TEFL Ewa Gentry

  This diary entry was completed after Chantelle finished unit 15. Unit 15 looks at different ways of evaluating and testing your students and the importance of doing so. Types of test covered include placement tests, progress tests, diagnostic tests, and practice tests. The unit also looks at the different external examinations students are likely to take such as TOEFL and IELTS. 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...  [Read more]

As a TEFL teacher, one of the key ways to encourage students to take risks with their language use is by creating a supportive and inclusive classroom environment. This can be achieved by fostering a sense of community where students feel comfortable expressing themselves without the fear of judgment. Encourage open communication, active listening, and mutual respect among students. Establishing a safe space where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning rather than failures can help boost students' confidence in experimenting with new language skills. Incorporating engaging and interactive activities into your lessons can also motivate students to take language risks. Utilize role-plays, group discussions, debates, and language games to provide opportunities for students to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Discipline is an important aspect of classroom life when teaching EFL to adults. It affects the teachers and students and can hold a classroom together. Lack of discipline creates chaos and diminishes the ability of students to learn. In this essay, I will seek to explore what kind of discipline problems there are among adults, why a lack of discipline exists, and some strategies to solving a lack of discipline. To begin with, I'd like to review some literature about common problems which exist among students. With all these reasons for lack of discipline in mind, what solutions can be implemented? Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! This...  [Read more]

Pronunciation plays a crucial role in effective communication in the English language. Clear and accurate pronunciation helps students convey their message accurately and facilitates understanding by native speakers. Poor pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings and hinder effective communication. It is essential for TEFL teachers to emphasize the importance of pronunciation from the beginning of their teaching journey. 1. **Phonetic Awareness**: TEFL teachers should introduce students to phonetic symbols and the sounds they represent. By raising students' awareness of how sounds are produced and distinguishing between minimal pairs, teachers can help students improve their pronunciation. 2. **Modeling and Repetition**: TEFL teachers should model correct pronunciation and encourage...  [Read more]

In the rapidly evolving landscape of online education, teaching English as a foreign language has become both a popular and rewarding endeavor. With the rise of virtual classrooms, educators now have the opportunity to connect with students from around the world, breaking down geographical barriers and fostering cross-cultural understanding. One such group of learners that has shown a keen interest in online English language learning is South Korean students. As a teacher, understanding the cultural nuances and considerations specific to South Korea can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your online teaching approach. Understanding the cultural context in which your South Korean students operate is essential for creating a positive and engaging learning environment. South Korea places a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teachers play an intricate role in children's formative years, both intellectually and socially. For schools to have a positive effect on children, they will be dependent on good teachers. A good teacher has many specific attributes with some being professional roles they have and others being embedded in their personality. Management Evaluation Organization Attitude Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Shelby W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. During the class, the teacher must be able to manage and control the students. This means the teacher needs to be able to stand in front of the class as a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Students in ESL classes, especially those newer to English, face what may seem to be a daunting set of tasks related to learning a new language. A teacher's encouragement will ease the students' stress, provide positive feedback and, gently, areas of improvement, and provide an amicable environment conducive to learning. The age and experience level of the students should be considered in what specific words of encouragement are given--too effusive and older, more experienced students may be turned off, while too complicated and the younger students may not appreciate the teacher's phrasing. Engage Phase Aims and Objectives Materials Lesson Planning Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences One of the most rewarding times of my life is my career of teaching kindergarten for the last fifteen years. These young learners bring curiosity, energy, and enthusiasm to the classroom. Five and six year olds are still accustomed to needing help, and making mistakes; therefore, they are less self-conscious and are eager to learn in order for them to become more self-reliant. My husband and I are embarking on a new adventure to Indonesia where I will be working in a school in the early childhood department. The information I learned from my TEFL course will be very useful. Create a Cheerful Environment Be patient, kind, encouraging and observant. Are you ready to teach English to young learners? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As both an individual tutor and group teacher of High Beginning Conversational English for the ESL division of Literacy New Jersey, I have become familiar with the benefits and drawbacks of volunteer teaching. While the drawbacks can be challenging, the rewards of volunteer teaching far outweigh any drawbacks that I have encountered. My Personal Experience Benefits Challenges Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Charles M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Currently, my tutoring includes students from West Africa and Israel. My High Beginning Conversational English class has students from...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The personality of a teacher, their attitude towards teaching and their relationship with the students have a major impact on the motivation of the class to learn a foreign language. Being kind, patient, entertaining and with a good subject, knowledge is some of the characteristics of a good teacher. Leading Part Role Model Individual Instructor Evaluator Do you want to teach English to ESL students abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Vladislava B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Their ability to interact with the class, to involve all the students equally through the lesson, to correct them without offending or...  [Read more]

Teaching English grammar to complete beginners requires a structured approach to ensure understanding and retention: To make learning English grammar engaging for complete beginners, you can incorporate a variety of interactive and fun activities to keep them motivated and interested. Here are some effective strategies to make the learning process enjoyable:  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas While there are many things a teacher can do to prepare for the classroom, the way students interface with their teachers is something that can be both difficult and spontaneous. Building rapport with students is crucial to maintain a high level of energy and focus throughout a class session. Students' Comfort Teacher's Image Mindfulness Environment Interest Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Even though a teacher may have an entire lesson planned out, if students do not feel comfortable participating in front of their teacher, the pace of the class...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A teacher has an important responsibility to get to know his or her students to ensure that they are engaged with the lesson on a daily basis. Learning another language is not easy so it is imperative that a teacher does everything in his or her power to get to know their students and become as familiar with them as possible. One of the most effective ways a teacher can begin to do so is by establishing rapport with their students. When should a teacher build good relationship? First day activities Planning lessons In addition Are you ready to teach ESL students? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kathyrine L. Establishing rapport with students is ideally something that should happen...  [Read more]

Anna Domiczek Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Many research articles demonstrate the effectiveness of chants and rhymes and list the reasons why they should be an important element of ESL instruction. Through the use of chants and rhymes, students get to increase their vocabulary, improve rhythm, intonation, pronunciation, as well as memorization skills. Chants and rhymes are important in language teaching because: Improvement in Language Skills through Chants and Rhymes Possible? Concrete Examples of Chants/Rhymes and Teaching Applications Conclusion Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! "...the literature has recognized the role of nursery rhymes in paving the way for the learners,...  [Read more]

Lydia Pincott Destinations Alumni Experiences "But...why are you here?" It's a phrase often uttered by Japanese, confused about what your reason could be for straying from the usual temples of Kyoto, shops of Shinjuku, and street-food of Osaka. Itoshima Peninsula, Fukuoka Sado Island, Niigata Kurashiki, Okayama Are you ready to explore Japan? Related Articles: The beaten path in Japan is pretty great and worth exploring thoroughly, but if you've done it, or feel like you've done it from seeing other people's pictures, these 3 destinations are for you. Take a 4-week in-class TEFL/TESOL course in Japan and get a headstart in your teaching career! Picture this: Sandy beaches with perfectly turquoise waters stretching out as far as the eye can see, cafes with fresh, flavorful food just...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas It is inevitable that everyone will make mistakes when trying something new for the first time. Because there is no way to avoid them, mistakes should be accepted, treated as normal, and even encouraged. It is always better to make some mistakes in the attempt than not to try at all, and this is particularly true when learning a new language. My Own Foreign Language Experience Translating This Environment to the Classroom Dealing With Mistakes Practice Makes Perfect Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Catherine L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I studied French for four...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences It is not easy to describe a nation or a country simply since people should be considered as individuals, but there are definitely some national characteristics in Thailand that make it very different from any other country. When in the Western world, especially in Europe, we need a lot of space and privacy and are often expected to be able to work unprompted, in Thailand things are done collectively. There are no "I's" in a team, literally. Understanding how these teams work and their sometimes not so obvious hierarchy it is much easier to adapt and be accepted as a part of them. Collective thinking Cultural concepts Good relationships Honor and respect Kindness Understanding and empathy Thailad is a great destination to start your teaching career!...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learners, whether children or adults, tend to lack attention in the classroom at some point. Certainly, this problem varies from one type of age-range to the other. Indeed, this issue may be due to different reasons: mature students may be tired from work, whereas youngsters may struggle to keep up with the content. Listen to this blog post: Classroom Motivation Teacher's Personality Punctual Teacher Choice of Activities Methodology Group Work Implementing Different Strategies Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Debora M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Moreover, additional factors may...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Being a teacher is my everyday dream since I was a child. As I believe that the future is mainly based on education and students, how they can make a progress and improve their skills. So I decided to take apart in this great cycle hoping that one day I can leave a mark in student's life. Listen to this blog post: Nine Basic Traits of a Good Teacher The Controller The Organizer The Assessor The Prompter The Participant The Tutor The Facilitator The Model The Observer Do you have what it takes to be a teacher? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! The teacher's responsibility is not only about teaching students and correcting their pronunciation or grammatical mistakes; his/her responsibility includes a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Establishing rapport with students can be challenging sometimes, especially if this is a class of students who've already had different teachers or the students change around a lot. When there is inconsistency in teaching style or people, it can be more difficult for students to create a more meaningful bond. One of the key things I've always found in establishing rapport is to be friendly, positive, kind, consistent and understanding. There are different ways a teacher can show this. The way s/he introduces her/himself and shows interest in students initially, the level of professionalism displayed, the teacher's attitude towards students, the reward system put in place and the expectations set among many others. I have broken these down individually...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas First impressions can be a daunting topic for many, as they will generally set the tone for the rest of a relationship and can be hard to revert. These first impressions will not only be key toward the ease of establishing rapport with someone but also toward what the other party will expect of you in order to maintain an amicable relationship from then on. Group Size Important Professional Skills Friendship in the Classroom Steps to Build Rapport Do you want to teach English to school kids? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nicolas F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The number of people that one needs...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Every English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher desires to successfully teach their students how to proficiently speak, understand, and use the English language. English is a very complex language, and teaching it presents many challenges. Because of this, an ESL teacher must be willing and able to take on various roles throughout the teaching of a lesson. During a typical ESL lesson, a teacher will have some, or all, of the following roles: a manager or controller, an organizer, an observer, an assessor, a prompter, a participant, and a resource or facilitator. Management Observation Assessment Prompt Participation Facilitation Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Depending on the teaching situation, you might think that maintaining discipline isn't so important. You want the time you spend in the classroom to be fun, instead of wasting time protecting and punishing children. However, did you know that according to estimates, 80 percent of ESL teachers who quit their jobs after the first year do so because of their inability to maintain discipline in their class? The Importance of a Good First Impression Simple Ways to Aid Discipline in the Classroom When Discipline is Necessary Group Dynamics Other Factors to Consider Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tina S. Although the word discipline may...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The class life must be predetermined and must be appropriate for purposes. The teacher is primarily responsible for classroom management and principles. In other words, the teacher is responsible for the learning environment. In this way, classroom life becomes more charming, productive, and useful for the learning environment. Classroom Environment Communication Strategies Body Language Calling by Students' Names Grouping Classroom Rules and Directions Seating Arrangement Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Elif A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) certification is a qualification that enables individuals to teach English to non-native speakers. It equips teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively teach English in a foreign language setting. TEFL certification programs vary in length and intensity, but generally, they cover teaching methodologies, lesson planning, classroom management, and language assessment. Additionally, TEFL certification often includes practical teaching experience, which is essential for gaining confidence in the classroom. While TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certifications are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences between the two. TEFL is typically more...  [Read more]

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language Qualifications (TEFLQ) certification programs are designed to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to teach English to non-native speakers. Both programs aim to provide teachers with the tools they need to effectively teach English in a variety of contexts, but there are some key differences between the two. TEFL certification programs are typically designed for individuals who are looking to start a career in teaching English as a foreign language. These programs cover a wide range of topics, including lesson planning, classroom management, language assessment, and teaching methodologies. TEFL courses can vary in length, with some programs lasting a few weeks and others lasting...  [Read more]

TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) and TEFLQ (Teach English as a Foreign Language to Quality Standards) certification programs differ primarily in their content. TEFL courses focus on providing educators with the necessary skills to teach English effectively to non-native speakers. These programs cover topics such as lesson planning, classroom management, grammar instruction, and teaching methodologies. On the other hand, TEFLQ programs go a step further by incorporating quality assurance standards into the curriculum. This includes topics like continuous professional development, reflective practice, and adherence to specific quality benchmarks in teaching. When it comes to the requirements for obtaining TEFL versus TEFLQ certification, there are notable differences. TEFL...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Alumni Experiences TEFL Reviews & TESOL Reviews In this TEFL review video, Regan from the US shares her experience of taking a TEFL course with ITTT. Regan is teaching English in Northern Japan and decided to take a TEFL course in order to have more knowledge on how to structure her lessons. She found that the course was very helpful and the online format allowed her to study at her own pace while working full time. Federico Riva Alumni Experiences TEFL Reviews & TESOL Reviews In this TEFL review video, Elleda from the US shares her experience of taking three TEFL courses with ITTT. Elleda felt that she learned a ton of new skills and is now equipped with the right knowledge to succeed in any classroom - abroad or online. She would 100% recommend ITTT for...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Alumni Experiences TEFL Reviews & TESOL Reviews For ITTT, our community of students and alumni is the most important to us. That’s why we’d love to share what our course grads have to say! This will not only have others make a better decision in whether TEFL/TESOL is for them, but it will also help the ITTT community grow bigger and stronger! Federico Riva Alumni Experiences TEFL Reviews & TESOL Reviews For ITTT, our community of students and alumni is the most important to us. That’s why we’d love to share what our course grads have to say! This will not only have others make a better decision in whether TEFL/TESOL is for them, but it will also help the ITTT community grow bigger and stronger! Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences TEFL Reviews &...  [Read more]

After leaving the UK to travel in the mid-1990s, Mark has to date visited over 50 countries across six continents. After completing a TEFL course in Phuket, Thailand, he decided to make it his base and has since worked as an online TEFL trainer and a freelance writer. Mark Crocker TEFL Information It is well known that completing a TEFL certification course will help you to gain better quality teaching jobs in many parts of the world, but do you actually know what subjects the course will cover? Here we look at all the major topics you will study during your TEFL training. Mark Crocker TEFL Information Online training courses have many advantages and they are becoming increasingly popular with people looking to get TEFL certified. If you are new to self-study or are concerned...  [Read more]