Do They Speak English In Turkey

Anastasiya Akpinar TEFL Information Alumni Experiences For the last 50 years, English has become one of the most widely spoken languages worldwide. Nowadays, almost all spheres of our daily life are strongly connected to this language. We use English in business, tourism, education, and entertainment. With globalization trends and technology development, we cannot imagine even one day passing without using English. So the need to learn English as a foreign language increases all around the world every day. Many people start English language courses and use different educational applications and try to find schools that provide the best foreign language study methods for their children. Turkey is a big country where different...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In the last years, English has become more and more popular worldwide. In most countries, children start learning a second language at an early age. Also in Turkey, the number of schools, universities and language centers where it is possible to learn English has increased significantly. Nevertheless, despite all the efforts and a considerable presence of foreign teachers, it seems that Turkish students find the English language extremely difficult to learn. Turkish students consider the education system the major cause of their school failure because it is too obsolete. I had the opportunity to work as a language teacher in Turkey for several years. This experience helped me to understand why in Turkey...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Children learn fast, that is a fact. Learning a language is their natural skill, which they are born with. We all have gone through that process. There is no teacher needed to teach a kid how to speak, there is no teacher needed to teach a kid how to pronounce e.t.c. Mothers and fathers are not teachers, but they teach their kids how to speak, or maybe kids learn by themselves? In my opinion, communication is one of the very basic needs, which comes naturally. Children need to talk to their mothers, fathers and other people who are around them. Speaking is a result of listening and observing – in this case, family members. Kids learn from people in their environment, that is why it becomes so popular to hire a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas It is an undeniable fact that English nowadays has become the most influential language in the world. Many throughout the world seek to learn it as knowing it is now a must to find a good job or find good opportunities in one’s life, which is why we can find countries that are rife with various English courses. This is especially true in Turkey. Where English is in high demand as everyone in the country is starting to realize its importance. It is also worth noting that the vast majority of the country do not have adequate English skills, especially in speaking, mastering said skill is a dream for many Turkish people. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melisa N. Please note that this blog...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Turkey, being famous for its fast-growing economy, fulfilling the educational needs of most of the people around the globe has been my residence for the past three years. As an ELT professional, I have the privilege of teaching English in various educational institutions in the country. During my tenure in those institutes, I came upon various reasons as to why students are having difficulty in learning English. I devised various solutions by adding in more activities and solving the complications from the grass-root level. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Karina G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The correct organized...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences My personal teaching experience is the reason why I love teaching and hopefully after this essay, you would understand why. Let me begin by giving you a short description of myself. I was born in South Africa, I had a normal childhood and I did not enjoy my schooling career. I am currently living in Turkey teaching English to kindergartens. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Cihan C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When I arrived in Turkey I realized that English was a need and a want by many people of all ages. Knowing this I chose to work as a welder because I did not have enough confidence to use my English as a tool to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I have started teaching English in Turkey, since 2018. If you are planning to start your teaching career here, I would like to mention several pros and cons and problems of learning English for the speakers of the Turkish language. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hanie s. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First of all, learners expect teaching to be prescriptive rather than descriptive, which indicates, they tend to memorize the sample instead of learning through the examples and explanations. Secondly, students are occasionally, immersed in criticizing the politics but the teacher should not join, due to the fact that they...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Learning the English language during adult years is a specific process when a student has reached a certain age, got some kind of profession (occupation), and decided for some specific reasons to learn (improve) English language. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dinara Y. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. For example, the first category of students I came across decided to learn the English language and attend lessons because they needed to pass a governmental exam (YDS English), which could provide public officers with certain advantages such as promotion, salary bonuses and /or appointment abroad. The second category of...  [Read more]

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

Jon ITTT Destinations Opportunities abound for the TEFL teacher in Europe and it is a popular destination for many upon completing their TEFL certification. Teachers with a specialist certificate in teaching business English will do well in countries such as France and Germany, but there are plenty of teaching jobs to be found across the whole region. The requirements for English teachers in Europe vary from country to country and this article aims to highlight the differences and similarities between them. ## Listen to this blog post: European Union member states prefer teachers who are EU citizens because many schools are unwilling to deal with the extensive paperwork involved in hiring teachers from outside the EU. That said, it is not...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Destinations TEFL Information Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) abroad is a great way to gain international experience, learn a new culture, and earn money while traveling. Europe is a particularly popular destination for ESL teachers, offering a wide variety of countries with different cultures and languages. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the best countries in Europe for teaching ESL, including factors such as cost of living, job opportunities, and cultural immersion experiences. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or just starting out, these countries are sure to offer something for everyone. For people who really want to go to Europe we recommend the Czech Republic as a good first...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Online teaching is a term used to explain distance conversational courses that are offered over the internet platform. Nowadays, learning a second language as English is open to the World. So far, E-teaching is very effective because it gives teachers chances to teach from home for lower costs. Online teaching provides new opportunities for students and teachers. For example, everyone would have access to English no matter where the location is if they have the internet. Online teaching gives teachers flexibility in teaching hours. The Internet is a very competitive learning environment for young learners. It is easier to fix mistakes from home and less embarrassing. Online teaching can be very comfortable at...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Destinations Whether you are a newly qualified EFL teacher, or you have some experience in the classroom already, there comes a time when you have to decide where to look for a teaching job. Across the world there are many regions and individual countries that offer a variety of opportunities, but which ones would suit you best? One big consideration is your own personal motivation for wanting to do it. Do you want to earn money to fund world travel or to pay off your student loans, or are you simply looking to escape the daily 9 to 5 grind? Are you looking to explore a foreign culture or to learn another language? Whatever it is that is driving your ambition to teach English abroad, the chances are you can find what you are looking...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Before we dig in, I think it is very important to know exactly why we are doing anything that we do. Knowing the intention behind anything we do, gives us purpose and gives us the ability to see things from a bird's eye point of view. In this case, a person choosing to teach English as a foreign language needs to ask herself why do I want to teach English? Why do I want to be in a classroom with students from all sorts of different backgrounds? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Randa E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Depending on the answer to those questions, we get to our 'why' and it must be a 'juicy why' because that is...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Who was your favorite teacher in elementary school? Mine was my 5th-grade Teacher, Mr. Powers. Not because he was super cool, or cute, or wildly entertaining. It was because he was an amazing teacher. He was a retired Air Force pilot, yet was never very hard on us and I can’t think of a single time that he got upset with us. I believe this is completely due to his amazing classroom management skills. I try my best to model my own teaching skills after Mr. Powers while teaching here in Istanbul, Turkey. Cultural and economic differences are actually the least of my problems while working with these amazing children. The most challenging aspects happen to be making the most of classroom space, ensuring the...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Destinations One question many people considering becoming a TEFL teacher ask is whether it is possible to teach English abroad without a university degree. The answer to this question is simply, yes. While there certainly are some countries and individual schools that do require TEFL teachers to have a degree, in the vast majority of countries it is not a requirement by governments or employers. Below I look at the different regions of the world where you can work as an English teacher without having a university degree. Bear in mind that labour and immigration requirements for any country are always subject to change and that you should always contact your local consulate for the most up-to-date information before making your plans....  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Visa and Legal Destinations TEFL Information Every year, thousands of Americans embark on their adventure of teaching English abroad. Many of them dream of living in Europe but are deterred by the seemingly unfavorable visa regulations and they head to Asia or Latin America instead. While it is true that a lot of employers in European countries prefer to hire teachers with an EU passport to avoid having to organize a work visa for those from other countries, there are other ways to legally work in Europe as an American English teacher. Here is our how-to guide for Americans to teach English in Europe. The first step for your adventure abroad, no matter which nationality you hold, is to get a...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Destinations Although it is true that there are some countries where employers will only consider native English speaking ESL teachers, either due to government restrictions or simply personal preference, there are still plenty of great opportunities across the world for non-native English speakers. In this article, we look at the best teaching destinations for people who are not from one of the countries generally consider to be native English speaking. Typically, these countries are Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and the USA. Due to the huge demand for foreign English language teachers across much of Asia, there are always plenty of jobs available regardless of your native language. So what are the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In the next year, I’ll be working as an English Teaching Assistant in Zadar, Croatia on a Fulbright grant where I’ll be working with university level students as well as with middle school students. I’ll be hosting workshops for middle school students on life and culture in America. I hope to utilize storytelling activities to both engage the class and provide an opportunity for language acquisition. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Gabrielle K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. For the engage phase, I might ask students to tell the class, in English, about their favorite Croatian holiday, having them include descriptions...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences From both taking this course and my experience in teaching Japanese children English, I have seen the importance and impact of establishing rapport with students right at the start of the class. Starting from the first lesson, a teacher must establish what kind of relationship they desire to have with the students. That relationship must often be with a relaxed atmosphere where the students can feel that they are supported by the teacher. Thus from the very first lesson, the teacher must get to work on getting to know basic information about the students. What kind of interests do they have? Why are they learning English? At what level are they currently in with regards to their English skills? Knowing this...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations The worldwide EFL market is ever-changing with new hotspots and trends popping out of nowhere on a regular basis. If you don’t want to teach English in one of the common EFL destinations, like China, Mexico or Italy, this list of the top 5 off-the-beaten-track countries for teaching English abroad might get you inspired. With a diverse range of landscapes, Guatemala is a teaching destination like no other. Here, you will find towering tree clad volcanoes, lush canyons and Caribbean beaches that could have come straight off a movie set. The local EFL market might not be as big as those in some other countries in the region, such as Chile or Brazil, but that is what makes Guatemala so unique. We also offer our 4-week...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I’m a young ESL teacher in China, and I is Chinese. English is a compulsory subject for all Chinese students and reading skills have gained raising importance in the national tests for English subjects. Besides this, reading itself is fun and beneficial. I always try to let my students “learn through English” instead of “learning English”. From my experience, a successful reading class for young learners should consist of the following steps: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Fang W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. If the book is about animals. I may ask the students some questions like “what animals do you know?”...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Parents always want the best for their children. It’s an understandable desire. But sometimes they think that they know better and try to influence teachers’ work and set their own rules. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Valeria S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. If you work at some language school and parents pay money for the education they have a strong feeling that they can come and tell teachers what to do. Unfortunately in most cases, they know nothing about teaching. Some of them believe that homework is unnecessary; others believe that a child has to spend hours every day learning English and if there is no...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I am an experienced teacher, so why should I complete a TEFL course? A personal reflection on my experience, and how it has benefited and informed my teaching practice. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melanie W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I didn’t sign up for this course by choice. I was forced to do it by my employer. After many years of teaching experience and a recent job change, I began the course with a sense of dread and couldn’t wait to get it finished. I had worked hard for my Master of Arts in Teaching. I had put in many years teaching across age groups and the globe. I was an experienced teacher, so it...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Cultural awareness within a classroom is very important because in every country people hold different values and belief's that revolve around tier way of life. offend people on purpose or through ignorance is not good as it could lead to being ostracized or even dangerous. either of which is now way to start our your TEFL career. in this summative task, I will discuss this subject. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Clay W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In many countries, the way of life can be very important to the natives there. the way of life can be very foreign to an incoming English teacher and it's very important that...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations TEFL Information Are you thinking about teaching English in the Middle East? This region is rich in culture and natural beauty, plus the salaries for EFL teachers are among the highest in the world! Having work experience in the Middle East on your resume will open doors to endless opportunities around the world. Here are the best countries in the Middle East to teach English as a foreign language in 2018. Note that almost all employers in the Middle East require their teachers to possess a degree and a TEFL certificate. Some nations even require two or three years of teaching experience. Often the most popular choice of all the countries in the Middle East, the UAE is generally seen as one of the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas There are many potential problems when teaching is considered. With the teaching of a foreign language, especially in a culturally reserved country such as Turkey, the possible issues become bigger or more. I do not believe it would be very useful or beneficial neither for the teacher nor the students to put people with big age differences in the same class, trying to learn the same subject from the same teacher. There are many disadvantages as opposed to weak advantages in doing so. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nalan F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. To begin with, the level of motivation in students differ depending on...  [Read more]

Jen Bunce Visa and Legal TEFL Information So, you have been thinking about going abroad and are trying to figure out a way to support yourself while traveling and seeing the world? Teaching English as a second language is certainly a solid financial option for native and non-native English speakers, as well as a career that is high in demand around the world. Anyone that has a love for travel and wants to learn about other cultures, while also helping people, should seriously consider teaching English as it can fulfill all these desires. Here's a helpful how-to guide to preparing for your teaching job abroad written by our TEFL alumni Jen who documented her journey from TEFL certificate to receiving her job offer in Spain. The...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Let’s remember the latest class you’ve had. What were you doing? Were you explaining a new rule? Were you answering your students’ questions? Were you telling a story from your life? Weren’t you talking too much? Let’s discuss how to decrease teacher speaking time (TST) and increase student speaking time (SST). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate DALER R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. According to the communicative approach, TST shouldn’t be greater than SST, moreover, it must be much less than the last one. Why? There are several reasons. First of all, we have to mention that the more a teacher talks the less...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The TESOL/TEFL course from ITTT has taught me many things that will elevate my teaching. The best things that I learned from this course can be summarized in three statements. First, it is very important to be flexible in all aspects of your teaching. Second, it is crucial to be confident and adapt your teaching as each class progresses. Third, it is vital to develop a rapport and relationship with your students. While there are many different areas of my teaching that were improved by this course, I believe that these three things are the best and most important. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Stephanie B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or...  [Read more]