Simple Pronunciation

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Most Common Problems Portuguese Native Speaking Students When Learning English I have had the pleasure of living and teaching in Brazil over the past 2 years and in my time in this country I have learned a great amount about the difficulties that are seemingly unique to native Portuguese speakers trying to learn English as a second or even third language. There seems to be deeply ingrained assumptions within the way Portuguese speakers approach both the pronunciation of words based on their spelling, and their understanding of grammatical structures and the usage of said structures. Table of Contents English is highly analytical, whereas Portuguese is intrinsically inflective Are you ready to take a TEFL course? Related...  [Read more]

Mon, 13 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Why Teachers Need to Be Careful with British English and American English Learning English is very difficult, there are many various grammatical and spelling differences between the English spoken throughout the world. Most notably is British and American English grammar. There are also differences in the pronunciation and meanings of many words. While you would think learning English would be a simple task, it is not, after all how different can English be from English? There are a few additional factors - Canadian, Australian, South African, Indian English, etc. have their own differences, these are differences that must be taken into consideration while you study the English Language. Table of Contents Why Learners Have to...  [Read more]

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Several Pronunciations Troubles Faced by The Japanese Native Speakers The differences between many Asiatic languages' pronunciation and that of English form the basis for a multitude of miscommunications between international interlocutors. My experience living in Japan provides plentiful evidence to support this assertion. When my Japanese associates and I communicate in English, I notice three significant pronunciation struggles for my conversation partners. For the Japanese who are learning English, the clear enunciation of the /th/ sound, the fricative quality of the /v/ consonant, and the distinction of /l/ versus /r/ formation of the tongue. Table of Contents Language Structure Difficult sounds Do you want to teach English...  [Read more]

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas British English vs. American English: Which Variation Is Better to Learn? English is one of the most dynamic languages on the planet, which develops every day. Therefore, there are a lot of variations of the English language. Which kind of English should we learn? Table of Contents English Variants There are many differences between American and British English. Moreover, American English was formed under the influence of immigrants' pronunciation from various countries. Now let's have a quick look at the differences in grammar. Why should we study British English instead of American? 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...  [Read more]

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Phonetics Difficulties for French Students One of the most important problems encountered while learning a foreign language is undoubtedly pronunciation. Knowing a language fluently may not always be enough. Fluency level may be open to discussion if an accurate pronunciation is not used. Therefore as teachers, we must teach our students how to use the correct pronunciation. However, pronunciation can be a nightmare for some students, especially for young learners. Table of Contents Common Errors in Pronunciation /h/ Sound Ways to Fix Errors Articulation Simple Way to Overcome the Problem Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Selin K....  [Read more]

Thu, 30 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Peculiarities of The English Language I did not realize how difficult English is until I became fluent in Spanish. I am currently studying French and I am pretty good at French. I have a basic knowledge of Esperanto. Table of Contents English is difficult for several reasons English is not a phonetic language There are exceptions to every rule Some examples of other exceptions to English rules Pronunciation Are you ready to teach English all over the world? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Wayne K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. English is difficult for several reasons I will just touch on each of...  [Read more]

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching English to Beginners in Japan Japanese is certainly one of the most interesting languages in the world thanks to its three types of writing (hiragana, katakana and kanji). Table of Contents International Links Main Challenges: Phonetic System Main Challenges: Exposure to English Main Challenges: Grammar Main Challenges: Beginners Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Desiree I. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. International Links After the outbreak of intercontinental travel (therefore with the appearance of commercialization and missionaries around the world) many...  [Read more]

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Challenges Faced by EFL Teachers in Kindergarten in Bangkok, Thailand Kindergartners can range from as young as 1 and a half years old to 7 years old. These children have barely developed in themselves and their native language and are required to learn English as a foreign language. To achieve this, creativity is essential to make language learning as fun and enjoyable as physically possible. My new role as "Teacher Ellie" in a kindergarten school in Bangkok, Thailand has provided me with on the job experience of language teaching. This essay will explore what I have learned so far, including any problems I faced and how I overcame them. Table of Contents Firstly, I shadowed and observed the teachers in my school to see how they...  [Read more]

Fri, 03 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences What Problems Do English Learners Face in China? In recent years, the most popular destination for EFL teachers all over the world has been China. China is the country welcoming many foreign teachers, native and non-native, and is probably the country with the most rapid development of the English teaching industry. Online teaching has become just as important as face to face teaching and has been a teacher for an online company for a long time, I have experienced a variety of students, levels, and groups. Therefore, in this essay, I will write about the most common problems Chinese students face and some ways of dealing with them. Table of Contents Pronunciation problems Grammar problems Problems outside/inside the classroom Are...  [Read more]

Thu, 07 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How do Japanese Students Respond to Some Common Challenges in English? Japan is a country continuously changing at a rapid pace largely due to globalization and marketing. With its growing popularity and necessity, difficulties are sure to arise for people learning English and specifically, in Japan. To fully understand all the problems learners face in Japan, it is important to realize why English is so widely being studied in the first place. Firstly, students must study English for 6 years throughout primary and high school. As well as being part of the Japanese schooling system, the advantages of being able to speak English are endless. The benefits of finding a job or being able to communicate whilst abroad are common motives....  [Read more]

Tue, 14 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences What You Need to Know About Japanese Students' Challenges Before Teaching in Japan Japan is a country with a long history, deep tradition, and vibrant culture. Within this culture sits the Japanese language. At first, being a spoken language and then adopting the Chinese Writing System, Japanese has grown and changed into what it is today. If you look at all languages, most Western languages originate from a set family, such as Romance Languages (which became today's Spanish, French, Italian, etc). But Japanese (as most Asian languages) was formed from entirely different roots. These fundamental differences mean that the method of learning these languages has a lot to do with memorization and repetitive practice of the Chinese...  [Read more]

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Problems for Learners of English in Mandarin Speaking China Over the past three years, I've had the privilege of teaching English as a foreign language online for a company called Education First. The format would normally be an internationally diverse group in an audio-only platform. During these sessions, I found that my students from China would have specific challenges in pronunciation that many of my European and Brazilian students would not. I recognized their tendency to add an "a" at the end of words that clearly ended in a consonant. Unfortunately, I was not educated enough in the specific challenges that Mandarin speakers faced in their attempt to learn English. I'm scheduled to begin teaching in China later this year, and...  [Read more]

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The Most Common Challenges For The Turkish ESL Learners There is nothing comfortable than being in your comfort zone, especially when speaking your language (native language). The feeling that comes with it, how you pronounce words, the use of jokes and proverbs, idioms, and other slang within it, no one can take that joy or even compensate it because it naturally comes from within. It makes you feel safe at home and confident even when speaking about topics that you have never seen or heard before simply because your brain is already rich with enough vocabulary. So it allows you to navigate, swim and tackle the issues from all possible angles. Table of Contents Global challenges Sentence structure...  [Read more]

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 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! Listen to this blog post: 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]

Lessons Authorized TEFL Check out tefl tesol about Lessons Authorized TEFL 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 C.W. - U.S.A. said: Multiple IntelligenceTeaching English as a Second Language in America today outside the University presents its own set of problems. The students are mostly immigrants from Mexico with a small representation of students from various Asian countries. The students come from all different backgrounds. The majority comes from rural areas and few have finished high school. Some come from cities and usually have finished high school. This does not however...  [Read more]

Agency Inexpensive TEFL Check out tefl tesol about Agency Inexpensive TEFL 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 T.P. - Japan said: Pronunciation problems in JapanJapan has cultivated a reputation for being a country that is rich in history, culture and resources. Within the global sphere Japan has also seen the impact of English language in transforming the way in which countries relate. In an effort to avoid being on the periphery of the development enabled by globalization, the Ministry of Education, Sports, Culture and technology (also referred to as MEXT) has made providing...  [Read more]

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 Maddy Payne Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences An Australian Amongst American Textbooks in Japan: ✅ Teaching in a Country that Values American English Assistant Language Teachers in Japan come from different countries worldwide, bringing different kinds of English with them. In my experience, American English is often the most sought-after version of English. Some countries highly value Language Teachers from the USA, which often matches their American-style textbooks and resources. Sometimes people are even overlooked for job opportunities due to their Australian accent and British English background. Well, Japan is no different in this regard. Many Japanese schools hold American English in high regard, so what is it like being an Australian-English...  [Read more]

How to Pronounce 'INGENUOUS' - English Pronunciation   In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word "ingenuous". This word refers to an innocent or unsuspecting person or situation. Synonyms of ingenuous include naive, innocent and simple. The origin of the word is from the Latin word "ingenuus" meaning native or freeborn. 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]

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The 7 Most Common Problems for ESL Learners from Chile This essay displays my own experience as well as information from other (internet) resources. I work as an English teacher in Chile, mainly teaching professionals in the mining industry. Table of Contents 1. False cognates 2. Spelling 3. Use of the subject 4. Pronunciation 5. Hacer and to do and to make 6. Third-person 7. Prepositions Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Only 3 to 5 percent of the population in Chile speaks proficient English. The Ministry of Education created a plan to upscale the level of English and the percentage of English speakers in the country. They welcome teachers from abroad. Chile is a Spanish speaking country. Spanish speakers...  [Read more]

Tue, 26 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Ways Reading Influences Language Acquisition Reading plays an important role in language learning. It is one of the language skills that can be used to interpret a written text and discuss the given information applying speaking and listening skills as well. Reading different books, texts, advertising wallpapers, or magazines helps us gain knowledge or receive important information. Since old times books have always been one of the main sources of knowledge. While reading people could imagine themselves traveling to different places, having an amazing adventure, possessing pirates' treasure, or even solving a mystery, and at the same time learn about different countries and their cultures. In other words, reading has always...  [Read more]

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Peculiarities of English: How it Affects Our Understanding When Learning English as a spoken language has become the international standard for people as a first or second language, whether it be for business, science, or just recreationally. This, of course, means that a lot of people are learning the language as a second language. For anyone who knows English as a native language, you know that it has many difficult learning curves along the way to the true understanding that make for many difficulties in how new learners communicate. This essay will touch on a few examples that people undoubtedly run into when learning English, and why it's so difficult to master. Table of Contents Reasons to Confusion Spoken English Written...  [Read more]

Sun, 12 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Problems English Learning Students Face in South Korea From my combined interest in Asian, and more specifically Korean, culture and my desire to teach English to anyone wanting to learn, I have personally come to interact with several adult learners from South Korea during the past few years. Through this experience, I have come to detect several common problems that students coming from this country, as well as students from neighboring Asian countries such as Japan and China, may face while learning English and that I will, therefore, develop in this short essay. Table of Contents Pronunciation Sentence structure Formal and Informal language Education system Do you want to teach English in South Korea? Related Articles: Listen...  [Read more]

Wed, 29 May 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Most Common Problems Students in Turkey Face When Learning English As defined through the units of the course and through many linguistic books, pronunciation is to say a word in a language in the correct way. Although the correct pronunciation of words and even the correct intonation in sentences in English, is thought through course books all over the world and thanks to media students are exposed to the natural and correct pronunciation, numerous mistakes are observed inside the classroom and outside. The reasons for the problems in pronunciation might vary depending on the country. I have been teaching English in Turkey for a while and have witnessed many problems with the students which will be explained through this essay....  [Read more]

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Common Factors that Affect 1st Language and 2nd Language Learning Language is everywhere. It plays an essential role in our life. We use it as a tool to communicate with the people around us. But do we understand how the brain processes the language and the many factors that influence language learning? Table of Contents The difference between language acquisition and language learning The difference in language learning for children and adults The process of language learning and acquisition The difference in expectations for children and adults Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Juri N. The difference between language acquisition...  [Read more]

Mon, 04 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Why is Music in the Classroom Very Important? Music plays an important role in our life. Music is also considered a form of international language. Everybody can enjoy and understand music. For children, the music brings back a lot of useful things. Therefore, songs are a great way for children to learn English. Singing, Playing, and Listening to music/songs every day is extremely important especially when you are teaching young learners. As we all know that repetition is the key to learning, so songs are the best way to help them learn English while having fun at the same time. Music helps children to remember things better and predictable, repetitive activities make them feel secure. Table of Contents Playing some nice songs will...  [Read more]

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Using Storytelling Activities to Teach English in African Cultures Storytelling is used in the African culture to teach morals, values, historical lessons, and to communicate truths to all ages. Because words are highly valued by Africans, a skilled storyteller is viewed as an influential leader in a community, able to give wise advice. Since the method of storytelling is so widely used in African cultures for instruction, why not integrate it into teaching English to African students as a foreign language? Table of Contents Teaching Linguistic Skills Level of Attention Practical Mistakes Positive Influence on Child Development Tools of Storytelling Lesson Plan Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related...  [Read more]

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Common Struggles of the Chinese Native Speakers Learning English Most researchers agree that the learner's first language influences the pronunciation of the target language and is a significant factor in accounting for foreign accents. So-called interference or interference from the first language is likely to cause errors in aspiration, stress, and intonation in the target language. Table of Contents Phonetics Unusual Sounds Language Structure Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Vesna A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Phonetics Some Chinese students tend to have...  [Read more]

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Challenges for Brazilian Learners of English Brazilians are learning English all over the country, for various reasons and with diverse goals. In this text, I would like to approach some very common deviations to standard English dialects, such as General American and Received Pronunciation, by Brazilian speakers. I have chosen to address some problems in phonetics and pronunciation that are the most frequent in my classes. I also give attention to some problems in word linking that generate tough challenges for English teachers. Table of Contents Official Language Influence Pronunciation Vowels Consonants Diphthongs Linking Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our...  [Read more]

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Child Development and ESL Teaching Teaching young children is one of a great rewarding experience. Young learners are truly natural acquirers of language. They can easily adapt and acquire language being purely taught to them. Table of Contents Listen to this blog post: So how does teaching EFL contribute to child development? Activities in TEFL Behavior Correction Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Georgios G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Listen to this blog post: So how does teaching EFL contribute to child development? At this crucial stage of these young...  [Read more]

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Importance of Phonetics when Teaching English For the longest time, people have separated teaching English from linguistics, which tends to include all their subcategories. However, phonetics, in particular, plays an incredibly integral part of the teaching of the English language. Why is an understanding of phonetics important in aiding the teaching pronunciation, articulation, and intonation? Being able to demonstrate how one changes the shape of their mouth, or the placement of their tongue can be the difference between someone speaking correct English and sounding as close as possible to a native speaker. Without at least a basic knowledge of this concept, how can we as teachers properly explain and display the way our...  [Read more]