My Tesol

Sat, 24 Nov 2018 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Best Thing I've Learned From My TEFL/TESOL Course A TEFL course is the first step towards a successful career in teaching English abroad. A TEFL course, whether taken online or in-class, covers a wide range of topics from lesson planning and classroom management, to English grammar and pronunciation techniques. In this post, one of our TEFL graduates shares their thoughts on the best thing they’ve learned from their TEFL/TESOL course with ITTT. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Leif O. The best thing that I learned from my TEFL/TESOL course is that teaching is more nuanced than just having a lesson plan and letting the ESA formula do the work. With these kinds of courses, it is so easy to get so caught up in the...  [Read more]

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences What is the best thing I've learned from my TESOL course and how it reinforced my will to become a teacher As far as I can remember, I always wanted to become a teacher in a foreign country. The most thrilling part about it was to convey knowledge to others and extend my own cultural awareness. When I heard about TEFL online courses after graduating from university, I immediately thought it would be the best option for me in order to achieve my greatest dream. After the completion of this course, I will move to Tokyo with the strong will to teach English to all different types of students, regardless of their age or current English level. Now that I am almost done with my TEFL online course, this post will take a look at my...  [Read more]

How to get my first TEFL job? Congratulations if you have recently completed a TEFL certification course and are now looking for that all important first teaching position. As learning English is commonplace in the majority of countries around the world, qualified TEFL teachers rarely find it difficult to secure a good job. However, the level of demand can vary greatly from one place to the next, which also means the level of requirements can vary. What is required in one country might be completely different to the requirements in its immediate neighbor. Can I teach anywhere as a first-time EFL teacher? As mentioned above, the demand for qualified TEFL teachers varies considerably and can have a big effect on where you might end up working in your first teaching position. Certain...  [Read more]

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Best Thing I've Learned From My TEFL/TESOL Course with ITTT I decided to complete TEFL course nearly a month ago. Before talking about the reasons why I took this course, I would like to tell some facts about myself. My name is Julia, I was born in Kyiv, Ukraine and had been living there for all my life – now I’m 35. I had a very successful career in marketing an worked for a big international company. However, the job took up all my time, required a lot of effort and I felt very exhausted and unhappy. So I decided to quit my job and started to travel: Georgia, Italy, Spain, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore. Now I live in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Yuliia R. Asia is a...  [Read more]

Who will my students be when teaching English abroad? The age, background, and motivation of the students in your ESL classroom will vary greatly depending on where you are teaching and the school or institute you work for. You could have a class full of university students, hotel workers or even high flying business executives. Alternatively, you might work in a government school teaching a class of children aged anywhere from five to sixteen. Each of these groups has its own characteristics, and different teachers have their own preferences. Just remember that by completing a reputable TEFL certification course before you head off abroad, you will learn all the skills required to deliver effective and enjoyable lessons to almost any group of learners. Will I be teaching adults when...  [Read more]

Can I teach English abroad in my gap year? There are many reasons why people take a gap year and there is no particular best time to do it. You might have just finished high school or university and are unsure what you want to do next. You might already be in work, but are bored of the daily routine and looking for a break. Whatever your reason for taking a few months, a year, or even longer away from your existing life, it could be the best decision you ever made. After being away for a while you should find you have time to reflect on the past, enjoy your present, and most importantly, make well thought out plans for your future. Why should you teach English abroad during your gap year? Initially many people assume that teaching English during a gap year is simply a good way to earn...  [Read more]

How do I create my own online teaching business? If you do not want to be tied to an individual English teaching platform and would prefer to be your own boss, you can potentially set up your own online teaching business. There are many different ways to set up your own online teaching service, although it obviously helps if you have some previous experience in the field of online language teaching. Former ITTT alumna Bri did just that and shared her story and top tips with ITTT on our TEFL blog: How To Start Your Own ESL Teaching Service Where can I teach English abroad without a university degree? |  Can I get an English teaching job in advance in Europe? |  What not to do as an ESL teacher? |  How much can I earn teaching English in...  [Read more]

How do I set up my online TEFL classroom? Whether you have joined an online teaching platform or have chosen a solo path, one of your first tasks will be to construct an ideal online classroom setting. While some may envisage teaching from a hammock in their backyard while donned in beachwear, the actual scenario tends to be quite different. To retain existing students and attract new ones, it is essential that your online classroom strikes the perfect chord. Thankfully, achieving this isn't too challenging, and we are here to guide you with some valuable tips. Choosing a teaching space The most critical aspect when picking your teaching location is that it should be quiet and devoid of possible disruptions. If you are teaching from home, you can utilize a spare room, an office, or even a...  [Read more]

Wed, 25 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences My Foreign Language Experience and Why I Want to be TEFL/TESOL Certified As someone of mixed heritage, I have always had an interest in learning about cultures other than the one I live in America. My father is Colombian and my mother is American, so growing up I felt obliged to learn more about the Colombian background I was fairly unfamiliar with. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Catherine P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First-Language Background I never felt satisfied with the amount of exposure I had to my Colombian heritage. My mom never learned Spanish, so around the house, it was easier for my dad to speak to my siblings and me in...  [Read more]

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Best Thing I Have Learned From My 60-hour TEFL/TESOL Course Where do I begin? I have learned so much from my 60-hour TEFL course with ITTT. I have learned about everything from what it takes to become a great teacher and of course what not to do in the classroom. I also learned a lot about what makes a student a great learner. I believe this is very important as well since good learners progress more rapidly in the class. That rapid learning makes good learners and most of all more successful students. In turn that builds confidence in the teacher on behalf of the students. Of course, the teacher ends up with more confidence in their teaching abilities too. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Michael A. The goal is for...  [Read more]

Can I cancel my contract early when teaching English abroad? The bottom line is that teaching English abroad is just a job like any other. If you are unhappy with your employer or things simply aren't going as you had hoped, you are free to quit and return home or look for another job at any time. Why do some teachers cancel their TEFL contract early? Of the tens of thousands of ESL teachers working in countries all over the world, the vast majority do see out the length of their contract. However, there are always going to be some teachers who decide that the best course of action is to terminate their contract early. Whether it's due to an emergency at home, problems with work colleagues or poor working conditions, if you feel you have to leave you are perfectly at liberty to do so. ...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore ITTT TEFL Linda is a passionate traveler, language learner and TEFL teacher. After spending some time teaching in China, she moved to Korea in 2015. She now calls South Korea her home. Read my articles Business English: The Medium of Globalization | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences This blog post was written by a recent TESOL graduate who shares their thoughts on how English is the number one language used in international business and how this is useful for teachers worldwide. What is the best thing I've learned from my TESOL course and how it reinforced my will to become a teacher | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences This blog post was written by a recent TESOL graduate who shares their experience on taking a TESOL course with...  [Read more]

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 Federico Riva Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences What Is the Best Thing I Learned from My TEFL/TESOL Course? Teaching Special Groups Beginners come in various types: absolute beginners, false beginners, young beginners, and those without the Roman alphabet. Recognizing these differences is crucial for effective teaching. Visual aids and repetition are valuable tools, but it's vital to maintain a steady pace and address individual needs. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author, an alumni of ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training). They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ITTT. The content provided in this post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as...  [Read more]

How should I approach my first day in an TEFL classroom? Even with a completed TEFL course under your belt, taking charge of your own classroom for the first time can be unnerving for many teachers. It is perfectly normal to feel anxious on your first day, but certain strategies can help make it more manageable. Here are some tips to ensure that your first day as a teacher is one you will recall fondly, not one you would rather forget. Be punctual For teachers, punctuality isn't just important, it is crucial. Always arrive early to familiarize yourself with your surroundings and get ready for the lesson. On the first day, be clear about where, who, and what you are teaching well before the start. Arriving with ample time allows you to better tackle any surprises your first lesson might...  [Read more]

Should I take my TEFL course before I head overseas to teach? If you are thinking about teaching English abroad, you may well have wondered whether you should take a TEFL certification course at home or wait until you head overseas. There are pros and cons relating to either choice, but here we look at the main arguments in favour of completing your TEFL training before leaving your home country. Can I get an EFL teaching job before I leave home? Yes, in many of the most popular countries for teaching English abroad jobs are routinely organized from within your own country. In this scenario you will have an interview via phone or webcam from home. If you are then offered the job you will often have to send off a range of documents that are required for the employer to organise your visa,...  [Read more]

What sort of accommodation will I have during my in-class TEFL course? Once you have secured a place on one of our in-class TEFL certification courses you will receive extensive information regarding all aspects of the course, including accommodation. The course fee does not typically cover your accommodation, so you will need to factor the cost of housing for the four weeks of your training into your overall budget. Your options will vary from one location to the next, but you can rest assured that we only recommend accommodation providers that have been thoroughly checked for comfort and value for money. Details of our recommended options can be found on each individual course location page, however, below is a brief overview of the most common options available. Can I stay in a shared...  [Read more]

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Best Thing I've Learned From My Two TESOL courses from ITTT The two TEFL courses I took with ITTT provided a comprehensive coverage of English teaching to non-native speakers. The 50-hour young learners course and the 120-hour TEFL course taught language points such as grammar and tense structure. The courses also went into depth on topics related to teaching English such as classroom management and lesson preparation. These aspects are very important to teaching English as well as mastering the English language itself. A skilled teacher must know how to handle different types of classes. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Jeffrey G. How to succeed at teaching English to young children This course explained how teaching...  [Read more]

Lesson Planning - Part 6 - Lesson Plan Example - Study Phase   The first part of my study phase is going to be the board work and I'm going to use the information that I generated in the elicitation part of my engage phase to move on to the actual board work. What I'm going to do is to show the structure of this particular tense. So, the phase study I'm expecting to take about ten minutes on this particular part and, again, the interaction will mainly be the students talking to me. So, how am I going to achieve that with this information? Well, we could ask the students to have a look at the sentences themselves and to tell us what they can see. If we look at each of the first words in here, then at this level, I should hopefully be able to elicit from my students what each of...  [Read more]

Woinshet Asfaw   Hello! Hi, my name is Woinshet Asfaw. I am originally from Ethiopia. I am Ethiopian but I studied in South Africa. I did my Bachelor's Degree in South Africa majored in Psychology and Anthropology. I have also successfully completed 120 hours of TEFL from ITTT. While I was in South Africa, I worked as a translator and interpreter at different NGOs like UNHCR and other refugee organizations. I have also worked as a child [inaudible]. A few years ago, I moved back to Ethiopia. Since then, I have been teaching English. I love being a teacher. Currently, I'm working as an English teacher and KG coordinator. So basically I teach at KG levels or beginner levels. I'm a fun, active, encouraging teacher to all my students and I always make sure my students are comfortable...  [Read more]

Mustafa Erdogan   Hello, my name is Mustafa! I'm from Turkey. I live in the small town of Izmir. I love my country. It's a really beautiful country in the world. Firstly, I'd like to give some information about myself. I'm already a teacher. I graduated at the faculty of education, English teacher training, and I worked as a teacher at private schools for many years. I also worked at some private companies as an Import/Export executive officer and I would like to say to ITTT, I send my appreciation that I can have the opportunity to have my certificates and I can show you and you can have a look at my TEFL and CTBE certificates. I'm already a certified teacher, I have a diploma from Uluda University and I'd like to be a teacher from now on in different countries and you can have my...  [Read more]

Eloisa Tardem   Hello, my name is Eloisa Tardem but I like to be called Lola. I'm an English teacher with a great background in teaching all ages and different levels. As I'm Brazilian, I'm a native Portuguese speaker and besides speaking English fluently, after spending a year in Canada as an exchange student, I can also speak and understand Spanish really well as I've lived in Mexico for some time. I have recently completed a TEFL course, so now I'm a certified teacher able to teach from anywhere in the world. I also have great experience teaching online. It will be a pleasure working for and with you. Thank you. Curriculum Vitae Check out ITTT's Blog Posts  [Read more]

Alice Meade   Hi, my name is Alice Meade and I am an English instructor. I have recently completed a TEFL course to be a certified English teacher. I am looking forward to teaching many people both adults and children online how to speak perfect English. Name: Eloisa Tardem Where would you like to teach: Canada is my first choice, but I accept some other options as well Teaching experience: yes TEFL certified: yes Earliest possible start date: Immediately And please also embed their resume (attached). Check out ITTT's Blog Posts  [Read more]

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences This is the Best Thing I've Learned from my TESOL Course Upon completing the 50-hour Teaching English to Young Learners Course, the best things I’ve learned would have to be the section that covered course development, including ESA (engage, study, activate), testing/assessment, and how they all come together to form a syllabus and ultimately an English language course. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kinsey K. “I have seen ESA before but not applied in a way to be used with young learners in mind.” I have seen ESA in the previous 120-hour TEFL course and my 50-hour Teaching Business English Course, however, I had not seen it applied in a way to be used specifically with the young learner in mind....  [Read more]

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences What is the best thing I have learned from my TEFL/TESOL course The best thing I have learned from my TEFL course is the ESA method. I discovered this method in Lesson 2 of our course which, for me, is one of the best and useful lessons in the whole course. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Horacio A. In my previous experience, I had learned most of the methodologies explained in Lesson 2, but I had never had the chance to know about this method before. ESA stands for Engage-Study-Activate, the three stages or phases of this method. This method was introduced in 1998 by Jeremy Harmer. It is the most dynamic and creative method, suitable to any level. It is an eclectic method, because it combines the best of...  [Read more]

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Best Thing I Have Learned From My 120-hour TEFL/TESOL Course I have now taken both ITTT's 120-hour TEFL/TESOL course and the additional course for teaching young learners. Both courses have been very beneficial, and, although it is difficult to narrow the benefits down to one "best" thing, one of the most helpful things I have learned is the idea of reducing teacher talking time and increasing student talking time. I have found this concept to be particularly valuable as I prepare for a future TESOL position, and I have been very pleased to find that it has benefited me in my current teaching job in an American classroom, as well. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Erin S. Course content effective for real world First,...  [Read more]

Yevgeniya Boiko   Hi, my name is Yevgeniya, I?m 38 years old and I?m a teacher of the English language. I have studied at Russian Study University and I have a further European certification as a teacher of English as a foreign language. I have 5 years of experience in this field. I teach children from 3 to 18 years old. I strongly believe that kids learn languages only when they are interested in it. That?s why my online classes are full of different activities, such as signing, even writing, we?re doing a lot of artistic projects, we even do dancing. I use a particular software with my students so we can do the classes online and even homework online. I?m very flexible, very creative and a very self-motivated person. See you soon. Thank you! Name: Yevgeniya Boiko Where would you...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore ITTT TEFL Linda is a passionate traveler, language learner and TEFL teacher. After spending some time teaching in China, she moved to Korea in 2015. She now calls South Korea her home. Read my articles The best thing I've learned from my TEFL/TESOL course - by Samantha M. | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Check out this TEFL course alumna's experience taking our 220-hour TEFL certification course and what the best thing was that she learned from the course. Teachers Never Stop Learning - A TEFL Alumna's Thoughts on Being a Teacher | ITTT | TEFL Blog Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Check out this TEFL course alumna's personal experience of teaching English abroad and taking her TEFL course with ITTT. 9 Small Details That Matter When Teaching...  [Read more]

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The best thing I've learned from my TEFL/TESOL course - by Samantha M. Before making my way through these certificate programs, I have had very minimal teaching experience, especially regarding teaching language. I have taken language classes, and I am a coach for Speech and Debate at a high school. I previously thought I would be able to handle teaching English as a foreign language without very much training or though. How much could really be beyond what I was seeing as a student and coach? I could definitely handle it. Well, I soon learned I was extremely wrong. I thought to take these courses on a whim because it would not hurt to have the training, even if I knew what was being taught. I quickly learned that there was a whole...  [Read more]

Josephine Bangug   Hi everybody, my name is Josephine from Philippines but I?ve been living here in Italy for more than 20 years now. I?m a graduate of Accounting, major in Business Administration but English is my second language, so it was always my desire to teach English, especially to young learners and thanks to ITTT, that is International TEFL and TESOL Training, after 6 months of online course, I now have a certificate in teaching English. Now, I have two students online. One is Chinese and the other one is Spanish. And about this online course; it?s very flexible at an affordable price. You can finish it within 2 to 6 months - it depends on your availability. So, I encourage any English speaker to acquire methods of teaching. Through ITTT, you will learn effective methods...  [Read more]

My Movie mpeg4   Massir is from Tunisia and has been teaching English in Omar when he decided to take our 120-hour online TEFL certification to advance in his career. He was able to use the techniques learned in his classroom and saw significant improvements. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Check out ITTT's Blog Posts  [Read more]