Michelle Moon

Linda Dunsmore Destinations Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in a variety of Asian countries. This holiday marks the beginning of a calendar year whose months are cycles of the moon. Typically, the Lunar New Year is celebrated in January or February depending on the lunar calendar. Teaching English in Asia is a great way to experience Lunar New Year celebrations and different customs in the various Asian nations. Chinese New Year is the most important Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese moon calendar. Chinese New Year is a 15-day-long festival period with the Lantern Festival concluding the celebrations on the 15th day of the year. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Lesson planning is an essential part of your teaching practice. Moreover, it is vital to be creative all the time. This sample lesson plan will help you to set a perfect lesson for beginners or lower-intermediate students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michelle M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. List a number of role-play situations that would be appropriate for beginner and low intermediate level students. These role-play situations should include variety with multiple structures for students to exploit. Also Read: Top 10 Places to Take Your TEFL Course in Spring Choose one of the situations on your list and design...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom management is an important topic to be familiar with especially when you are teaching young learners. Bad classroom management skills can result in a very unproductive lesson for you and the students, leaving the students with not much to take home and leaving the teacher exhausted. The main classroom management situation I will be talking about today is managing student behavior. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tarryn-L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The first thing we going to look at is what are the results of a badly managed class. Most of the time it is usually one student that is being disruptive or badly...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I first understood the role of a teacher during the second grade and knew then that I wanted to be just like my teacher, Mrs. Atkinson. She was the first to see my real character and hidden potential through the windows to my world, my eyes. I believe that teachers were made with eyes that would not only see things for what they are but for what they could become and could achieve. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michelle S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The teaching profession is seen as a very noble profession, as it represents positive change and growth. Teachers on a whole have gained the respect of others to the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Everyone has a personal genius. It's not up to us to change people, but rather to help individuals be the best they can be with the skills, strengths, and abilities they already possess. The way we go about teaching individuals with learning disabilities will require us to be creative, looking beyond conventional teaching methods. Humility will also be necessary, for we may be the problem rather than the learning disability itself. Will we be humble enough to accept this truth and then use it to improve our skills as teachers? As teachers, the ability to look outside the box and to be able to assess ourselves honestly will be essential if we...  [Read more]

  This video is part of our video series on "Evaluation and Testing of Students". In this video, we cover the different types of evaluations and testings that teachers, not only those working in the EFL field, will come across over the course of their career. 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. Extremally interesting Unit. It is a unique experience for me which gives opportunaty to compare one and the same teacher, one and the same lesson, even...  [Read more]

  In this TESOL review video, Emilia tells that having already taught English in several countries around the world, she was looking to refresh her teaching knowledge after taking a break from teaching. After extensively researching available courses she chose ITTT. In this video discusses why her choice was a good one. 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. As a leading role in the class, teachers should be positive. No personal matters or mood...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences Teaching classes containing a wide variety of ages can be a great challenge. I have recently experienced such challenge. Below I am going to share my teaching experience and how I managed to overcome the difficulties. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Yan Z. In Spring this year, I was asked to teach an English Drama class in a children’s training center. Before the class started, the students were recruited and assigned by the center, which was not in my control. There were 12 elementary-school students in the class. Students were age-mixed, ranging from 7 years to 12 years old. Two thirds of the students were from Grades 1-3 and one third were from Grade 4-6. In order for the younger students...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom management is important in part of teaching, and the effect of classroom management directly affects classroom efficiency. Therefore, learning how to effectively manage the classroom is a required course for every teacher. In the classroom, children are prone to situations where their thoughts are not concentrated and they are absent-minded in class such as chatting, speaking, doing small moves, thoughts wander, or because of the lack of self-control during the game. These conditions are inevitable, which is determined by the physiological and psychological characteristics of the students at a young age. So, in general, how should young English teachers manage the classroom? This post was written by our...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas As with all living languages, English is constantly evolving, slangs and idioms is an example of that. Slang and idioms are an integral part of written and spoken English; often it is employed by native speakers and has a deeper meaning than the literal phrase. Some might argue that slang and idioms are not ‘proper’ English and should not be part of the syllabus but people around the world are increasingly getting exposed to Western media. Students might encounter slangs and idioms when consuming authentic materials such as English films and books, where the characters would interact using normal lay speech. Perhaps the students are interested in all these words and phrases that are nonsensical when taken...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas If you have already switched to online ESL teaching, you've definitely been using an online board. There are many good options out there, but I prefer using Miro over the others. Miro is a convenient online whiteboard with lots of fun and interactive tools to use during the class and outside. In this blog post, I'd like to share several interactive ideas to enhance your online ESL lesson. At the beginning of the online ESL lesson, start with a warm-up conversation. Ask your students about their mood, day, weather, etc. Just do some small talk of any kind. To support the conversation, you can encourage your students to draw pictures on Miro...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Put simply, children think and learn differently than adults. Jean Piaget, as one of the leading psychologists to explore these differences, puts forth the four stages of cognitive development, unified by an overarching idea called constructivism. He specifically focuses on children rather than all learners and, further still, focuses on development rather than learning. His constructivism theory posits that children form an understanding of the world around them and modify that representation based on their experiences and shifting environments that either contradict or confirm what they have built. (1) Therefore, in working with young learners, teachers should be mindful of this as they promote the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Once classes are considered, their sizes are the first item that comes to mind since they are held in different sizes and scales. As a definition, Class size concerns with how many students are present in a classroom learning session. However, in terms of several students in a class, it may range from just one student, such as one-to-one individual classes, to 100 students. The average student number in a class is somewhere around 20 to 30 students per class which are different across the countries. As mentioned, the number of students in a class has always been variant but even from Socrates’ time up until now the importance of student population in the learning process has been in no doubts so that...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas As a teacher, keeping students motivated in the classroom is the most important thing in teaching any subject. A motivated student is a positive student and a positive attitude from everyone in the classroom, including the teacher, can change the entire learning experience and ease quite a bit of tension for everybody. Keeping students motivated can be extremely tough for everyone, not just the teacher but the students as well. The teacher also has to understand your students' level, their interests, and their reason for learning English to keep them motivated. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Benjamin O. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In speaking of any language is global, and in our case, particularly English, several categories could be discussed to give us more understanding. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Frederic S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The first is the history of the language, where did it originate? If we say English was an obscure German dialect we can also say that without knowing more of the history behind it, there would be no way for us to plot its progression or understand its popularity. The second is the spread of the language, how and why did it occur? The third is economic, what were the factors that propelled its growth,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Have you ever wondered why people all over the world are somehow curious about the English language? Or why does a country like Japan wherein the English language is not a requirement to get a job, is on-demand for more competent and effective English teachers? These kinds of questions make me remember my favorite quote, “Everything has a reason”; And yes somehow, English exists for a reason of course. You might be thinking why I entitled this essay “Connecting Dots Through English”, well you will find out why, as you read more on this essay. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hanah M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas We all remember our favorite stories and tales as children; Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things. Are, Stella Luna, and others more advanced like The Hardy Boys and The Magic Tree House. Simply mentioning those titles elicits some of my earliest memories. It's rooted in the foundation of my learning. Oftentimes, stories are read or told to children from infancy throughout their most formative and impressionable years. Children, from a very early age, are exposed to wide ranges of concepts and dialogue. At such a young age, a child typically does not have a grasp on the lexicon of the language being spoken to them, but ideas begin to form. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Stephanie T....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas For a native English speaker, it is easy to understand as they are commonly used every day in casual conversation. But for ESL students, this type of informal English might as well sound like Mumbo Jumbo! (Make no sense). That’s because most students are taught proper, textbook English like: “[name of person], are you going anywhere today?” “No. I’m just relaxing at home.” This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Mark L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. “Dude where ya hanging?” “Na man just chilling” To an ESL student, the above conversation would be hard to comprehend. The same goes for Idioms. “I am so happy...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences What is classroom management? Classroom management refers to all kinds of activities and measures taken by teachers in order to make effective use of their time, to create a good learning environment and to reduce bad behavior. In classroom teaching, in addition to the task of "teaching", the teacher also has the task of "managing", that is, coordinating and controlling all kinds of teaching factors in order to ensure the smooth progress of teaching activities. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Shufang H. We all understand the importance of classroom management, so what can we do to effectively manage the classroom? Teachers' facial expressions, head movements, gestures, and body...  [Read more]

1. Introduction 2. Benefits of Starting Yoga 3. Getting Started with Yoga 4. Choosing the Right Yoga Style Welcome to the world of yoga! Whether you're looking to improve your flexibility, reduce stress, or enhance your overall well-being, starting yoga can be a transformative journey. This ancient practice has gained popularity worldwide for its numerous physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. If you're new to yoga and wondering how to begin, this guide will provide you with a comprehensive overview to help you get started on your yoga journey. The benefits of starting yoga are vast and diverse, making it a popular choice for people of all ages and fitness levels. From increased flexibility and strength to stress relief and improved mental clarity, yoga offers a holistic approach to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Stress is a feeling that produces excellent worry caused by difficult situations. As people experience these quite often in life, it is essential to have the necessary power to cope. Stress occurs in various spheres of life, such as the personal, professional, and educational ones. Every beginning is challenging, and it brings anxiety and tension because people do not know what to expect from that new event. Considering this issue, it is vital to learn how to manage our well-being to feel comfortable with ourselves, stay healthy, happy, and transmit this positive state to the people surrounding us. In the context of the EFL education and...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker TEFL Information Teaching Ideas For many EFL teachers online teaching provides a convenient opportunity to earn a good income without having to leave your own home. For many others it is an unexpected reality due to recent global events. Whatever your reasons for teaching English online, you will probably find that your students are often tired and lacking in motivation due to too many hours in front of the computer screen and not enough variety in their learning. Unfortunately, the same also applies to many teachers. If you feel you are struggling to keep motivated when teaching online, don’t worry as you are not alone. Take a look at our simple tips for maintaining motivation when teaching English online and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas It refers to the reasonable combination and application of skills and skills formed by a teacher in the long-term classroom teaching practice, reflecting the consistent and stable psychological quality of teaching. Each teacher has her or his unique style, that developed through time. Throughout teacher users' different teaching styles to make an expression on their students and hope for his or her students to learn the best of knowledge. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ramy M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. This kind of style is mainly manifested in the following aspects: the teacher's lecture is simple, clear, analytical,...  [Read more]

Uncovering the Best Coffee Shops in New York City Exploring the vibrant coffee culture of New York City is a must for any caffeine enthusiast. With an endless array of cozy cafes, trendy roasteries, and specialty brew bars, the city that never sleeps offers a coffee experience like no other. From iconic establishments that have been serving up the perfect cup of joe for decades to hidden gems tucked away in bustling neighborhoods, New York City is a paradise for coffee lovers. Join us as we take a journey through some of the best coffee shops in the Big Apple. 1. Iconic Coffee Institutions 2. Trendy Roasteries 3. Specialty Brew Bars 4. Hidden Gems New York City is home to a number of iconic coffee institutions that have become a staple of the city's caffeine scene. From the historic cafes...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Self-confidence has been seen as a major contributor to a person learning a language. As a teacher and a counselor, I agree with Jack Welch’s quote: Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing that I can do because then they will act. Confidence exists of three realms: who I am, what I can learn, and what I can do. These are steps that can be taken to help Chinese Business English students improve confidence in these realms. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate William N. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Self-confidence is the total of attributes which enable the use of acquiring knowledge and application of...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Challenges are inevitable especially if you want to be successful at what you do and teaching EFL is not devoid of them. In fact, teaching English as a Foreign Language can be very much exciting but also very challenging as it comes with lots of problems. Among these problems are what to do for the first lessons and how to get students motivated for the EFL course. These problems like many others have solutions and this essay seeks to highlight the problems and provide some practical solutions to them. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Belinda S. What to teach for a first lesson can be very problematic sometimes and as the proverb goes, “First impressions are the most lasting”. First...  [Read more]

1. Introduction 2. Best Hipster Coffee Spots in NYC 3. Unique Features of Hipster Coffee Culture 4. Conclusion New York City is known for its diverse and vibrant coffee culture, with a plethora of cafes and coffee shops catering to every taste and preference. For those looking for a unique and trendy coffee experience, exploring the hipster coffee spots in NYC is a must. These establishments not only offer delicious and expertly crafted coffee but also provide a cozy and artistic atmosphere that appeals to the city's creative crowd. In this guide, we will highlight some of the best hipster coffee spots in NYC that are sure to delight both coffee connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike. 1. **Blue Bottle Coffee:** With several locations across the city, Blue Bottle Coffee is a favorite among...  [Read more]

1. Introduction 2. The Best Coffee Houses in NYC - Manhattan - Brooklyn - Queens - The Bronx Are you a coffee lover looking to explore the best coffee houses in the Big Apple? Look no further! In this guide, we will take you on a journey through the top coffee houses in New York City. From cozy cafes to trendy roasteries, NYC has a diverse coffee scene that caters to all coffee enthusiasts. Whether you prefer a classic espresso or a unique cold brew, there is a coffee spot in the city for you. Let's dive into the best coffee houses in NYC, categorized by borough. 1. Stumptown Coffee Roasters - Known for its high-quality beans and meticulous brewing methods, Stumptown Coffee Roasters is a go-to spot for coffee connoisseurs in Manhattan. Their cozy cafes offer a welcoming...  [Read more]

1. Introduction 2. Starbucks 3. Blue Bottle Coffee 4. Joe Coffee Company New York City is famous for its iconic coffee shops that offer a wide range of coffee blends and unique atmospheres. Whether you're a local looking for your daily caffeine fix or a tourist seeking a cozy spot to relax, NYC has something for everyone. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular coffee shops in the city that have become staples for coffee lovers. While Starbucks may be a global chain, its presence in New York City cannot be overlooked. With numerous locations scattered throughout the city, Starbucks offers a familiar and consistent coffee experience for those on the go. Whether you prefer a classic latte or a seasonal specialty drink, Starbucks has something for every taste. Plus, their...  [Read more]

1. Introduction 2. Benefits of Yoga for Beginners 3. How to Start Yoga as a Beginner 4. Tips for a Successful Yoga Practice Are you new to the world of yoga and looking to start your journey as a beginner? Look no further! In this guide, we will explore the basics of yoga for beginners, including the benefits of practicing yoga, how to get started, and tips for a successful practice. Whether you are looking to improve your flexibility, reduce stress, or enhance your overall well-being, yoga is a great way to achieve these goals. Let's dive in and discover the wonderful world of yoga together. Yoga offers a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits for beginners. From increased flexibility and strength to stress relief and improved focus, the benefits of a regular yoga practice...  [Read more]