it contains within it a philosophical argument and it's a philosophical argument...  [Read more]

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 Anna Domiczek Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Teaching Preschool ESL: Songs Songs and music are such an important part of an ESL preschool curriculum. Not only are they fun, but they are also very powerful tools to help young students learn English in a fun and entertaining way. Learning a second language at the preschool level needs to be experienced through engaging activities - words and actions need to go in tandem. Songs allow the children to move along and learn in a pleasant, fun way, in accordance with the TPR technique. They also serve as a tool to lower students' affective filter - according to the famous linguist Stephen Krashen's theory (1983), students can develop a blockage/filter toward their study because of a negative emotional attitude. When that...  [Read more]

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom Management Strategies For Teaching Youngsters How do we manage the class when teaching youngsters aged from 4 to 12? This is different from teaching adults since students in this age range have a shorter concentration span and higher affective filter. Here are the techniques we may use in the classroom. Table of Contents Teacher's role in the classroom: Five ways on how to build rapport with students 1. Physical touch 2. Words of affirmation 3. Quality time 4. Giving gifts 5. Arts of service Proper discipline in the classroom Here are some discipline techniques: 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...  [Read more]

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 Hadassah Roberts Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas How to Live in a Dry Cabin - Survival tactics for the English Teacher living in Remote Places As an English teacher, you may find yourself accepting the call to teach in a remote village or town in any part of the world where the inhabitants are more or less secluded from urban society. Often you may also find that the house you move into is a dry cabin. Table of Contents What is a Dry cabin? How to stay hydrated? How to take baths and showers? How to wash dishes? How to wash clothing? What type of toilets to expect? Conclusion Over to You Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! What is a Dry cabin? A dry cabin is when a house has no well or septic and yet is deemed...  [Read more]

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What are an English Teacher’s Responsibilities and Roles? Due to the need for English skills in today's era, English Teachers are seen around the world. It is perceived in this generation how English is widely used, how English is a must, and how English makes people comfortable. These are the reasons why English teachers travel across boundaries to educate people with English skills. Table of Contents Skills and qualities Knowledge Social skills Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Maricor B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Skills and qualities But becoming an English...  [Read more]

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Am I on the Right Track? Forking the Paths of Teaching "You speak too much in the class," "you always finish their sentences," "you answer back to the teens," "the classroom is a mess," "your lessons are boring." That was the feedback I would usually get in college during my teaching practice. So the final questions were always the same, "When am I going to be a good teacher?" What does it take apart from reading the theory?" "Why am I failing?" In this essay, I will briefly describe some of my experiences when teaching and the struggles on the way. I will also mention the importance of applying specific methods and techniques, taking different roles and the relation between lesson planning and the material to be used in class. Table...  [Read more]

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Personal Teaching Experience and What Factors Influence it I taught high school and college-level Spanish. I taught language for about 20 years. I learned many things throughout my tenure as a teacher. There are many traits and characteristics that I found useful in my career. Table of Contents The first of these is Creativity Secondly, I found that an effective teacher must be a good communicator Another trait that I found very useful in the classroom was patience Humor is a trait I found useful in the classroom Lastly, I would like to talk about flexibility Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Keith B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Factors Influencing a Foreign Language Acquisition What does it mean to learn a language? Generally, when we talk about learning a language, we mean a process that starts with a person not knowing a language but ends up knowing it, regardless of the number of languages a person might already know. Of course, this is an overly simplified definition, but it gives us a decent starting point. So why are our experiences and the mental image of acquiring our first language so different from one of learning a foreign language? In this essay, I will consider the perceived difference between first and second language acquisition. Table of Contents Learning a Foreign Language Age Way of learning Focus Research in the field Do you want...  [Read more]

Teach Business English and Teach to Young Learners In addition to its main TEFL courses, ITTT also offers two specialised certificates in teaching business English and teaching English to young learners. These courses are a fantastic way to improve your teaching skills, enhance your CV and give you the edge in the employment market. Each course has 50 hours of study time and 6 study modules. Both courses are available with or without the support of a highly experienced online tutor, feature continuous assessment and are completed 100% online. Successful completion of the course results in certification and graduates will receive an embossed hard copy certificate via registered mail. The courses also come with complimentary lesson plan access and lifetime job placement assistance....  [Read more]

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How Language Learning Motivation is Affected by Young French-Canadian Students As a bilingual country, Canada has a considerable population of French speakers. Most of them live in the province of Quebec. A large number of Quebecers have always believed (and some still believe) that learning English as a second language will impede their proficiency in their first language. They are worried that future generations will not cherish French as much as they do because of the growing influence of the English language in Quebec. In a certain way, they want to preserve their French identity and the province's identity as intact as possible. This mentality becomes problematic in an academic environment when parents transfer their...  [Read more]

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How Humor Enhances Learning in the Classroom Every teacher's goal is to be effective in the classroom and help students learn. Educators want their students to be eager and engaged. Humor is an important aspect of teaching and has the power to fuel that engagement. This paper will attempt to show the value of humor in the classroom and how humor enhances learning, regardless of the culture or country in which a person is teaching. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: My First Experience What is Humor? West vs. East How Humor Influences Teaching and Learning? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melynie T. Please note that this...  [Read more]

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How Can Online Education Influence ESL? Generally, it is thought that education is going through a major overall, this includes but is not limited to the structure of how education is provided to students from both the perspective of classrooms at educational institutions and online teaching. Table of Contents The Ideas of Online Teaching Future of Education Future Experience Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Niki S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The Ideas of Online Teaching Online teaching has the added benefit to educational institutions in the way that it has the...  [Read more]

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas 5 Flashcard Games for Younger Students I have been teaching English to young learners in China for almost a year and I tried to make my lessons with and without flashcards. And I can say for sure, that it's really hard to teach children (3-12 years old) if you don't have prepared flashcards for your classes, but only an interactive whiteboard and some stuff to play games. Table of Contents There are some following advantages of using flashcards to teach children: The games I use in my classroom are as follows: 1. Flashcard raise 2. Basketball with flashcards 3. What's missing 4. Hit the FC 5. Find flashcards Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Cheaper TEFL Diploma Check out tefl tesol about Cheaper TEFL Diploma 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 A.L. - Canada said: Motivation in the ClassroomThis research article is about the effect of non-verbal communication on motivation in the ESL classroom. This paper will attempt to demonstrate that non-verbal communication in the classroom enhances learning for English learners by conveying clear and distinct messages to students which aid in their comprehension by allowing students to transfer concepts and ideas in English to those of their native language. The process in...  [Read more]

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The Role of Cultural Exchange in ESL Teaching Over the past few centuries, British dominance in the world paved the way for the English language to become the universal communication tool. As the British colonized various parts of the world, they set up educational institutions so that the educated migrants would rise within the ranks of that particular society and eventually become influential members creating change. Table of Contents The problem of globalization Traditions in non-native English speaking countries Western influence Colonized cultures 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...  [Read more]

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Affect, That and Whom - The Three Most Misconceived Words in English Grammar Grammar is the whole system of language. It includes a set of rules known as syntax. Occasionally when working on the computer you may get a message "Error Syntax; code 141" this means you have typed into the computer something that did not fit into the rules. This is not allowed and the computer will reject it and force you to obey the rules. Table of Contents Affect vs. Effect That Whom vs. Who Are you ready to teach abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post When speaking English we have no restrictions on the structure or form and no computer monitoring us to stop us from speaking incorrectly. We can say anything anyway we choose, well-spoken...  [Read more]

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 Anastasiya Akpinar Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas ESA Teaching Method: ✅ How to use ESA for Online English Lessons Do you remember the frustration you have experienced after education moved went online? While it may have been a disaster initially, most teachers have now adapted to the new streams of the educational process. Some even say distance learning is better for everyone. Table of Contents Where to start? Simplicity is king Three magic letters: ESA In the beginning: Engage! Now, let's study! Imagine. Motivate. Activate! Zoom background and filters help to learn Are you ready to teach English online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! One of the most popular approaches to teaching is the ESA method, and...  [Read more]

TEFL Instructors Needed in Germany Date posted:2014-10-22 | Writer: Sprachcenter Kassel | Email: [email protected] Qualified EFL teachers needed to expand our team of language instructors in Kassel and surrounding areas. We teach mainly Business English and are looking for candidates (m/f) either with teaching experience, or those just starting their teaching career. Candidates should be well motivated and prepared to work as a freelance instructor. You must have a working visa. Your profile: You have a perfect knowledge of the English language, love your country, and enjoy imparting this knowledge to our customers. Furthermore, you have very good communication and educational skills; you are good with people, and also flexible. We are looking for enthusiastic teachers who...  [Read more]

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences What is Rapport and Why Should You Establish it? Anyone can be a teacher but not every teacher is likable or caring. I found in my experience as a student, especially as a child, I would find myself dreading the classes with the teachers that had bad attitudes and would look forward to the ones who not only kept the class interesting but showed true interest in the student's lives. The truly talented teachers would take examples of scenarios people had discussed from their personal lives and use it as a tool in their teaching strategies. Table of Contents Teachers' types Classroom environment Competence Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How to Decrease Teacher Speaking Time Traditionally, education in the classroom has largely employed a teacher-centred approach. Focus is on the teacher who talks, rather than on the students, who exclusively listen and are discouraged from collaboration. Table of Contents Student-Centered Approach The ESA Method Peer Feedback Corrections Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Christie T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Student-Centered Approach In recent years, however, more emphasis has been given to student-centred education: instructors share classroom talk time with...  [Read more]

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]

Where can I get free TEFL lesson plans? Having a meticulously constructed lesson plan is an essential tool for any educator. It provides a roadmap, without which the trajectory of a lesson can go astray rapidly. Although as you amass experience, you may find that you don't need to invest as much time in detailed planning, in the early days of your teaching career, a robust plan can make the difference between a smooth, successful class and a chaotic one. A comprehensive lesson plan enables you to articulate your learning objectives, organize your time efficiently, prepare the required materials and equipment, and anticipate potential issues along with their solutions. A well-prepared plan serves as your guide, ensuring you navigate each phase of the lesson without undue stress or wasted...  [Read more]