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The Art of Preparing Working Lesson Plans - TEFL Blog
Fri, 20 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The Art of Preparing Working Lesson Plans
Doing up lesson plans for my up and coming TEFL classes is something that I am quite excited about. I suppose it is because I see an opportunity for creativity and that gets my juices flowing. I love the engage, study and activate model that was taught to us, both in the TEFL course itself as well as in this course on teaching business English lessons to adults. I would like to share some ideas that I have reaped from this course on how I would prepare a lesson plan for the to engage, study and activate methodology.
Table of Contents
Engagement
Giving New Information
Applying New Information on Practice
Points to Remember
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Related... [Read more]
The Good and Bad of Course Materials - TEFL Blog
Mon, 24 Dec 2018 Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
The Good and Bad of Course Materials
There are many interactive tools that can be used during teaching to enhance a lesson and keep students engaged. There are also a few tools that are a teacher's lifeline during a lesson. Course materials that range from props and pictures of vocabulary words to simple worksheets and lesson plans are integral to teaching a good lesson. They can provide basic aid to a teacher or help keep the students' attention. But, when overused or used during the wrong times, course materials can become problematic and disadvantageous. Different things that a teacher brings to a lesson can make or break an ESL lesson.
Table of Contents
Important Course Materials
The Use of Props
The Downside of... [Read more]
A Lesson Plan to Practice Speaking With ESL Adults - TEFL Blog
Mon, 24 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
A Lesson Plan to Practice Speaking With ESL Adults
When it comes to teaching adults with higher levels of English proficiency, it is quite complicated to create lessons as most of the students usually have very specific needs and challenges.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
Engaging People Into a Lively Conversation
Studying Without Realizing That You Actually Study
Wrapping Up
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In this blog post, I would like to share a sample online lesson that I taught to an adult group of advanced EFL learners to train conversational skills. For presenting my... [Read more]
Lesson Planning Essentials - TEFL Blog
Wed, 29 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Lesson Planning Essentials
In my experience and the experience of my teacher colleagues, lesson planning has never been among the most interesting or engaging activities. The reasons are always different: some believe that lesson planning is not effective because a teacher cannot predict the direction of the lesson. Others think that it is a complete waste of time because the process of planning a lesson may seem boring and time-consuming. As a beginner teacher, I had a false belief that lesson planning is not important for an ESL teacher, especially if the group of students has a high level of English. However, after teaching for a longer period, I have realized that only with a certain amount of planning can an ESL lesson be not... [Read more]
How To Write The Perfect ESL Lesson Plan - TEFL Blog
Sun, 23 Dec 2018 Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
How To Write The Perfect ESL Lesson Plan
Lesson planning is a significant element of everyday life as a teacher in English as a foreign language. A lesson plan acts as a step-by-step guide providing the structure for your lesson. However, too much planning can make lessons rather rigid and stop the teacher being flexible to the needs of the students.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
Why should you plan your lesson?
The following should be included in a lesson plan:
Keep to your plan but stay flexible
Watch the ITTT lesson plan video guide
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Related Articles:
Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
This post was written by our ITTT graduate... [Read more]
The Basics of Planning and Reviewing a Lesson - TEFL Blog
Mon, 16 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The Basics of Planning and Reviewing a Lesson
The lesson plan functions as a roadmap for the teacher, providing an organized framework for the planning, preparation, and execution of the lesson and serving as a record of what has been completed. It should not be a detailed script, but rather a guide that allows for flexibility and adaptation in the classroom. The plan is a living document that may continue to be refined and enhanced after execution, incorporating lessons learned.
Table of Contents
Basic Class Identification
Learner Objectives
Personal Aim
Language Point
Anticipated Problems and Solutions
Procedure Information
Lesson Review
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This post was... [Read more]
Interesting Ideas for Having an Effective ESL Circle Time - TEFL Blog
Wed, 09 Sep 2020 Michela Coticone
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Interesting Ideas for Having an Effective ESL Circle Time
Teaching a new language to children can come with many challenges because there is limited time and sometimes limited attention spans. To effectively teach a new language, children need to have a feeling of confidence in the fact that they can perform what they are being taught, and the element of having fun while learning. Children, just like adults, need repetition to effectively learn a task. Repetition Repetition alias Drilling: Is it an Effective Way to Remember Language Points? will allow a child to mentally prepare themselves for a task that will happen at a certain time of the day, therefore they can begin to anticipate what their... [Read more]
Creating ESL Materials: ✅ Motivating to Create, Motivating to Use - TEFL Blog
Tue, 27 Apr 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Creating ESL Materials: ✅ Motivating to Create, Motivating to Use
What I understand by 'Materials'
When I think of materials in terms of English Second Language (ESL) teaching, I think of a broad range of items, from worksheets to pictures, flashcards to figurines, exercises, tests, and so on. To put 'materials' more in perspective, these are materials needed to deliver an ESL course.
Table of Contents
What I understand by 'Materials'
Why this topic?
A Process
Material
Delivery of Materials
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Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
Why this topic?
I have created course material and training material... [Read more]
Lesson Planning: Necessary or Not? - TEFL Blog
Sun, 05 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Lesson Planning: Necessary or Not?
This blog post will focus on answering why lesson planning is important. The fundamentals of lesson planning will be discussed while also covering topics such as teacher demeanor, necessary preparation, and flexibility.
Table of Contents
Necessary or Not?
Benefits
Preparation
Are you ready to teach ESL students?
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Listen to this blog post
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hannah C.
Necessary or Not?
Firstly it's important to point out that lesson planning isn't seen as a necessary tool for all teachers yet is largely considered helpful and if done so effectively, ensures the smooth running of a class. This means not having a rigid, unchangeable plan but... [Read more]
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers from: 1330
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers
Lesson Planning: Secret Strategies to Know
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This blog post is about lesson planning. Our TEFL graduate explains why teachers need to plan, and how students can benefit from it.
Why Stories Are Essential for Language Learning
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This article was written by our TEFL student, who shares their thoughts on the importance of using stories in ESL teaching.
Rules of Phonetics and Phonology in ESL Teaching
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Our TEFL trainee shares their thoughts on phonetics and phonology as an integral part of the English language learning.
Consequences of Low Motivation Level in The Classroom
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, our... [Read more]
Great Ideas for Teaching Writing Skills in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Mon, 24 Sep 2018 Mark Crocker
Teaching Ideas
Great Ideas for Teaching Writing Skills in the ESL Classroom
Image by Alice Bolden via Writix
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
Think outside the box
Encourage creativity, not perfection
Encourage students to write about what interests them
Writing doesn't have to be a solo activity
Introduce multi-skilled lessons
Writing games
Are you ready to teach writing skills in your own classroom?
Related Articles:
Of all the language skills that are taught in the ESL classroom, teaching writing skills is often seen as one of the least popular. Some teachers consider these lessons to be a bit boring, hard to evaluate and somewhat limited in what you can incorporate into them. However, this doesn't have to be the case as teaching writing... [Read more]
Cultural Sensitivity in the Classroom – Focus on Teaching English To Non-Native Speakers - TEFL Blog
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]
One More View on Consistent Lesson Planning - TEFL Blog
Fri, 24 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
One More View on Consistent Lesson Planning
This is different thoughts on this as with on one hand some people say that it makes the lesson too rigid and on the other side other people say that it is essential for every teacher to do. I have been teaching English for about 3 years now. I feel I have improved in different areas of my teaching. The area that I have noticed the biggest change in over the course of those 3 years is my lesson planning. When I started teaching I would mostly just get the topic of the lesson and then basically just teach from my head using that topic. However, after a while, I got to speak to my fellow teachers and they introduced me to the importance of lesson planning and how to do this the proper... [Read more]
6 Top Tips for Engaging Online English Students ✅ - TEFL Blog
Wed, 27 Jan 2021 Mark Crocker
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
6 Top Tips for Engaging Online English Students ✅
In the current climate, more and more EFL teachers find themselves teaching English in an online environment rather than in a traditional classroom and it can sometimes be a difficult transition. It is also important to remember that online learning is often a new concept for many students and they too might find it difficult to adjust in the beginning. Online English students can easily become distracted by a range of outside forces, or simply become tired after spending long periods in front of their computer screen. This can be a natural occurrence when working online and is not necessarily a reflection on your teaching or the content of the lesson. However, in order... [Read more]
Great Ideas for Teaching Listening Skills in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Wed, 26 Sep 2018 Mark Crocker
Teaching Ideas
Great Ideas for Teaching Listening Skills in the ESL Classroom
Of the four language skills taught in an ESL classroom, listening skills are often overlooked as teachers can be unsure how to make these lessons interesting and relevant to their students. However, as listening skills are a fundamental part of the language learning process, it is vital that we give them the classroom time they deserve. The good news is that there are many ways to make listening skills lessons both fun and productive. Here are 6 ideas for livening up your lesson plans.
Table of Contents
Popular Culture
Secret Phrase
Celebrity Squares
Describe the Picture
Listen and Quiz
Vowel Cards
Listen to this blog post
Are you ready to teach listening skills in the... [Read more]
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers from: 1900
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers
5 Great Ways to Give Your Students Feedback
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Giving feedback is one of the most important parts of being a teacher. Here are 5 great ways to give your students feedback for a successful learning environment.
7 Awesome ESL Conversation Activities to Really Get Your Students Talking
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Check out these 7 awesome ESL conversation activities that will really get your students talking and help them learn English in no time!
Top Tips for Teaching English One-on-One
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
One of our TEFL alumni has shared with us his tips when teaching one-on-one English lessons. Check them out in this post.
Great Ideas for Teaching Listening Skills in the ESL... [Read more]
How many modules are in TEFL 120-hours? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
How many modules are in TEFL 120-hours?
The majority of TEFL courses now offered, including those provided by ITTT, are divided into several modules to make the learning process as streamlined and simple to assimilate as possible. You should find it simpler to navigate through the materials and retain all of the information given by segmenting the many components of the course into distinct units, such as specific grammatical issues, classroom management, and lesson planning techniques. There is generally no predetermined number of modules in a TEFL course, as the majority of TEFL course providers offer a wide range of course alternatives to fit different aims and conditions.
At ITTT we make sure that our selection of TEFL courses meets every need, from short-form courses appropriate for... [Read more]
The Life of an ESL Teacher in Hong Kong - TEFL Blog
Mon, 19 Oct 2020 Gianluca Costa
Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
The Life of an ESL Teacher in Hong Kong
If you are thinking of moving to Hong Kong to teach English, this article is a great overview of how an ESL teacher's life in Hong Kong can be. English is widely spoken in Hong Kong, and even young children start their English education very early. Many parents place their children in English institutions early on, which shows how important English education is in Hong Kong. That's why Hong Kong offers many opportunities for ESL teachers, and you can find placements in a variety of school settings, from kindergartens, learning centers to private tutoring lessons.
Table of Contents
Let's take a look what a typical day in the life of an ESL teacher in Hong Kong... [Read more]
Reasons Why Incorporating Music and Songs is Valuable for ESL Students - TEFL Blog
Thu, 02 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Reasons Why Incorporating Music and Songs is Valuable for ESL Students
Enjoying music is an essential part of the human experience, so it follows that incorporating the use of songs in the classroom can be an enriching part of an English learner's journey. Songs and music can be used in a variety of EFL classrooms, across all cultures, levels of learning, and ages. The benefits of incorporating music in English language study vary from simple vocabulary learning to discover themes about cultures different than the student's own.
Table of Contents
Students' Age
Atmosphere
Conceptual Learning
Vocabulary
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate... [Read more]
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers from: 530
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers
The Main Principles of Teaching New Vocabulary
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this blog post, you will find out how to work on building students' vocabulary and create lesson plans around this teaching point.
5 More Activities to Play in Your Classroom
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this article, our TEFL graduate shares their favorite games to play with students in the classroom.
Why and How Should We Learn Teaching Skills?
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This blog post contains information on teaching skills and the ways to learn them.
Simple and Effective Ways to Teach English Vocabulary
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This article is devoted to the most effective ways to teach English vocabulary.
5... [Read more]
Last posts written by Linda from: 132
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
How to Motivate High School Students in the ESL Classroom | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Are you teaching high schoolers and aren't seeing high participation rates? Here are some of the best ways how to motivate high school students in the ESL classroom.
In-class and online TEFL/TESOL courses: What’s the Difference? | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
TEFL Information
There are three different ways to earn a TEFL/TESOL certificate. The benefits of each course depend on the needs of the trainee, but each option has something to... [Read more]
Answering the Question on Why Motivation is Necessary for the Classroom - TEFL Blog
Fri, 13 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Answering the Question on Why Motivation is Necessary for the Classroom
What is the key objective of a teacher? It is simple: ensuring students learn well and don't forget what they were taught a few minutes after a course ends.
Table of Contents
Teacher's proficiency
Research in the field
Proof of the findings
First impression
Useful recommendations
1. Teacher's personal attitude
2. No boredom in the ESL classroom
3. Realistic goals
4. Classroom environment
5. Self-assurance
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!
Related Articles:
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Cinzia G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Teacher's proficiency... [Read more]
How many modules are in TEFL 120-hours? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
How many modules are in TEFL 120-hours?
The majority of TEFL courses now offered, including those provided by ITTT, are divided into several modules to make the learning process as streamlined and simple to assimilate as possible. You should find it simpler to navigate through the materials and retain all of the information given by segmenting the many components of the course into distinct units, such as specific grammatical issues, classroom management, and lesson planning techniques. There is generally no predetermined number of modules in a TEFL course, as the majority of TEFL course providers offer a wide range of course alternatives to fit different aims and conditions.
At ITTT we make sure that our selection of TEFL courses meets every need, from short-form courses appropriate for... [Read more]
BLOG TEFL & TESOL courses - Work and Live Abroad! from: 510
Older Posts
5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Russia for Teaching English Abroad
Mark Crocker
Destinations
Although Russia has one of the highest demands for English language teachers in the world, it is often overlooked. However, there are many reasons why we think you should seriously consider Russia as a TEFL destination, and here are our top 5.
7 Awesome ESL Conversation Activities to Really Get Your Students Talking
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Check out these 7 awesome ESL conversation activities that will really get your students talking and help them learn English in no time!
Top 10 Places to Take Your TEFL Course in Spring
Linda Dunsmore
Destinations
Spring is the ideal time to start your TEFL adventure! Here are our top 10 places to take your TEFL course... [Read more]
Lesson Planning: What is it and Why is it Necessary? - TEFL Blog
Mon, 29 Apr 2019 Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Lesson Planning: What is it and Why is it Necessary?
Planning, planning, planning! Many things in life need to be properly planned, be it a summer holiday or a work presentation. It can be a plan that is formally written down or it can be a plan that you simply keep in your mind. Having some kind of structure in place before doing activities will help put you at ease because you know what to do next and what to expect. Planning will also make you more productive as there will be no 'guessing' time, you will know what to do and when to do it. Taking the time to plan your lessons will almost certainly save you time in the long run.
Table of Contents
What is a Lesson Plan?
Constructing a Lesson Plan
Added Benefits of a... [Read more]
Acquiring Teaching Skills as Part of Professional Development - TEFL Blog
Mon, 20 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Acquiring Teaching Skills as Part of Professional Development
From my teaching experience of teaching English to foreigners of other languages, I had never realized how important it was to learn different teaching methods and skills. I did not major in teaching nor anything related. I majored in Business Administration and simply was allowed to teach ESL in another country where I was not raised, and I did it. Nowadays I compare these skills taught and how different I was teaching back then, that I am so willing to start teaching again, but with these newly acquired skills, I learned. I can remember several experiences in my teaching days that I committed many mistakes that this lesson taught me how to avoid, i.e. how not to talk... [Read more]
The World Of TEFL and TESOL Explained from: 130
The World Of TEFL and TESOL Explained
The Benefits of Open-Note Tests
Mudita Yajnik
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
What’s the best way to find out what your students know? Or, how much they’ve been paying attention, or what you need to revisit?
Theories, Methods & Techniques of Teaching - ESA Methodology
Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
ESA is a three-stage methodology where each of the letters represents a particular phase of the lesson. The first one being called the Engage phase, the second the Study phase and the final one the Activate phase.
Theories, Methods & Techniques of Teaching - Suggestopedia
Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
Developments in the study of Psychology starting from the 1950's led to new theories of... [Read more]
Don’t Be Afraid of Teaching Slang and Idioms to ESL Students - TEFL Blog
Tue, 26 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Don’t Be Afraid of Teaching Slang and Idioms to ESL Students
Today was awesome! He's a couch potato. I'm broke. She got ripped off. Chill out! You're so cool!
Table of Contents
State of the Problem
Benefits of Teaching This Vocabulary
Below are some examples of ideas to include in ESA lesson planning when teaching slang to ELS Learners:
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Slang words and phrases help simplify language and make it more effective. Learning English slang and idioms allows students to engage in a more natural way of communicating. This will help students to improve their fluency and improve their conversation skills.
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate... [Read more]
Strong Reasons for Completing a TEFL Course - TEFL Blog
Thu, 14 Mar 2019 Jon ITTT
Alumni Experiences
Strong Reasons for Completing a TEFL Course
Why complete a TEFL course? All the mainstream ads answer this question with, "Travel the World", "Work and Live Abroad" "Discover different Cultures", "Meet new People" and "Learn the local Language", all are great reasons. I had to ask myself this a few times. I have lived in many non-English speaking countries over the years and over these years have assisted many locals with their English homework or extra studies. I am a native English speaker, I know how to speak English; I have done it all my life so why would I need to take a TEFL course?
Table of Contents
You will learn a teaching method
A TEFL course provides structured learning
Improve your teaching ability with a TEFL course today!... [Read more]
A Simple Ice-breaker For Students to Build Rapport With Each Other
Sat, 15 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
A Simple Ice-breaker For Students to Build Rapport With Each Other
Building and maintaining a good rapport is one of the most crucial parts of a successful relationship. Cambridge dictionary defines rapport as – 'a good understanding of someone and an ability to communicate well with them.'
Table of Contents
What is Rapport?
Teacher's Part in Rapport Building
Rapport Between Students
Way to Build Rapport For Students
Results
Do you want to teach ESL students all over the world?
Related Articles:
Listen to this blog post
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nagashree C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
What is Rapport?
Rapport is a skill that... [Read more]