Lowering The Affective Filter

Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Which methodology uses music to calm us down before learning? It is called Suggestopedia. How does that work? In the 1970’s Georgi Lozanov introduced a new teaching method called Suggestopedia. As psychological theory was developing, one of the ideas that emerged was called the affective filter. The affective filter is a barrier to learning; it's one of the reasons why we are inhibited in our learning of a language. There are two main elements to the affective filter, two sets of factors; these are known as internal and external factors. The external factors to learning may be just simple things such as external noise, people talking to us while we're trying to learn for example....  [Read more]

  Also in the 1970s la señal came up with a new methodology called "Suggestopedia". As psychological theory was developing, one of the ideas that came up was something called ?the effective filter?. Basically, the effective filter is a barrier to learning. It's the reasons why we inhibit our learning of a particular language. There are two main elements to the effective filter, two sets of factors, if you like, those are known as internal and external factors. The external factors to learning, the reasons why we have barriers to learning, may be just simple things such as external noise. So, people talking to us while we're trying to learn and so on and so forth. Perhaps more important are these internal factors and the internal factors one of the main things here is our previous...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Motivation is one of the most influential aspects of learning a new language. For all language learners motivation varies, but it is surely an essential part in achieving fluency within any given language. Motivation can be dependent upon age, language fluency (both first language and second language), affective filter (i.e. an individual’s comfort level within a particular setting), and many other factors. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nicole H. In learning a new language, motivation is often dependent upon age. Age can affect an individual’s desires and reasons for learning a new language and thus influence the motivation to learn and become fluent within the language. As children,...  [Read more]

Hadassah Roberts Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas As an English teacher, you may find yourself accepting the call to teach in a remote village or town in any part of the world where the inhabitants are more or less secluded from urban society. Often you may also find that the house you move into is a dry cabin. A dry cabin is when a house has no well or septic and yet is deemed livable—my experience in a dry cabin. I used to live in a dry cabin because, in Alaska, there are many dry cabins. My house was clean, neat, and cozy, and at first sight, you would never have guessed it to be a dry cabin. It was fun to live there, and it helped me to appreciate many more things in life that I previously had taken for granted. At...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Teaching Ideas This blog post focuses on the theories, methods and techniques of teaching, which are the three elements that make up any methodology and we can start with a statement; Some teachers believe that the intelligence of their own children is due to their genes, whilst the intelligence shown by their students is due to their teaching. This is an interesting statement because it contains within it a philosophical argument and it's a philosophical argument about the way in which we learn. Basically this first part of the sentence is saying that the intelligence of their own children comes about due to a natural process of genetic inheritance, so that it could be said to be due to nature. This is exactly the opposite of the...  [Read more]

Shirin Sophy TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Second or foreign language learning, which appears to be an ever-present hurdle for many, has constantly been a topical issue with numerous Hypotheses centered around it, including language acquisition theory or monitor model with its sweeping effects on language learning in classrooms around the world. This well-known theory, first presented by Stephen Krashen in the 1970s, is initially based on six Hypotheses ( The Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis, the Natural Order Hypothesis, the Monitor Hypothesis, the Input Hypothesis, the Affective Filter Hypothesis, and the Reading Hypothesis) that will be discussed in this article. According to Krashen, in terms of foreign language...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How do we manage the class when teaching youngsters aged from 4 to 12? This is different from teaching adults since students in this age range have a shorter concentration span and higher affective filter. Here are the techniques we may use in the classroom. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Yan L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Be patient towards all the students, not just the nice ones; Not comparing students with each other. Every child learns differently and comes from different backgrounds. Be willing to be wrong in front of the students. Not showing favoritism between the students. Be aware of how body language is...  [Read more]

Anna Domiczek Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Songs and music are such an important part of an ESL preschool curriculum. Not only are they fun, but they are also very powerful tools to help young students learn English in a fun and entertaining way. Learning a second language at the preschool level needs to be experienced through engaging activities - words and actions need to go in tandem. Songs allow the children to move along and learn in a pleasant, fun way, in accordance with the TPR technique. They also serve as a tool to lower students’ affective filter - according to the famous linguist Stephen Krashen’s theory (1983), students can develop a blockage/filter toward their study because of a negative emotional...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word gourmand. This word refers to a person who enjoys eating. The word found its way into the English language from the French language. 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. This lesson is so good I have more understand about theories, methods and techniques that I never learn before. they are useful and help me to be a good teacher in the future.I have more idea to teach students and understand...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I taught high school and college-level Spanish. I taught language for about 20 years. I learned many things throughout my tenure as a teacher. There are many traits and characteristics that I found useful in my career. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Keith B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. As a language teacher especially, I had to find new fun ways to make use of everyday items for the benefit of my students. I would incorporate realia, real everyday objects, into the lessons that I taught. For example, teaching foods I would bring as many real fruits and vegetables into the class. I have learned that the more senses you...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As a bilingual country, Canada has a considerable population of French speakers. Most of them live in the province of Quebec. A large number of Quebecers have always believed (and some still believe) that learning English as a second language will impede their proficiency in their first language. They are worried that future generations will not cherish French as much as they do because of the growing influence of the English language in Quebec. In a certain way, they want to preserve their French identity and the province’s identity as intact as possible. This mentality becomes problematic in an academic environment when parents transfer their prejudices to their children. When those children come to ESL...  [Read more]

1. Introduction 2. Environmental Impact 3. Cost Savings 4. Technology and Innovation Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained popularity worldwide due to their environmental benefits and cost savings. In Guatemala, owning a Tesla can provide numerous advantages that go beyond just transportation. From reducing carbon emissions to cutting down on fuel costs, driving a Tesla in Guatemala can be a game-changer for both individuals and the environment. One of the key advantages of owning a Tesla in Guatemala is the positive environmental impact it can have. As a country that heavily relies on fossil fuels for energy generation, Guatemala faces significant challenges in reducing its carbon footprint. By driving an electric vehicle like a Tesla, Guatemalans can contribute to lowering greenhouse gas...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Grammar is the whole system of language. It includes a set of rules known as syntax. Occasionally when working on the computer you may get a message “Error Syntax; code 141” this means you have typed into the computer something that did not fit into the rules. This is not allowed and the computer will reject it and force you to obey the rules. When speaking English we have no restrictions on the structure or form and no computer monitoring us to stop us from speaking incorrectly. We can say anything anyway we choose, well-spoken or poorly spoken. There are some common words which are frequently misused. They are, affect, that, and whom. This essay will look at each of these in an effort to clarify their use....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Every teacher’s goal is to be effective in the classroom and help students learn. Educators want their students to be eager and engaged. Humor is an important aspect of teaching and has the power to fuel that engagement. This paper will attempt to show the value of humor in the classroom and how humor enhances learning, regardless of the culture or country in which a person is teaching. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melynie T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. My first introduction to teaching English in Taiwan was when I was called into the Principal’s office with complaints from the parents that their children were not...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I have been teaching English to young learners in China for almost a year and I tried to make my lessons with and without flashcards. And I can say for sure, that it’s really hard to teach children (3-12 years old) if you don’t have prepared flashcards for your classes, but only an interactive whiteboard and some stuff to play games. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kelly P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I’d like to reveal a paragraph about games more deeply, because games in a classroom allow you to keep your students motivated and interested in what’s going on. Also Read: "7 Great Games for Your ESL Conversation...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas ESA is a three-stage methodology where each of the letters represents a particular phase of the lesson. The first one being called the Engage phase, the second the Study phase and the final one the Activate phase. In 1998 Jeremy Harmer published a book called, How to teach English and basically what Harmer did as a background to his book was to look through all of the different methodologies that have come about over the last 300 or so years. He highlighted for each of those methodologies, what was good about it, what was positive and what didn't appear to work. He then put all of the positive things into a melting pot and came out with this methodology which he called, Engage Study...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Generally, it is thought that education is going through a major overall, this includes but is not limited to the structure of how education is provided to students from both the perspective of classrooms at educational institutions and online teaching. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Niki S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Online teaching has the added benefit to educational institutions in the way that it has the ability of lowering business costs such as overheads where the institution does not need to pay for basic utilities such as electricity, oil, air-conditioning, rent and other expenses such as drinking water,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Anyone can be a teacher but not every teacher is likable or caring. I found in my experience as a student, especially as a child, I would find myself dreading the classes with the teachers that had bad attitudes and would look forward to the ones who not only kept the class interesting but showed true interest in the student's lives. The truly talented teachers would take examples of scenarios people had discussed from their personal lives and use it as a tool in their teaching strategies. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Priscilla L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The only thing that separated these two types of teachers...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learners from Japan have to face cultural issues as well as phonetic problems when learning English. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Susanne W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Like in many other Asian countries, Japanese students are used to ex-cathedra teaching, rather than actively participating and contributing to the lessons. One of their biggest fears is to ‘lose face’ in front of others, which not only means losing their own face by making mistakes. Giving a correct answer and thereby letting all the other students literally lose their face for not knowing or expressing the right answer is almost worse. Another...  [Read more]

Zareena Younis Alumni Experiences Teachers in the Middle East are used to the traditional method of teaching, the teacher-centered approach, because this way is easier to manage the class, and it is what they are used to. However, over the last few years, there has been a greater shift towards the student-centered approach, which is still new for both teachers and students. The traditional way of learning starts with memorization, the lower level of Bloom’s taxonomy, and focuses on “learning to pass” rather than being able to independently use the knowledge in the long term. Thus, the teacher is the focal point of the class, and the student’s role is secondary. The teacher will prepare the lesson based on content to cover and not...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this article, we share the most common teaching mistakes that even experienced teachers do in their everyday work. Read what are they and how to avoid them. Teacher Talk Time (short: TTT) is an important teaching point and skill to practice. The more a teacher talks, the less the students have time to work on their speaking abilities during the lesson. Reducing TTT depends on proper planning, so remember to focus on preparing your lesson plan in advance. TTT shouldn’t be used as a time filler when a student prepares to answer, so it is better to accept silence and let the classroom be quiet for a moment. Lessons usually get messed up due to unclear instructions. Pay attention to the way you explain tasks and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Most people have dreams of traveling or working abroad. Many times, unfortunately, we believe it’s out of our grasp. However, that is not true. The TEFL/TESOL certificate is a tool that allows us to attain opportunities abroad. By investing some time and money, the world opens an unending box of opportunities. Albeit, these opportunities, even though plentiful, can be limited to non-native English speaking teachers. In a moment, we will discuss some obstacles a non-native English speaking teacher can face, how to overcome those obstacles and the benefits of a TESOL/TESOL certification. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ramon A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The following essay will cover the value and importance of observed teaching practices, on both evaluating new teaching techniques and methods, as well as training purposes. How observation can help us curtail future lesson plans and curriculum will also be covered and discussed. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Chandler J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First of all, being observed by a trained professional during a new teacher’s initial classes is a must in today's educational system and essential to building proper teaching techniques. Regardless of how one performs during the written and oral examination, the true grit...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Age is one of the most decisive factors in language learning. The first thing foreign language teachers should pay attention to here is how young learners differ from adult learners. First of all, young students learn better through play, while adults are highly advanced in using their abstract and analytical intelligence. The second distinction that can be added is that young students can be bored very quickly and easily. Usually, after 10 minutes, attention and attention disappear. Young students are also very egocentric and need special attention more. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Seçil B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Learning a second language can be difficult, and this is especially true when the learners L1 and their target language are completely different in structure, sound, and tones. An English as a second language student who speaks French, German, or any other European language will have an easier task than one who speaks a language that is not of European origins. One such language is Mandarin Chinese. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ashley L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The areas that native Mandarin speakers most often run into difficulty are pronunciation, tones, tenses, and sentence structure. A Chinese speaker might...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Over the past few centuries, British dominance in the world paved the way for the English language to become the universal communication tool. As the British colonized various parts of the world, they set up educational institutions so that the educated migrants would rise within the ranks of that particular society and eventually become influential members creating change. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Erika E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Supporters of globalization believe that it can make our world a better place to live in, that it offers a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas “As an ESL teacher, you may feel that your students aren't paying attention, or participating in class even though you have the perfect lesson plan.” This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Angela G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The thought of playing or using games as a teaching tool inside the classroom may sound intriguing, whether you’re a student, a parent of a student, a tutor, a friend of a student or someone just interested in gaining more insight into either learning or teaching English as a second language. You might be wondering how beneficial and productive games or fun activities would be and the impact they...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences While being an exchange student, as well as a Teaching Assistant, at a university in China, there has been a certain problem for students that I have noticed. The problem that stands out the most is students trying to memorize every word they want to say while giving a presentation in class. While it makes sense to want to convey your message in the correct way, the problem I see is that too many times a student who has spent days memorizing their exact lines (even pacing outside of the classroom reciting it over and over until their presentation time) has difficulties in the actual presentation when the script is taken away. If even one word is missed while they are speaking, they seem to shut down while they...  [Read more]

Natasha Shetty Teaching Ideas Regardless of whether we’re topmost executives or businesspersons, students or teachers, striking a proper work-life balance is extremely important. While everyone strives to strike this essential work-life balance, our success is usually limited. That occurs because other tasks on hand- either at work or home- steal precious time that was intended for our families. And if you’re a teacher, balancing work and family can become a real circus. A teacher has to be alert and conduct classes in a manner that every student learns. Hence, you need to be well prepared for the next day’s classes, take time to relieve stress, and ensure you have adequate rest. What can teachers do in such scenarios, to balance work and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Traditionally, education in the classroom has largely employed a teacher-centred approach. Focus is on the teacher who talks, rather than on the students, who exclusively listen and are discouraged from collaboration. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Christie T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In recent years, however, more emphasis has been given to student-centred education: instructors share classroom talk time with learners, allowing them to communicate with their teacher and each other. By minimizing teacher domination and increasing student speaking time, students have a chance to direct their learning and build their...  [Read more]