What Do You Need To Become An Esl Teacher

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Top 10 Mistakes of an Online English Teacher Ever since online English teaching became a common means of delivering lessons, every online English teacher must strive for excellence to guarantee their students' best learning experience. In this article, we will consider ten common mistakes that English teachers make when teaching online. 1. Imbalanced Lesson Planning This problem is fundamental to both in-class and online teaching. When it comes to distant learning, it is more challenging to choose a suitable approach. Some teachers tend to include too much information, which influences the overall quality of the materials. Others prefer to focus on more particular points in terms of one session but...  [Read more]

Class Courses TEFL Check out tefl tesol about Class Courses 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 W.G. - U.S.A. said: Why complete a TEFL courseWhy bother? I have a Bachelors/Masters degree in English 'why do I need to complete a tefl course' one might ask. Although one may be able to obtain employment as an esl teacher with just a Bachelors/Masters degree, acquiring a TEFL certificate almost guarantees that you will not only get the job that you want but, you will be able to command (in most cases) the salary that you're looking for. Acquiring a TEFL affords one an easier...  [Read more]

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas 3 Apps for Digital ESL Lesson Plans Being an ESL teacher is not an easy task, especially if you work as a freelancer TEFL teacher online. In this case, you have to be even more organized to provide better services to your students. This blog post offers you 3 apps for digital ESL lesson plans that will save you a lot of time. Why do you need a digital lesson planner? I know that many teachers still prefer to write their notes and plans on paper because it's the best way to make imagination flow. However, there is a considerable disadvantage with this approach: even if you are a very organized person, in time, it becomes challenging to figure out your thoughts on scattered lesson plans. A digital...  [Read more]

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching Skills Essential for Teaching Young ESL Students The classroom embodies a space where students learn. That space is usually a mixture of varying personalities, learning styles, and student levels. A teacher’s role in ensuring that students learn is of great importance seeing that the teacher serves as a facilitator for all, counselor to some, mentor to some, and disciplinarian to others. Teachers must possess or learn certain skills to be effective in the ESL/EFL classroom. While many factors are influencing the actual outcome of an EFL/ESL lesson, teachers of young learners must be patient, adaptable, and possess good classroom management skills. These skills are crucial for young learners because, on the one hand, they...  [Read more]

What is an ESL teacher? Globalization and the increasing demand for English speaking professionals all over the world, especially in emerging regions, has brought about a new, steadily growing sector: English as a Second Language (ESL). An ESL teacher is, therefore, an educator who works with English Language Learners (ELLs) whose native language is not English. The goal of the ESL teacher is to help the students reach a certain level of fluency in English, on both a spoken and written level. How is an ESL teacher different for a foreign language teacher? ESL educators are not to be confused with foreign language teachers. ESL teachers do not share the same native language and are specifically trained to offer explanations and directed teaching methods to non-English speakers. This...  [Read more]

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How Important is the Difference Between American English and British English for EFL Learners? This summative essay will exam the importance of teaching the differences between American English and British English for EFL learners. I will examine the intention behind teaching these differences, and when these teachings should be applied, and to what effect and purpose. This essay will focus primarily on the problems of pronunciation and spelling, which are the two main differences. I am a British citizen, born and raised in London, England, and currently teach at a public high school in Tokyo. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Challis C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What Should be Considered When Teaching English as a Global Language? We are moving closer to becoming a Global Village in this more inclusive and competitive world, the need to be able to communicate effectively becomes a real necessity. Communicating effectively is no longer a nice to have skill but it is now becoming essential. Due to historical facts and the current geopolitical situation English has become the language of choice to progress, it is particularly and increasingly used in business, tourism, and social media environments. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Shaun Y. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The history of English expansion...  [Read more]

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 Federico Riva Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Teaching Special Groups in ESL - Teaching Individuals (One-to-One) How do you teach just one student using the communicative approach? Here we discuss how you can adapt to this particular teaching situation. Watch the video about this topic Positives and negatives The category of teaching individuals is also known as teaching one-to-one and it forms a very large part of the ESL teaching market. Teaching one-to-one has some positive and negatives about it. Perhaps the main positive is that because you've only got that single student you're only ever working at one learner level so there's no chance of any mixed ability. With only one student perhaps the main potential negative point if we're not careful is that there is...  [Read more]

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Why it is Important to Complete a TEFL Course People may think that taking a TEFL course is not necessary to be a good teacher. Along with that, TEFL courses cost both time and money, so, understandably, people question whether it is even worth it to take the course. Although many people have become successful teachers without taking a TEFL course, these courses can provide teachers and aspiring teachers tips for managing a class and creating a more efficient lesson plan. Also, when teaching English in a foreign country, knowledge of the English language is not the only thing someone needs to know; teachers need to be aware of a variety of issues that can arise when teaching in a foreign country. Notably, they need to consider how...  [Read more]

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas TEFL Alumna Shares Her Best Lesson Planning Tricks Lesson planning is an important skill and resource for teachers with benefits for the teacher, the students, and the institution accommodating them. By implementing this technique teachers are equipped with a guide that can instill confidence for themselves, as well as clarity for their students and employers. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jason T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Benefits One of the primary and more evident benefits of lesson planning is that it creates a clear structure for the lesson. This means that the teacher and students are aware of the focus of each session, which...  [Read more]

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Why and How to Acquire Cultural Competency in the ESL Classroom I am a South African who has worked in South Korea for more than eight years and one of the most important tools as an ESL teacher from a whole different nationality and culture has been the knowledge and awareness of cultural sensitivity in the classroom. When I meet a new ESL teacher and they ask me for advice this is usually the first thing I recommend: become an expert in the culture. It helps you meet the needs of your students and it creates a comfortable environment in which your students want to learn. In this essay we will look at what is culture, strategies for culture learning and how to assess your level of cultural competence. This post was written by our...  [Read more]

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Breaking The Language Barrier in ESL Students We live in an ever-changing world that is becoming smaller, more connected. Communication is faster and more diverse than ever. Computers, cell phones, and social media have increased the speed of communication. Therefore, the need for people to respond quickly and the language that has become synonymous with international communication is English. Thus, the demand for learning the language is increasing at a constant rate. But though people may have the need, they may lack the confidence to take on a new language fully. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Katherine R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent...  [Read more]

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Is Maintaining Discipline Really That Important to the Learning Process? 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? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tina S. The Importance of a Good First Impression Although the word discipline may seem negative, the purpose of discipline is to teach students boundaries that are necessary if they are to...  [Read more]

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Why Drilling is a Common Teaching Method in an ESL Class Drilling is a teaching method used by teachers, teaching languages or other subjects, all over the world. Generally, drilling involves the teacher saying or modeling something to the class and the students repeating it. There are many ways of using the drilling method. Some teachers may use it sparingly in class while others may use the method so often it becomes the main way their students acquire new information. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Erin D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Balance I believe when it comes to utilizing the drilling method in the classroom an important balance...  [Read more]

Thu, 30 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Volunteer Teaching: Why I Decided to Become a Volunteer Teacher For the past several years I have been working for a non-profit company that provides high-quality daycare and preschool education for financially disadvantaged children. The population we serve is diverse, but the majority of families in our particular centers are Latino. Although I am not employed in a classroom teaching position, I have a great deal of contact with the children and with their parents. Part of my responsibility is to conduct an intake interview with the parents to explain the policies of the school, and to do a health history of the child before he enters. These meetings take about forty minutes when the parent speaks English, and an hour or more...  [Read more]

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Roles a Teacher has to Possess to Help Students Love English "A man doesn't learn to understand anything unless he loves it" Goethe The role of the teacher is very important in our lives. A good teacher provides us with knowledge, motivation, and encouragement while creating interest in his subject. He cares about his students and demonstrates patience. An experienced teacher knows what role or roles to take during his lesson. The most important role is the role of an organizer. The teacher instructs the class through daily activities. He may also split students into pairs for role-playing or encourage mill drill exercise, where students come to each other, ask questions, and receive answers. This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Many Roles of a Teacher At the cafeteria during lunchtime, a student of mine approached and asked me, “Why did you become a teacher?” Dumbfounded by this brazen question, I did not know what to say. I could have chosen motherhood statements like “I want to make a difference in the world,” “to have a positive impact on my student’s lives, “or that “I love children.” I ended up saying to him, “Well, I am good at teaching.” However, the truth of the matter is, I needed a job and there was an opportunity so I took it. You can say it was fate that called me to be a teacher. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself being a Grade 3 homeroom teacher! After having experienced a variety of jobs in my life...  [Read more]

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 Catia Pereira dos Santos Teaching Ideas What Kind of Teacher Do You Want to Be? What kind of teacher do you want to become? Can you picture it in your mind? Well, I did it! When I first started my journey as a Portuguese and English online tutor, I asked myself this question and it landed me on a few ideas which are also present over some units of the ESL teachers course.I've been a student for a while, and I am still today. This year, I merged in the education field, taken this bright decision had brought me a lot of joy. Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Catia P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. During my TEFL/TESOL teacher course lessons, I recognized...  [Read more]

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Many Roles of the Teacher in the ESL Classroom The role of a teacher is constantly changing throughout the day. The teacher’s role can be influenced by: the lesson, the students, and the circumstances that might arise during a classroom session. Teachers frequently perform various roles when teaching students, some of these roles include: instructor, facilitator, mentor, psychologist, counselor, and policeman. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Giuseppe T. Listen to this blog post: A teacher can act as an instructor. The role of instructor is the role most people associate with teachers of any subject – sometime referred to as the expert or the “knower” of a certain body of knowledge. This portrays...  [Read more]

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Necessity of Managing Equipment and Teaching Aids Teaching aids have become fundamental for teachers in all types of classrooms. These aids serve in honing the students’ reading skills and comprehension, keeping the class from becoming boring for the student, and presenting material in practical ways that can be applied in everyday activities. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Katrina K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Habits Being organized plays a big role in teaching, no matter what the subject is. Part of being organized is knowing how to use your resources. The teacher may have a dozen wonderful teaching aids, but if the teacher...  [Read more]

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Why Should We Teach Our Children Through Stories? As a teacher, we often find ourselves daunted with the task of capturing our students’ interests and also equipping them for the future. Not only do we seek to train better students, but we also want to produce better citizens, workers, and future teachers. Teaching is still held the same purpose throughout all these years: bettering our future through the lives of our students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Madison R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Teaching Methods Although our methods need to continually be more thought-provoking, entertaining and motivating, our objective has not changed....  [Read more]

Tue, 14 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A TEFL Graduate Shares Her Personal Teaching Experience If someone would have asked me 10 years ago what would I do once I finished University, it would have never crossed my mind to tell them that I would become a teacher. The process of becoming a teacher started when I began to look for part-time jobs while I was studying the Language at Hanoi University. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Anay M. G. English learning experience My English skills were poor, yet I had good basic knowledge of the language due to years and years of continuous study. Being non-native to the English language, I had to deal with learning English since primary school all the way until high-school. At that time, I didn’t...  [Read more]

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Budget and Salary TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas 7 Easy Ways to Make Money Online as an English Teacher Online English teachers have been in as high a demand as never before. The great thing about working as an online English teacher is that you don't even have to leave your home to make money. In this blog post, we share seven easy ways to make money online as an English teacher. Pick one or mix up several of them if you get inspired and ready to work hard! Listen to this blog post: 1. Work as an Online English teacher The most obvious is of course working an online English teacher. Online education has been booming in the recent months and vacancies are popping up every day. You can find students on sites like Craigslist or...  [Read more]

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas 3 Changes TEFL Teachers Need to Make When They Switch Between Individual and Group Lessons Teaching English is traditionally done in a classroom setting; however, a growing number of teachers and students are attracted to the convenience and flexibility of teaching one-to-one lessons. Whether teaching privately or for a company, in-person or online, to young learners or adults ESL teachers know their approach must change when switching from group teaching to teaching individuals. How is this done and what changes need to be made? Switching from group lessons to teaching one-to-one involves much more than modifying materials for a smaller audience; ESL teachers also need to make changes to teacher-student roles, syllabus and...  [Read more]

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. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Emma H. Important Course...  [Read more]

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Personal Qualities an English Teacher Should Possess Every teacher wants to be good and effective when it comes to teaching, but what exactly are the qualities that make a good teacher? Are there specific characteristics, talents, and skills that a teacher needs to learn and acquire to be called a good and effective teacher? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sherry Ann G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Teaching Myths Effectiveness in teaching is an elusive idea. How can we tell if a teacher is being successful in his or her field? Some people measure the effectiveness of a teacher by looking at his or her students’ achievements. Others measure...  [Read more]

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Should Chinese ESL Students Have Explicit Phonetic Instruction? During nine years of teaching English as a Second language, I have discovered how important phonetics is in learning the correct pronunciation of the English language, and in fact, in any language. Derwing and Munro (2005) emphasize, “It is essential to have an accurate understanding of the target language phonological system to enhance the quality of pronunciation". This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Mark B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. We should look at some of the problems that L2 learners have when trying to produce accurate L1 language patterns. A vast majority of...  [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]

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas 7 Things ESL Teachers Should Avoid Saying to Students ESL classroom is quite a sensitive place. Students can quickly get excited about what they learn if a teacher finds the right key to their motivation. However, sometimes ESL teachers may unconsciously use words that could hurt students intensely. Listen to this blog post: Read on for the top 7 things that ESL teachers should avoid saying to students to make sure your students feel comfortable. 1. You are not good at English. This phrase is very unpleasant to hear and irritates many students. Nobody wants to hear that they are bad at something when they spend a lot of time on it. Hearing such words from their teacher is even more frustrating. Instead of...  [Read more]

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Top 5 Skills Teachers Need To Set Their Students Up For Success Teachers play important roles in the lives of the students in their classrooms. Teachers are best known for their role of educating the students. The best teachers possess excellent communication skills, understand classroom management and appropriate discipline techniques to ensure a positive learning environment. As with all skills, teachers need to continue to improve their teaching skills by sharing with other teachers, continuing education and classroom experience. There are five important skills that teachers need in the classroom to set their students up for success. The focus needs to be on strengthening these skills to increase the effectiveness...  [Read more]