How To Learn About Different Cultures

  In this episode, Linda takes on the pronunciation of the word "estival". Enjoy the episode! Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. Every learner is different and will have different needs. These needs can be based on a number of things like their ability, culture and willingness to learn. I learnt from this unit that every student's needs to be considered as well as the overall well-being on the class. It has been great to learn more...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences When it comes to learning a new language, the way that we make it comfortable for us is to try and relate it to our language. How many times have you met someone from another country and you ask them how to use swear words or how to say something is cool in their native language. Since English is very commonly spoken all over the world, for students to learn idioms and slang is for them to not only learn how to say certain things but get a deeper cultural understanding. With that deeper understanding comes relativity to their own lives, which means they see the ways that we are more similar instead of different. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jessica Aliza D. Please note that this...  [Read more]

Minh Huy Hoang Destinations For an expat in Vietnam, the vast majority of work opportunities are tied to teaching English. These also happen to be among the best-paid jobs in the country. English is big business and teaching the language is a great way for an expat to earn a living in Vietnam. For those looking to do just that, here are some valuable tips. First of all, you have to learn briefly about the culture of the country to be able to integrate. Here I would like to speak briefly about the literature of the country of Vietnam under the concept of unified national culture based on multicultural ethnic groups expressed in three main characteristics. First characteristic: Vietnam has a rich and diverse culture in all aspects, Vietnamese...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Have you ever considered living and experiencing a different culture? If the answer is yes, teaching is a good way to achieve your goal. Teaching can be hard and challenging but also very rewarding to watch your students improve. This is why taking a TEFL course is important for several reasons including the following: methods for teaching younger students, methods for teaching students who require different approaches to learning, and methods for keeping students under control in the classroom during an English lesson. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Taylor E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First, I learned that...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning a new language is not an easy task, and with English being one of the most common languages around the world, the number of people who need to learn English to better their lives continues to increase. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melanie S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. English is known as one of the most complicated languages to learn due to its irregularities, and exceptions. Due to the challenging nature of the English language, keeping students motivated to learn a new language can be difficult. It is easy to become discouraged in a language classroom when you are learning how to pronounce new words in a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A life long learner, to me, is one who desires to learn new things based on interests, motivations, and knowledge to be gained. As one who is a certified teacher in first through eighth grades (in Louisiana, USA), possesses a master degree in education, as well as having a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a minor in Leadership and Supervision, does not mean that I know it all; far from it. In my middle school teaching days and years of teaching in higher education preparing teachers to teach, I encountered students from other culturally diverse backgrounds; yet, I did not have the basic fundamentals of teaching students whose first language was not English. This I regret. This post was written by our...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas ESL is English which is usually taught to students in an English speaking country. EFL is English which is taught to students in a foreign, non-English speaking country. As it is true of many European countries, where is common to learn to speak more than one foreign language. For these reasons ESL is typically the term used in the United States, an English-speaking nation, whereas EFL is more often the term of choice in countries where English is not the native language. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sumeyra Y. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In learning ESL, the learner is learning...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Just like any profession, teaching English has specific terms and acronyms that can be used to describe the job. While teaching English to speakers of other languages (ESOL) is an overarching term to describe the job of teaching English to those who do not use English as their native language, ESL (English as a Second Language) and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) must be distinguished. ESL and EFL describe different locations, purposes, and techniques for teaching English. Additionally, it may be beneficial for instructors to experience teaching both ESL and EFL to be a well-rounded and sympathetic instructor. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dakota C. Please note that this blog post...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Language is the main part of our identities as human beings. It provides us to connect to another person, learn about our roots from the written and unwritten side in the world. Historically, language has been linked to culture, customs, and beliefs. Also, people need to get in touch with each other to communicate and continue their social world. Therefore, they use the language. From the past to today, one of the biggest effects on language is that technology which brings people closer and creating the global world. For instance, emails, digitals photos, e-texts, video files. A person who lives in Dubai can send a message to another person who lives in İstanbul or vice versa. Another example is that internet...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas When teaching a class of students of different ages, genders, religions, and cultures, a teacher must take each of these things into consideration to be sure that all of the students feel that they are being provided with a safe learning environment. Of each of these, one of the most commonly discussed topics that teachers need to be aware of is cultural sensitivity. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rachel O. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. There are many different situations in which a teacher can ensure that students not only feel that their culture is being celebrated within the classroom but also have an opportunity to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As a Spaniard in love with languages, I can’t start this essay without saying anything other than, "it’s not who the teacher is, but the will of teaching that they have". Through all these years of learning English, I just know for sure that a learner learns more when they live in and with the language throughout each day. They need to become hooked to it, and it does not matter if the person who transmits this feeling is a native speaker or not. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Andrea M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Nowadays we have much more information and knowledge anywhere we go. It has become easier...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences English is one of the most widely spoken languages and it is taught in a lot of countries. Globalization, fast economic development makes many people study English. People learn English for different reasons: business, education, life abroad, traveling, personal interest. Chinese students are not an exception. With the growing economies of China, the need for learning English increased dramatically. What challenges do Chinese students face when learning English? What challenges does the teacher meet teaching Chinese students? What teaching approach can be found? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Darya M. Let’s talk about the most typical challenges when teaching Chinese learners and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A multicultural world urgently needs a culturally sensitive educational system. In most countries around, schools are filled with students who come from different cultures. The variety of cultural backgrounds of students in schools is beneficial for the academic community as it contributes to their different experiences that provide all students with the opportunity to learn about different aspects of life. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dainaliz Feliberty H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Students in a multicultural environment learn to be culturally aware and to develop a sense of identity as individuals. Even though...  [Read more]

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ [ {"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh0","name": "Use authentic materials","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/should-we-teach-culture-in-the-efl-classroom/#nameh0"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh1","name": "Compare two cultures","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/should-we-teach-culture-in-the-efl-classroom/#nameh1"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh3","name": "Introduce live native speakers","url": "https://www.tefl-certificate.net/faq/should-we-teach-culture-in-the-efl-classroom/#nameh3"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type":...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas 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 TEFL certification graduate Amy B. Please note...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I am from the United States and my native language is English. I am currently living in the Philippines, so I have been encountering language issues a lot lately. I have desperately been trying to learn Tagalog, and it is a major challenge. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Gabriel T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Along the way, I have had a lot of help from the native Filipinos that I live with and whom I now call my family. I have asked myself, "How did they learn English so well and what difficulties do they still have with English?" Because English has so many contradictions and strange nuances I have decided to do my...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Children begin learning from their parents. Parents teach their kids how to walk, how to eat and how to behave. Children learn from their parents as soon as they are born and always look up to their parents as role models. Therefore, parents have a responsibility to be involved in their child’s education. Children are more likely to be encouraged if parents take time out of their day to sit down with their child and ask about school. There are many reasons why parents should play an active role in the education process. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ammarah R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First, parents are able to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Japanese is certainly one of the most interesting languages in the world thanks to its three types of writing (hiragana, katakana and kanji). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Desiree I. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. After the outbreak of intercontinental travel (therefore with the appearance of commercialization and missionaries around the world) many terms of different languages, including English ones, also became part of the language of Japan. The main problem is that many sounds present in the English language are non-existent in the Japanese language; this means that the pronunciation of many terms has been adapted...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Programs in English as a second language (ESL) generally take place in countries where English is the dominant or official language. People participating in an ESL program likely immigrated to an English-speaking country from a non-English speaking county and so are learning English as a language to be used in their everyday lives. In contrast, programs in English as a foreign language (EFL) generally take place in countries where English is not the official or dominant language. People participating in an EFL program are likely still in their home country and may or may not ever use English outside of the EFL classroom. This fundamental difference between the two types of programs can lead to differences in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Reading plays an important role in language learning. It is one of the language skills that can be used to interpret a written text and discuss the given information applying speaking and listening skills as well. Reading different books, texts, advertising wallpapers, or magazines helps us gain knowledge or receive important information. Since old times books have always been one of the main sources of knowledge. While reading people could imagine themselves traveling to different places, having an amazing adventure, possessing pirates’ treasure, or even solving a mystery, and at the same time learn about different countries and their cultures. In other words, reading has always provided its readers with...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The teaching of grammar in the classroom is a fundamental issue for learning any language. The study of its methods, as well as the problems and challenges that students and educators must face, will be of invaluable help in such an interesting company. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Andreina H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. And teach grammar efficiently and rigorously, and if possible, enjoyable, so that students can assimilate the essential concepts and aspects for language learning. It is important to understand that the concept of amenity must be complementary to the essential, which is that of effectiveness. The...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences If you ever find yourself driving in French Canada, you will be stopped by stop signs that say ‘arrêt’, which is stopped in French. Almost all drivers in North America would know that this means stop because it’s the same octagon red stop sign. In Japan it’s very different, stop signs are triangular with Japanese script on them but, beneath the Japanese, you can find English subtitles which read ‘stop’. In fact, if you travel anywhere in Japan, the majority of signs and announcements related to travel are offered in Japanese and English. English has been taught in Japanese schools since the American occupation after World War Two. However, according to an EF English Proficiency Index in 2017,...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Alumni Experiences TEFL Reviews & TESOL Reviews For ITTT, our community of students and alumni is the most important to us. That’s why we’d love to share what our course grads have to say! This will not only have others make a better decision in whether TEFL/TESOL is for them, but it will also help the ITTT community grow bigger and stronger! The below answers were given from real ITTT alumni who have agreed to share their thoughts for our blog section. I'm Elleda Spitzer. I'm from California, USA. I took my coursed at ITTT because of the strong reviews that the company had, and the many different options that ITTT offered. My favorite part about the courses were the videos. They allowed me to review the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Most would say it’s an almost impossible task, one that requires a lot of patience and repetition. How are you supposed to keep their interest? How do you communicate to them efficiently despite not being physically present? Teaching children may not be an easy task, however, I believe it would be a most rewarding one. Teaching online is something that I have been keen on and would like to venture into after completing this course. We are moving into a digital world where we will all soon be connected over the internet. This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to reach and enrich the lives of children globally. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Zahraa K. Please note that this blog post...  [Read more]

In the heart of Chiapas, Mexico, lies a community filled with eager young learners. These children possess a thirst for knowledge and a desire to improve their English language skills. As a teacher, you have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on their lives by providing them with the tools they need to succeed. By teaching English to children in Chiapas, you can help unlock their potential and open doors to a brighter future. Teaching English in Chiapas is a rewarding experience that offers numerous benefits. Not only do you have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children, but you also get to immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of this vibrant region. Chiapas is home to stunning natural landscapes, ancient ruins, and a diverse population, making it an...  [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]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The experience of living and working abroad for sure will give us another vision of the world. If you have been in China, enough you will learn to be more patient and tolerant. Live with another culture is not easy, and we learn how to be flexible. We are different, we live differently, our environment is different, our beliefs, our politeness, our food, etc. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ana P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. “Good morning, how are you today? “- They have never asked each other how are they? Instead, they ask “Ni chi le ma?” Did you eat? These people were starving for so many years, and the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A student’s motivation is key to their success in any learning environment. In completing this course, I learned much about what motivation means to students and teachers, and how to keep the motivation of a classroom high. A student who is motivated to learn English has a much higher likelihood of succeeding in an English learning course. With engaging classroom activities, a safe, open learning environment in the classroom, and a willingness to adapt when unusual circumstances arise, teachers can cultivate motivated attitudes in their students that will benefit them for the duration of the course. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Parker A. Please note that this blog post might not...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In the world we live in, being different is often deemed as bad. Where being the minority is often looked down upon. Sometimes we don’t like to admit that, but it is true. What people need to realize is that we are no different from one another. Someone from rural China is just as much of a person as I am even though we live thousands of miles away. The only difference is our story. Where we came from, whom we know, what we stand for. Our story and our background are what make us all unique and special. The sad reality is that the vast majority of us will never be able to experience another persons’ life. An astronomically large amount of the world’s population will never be able to step into another...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The ability to speak more than one language broadens a person’s worldview, from job opportunities to the ability to relate with people from different cultures. It is no secret that learning English as a foreign language has become popular across many non-English speaking countries and Russia is no different. The English language has slowly been incorporated into the Russian educational system and many English language learning centers have been established all over the country. As much as most Russians are motivated enough to learn English, it is not as easy as one would hope due to dissimilarities between the two language systems especially the lettering systems, cases, pronunciations, and other factors....  [Read more]