Michael Keefer

1. Introduction 2. Benefits of ITTT TEFL Job Placement Assistance 3. How ITTT Supports You in Finding a TEFL Job 4. Success Stories from ITTT TEFL Graduates Are you looking to kickstart a rewarding career in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL)? International TEFL and TESOL Training (ITTT) is here to help you achieve your goals with our comprehensive TEFL job placement assistance program. Our dedicated team is committed to supporting you every step of the way in finding the perfect TEFL job that suits your needs and preferences. ITTT offers a range of benefits through our TEFL job placement assistance program. By enrolling in our courses, you gain access to exclusive job listings from reputable schools and institutions around the world. Whether you're looking to teach in Asia,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Children are creative. Bringing games into an English language classroom to incite young learners’ attention and creativity is vital to keeping them motivated and entertained. Several games promote English grammar, memorization, and sentence building. These games can be reproductions of current popular games or manufactured by a teacher. Whichever method is chosen by the teacher there are still simple rules to follow. The game must be explained clearly and concisely, so the students have a full understanding of the game. An example round with the students is an effective way to ensure complete understanding. They can be a useful warmer activity to get students engaged in the lesson plan and bring a level of fun...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Where do I begin? I have learned so much from my 60-hour TEFL course with ITTT. I have learned about everything from what it takes to become a great teacher and of course what not to do in the classroom. I also learned a lot about what makes a student a great learner. I believe this is very important as well since good learners progress more rapidly in the class. That rapid learning makes good learners and most of all more successful students. In turn that builds confidence in the teacher on behalf of the students. Of course, the teacher ends up with more confidence in their teaching abilities too. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Michael A. The goal is for the student is to learn English and I believe...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas There are always struggles and problems with learners of English as a foreign language in different countries. Cambodia is no exception. The Cambodian educational system has undergone many changes in its history. The Pol Pot genocidal regime between 1975-1979 forced the educational system of the nation to collapse. After a long prohibition of the English language and the end of the cold war, the government and people of Cambodia chose the English language to be the second language to communicate and do business. In 1986 the ban from teaching English was lifted. Since it is such a relatively new language in the everyday educational system, learners of English can have problems understanding and learning the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching English to beginners is a challenge for new and experienced ESL teachers. Although with proper planning, materials, getting the students engaged and motivated in the lessons can make teaching English to beginners fun and rewarding especially when your students start to get the hang of it. It’s a great feeling to see them move from having absolutely no knowledge of English to be able to speak basic English. A few things to think about. Talking a lot is just going to waste your time and leave you frustrated. Two keep your lessons fun with as much talk time as possible for the students, allowing them to practice what they are learning in a fun environment. Always praise your students, a student who thinks...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Games have always been a medium that has an educational purpose to it, and this from a young age. Toddlers learn to interact with shape and physics with blocks, babies learn to talk with picture books and teenagers learn to socialize and develop logic with competitive games. Throughout human lives, games are essential tools. Nowadays, video games also take a big place in gaming, and I believe that as educators, we should maybe analyze how to integrate them with traditional games that are used in a classroom. This essay will describe both traditional and modern games and conclude with ideas on how to include both as language teaching tools. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael W. Please...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I have taught English before in an English tutoring institute in Korea on two separate occasions. I am American but I grew up in South Korea. For extra money, I started teaching English for the first time at age 19. I taught very young children, from age 4 to age 7. It was extremely difficult because there were probably about 20 students and at those ages’ children have such different mental capacities. Therefore, teaching was almost impossible as the older children picked up everything very quickly and would become bored and loud, while the younger children would be too scared to talk and practice anything. It felt much more like a daycare than any English class. This post was written by our TEFL certification...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences English is everywhere. It is the world’s lingua franca. Out of 7.5 billion people, 1.5 billion speak English and just 360 million of them are native speakers, that is to say, that English is by far the most commonly studied language. It has become the global language for business, science, technology, aviation, advertisement, cinema, music, education, and so much more. How did it become so powerful? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Philippa K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The answer lies in history – after 1945, when the world was recovering from the biggest and most horrific conflict, the United States business...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas Evaluations are the useful tools or techniques that provide insight for modification, planning and in some cases re-designing a course. Student evaluation also provides the opportunity to address issues regarding student learning while the course is still in progress. There are different ways a teacher can assess a student’s language level: a) Tests b) Tutorials c) Evaluation by the students. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Michael O. Students can be tested from time to time during the course. There are different kinds of tests that teachers need to give students and each has its own purpose. These tests can be categorized under the following: This test is done in order to find the appropriate level to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences There is a grander purpose of education in a society and a community. Education is the cornerstone of any social community or society. When you have the education you can understand and have a basis for political, religious, and economic points. Knowing is the basis of existence, remembering holds a legacy. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jessi H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The role of the teacher is to teach students how to think critically and objectively about the world around them, and to have an influence on the world around them. Another important role the teacher has is to teach the methods of learning so that...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences In April 2018 I quit my job and began traveling around the world. Since then, I have taught myself Russian and improved my teaching skills by helping others with languages I am familiar with. The more places I visited on my journey, the more I became interested in foreign languages. I had the chance to teach people German and English, while also learning other languages and alphabets from them. I realized that while helping others, I developed a passion for teaching. I then decided to travel to Southeast Asia and acquire a TEFL certificate, which will enable me to teach English and live in a foreign country. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael G. My first learning experiences on my...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences In April 2018, I quit my job and began traveling around the world. Since then, I taught myself Russian and improved my teaching skills by helping others with languages I am familiar with. The more places I visited on my journey, the more I became interested in foreign languages. I had the chance to teach people German and English, while also learning other languages and alphabets from them. I realized that while helping others, I developed a passion for teaching. I decided to travel to Southeast Asia and acquire a TEFL certificate, which enables me to teach English and live in a foreign country. This decision should benefit and influence my life and personal development. This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning an unfamiliar language is no easy feat and with the globalization of the English language, more and more people are faced with the task of learning English to better their lives. It is no secret that English is one of the more difficult languages to learn given its many peculiarities and the lack of clues to pronunciation. This makes learning English not only more complicated but often frustrating for students who have difficulties understanding certain concepts. This is where games can have a huge impact. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Randi B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The most important job of any teacher,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The use of games in the class can activate the atmosphere of learning, reduce learning pressure, and stimulate learning interest more. Independent and selective learning is good for developing students' multiple intelligenceand promoting the formation of good feelings. There are five benefits of games in the classroom. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The first is reducing students' learning pressure. Students are under pressure in the learning process. Homework task, examination task and psychological pressure generated during the learning process in a class all make children more...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas It has been suggested that most students prefer one to one teaching as opposed to being taught as a group. This is because there are some differences in teaching one on one and group lessons. These can be noticed in the teaching methods, tips and strategies. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A good example is in the time requirement because teaching time differs from one on one and group activities as well as how much time the students invest. One on one learning lets the students work at their own pace, which has a positive and negative impact. Some students will finish quickly and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I have been teaching ESL classes professionally for two years. In addition to this experience, I have several years of experience as a volunteer teacher/mentor with ESL students. Through my experiences, I have learned that importance of establishing immediate rapport in the classroom. In this short article, I will talk about why it is vital to establish rapport from the very first day between the students and teacher as well as among the students. I will offer advice from my own experience of teaching both young learners and adults. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael S. Establishing rapport between the teacher and student is something that begins on the first day of class and it...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Back in Autumn 2017, I faced another career change. To bring the story right to the point of this topic, I, eventually, was guided into the teaching profession by sheer coincidence, or as some would call it, synchronicity. Shortly after my first initial contact with a person in a nice car passing me on a side street, I was approached by other parents and institutions and was asked if I would be interested to teach them English. I said that I need to think about it first and prepare some documentation. So, I went back home, changed, and prepared my C.V. to match it with the opportunity currently at hand and contacted them shortly after. In the few discussions, get-togethers, and meetings that followed I...  [Read more]

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

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Many tools can be utilized effectively when teaching English as a foreign or second to students of all ages and varied cultural backgrounds. Music is most certainly one of them. Song, in particular, is a valuable tool for teaching English to foreign students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ruth F. Songs can be found that describe everyday concepts such as numbers, colors, alphabetical letters, body parts, clothing, weekdays, seasons and months. The use of songs to teach these concepts can make lessons interesting and exciting to students. Information and concepts learned through songs can be expected to remain with a student throughout his or her life. Nothing is as memorable as songs....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teachers play an essential role in educating their students. While teachers are known for this, they also serve many other roles. Teachers set healthy environments for the classroom, motivate students to perform well, can provide cultural expertise outside of the student’s traditions, and have a greater understanding of the general difficulty in learning English as a second language. The role of the teacher is to guide the student, allowing them to perform to the best of their ability. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Micheal S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The teacher is responsible for creating a nurturing environment...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Stories expose the students to more language, they engage and motivate the learner, they can be used to teach the structure of a language and the concepts about print which may be different between cultures. Stories with images can also help the students anchor their knowledge about the text. Listening to stories also helps the students hear accents and how words are pronounced. However, it is important to choose the correct book or story for the students you are working with. If familiar storylines are chosen the student is more likely to understand the story. It is also important to take into consideration the interests of the students and to find text on those topics. This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Using games in the classroom is beneficial for better student learning. Games are helpful when introducing new content, enhancing the learning process, or reviewing learned material. A low-stress atmosphere in the classroom is created easily by adding games. From Gap fill to Fizz Bizz to I Spy they can help the teacher maintain a positive attitude and establish rapport with students. Games create an environment where students want to participate and aren't afraid of correction or failure. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ellen P. Vince Goman RTC, CPCC, BBA, Somatic Counselor said in his book, Let The Fire Burn, "Play is the foundation for academic learning. While the left brain is more...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A language is a particular form of communicating information, feelings, or ideas. Words and speech change depending on the country, area, or social group. The language belongs to the Culture 's Universe and Culture is undoubtedly evolutionary. So does language. Thus, when one has to put in touch people with different mother tongue, from different countries, different age, etc. They have to take into consideration they will put in touch different cultures. In order to get this communication successful for teaching or learning a new language, it is important that teachers and students understand what these differences are. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Natália S. Please note that this...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The way a teacher manages the classroom has a profound impact on the success of the class and the ability for students to achieve their learning potential. Successful class management is made up of multiple different facets that all work together to achieve a positive learning environment. When executed correctly, the use of body language, the way the class is arranged and the maintenance of discipline work together to create a successful class. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In the classroom, the use of body language is incredibly important in effectively managing the class. There...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Malaysia is located in South East Asia which occupies parts of the Malay Peninsula and some part of the Borneo Island. These two lands are separated by the South China Sea It was once colonized by the British from the 18th century until it gained its independence in 1957 as the Federation of Malaya and later on formed Malaysia with joining of the North Borneo, Sarawak in 1963. Bahasa Melayu commonly known as the Malay Language is the national language of the country while English becomes the second language. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Karibo B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In the early 18th century, many Malaysian...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas After spending five years in China as an ESL teacher, corporate trainer and university lecturer I would like to share a few of the most common problems for Chinese learners and ways for teachers to overcome them. I will focus on problems regarding cultural differences, pronunciation and first language interference. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michal W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Despite China’s opening to the outside world in recent decades, it is still a very closed society with only anecdotal knowledge of Western culture (by Western they mean American). Lack of access to Western news, social media platforms, and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Japan is a nation that has tried to increase its citizens’ English ability, especially with the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games being held in their country. However, progress has been slow and not fruitful. There are various reasons for this slow stagnation of the nation’s English abilities such as the larger academic system and access to proper education in rural areas. However, I will focus on three main hurdles that Japanese learners of English must face that can impede their English education. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. These are the differences in phonology between...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In my experience with teaching Chinese students, most pronounce the unvoiced ‘TH’ sound correctly. To account for the difference in sound between the unvoiced ‘TH’ and the voiced ‘TH’, most students seem to have developed the habit of placing their tongue either on the back of their front teeth or on the roof of the mouth immediately behind the front teeth to create a plosive ‘TH’ sound which sounds most closely like and’ sound. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The student cannot correct the problem if they do not understand that there is a problem. Many students do...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I adore books, and reading aloud to our young students is one of the highlights of my job as a Teaching Assistant. Most of our students are Turkish, whose ages range from four to eleven years old, who have had little or no exposure to the English language. The students come to our school to receive an English education and therefore use daily a language of which their parents have little knowledge. It can be overwhelming to suddenly be thrust into an environment where everything is taught or spoken to them in a foreign language. Consequently, reading aloud to this age group is an invaluable method of language delivery, especially as many may be reluctant learners, and may actively resist learning as it was not...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Visa and Legal Destinations Europe is one of the most popular regions for teaching English as a foreign language for many teachers. However, it can often be difficult for non-EU citizens to secure a visa and work legally in Europe. If you are dreaming of living and working in France, don’t despair. An attractive option for teachers from outside of the EU zone is to apply for a student visa. A student visa allows you to work a certain number of hours per week. Even though the legal working hours are limited, many teachers also take on private tutoring to supplement their income. If you are interested in teaching in France, read on to find out how to legally teach English in France with a student visa. First, you...  [Read more]