Classroom Names

  It is very important that whenever we?re doing an activity that we use the students names wherever possible when we're asking for feedback and so on and so forth. There are a number of benefits to using the students? names and they can include helping to actually organize the class itself, certainly to acknowledge when a student has given the correct answer and so forth, to indicate who should respond, rather than just asking a general question to the whole class. By using the names we can ask an individual to respond to that particular question. One point to note here is that if you are going to ask an individual student it is very useful if you put their name at the end of the question. This is useful because if you start with their name then all of the other students know that...  [Read more]

  Alveolar sounds get their name from the fact that the alveolar ridge is being used. Again, that ridge is just behind the front top row of teeth. Here the tongue is on or very very near the alveolar ridge. It's typically the tip of the tongue or what's just behind the tip of the tongue, called the blade of the tongue. Here, we're talking about sounds such as ?t? and ?d?. If you say them at home, you can tell the tip of your tongue is on that alveolar ridge. Again, that's ?t? and ?d?, as well as sounds such as ?s? and ?z?. Again, the blade of the tongue is just near that alveolar ridge but it is very near nonetheless. The two other sounds that make it into this category is the ?l? sound, where the tip of the tongue is very clearly touching that alveolar ridge, as well as ?r? or the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas No matter how well-prepared a teacher may be, every classroom is different, which means each student is different, and each teacher needs to be able to adjust and be able to establish rapport with the new class. For some teachers, working in a foreign country may cause them to feel uneasy; however, a teacher needs to overcome this feeling to be successful in the classroom. Indeed, building rapport with all students will help. Although this is a continuous process throughout the term, the key to establishing a friendly learning environment starts on day one. Thus, the best way to build rapport is to know the students’ names and interests by the end of the day or week (depending on class size). This post was...  [Read more]

Shirin Sophy Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas No matter how seasoned and confident a teacher is, there are occasions specifically before starting a new class that every teacher might wonder, "what if they don't like me?" This nightmarish query may cause even more distress when one is getting ready to start a job at a new school or a new country. Considering the fact that students don't basically walk into a class with a bias against the teacher, and they tend to take a liking to him/her based on the very first impression they get, can clarify the importance of the first session. In fact, you can work towards establishing a strong rapport by having various fun warm-up activities ready in hand in order to provide your students...  [Read more]

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ [ {"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh0","name": "Arrive on time.","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/how-to-navigate-your-first-day-in-a-tefl-classroom/#nameh0"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh1","name": "Be thoroughly prepared","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/how-to-navigate-your-first-day-in-a-tefl-classroom/#nameh1"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh3","name": "Incorporate games","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/how-to-navigate-your-first-day-in-a-tefl-classroom/#nameh3"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type":...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences A major consideration for any teacher is going to be building and maintaining rapport. The importance of rapport is that within our communicative activities we're asking the students to talk to each other and if they feel comfortable with each other and with us, then that interaction is much more likely to be useful. One approach is to consider two stages of the teaching we are involved in. The first stage could be called “the start of the course” and the second stage called “throughout the course”. Considering the first stage, to help build rapport at the start of the course, it's very useful if we ask the students to create a name card and to make that name card...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Managing the classroom is a task that should be considered among the first things for a TEFL teacher when preparing oneself for a new class. The way that it is arranged can be the deciding factor of efficiency for teaching. There are many variables to consider when preparing a classroom for students who will be attending. One of the variables is the amount of physical space that is available in the classroom. It is essential to know how much space you have to work with to plan accordingly. Another thing is the types of desks and chairs that will be used within the classroom. With this in mind, the teacher can strategize how they will optimize the desk formation to more...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Walking into a brand-new class, especially as a new teacher, can be very intimidating. Being prepared with the proper principles, tools, and attitude goes a long way when dealing with the first-class up through to the final exam. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Mark R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Relationships matter. Building a relationship with your students is the basic foundation of teaching. If a teacher does not have a relationship with their students, then having students succeed in learning will be infinitely more difficult. The best way to communicate anything is through the basis of the relationship. If you...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Classroom management can be defined as the ability or skill to organize the class. This will involve the use of the eyes, the voice, and different gestures. Classroom management will also involve group arrangements which can consist of the whole class, individuals or pair work. The use of student’s names, desk arrangements, use of the board, giving individual attention, and teacher talk time also fall under the label of classroom management. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Taurayi G. Use of the eyes. They say the eyes are a window into a person’s soul, in other words a teacher can hold a student’s attention by maintaining eye contact with them. Eyes...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Friendly atmosphere in a classroom is crucially important. Not only does it create a conducive environment for the study process, where students are relaxed and therefore tend to participate more, but also provides a safe space for a teacher. From my experience, building good rapport is especially important for young teachers as it helps to boost their confidence and unleash all the potential they have in order to make lessons effective and fun. Here are some ways of forging a friendly relationship with students, that worked out for me. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Anastasiya E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Apparently,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom Management is a crucial skill to ensure friendly, fun, well organized, disciplined classes be carried out in a relaxed atmosphere. When done correctly the teacher can then continue to inspire confidence in the students, creating a platform to ensure effective learning. Teachers need to know when to be firm and when to leave students alone. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Craig W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Establishing a good rapport with the students is crucial to ensuring a successful and enjoyable class. The general approach and attitude of the Teacher towards the class and its students will determine...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Whether you are a seasoned professional starting a new year at a school you’ve taught at for years, or you’re teaching your very first ESL class, the first-day teaching can be very intimidating. Teaching English as a second language, whether in your home country or a non-English speaking country, can be especially difficult due to the language barrier faced by both the students and the teacher. Because of the language barrier in ESL classes, it is vital to build rapport with your students to create a productive and comfortable learning environment. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Samantha S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information Having a good relationship with your students has many benefits as a teacher. They will become more interested in your lesson, they will learn a lot more and it creates an overall comfortable classroom environment for both the teacher and the students. However, it’s often easier said than done to build rapport with those in your class. So how do you do it? This article highlights the 5 best ways to build rapport with your TEFL students. Our TEFL certification courses also teach you useful techniques and methods to further build rapport for your students. We’ve all had that teacher or professor who doesn’t bother learning our name and just goes around calling everyone “you”. Did you enjoy taking their...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching English as a foreign language with little to no experience is a daunting task and one that should be seriously considered. There are many aspects to teaching that I was expected to know and implement while teaching English in another country. I had to learn how to teach in about two weeks and although I learned many techniques and strategies, one of the most important tools and one of the most effective was including games in the classroom. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Patricia C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I was slightly skeptical at first because, even though games are fun, I hadn’t personally experienced...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The idea of flashcards is essentially very simple. They are meant to introduce vocabulary and review existing vocabulary already learned in the classroom. Other than this, flashcards can be placed around the classroom for students' reference when performing activities. They may be used in drilling activities as well but this may also get boring for the students, and should be mainly used for sparking creativity and classroom games. Some of the possible flashcard ideas include, and are not limited to the following; This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hussein D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Name cards are made for the students...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Teaching Ideas It is undeniable that rapport between the teacher and students and between students themselves makes the class successful and enjoyable. However, some teachers face problems trying to establish rapport with the students. Being an experienced EFL teacher, I keep facing the same problem: it is hard for me to create a relaxed atmosphere in the classroom and keep a balance between being students’ reliable friend and their authority. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Elena K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. To begin with, it is important to create a warm relationship from the very beginning. Therefore, the first lesson should be more...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How to start your very first lesson or transition to study after a long summer vacation? The following activities help you easily break the ice with your English students. Students of all ages love interesting games that encourage interaction. Try one of them as a starter or as an icebreaker! Ask students to draw an self portrait and display them on a bulletin board in class. Each person writes a positive adjective describing each of their classmates on a sticky note and sticks it to the portrait. Do this activity in 1 day or over a period of time, let students take their portraits home. It’s a fun and engaging activity for the first day of school. You can also adopt it to the online activity by using Google...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This essay will focus on a few effective and ineffective strategies as well as my plan to incorporate these strategies to promote an organized classroom. My greatest fear is a large unruly class that interferes with my ability to teach. As the product of two parents who were public school educators, I understand the importance of integrating proven classroom management strategies. Without these tools, students will not be focused and may not absorb lessons as intended. As such, maintaining the attention of students will require skill and patience but once mastered, an effective learning environment will be the result. I look forward to working with students and maintaining an engaging space that is open,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Walking into a classroom for the first time can be an intimidating experience! It can be even more intimidating if the teacher has moved to another country to teach English, as communication can be quite a challenge. Also, the teacher is often in an unfamiliar environment and dealing with cultural differences. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Janet K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. So what makes a good teacher? Well, personality-wise, a kind and patient person who loves teaching and has a lively and entertaining personality would be an ideal candidate. Of course, a good knowledge of the subject and an ability to create a good...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences If someone asks me what I think about teaching kindergarten children as a native English teacher (NET), I would say that it is one of the happiest and most rewarding experiences that I have ever received. But, if someone asked me what I thought about teaching kindergarten children when I first started, I would have responded differently. I would say, “I can’t seem to get my students’ attention,” or “Some of my students still have trouble learning new words.” It was after a few weeks into teaching and some wonderful advice from my coworkers I realized that I had overlooked the fact that the students’ age, perception, and interests play an important part in teaching. When I took those factors into...  [Read more]

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ [ {"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh0","name": "Book Series ","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/what-are-the-best-books-for-teaching-esl/#nameh0"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh1","name": "General Teaching Theory Books","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/what-are-the-best-books-for-teaching-esl/#nameh1"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh3","name": "Activity Resources","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/what-are-the-best-books-for-teaching-esl/#nameh3"} ] ] } The market for ESL teaching books is very large and all...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Teaching Ideas Throughout this course, my favorite units have been the ones that teach us how to lead an effective lesson and have a fun classroom environment. I love all the suggestions and teaching ideas they give, and it excites me to think about using those for my future lessons. For that reason, I chose the topic of five activities with flashcards. This essay will be a perfect opportunity for me to delve further into my favorite part of this class and plan some fun things to do. When I move abroad I plan on teaching young children, mainly kindergarten-aged, so my five activities will be geared towards young learners. They need way more energy, fun, and excitement in their lessons than teenage or adult learners because their...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Flashcards tend to be the most commonly used and popular teaching tool during any of my lessons performed regularly. I come across them so often during my teaching practice that I eventually decided to write my essay on this very topic. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Mikhail E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. It is basically an ultimate flat piece of paper (carton) usually with fancy picture on it that can be easily touched, carried, thrown, stepped on, folded, hidden etc There are practically no limits to the ways of its usage in the classroom plus most of the flashcards carry sharp, clear and colorful message about a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this essay, I would like to discuss the reasons I think good student-teacher rapport is of utmost importance in the classroom and dealing with classroom management. I will not only discuss my experience as a language learner but also use examples from the videos which we analyzed in this course. As I have not yet stepped foot inside an EFL classroom I will not, unfortunately, be able to speak about direct EFL experience that I have. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Paul S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In my opinion, student-teacher rapport is essential for a teacher to avoid any discipline issues that may arise in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this topic, I will be talking about my own “Personal Teaching Experience” in two Asian countries that I’ve had the privilege to work in and teach such as, China and Russia. So you might want to ask yourselves, What’s the difference between teaching Chinese and Russian students? Well honestly there is a huge difference so let’s get started. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jhonatan J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First of all, let’s start with the cultural differences in the classrooms between Chinese and Russian students. Let me mentioned to you that in both countries I’ve had jobs mostly in private...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas There is no agreed definition of a large class in the dictionary, nor should there be. One person’s large class is what some others consider as ‘regular’, ‘small’ or ‘normal’. Some simply define "large" as "too many students to learn names by the end of the term or semester." Whether something feels like a large class is partly a matter of the resources put into teaching it and of the skill employed by the. A large class is one that feels large. A sign that a class is ‘large’ can be: the resources can no longer cope with the number of students if you desire individual attention for the students. Here are some tips to help with teaching large classes. This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Flashcards are considered to be an effective means to introduce new vocabulary in the ESL classroom. They are vivid, easy-to-use and they are considered to stimulate active recall method which helps us to retain the vocabulary for long periods. Some teachers consider that flashcards can to be used for young learners only. In my opinion, even adults will benefit from using flashcards. They can help to reduce TTT while introducing new vocabulary, can be used as a revision activity, and when adapted, can even be applied to practice vocabulary in complex grammar structures. Flashcards are easy to find. You can buy ready-made flashcards, use cutouts from old magazines or draw your flashcards. You can even ask your...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom management is a key element to establish a successful learning environment in any classroom. Classroom management is the skill of organizing and managing the class, having a friendly, relaxed manner, and maintaining discipline. For a class to be able to learn effectively the teacher must be able to inspire confidence in the students. He/she must know when to be firm and when to leave the students alone. In other words, the teacher must be flexible and change his/her role according to the activity and situation without being dominant or leaving the students uncertain. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate SENA S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ [ {"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh0","name": "Selecting a teaching space.","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/how-to-set-up-your-online-tefl-classroom/#nameh0"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh1","name": "Ensuring proper equipment.","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/how-to-set-up-your-online-tefl-classroom/#nameh1"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh3","name": "Significance of the back wall.","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/how-to-set-up-your-online-tefl-classroom/#nameh3"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type":...  [Read more]

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ [ {"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh0","name": "Types of disruptive behavior.","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/managing-disruptive-student-behavior-in-the-tefl-classroom/#nameh0"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh1","name": "Moderate disruptions","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/managing-disruptive-student-behavior-in-the-tefl-classroom/#nameh1"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh3","name": "Severe disruptions","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/managing-disruptive-student-behavior-in-the-tefl-classroom/#nameh3"},{"@context":...  [Read more]