English Second Language Free Lessons

Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas If every single lesson that we undertook with our students was a straight arrow ESA lesson then it is quite possible that the students would be able to predict what is going to come up next. Whilst this might be good for the lower level students, it could potentially become a little bit boring for our higher level students. Harmer considered this and his response was to generate two other types of ESA lesson that we can use to try and generate a little bit more interest. The first of these is known as a boomerang lesson and the second is known as a patchwork lesson. First let us recap the structure of a Straight arrow ESA lesson. This takes each of the three phases in turn, so a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this course, there were many ideas presented about the best way to teach English as a foreign language, from lesson planning to the activities, to the way the lesson is structured. All of these things were discussed, keeping in mind that learning a 2nd language is very different from the way we learn our first language. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rebekah P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When a person is learning their first language, it is not taught, as it is in a classroom. It is acquired through total immersion. This is the language that is spoken at home, and usually outside the home as well. This makes for...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This paper will discuss the benefits of teaching slangs and idioms to students learning English as a second language. It posits that both are necessary to fully use and understand the language, and will look at when it would be appropriate to introduce them to different types of students and how they might be incorporated into lessons. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Niall M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Both slang and idioms are natural parts of the English language; however, textbooks are usually lacking in them, due the fact that they cannot be updated quickly enough to keep up with the change of language or because it...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Having previously been a small business owner, I began teaching an English conversation class as a volunteer at my local library just over two years ago to fulfill a community service requirement for my degree program. The experience of teaching English as a second language has been so personally rewarding that I am now pursuing it as a career change. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daniel E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Being in the United States, it is a multilingual class. The students are all adults from a wide variety of countries, though the majority come from Latin America. I found that the students are very...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas When I first started as an EFL teacher two years ago, my senior colleagues would often advise me to create a lesson plan well in advance of an upcoming lesson. Having had no formal teaching experience back then, it surprised me because I assumed that simply creating lesson materials for students was sufficient. I did not think that lesson plans were necessary because when I was a student, I had never seen any of my teachers referring to them on the job. It seemed to me that teachers were natural improvisers and could deliver lessons without any referenced document. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Qi Lin L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) as a course contains a variety of units that are meant to enable an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher to be prepared for the classroom and everything that they may face. Some of the most important benefits of the course are the units on the three main components of lesson structure, lesson planning, possible problems in the classroom, grammar overviews and classroom management. Even if the TEFL is not a requirement, it is an invaluable resource meant to provide support to ESL teachers wherever they may teach. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kyra H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas One common problem the EFL teacher may confront in the classroom is a group of learners who are confused, intimidated, or anxious. In a word, classroom stress has the potential to significantly hinder the prospects of a successful learning experience. What are some techniques the teacher can employ to overcome this obstacle or to prevent it from emerging in the first place? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Brian J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A useful way to begin answering this question is by referring back to the two videos presented in unit 10 of this TEFL course. In the first video, one sees a classroom of confused and...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas When students learn English as a second language, there are two types of skills that they work towards obtaining proficiency of: receptive and productive skills. As an EFL teacher, you need to understand how to incorporate the learning of these skills into your lessons - and this guide will help you with that. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Leah B. Within the category of receptive skills, there are two types of subcategory skills the English language learner works towards: proficiency in reading and listening. There are two reasons as to why the student would want to gain mastery in these two receptive skills. The first motivation is for a purpose; the use of English...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences There can be a lot of difficulties a teacher might face in the future lesson. You might have to manage a class without any help or you might have students from different nationalities, ages, interests or so on. I believe, however, that most of the problems you might have would be solved if you planned the lessons carefully in advance. There are some reasons to support my idea. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Eri S. First, you can find what you should exactly do in a lesson as a part of a whole course by planning the lesson in advance. Otherwise, you go forward with your lesson aimlessly and you might lose sight of the final goal of the lesson. It is important to understand what the...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences Why complete a TEFL course? All the mainstream ads answer this question with, “Travel the World”, “Work and Live Abroad” “Discover different Cultures”, "Meet new People" and "Learn the local Language", all are great reasons. I had to ask myself this a few times. I have lived in many non-English speaking countries over the years and over these years have assisted many locals with their English homework or extra studies. I am a native English speaker, I know how to speak English; I have done it all my life so why would I need to take a TEFL course? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate John M. In the end it was pretty simple. For a native English speaker to teach English in all its correct...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Thu Ly T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Basing on the development of technology and the trend of globalization nowadays, online English lessons are very popular and will be very popular in the future. However, there are many difficulties that teachers have to face when teaching online. Understanding its advantages and disadvantages to have the appropriate teaching methods could help you overcome all troubles and be successful. So why don’t we taking online English lessons to reduce your costs, your time, make a friend and you can choose freely the teacher, the class you want in over the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Lesson planning is an essential part of ensuring that lesson objectives are met and that lessons are successful. There are two extreme approaches one could take to planning but, usually, an approach somewhere between both is best. The lesson plan serves several important functions regardless of which approach is taken. Most of all, lesson planning seeks to ensure that all students are actually learning from the lesson and making continual progress toward their language goals. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sergio M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Before writing down your lesson plan, there are some basic principles worth...  [Read more]

Laura Payne Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Authentic materials are media that native speakers of a language encounter in their everyday lives, which are not specifically created for language students. TV programs, newspaper articles, books, songs, YouTube videos, and more all fall under this term. Incorporating authentic materials into ESL classrooms has numerous merits, but the high language level required to understand these materials often causes teachers to rarely or never include them in classes below an intermediate language level. However, the difficulty of language in authentic materials does not necessarily mean that they have no place in lower-level classes. With some research, planning, and creativity, any teacher...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas You will find the web full of ideas for teaching vocabulary and, although most of them are undoubtedly good activities, some are only suited to a particular level. Here are some tried and tested activities that can be adapted to suit any level of student and a variety of class sizes. This is a great activity that can be used as a warm-up at the beginning of a class, or as a game at the end of a lesson. It’s suitable for any class size over 4 students and requires minimal preparation. Divide the class into two teams and have two chairs at the front of the class, set up to face away from the board. Have one student from each team come and sit in the chairs and tell them not to turn and look at the board. The premise...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas While sentence structure and grammar are the foundation of the English Language, vocabulary is the glue that holds it together. An expansive vocabulary allows students to feel confident in their abilities and communicate more effectively. There are many methods of teaching vocabulary and in each class, the teacher may need to use different methods. This is because each class will be made up of different students each with their own learning style. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Caitlin O. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Vocabulary is important to teach in the very first lessons because it is how students will be able to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences According to the Oxford Dictionary, motivation is 'the desire or willingness to do something.' On the one hand, most of the students who take a foreign language course should have the desire and enthusiasm to learn and develop their skills in that second language; for future career prospects, travel purposes, to study or live in a country whose local language is different from their mother tongue, etc. On the other hand, a few of them won’t have any interest at all and they will attend the lessons with neither intention nor motivation. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ruben Garrido G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT....  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences Lesson planning is an indispensable part of successful lessons. Generally speaking, lesson plans have various functions that are conducive to the classes. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Juan W. First and most importantly, lesson plans can help teachers think and deliver classes logically through different stages of the classes. It can also give teachers hints needed. When teachers plan lessons, there are several aspects that need to be taken into consideration, such as lesson objectives, possible difficulties and skill and so on. Second, It’s a record of classes that have been done and materials have been used. On the one hand, even though teachers have good memory, it is almost impossible...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Many people who begin teaching English as a second language are new to the teaching world, and thus many times, need basic strategies and information on teaching. For example, I have entered education upon moving to Italy. My previous work experience was in marketing/events for large corporations and nonprofits, with no experience in teaching anything, let alone English as a second language. While I have a very good grasp of the English language and speak it well, how to teach it to others is a different ballgame. Hence, taking the TEFL courses to obtain a certification was essential in my development as a teacher. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Stacy S. Please note that this blog...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas As we know, Music affects human life. Music – a subject that is quite interesting for students. Especially, when children aged 0-6 years old, there is 2-6 years old called the period of sensitive music of children. If at that time, parents give children a lot of music, they will receive very well. So, how do the songs affect children, and how are the benefits of using songs in English classes? Two of these problems will explain clearly the reason why the is song important. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hien Phan Thi D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Music supports children in the learning process at school. For example,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching in the field of ESL learning is a task that has plenty of challenges that can arise in the classroom. Whether students are young learners or adults, learning English as a second language requires a lot of time and dedication in and outside of the classroom. Teachers must put a lot of patience, care, and effort into their lessons for the sake of their students’ success. They can find themselves teaching various types of classroom environments such as class sizes that are big or small, online or in-person, or multilingual or monolingual environments. These can affect the way a teacher chooses to run their class lessons. One of the biggest influences on a teacher’s methods is the number of students in...  [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]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I started teaching children and youth ten years ago. Most of these children are diagnosed with learning difficulties, and I am teaching them in a class of four or five students. My students have different learning abilities even though they are all enrolled in the same class of a year level. These students have a session with me twice-a-week, one hour per session, which I feel is not enough to help them catch up with their academic lessons. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Xue L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. From handling these type of children, I had learned a lot of strategies in teaching. I also believe in the uniqueness...  [Read more]

1. Introduction to ESL Classroom Resources 2. Benefits of Using ESL Classroom Resources 3. Types of ESL Classroom Resources Offered by ITTT 4. How to Access ESL Classroom Resources from ITTT When it comes to teaching English as a second language (ESL), having access to quality classroom resources is essential for creating engaging and effective lessons. ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training) offers a wide range of ESL classroom resources designed to support teachers in delivering dynamic and interactive lessons to their students. Whether you are a seasoned ESL instructor or new to the field, ITTT's resources can help enhance your teaching practices and ensure student success. Using ESL classroom resources from ITTT can provide numerous benefits for both teachers and students. These...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas 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. English is a recognized global language whether it is a first language as in the UK...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Alumni Experiences There are numerous reasons why a person may choose to read. One of the strongest motivators to read is the ability to gain knowledge and to learn new information. Another common reason why an individual decides to read is for enjoyment and for the chance to use their imagination. All of these factors play a role in how reading aids in language acquisition, whether it be a person’s native language (L1) or a second language (L2). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Meghan L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Language acquisition means learning how to communicate through reading, with writing, by speaking or with gestures. An...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences During my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, I learned several valuable lessons. While knowing the English language and how to relay that to those who are learning the language is important, the most important lesson I learned is how a teacher’s attitude directly affects student interaction and class rapport. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Annie H. Being open and warm as well as using a smile has an extremely beneficial effect on a classroom. When students view the teacher as someone who is judgment-free and wanting to help, it elicits positive interaction and performance. Although this seems to be common sense, I’ve had several teachers (including language...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Effective teachers know that they need to do more than simply following the activities found on the course books one by one. They need to connect their lesson to the students learning abilities and learning styles and to the overall objectives of the lesson. So what does it take to have effective teaching? Effective teaching always begins with an effective lesson planning that addresses the needs of the learners. What is the lesson plan? The lesson plan is like a roadmap that you and your students are taking. The final destination cannot be reached without carefully planning each step that is essential to the overall learning of the student. The final destination represents the lesson objectives. This post was...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas During my career as an educator, I have had the opportunity to teach English as a second language using both classroom and private tutoring platforms. My undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin - Madison led me to a major in Communications. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joseph E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One course, in particular, required an internship at a local elementary school where I worked with students of diverse backgrounds. Although I had not majored in education at the university, that one course inspired my desire to teach, especially to children who had language barriers. Before college I...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning a new skill can be difficult, and applying that skill can be even harder. Now teach that skill to someone else so they can adeptly apply it, and there might be people who become intimidated by such a task. However, teaching is a rewarding skill and there are several ways to improve a teacher’s confidence in the classroom. Although not an all-encompassing list, a few ways teachers can improve their confidence is through proper preparation, building rapport with students and self-reflection. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Courtney N. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. If a teacher is prepared to teach the lesson then...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I have had many personal teaching experiences. Some experiences gave me feelings of accomplishment, happiness, and success, while others discouraged me and on the rare occasion ended with me sitting in the parking lot crying inside my car. Now that I have completed the 120 Hour TEFL course I feel that I have been given a second chance at teaching. I want to analyze and explain my first teaching experiences. I lived in Italy for a year and a half doing volunteer work. We held English discussion groups two times a week. We had no materials, no curriculum, and no plans. We separated into two groups; beginner and intermediate. There were no placement or diagnostic tests, and as a result, there were weaker and stronger...  [Read more]