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How to Adjust Your Teaching to the Needs of the Beginner Students - TEFL Blog
Sun, 12 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
How to Adjust Your Teaching to the Needs of the Beginner Students
As the term beginner students refers to the level of students knowledge, I have decided to focus on beginner level in different age groups. Therefore, this essay will be divided into teaching beginner young students and beginner adults. My definition of a beginner student is the following: regardless of age, this is a learner with very little or no previous knowledge of the English language. However, there are certain things we should aim to know about every age group:
Table of Contents
Teaching beginner young students
Group 1 – beginners ages 5-9
Group 2 – beginners ages 9-13
Teaching adult beginner learners
Are you ready to teach abroad?
Related... [Read more]
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers from: 560
The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers
What Measures Should be Taken if Students Misbehave?
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The problem of students behavior is common to every classroom. Our TEFL graduate shares how to correct students in a right way.
What are The Best Speaking Activities for Mixed-Ability Classrooms?
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
In this article, our TEFL graduate shares their ideas on activities for mixed-ability classrooms.
"Has the Cat Got Your Tongue?": Teaching Slang and Idioms
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Teaching slang and idioms can be difficult but rather important. Our TEFL graduate explains the importance of this language point.
Same, but Different: The Differences Between Teaching High-School and University Students
... [Read more]
What is a Beginner EFL Student and How Do You Teach Them? - TEFL Blog
Tue, 09 Feb 2021 Mark Crocker
Teaching Ideas
What is a Beginner EFL Student and How Do You Teach Them?
When you decide to take a TEFL certification course with the intention of teaching English abroad, in your home country, or online, it is difficult to know who you will actually end up teaching. Once you have finished your training you could end up teaching primary aged children, teenagers, or adults. They could be from any country worldwide and they could be at any level of English language from beginner to advanced level. In many ways it is a bit of a lottery, so you should ensure you are ready to deal with all types of environments. After a while most teachers develop a preference for the type of student they prefer to teach, however, the beginner EFL student is often the most... [Read more]
The Importance of Different Students’ Profiles - TEFL Blog
Wed, 14 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The Importance of Different Students’ Profiles
Every student requires something different to learn English successfully. Aside from one-on-one lessons, teachers usually will not have the time to dedicate extensive attention to each student, though. Not every English-learner will be given a unique lesson catered to their needs. However, teachers can develop plans that fit best for general types of students based on their profiles. Factors such as students' age, language level, and motivation for learning helps teachers identify a student profile and thus develop the best lessons to get them engaged.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
Beginners
Young students
Motivation
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course... [Read more]
What are The Ways to Manage and Adapt Teaching and Learning for Mixed-Ability Classes? - TEFL Blog
Tue, 30 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
What are The Ways to Manage and Adapt Teaching and Learning for Mixed-Ability Classes?
Teachers of ESL will often find themselves in charge of a class with students at different levels of proficiency. When this happens, the teacher needs to know ways to adapt and manage the class and activities in a way that benefits all the students. The stronger students could become bored if the teacher caters to the weaker ones, and, reversely, the weaker students could become demotivated and feel forgotten and left behind when they cannot keep up with the advanced students. So how can a teacher make sure all the students get what they need from the class?
Table of Contents
Adapting materials according to the level
Grouping
Other strategies
Do... [Read more]
Why is it Important for ESL Teachers to Focus on Building Confidence in Beginner Students? - TEFL Blog
Fri, 06 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Why is it Important for ESL Teachers to Focus on Building Confidence in Beginner Students?
Learning a new language is an inherently challenging task. One important way for ESL teachers to help beginner students learn English is to focus not only on teaching language concepts but on building their confidence to experiment with the language and persist with their learning. This essay will firstly examine why building confidence is important in ESL teaching, and different strategies teachers can employ to do this, including how they interact with students and the content they choose for classes.
Table of Contents
Why might beginner students suffer from low confidence, and how can this interfere with their learning?
Student-Teacher... [Read more]
It's Not Rocket Science: Teaching Slang and Figurative Speech in English Classrooms - TEFL Blog
Mon, 10 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
It's Not Rocket Science: Teaching Slang and Figurative Speech in English Classrooms
Understanding the use of slang in a different language is a benchmark for fluency. Once a speaker is able to navigate society by listening and speaking slang, they are better able to assimilate among native speakers. But whether or not colloquial speech has a place in English classrooms is debated among teachers. While formal English takes precedence in many classes, teaching slang can be important depending on students' reasons for learning English and their experience with the language. Incorporating slang can also be a motivational tool for teaching disengaged students.
Table of Contents
Get to Know Your Students
Consider Their Level and Needs
Do... [Read more]
5 Important Things When Teaching Beginner Students - TEFL Blog
Thu, 25 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
5 Important Things When Teaching Beginner Students
I am an English teacher. I am teaching beginner students who are aged from 3 years and a half to 8 years old. My students are very young learners who normally have shorter attention spans, and have not even completely mastered their mother tongue. They are generally amenable to fun games, singing, and drawing. For my students, they start from zero knowledge of English to a very basic knowledge that cannot be quickly or easily activated, but with these levels, success is easy to see and usually good fun.
Table of Contents
Play and Have Fun
PPP Method
Learning Environment
Relation to Students
Listening Skills
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!
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... [Read more]
Methods of Teaching Vocabulary in the Classroom - TEFL Blog
Fri, 02 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Methods of Teaching Vocabulary in the Classroom
While sentence structure and grammar are the foundation of the English Language, vocabulary is the glue that holds it together. An expansive vocabulary allows students to feel confident in their abilities and communicate more effectively. There are many methods of teaching vocabulary and in each class, the teacher may need to use different methods. This is because each class will be made up of different students each with their own learning style.
Table of Contents
Listen to this blog post:
What is vocabulary for?
Lesson structure
Sample Lesson Plan
Depending on students' age
An example of a more beginner class could entail:
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today?... [Read more]
Teaching Beginner English Students in Senegal: Personal Experience with ESL - TEFL Blog
Fri, 15 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Teaching Beginner English Students in Senegal: Personal Experience with ESL
From 2018 to 2019, I taught two eighth grade English classes in the rural Thies area, experiencing some of the challenges and advantages to teaching students who were just embarking on their language study. I was paired with a long-term Senegalese teacher who walked me through the basics of teaching a foreign language: engaging the class, developing study materials, and creating activities. What stood out to me was his emphasis on showing up as a role model for the students, as well as integrating other modes of learning into the classroom, such as art, singing, and dance activities.
Table of Contents
Main Issues
Classroom Environment
Classroom Management... [Read more]
What are some useful ESL teaching resource books? - TEFL Blog
Sun, 20 Aug 2023 Federico Riva
TEFL Information Teaching Ideas
What are some useful ESL teaching resource books?
The market for ESL teaching books is very large and all the major publishers have some form of involvement in the production and selling of these resources. There are many different types of books and resources that are used in ESL teaching and we will consider three main categories.1) General teaching theory books2) ESL book series3) Activity resource books
Table of Contents
General teaching theory books
ESL book series
Activity Resource books
Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language?
Related Articles:
Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
General teaching theory books
As an ESL teacher unless you spend your entire career... [Read more]
Our ITTT TEFL and TESOL Alumni Stories from: 100
Our ITTT TEFL and TESOL Alumni Stories
The Importance of Home Tutoring in Vietnam
Tho Nguyen
Destinations Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Discover the advantages of 1-on-1 home tutoring over conventional methods in Vietnam. Learn how personalized attention can improve self-esteem, address learning disabilities, and shorten the learning curve for students. Read this blog post to find out how small changes can make a big difference in a student's education.
The Importance of Speaking English in Today's World
Hoàng Minh Huy
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
Speaking skills are crucial for language learners. Learn the benefits of fluent speaking in a second language & strategies to improve your English speaking skills in this informative blog post.
Top 5 ESL Teacher... [Read more]
Common Learning Difficulties Faced in ESL Settings - TEFL Blog
Fri, 29 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Common Learning Difficulties Faced in ESL Settings
Learning is always hard especially learning something new such as English learning. English is a different new language compared with Chinese, so when we are learning, definitely we will meet all kinds of difficulties in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Table of Contents
Most beginners think listening is the most difficult part of English learning.
Speaking can be improved dramatically from zero in a short time but it's quite difficult to speak accurately.
For most Chinese people, English reading is not as difficult as listening or speaking.
Writing is always the hardest part of English for Chinese students.
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today!... [Read more]
Last posts written by Federico from: 96
Federico Riva
Read my articles
Top Ways for Non-Native English Teachers To Build Their Teaching Career | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Federico Riva
TEFL Information
There are a number of different strategies discussed here to help build a teaching career. These include, private teaching volunteering. Other ideas that may not generally be known include teaching blogs and selling lesson plans and materials that you have created.
Top 8 Misconceptions About Teaching ESL | ITTT | TEFL Blog
Federico Riva
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
In this blog post, we look at two of the most common misconceptions about teaching ESL. First, that finding a job is really hard and second that you need a degree to teach English abroad.
10 Crucial Teaching Skills Every Online Teacher Should Have | ITTT |... [Read more]
Teaching Preschool ESL: Songs - TEFL Blog
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]
Creating your Own English Immersion Experience for ESL Students - TEFL Blog
Tue, 15 Feb 2022 Estefany Garduño
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Creating your Own English Immersion Experience for ESL Students
When you hear about English lessons, the first thing that comes into your mind is probably lessons taken from a book, answer lesson sheets, and talking in pairs applying a small group of vocabulary, and that's all. Let's change the game by giving a higher immersion of English to your ESL students without going to an English-speaking country to obtain more vocabulary, pronunciation, and speaking practice.
Table of Contents
What is an English Immersion Experience?
How could I start?
Select a topic according to your students' English level
Include as receptive as productive skills.
Build confidence in students
Time to expand during the... [Read more]
Volunteer ESL Teaching: Challenges and Opportunities - TEFL Blog
Fri, 21 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Volunteer ESL Teaching: Challenges and Opportunities
I took the ITTT online TEFL course not to prepare to teach English as an employee working abroad, but as a volunteer in the United States to teach refugee and immigrant adults. I completed the units a few months ago, but I waited to do this summative task until I could begin teaching classes as a volunteer teacher and reflect on that experience.
Table of Contents
Teaching ESL as a volunteer provides important opportunities for learning and growth.
On the other hand, serving as a volunteer teacher poses several challenges.
Volunteer Programs
Working With Different Groups
Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a TEFL course!
Related Articles:
Check out what our... [Read more]
What to Expect in a Small ESL Program - TEFL Blog
Tue, 08 Aug 2023 Ashton March
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
What to Expect in a Small ESL Program
Imagine yourself preparing for your first day at your ESL school. You've created a cute presentation for your first lesson, prepared the group activities for your large classroom, and are overjoyed at the thought of meeting your smiley students. Except, you find yourself in a small classroom with one or two students, no tech whatsoever, and figuring out how your group activities are going to work now.
Table of Contents
Creating Your Own Curriculum
Lack of Resources
Small Classes
Remember this!
Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language?
Related Articles:
Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
Teaching at small, low-resource... [Read more]
Top Tips for Using TPR in Preschool ESL Teaching - TEFL Blog
Fri, 09 Jul 2021 Anna Domiczek
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Top Tips for Using TPR in Preschool ESL Teaching
Total Physical Response is a very successful teaching method that can be used for both children and adults, particularly for beginner and lower-level learners. This English teaching approach, developed by Dr. James Asher, has been applied for almost thirty years. Asher's language learning method is built around the coordination of speech and action, and its purpose is to teach language through physical activity.
Table of Contents
Is TPR Beneficial in Online ESL Teaching?
How Can TPR be Used in Teaching ESL to Young Learners?
Simon Says
TPR Storytelling
TPR Songs
Scavenger Hunt Challenge
Charades
Pronunciation
Conclusion
Are you ready to teach English abroad or online?... [Read more]
Reasons Why ESL Students Stress Out in the Classroom - TEFL Blog
Fri, 05 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Reasons Why ESL Students Stress Out in the Classroom
Attempting to learn a new language is a very challenging undertaking. An ESL student will face many obstacles and difficulties not only when they are a beginner but also throughout their entire English education. There are so many unique rules and intricacies to the English language that it can be very daunting to remember everything. Issues ranging from grammar to spelling to pronunciation; can add to a student's stress level. That is why it is so vital for teachers to be aware of this when working with students. How a teacher speaks, acts, the actual words used, and many other things can impact students in either a positive way that helps with... [Read more]
TEFL ONLINE - page 2 - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL Jobs online
TEFL jobs Online
There are students of English all over the world who prefer to learn English online rather than by physical attendance at a school or language academy. Qualified TEFL teachers are therefore hired by a number of different organisations to teach English online.
Here are some online teaching positions:
ESL teachers needed ONLINE to work with IT professionals | (Date posted:2023-11-26)
Date posted:2023-11-26 | Writer: Unifyhub | Email: [email protected]
Unifyhub, a corporate language learning and content creation company with offices in Tallinn (Estonia), and Saint-Petersburg (Russia) is looking for ESL teachers to join our international team of professionals. In the past 14 years, we have helped over 100,000 people learn English, get into foreign universities, travel... [Read more]
What not to do as an EFL teacher? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What not to do as an EFL teacher?
Every teacher, particularly those starting their careers, inevitably stumbles upon some mistakes in the classroom. The key to improving as a teacher is recognizing these errors. In this article, we will examine some of the most common pitfalls new teachers encounter and how to steer clear of them as you grow in experience.
Don’t talk too much
One of the most frequent mistakes by novice teachers is monopolizing the conversation during lessons. Remember, students need ample opportunities to practice speaking the language, which fuels their progress. Limit your talking to essential instruction and steer clear of irrelevant chatter. Encourage students to read answers and provide peer feedback. Maximizing student talk time equates to maximizing their... [Read more]
What not to do as an EFL teacher? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
What not to do as an EFL teacher?
Every teacher, particularly those starting their careers, inevitably stumbles upon some mistakes in the classroom. The key to improving as a teacher is recognizing these errors. In this article, we will examine some of the most common pitfalls new teachers encounter and how to steer clear of them as you grow in experience.
Table of Contents
Don't talk too much
Don't let one or two students dominate the class
Don't pretend you know everything
Don't try to improvise
Don't follow the textbook too rigidly or abandon it altogether
Don't say ?Do you understand??
Don't just use words
Don't forget to give plenty of feedback
Don't think of your students as your friends
Don't talk too much
One of the most frequent mistakes by novice teachers is monopolizing the... [Read more]
The Most Impressive TEFL Course Takeaways - TEFL Blog
Fri, 25 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The Most Impressive TEFL Course Takeaways
The key things from this course for me can be summarized under the following topics: teachers and learners; theories, methods, and techniques; teaching a new language, and teaching special groups.
Table of Contents
Teacher-Learner Communication
Practical Methods
ESL
Special Groups
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!
Related Articles:
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ewa T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Teacher-Learner Communication
People are all about connection. For a teacher to be able to teach effectively and students to get the most out of a course learning English as a... [Read more]
The Most Common Learning Difficulties Students Have to Face - TEFL Blog
Thu, 23 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
The Most Common Learning Difficulties Students Have to Face
Learning difficulties means difficulty in learning but its not globalized. most kids get cold feet in the course of learning a new thing or a new language, some become shy, while some are not motivated or have confidence. I have been around kids for years and I can say that I understand them in some cases or scenarios.when we are working with kids that are shy, less motivated or lack confidence we should use materials that will help to solve that problem, same goes for an adult.
Table of Contents
Neurological disorders
Behavior Issues
Are you ready to teach English to ESL students?
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Listen to this blog post:
This post was written by our TEFL... [Read more]
The Necessity of Learning Teaching Skills - TEFL Blog
Fri, 21 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
The Necessity of Learning Teaching Skills
"What are the essential teaching skills for teaching?" In this essay, I will be discussing my own experiences as an English teacher working for an online English teaching company called I-tutor; and my past experiences as a Music teacher. Teaching skills that I will describe in this essay are proper uses of eye contact and gestures, knowing your student, lesson planning, and caring to learn what roles are needed to teach efficiently.
Table of Contents
Eye Contact and Gestures
Knowing your student
Lesson Plans
Knowing Your Role as a Teacher
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!
Related Articles:
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Anneke D. Please note... [Read more]
My Plans as an EFL/ESL Teacher - TEFL Blog
Mon, 19 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
My Plans as an EFL/ESL Teacher
When I envision myself in a classroom full of new English learners, I see myself striving to encourage and motivate students through positive student-to-student and student-to-teacher relationships. One of the key components of successfully learning a new topic is to enjoy it and to see a purpose in doing so. Creating a safe and welcoming environment is one of the most important things a teacher can do to ensure student learning by building confidence in every individual.
Table of Contents
Personal Language Learning Experience
Lesson Plan
Understanding Students' Needs
Favorite Classes
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today!
Related Articles:
This post was written by our TEFL... [Read more]
Why Preparing a Plan is Compulsory for New Teachers - TEFL Blog
Thu, 23 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Why Preparing a Plan is Compulsory for New Teachers
Lesson planning is one of the most important elements of successful teaching in the ESL (English as Second Language) classroom and every TEFL (Teaching English as Foreign Language) lesson needs a plan, particularly so in the case of the less experienced teacher starting their career in a foreign country. The often-cited argument that over planning can create a less fluent atmosphere in the classroom does hold some truth but just as the artist is tutored not to attempt abstract art until first mastering the art of realism, the teacher likewise is best placed not to address a class unprepared until first mastering the art of pre-planning.
Table of Contents
What does your success... [Read more]
What is Lesson Planning and How to Implement it in The TEFL Work? - TEFL Blog
Mon, 10 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
What is Lesson Planning and How to Implement it in The TEFL Work?
I believe it is very important to plan and write down lessons, for the benefit of the students, myself, relieving teachers, and especially while I am an inexperienced teacher. A lesson plan acts as a device for a singular lesson, helps create a series of lessons, and as a record of what has been taught. Self Evaluation Forms will be vital as a new teacher so that I can continuously self improve.
Table of Contents
Initial Assessment
The Students
The Classroom
Parts of a Lesson Plan
My additions to the lesson plan to include:
Self Evaluation
Self Evaluation Forms should be at the bottom or on the back of the lesson plan
Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take... [Read more]
An Overview of The Many Teaching Skills in The Classroom - TEFL Blog
Fri, 07 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
An Overview of The Many Teaching Skills in The Classroom
Teaching skills can be summarized in four key concepts: communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
Table of Contents
What do English teachers teach?
Role of the teacher
Teaching methods
Accuracy and Fluency
Students abilities
The 4 Basic Concepts of Teaching Skills
Professional development
Are you ready to implement your teaching skills in an ESL classroom?
Related Articles:
Listen to this blog post:
Of course, when describing these skills we aren't just talking about teaching English but these skills can be used to prepare students in order to be able to express and communicate themselves independently and with groups in a globalized world as well as... [Read more]