Revision Activities

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas According to Jeanne Et Al (2009: 284) teachers are regarded as one of the most important socialization factors in every society in the world. A world without teachers would be a black hole without any fruitful improvements. Kindergarten English teachers are regarded as the backbone of any form of language acquisition as people climb the academic ladder. This is the first stage that children are exposed to a language that is completely foreign to them. Children at this stage are just beginning to become comfortable with one language and introducing a new language, especially one as complex as English, can, therefore, be difficult. However, studies suggest that children learn languages better than adults, and so...  [Read more]

Zainab Sadriwala Alumni Experiences It’s almost been many months since we started the process of transitioning towards online education due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In fact, there has been a complete shift from the traditional way of teaching to a virtual method. The world has come to believe, and more so understand, that virtual classrooms remain the need of today. Initially, it seemed a rather uphill task for many but with time and effort, teachers around the world have jumped on the bandwagon of teaching online. This remodeling of our classrooms has generated new innovative methods of teaching which, even in the post lockdown period, should not be forgotten or done away with. In this blog post, we discuss some of these useful methods and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas During the lessons, teachers usually use a variety of materials and teaching aids. One of the most common is flashcards. They have so many benefits: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Oksana K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Flashcards can be used both for learning new vocabulary and for revision. Here are some of the activities with flashcards that I use working with children starting from 3 to 9 years old, mostly beginners. These activities can be changed a little and transformed into activities for older children. After the new flashcards were...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences “ESA” is a method commonly used in teaching English as a foreign language and stands for Engage, Study, and Activate. ESA is designed to allow movement back and forth between the stages and is popular for its flexibility. The elements - Engage, Study and Activate (ESA) - are necessary for successful language learning in classrooms and they need to be present in most lessons or teaching sequences. Students always need to be engaged, if possible, so that they can get the maximum out of the learning experience. Learners need to study some aspect of language, however small or of short duration, during a lesson period. The ‘Activate’ phase involves exercises and activities which are designed to get the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences From 2018 to 2019, I taught two eighth grade English classes in the rural Thies area, experiencing some of the challenges and advantages to teaching students who were just embarking on their language study. I was paired with a long-term Senegalese teacher who walked me through the basics of teaching a foreign language: engaging the class, developing study materials, and creating activities. What stood out to me was his emphasis on showing up as a role model for the students, as well as integrating other modes of learning into the classroom, such as art, singing, and dance activities. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Elise L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Lesson planning is an important skill and resource for teachers with benefits for the teacher, the students, and the institution accommodating them. By implementing this technique teachers are equipped with a guide that can instill confidence for themselves, as well as clarity for their students and employers. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jason T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One of the primary and more evident benefits of lesson planning is that it creates a clear structure for the lesson. This means that the teacher and students are aware of the focus of each session, which would increase the likelihood of successful...  [Read more]

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

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Good planning allows for more effective teaching and learning. The advantages of planning a lesson are having well-organized lessons with a confident teacher. In the unforeseen circumstances that a replacement teacher needs to be called to cover a class, everything is documented and planned so the objectives are clear and the substitute teacher knows how to teach the lesson. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jemma W. A planned lesson should include the time allowed for the lesson and the time allowed for each section, part or activity. The materials that are needed to execute the class should be clearly listed. The objectives of the lesson should be outlined showing what the aims of the...  [Read more]

Shirin Sophy Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Regardless of the ESA type applied in a lesson plan(straight-arrow, boomerang, patchwork, and so forth), the activation phase, when the target language is supposed to be practiced and promoted through various techniques and activities, is usually the last stage of every lesson. A well-designed activation can be an essential characteristic of a fruitful lesson which highly affects learners' level of participation during the lesson and their sense of achievement at the end of the lesson. This phase is naturally divided into some steps to facilitate the activation process, including the controlled, semi-controlled, and free practices that are briefly discussed in this post. Controlled...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas There are many types of English learning groups and each group requires different teaching techniques. In my opinion, English learners can be divided into 2 groups: beginners and English learners for specific purposes. Beginners can be students who have no English at all or know a few simple structures. They can be children or adults. English learners for specific purposes are students who have a basic English level and want to achieve their specific aims of learning. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nhung T. Children are quick to learn but prone to forget. Therefore, they need frequent repetition and revision. Here are some tips for successful lessons with...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning English is often a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be boring or something to trudge through. By making English lessons fun and engaging, the students will be more motivated to learn the subject matter. Some ways that the teacher can make learning fun include playing games and turning activities into contests with positive reinforcements like prizes or additional game time. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Flashcards are wonderful educational tools in the classroom. Learning with flashcards can be a fun and interactive educational experience for both children and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Today studying English is one of the most important and prospective goals of the modern world. The age of students has changed and parents are trying to start their children learning a foreign language as early as possible. Preschool-aged children are the most favorable for this activity. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Olga O. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Early education develops the psychological function of the child, meets their intellectual needs, creates a great opportunity to generate interest in the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world; respect for languages and cultures of other peoples. Passion,...  [Read more]

Shirin Sophy TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teachers' ability to manage their time, relationships, attitudes, material, students' rapport, and the progress happening in their classroom is referred to as the art of classroom management, which undoubtedly is one of the most significant requirements and features of a successful teacher. All of the decisions a teacher makes in terms of lesson planning, seating arrangement, monitoring, reacting to critical moments, working with other people, and all of the actions based on these decisions eventually lead to lessons that can be fruitful or dull based on the quality of these decisions. In order to manage a successful course, a teacher also needs to have management skills and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In my experience and the experience of my teacher colleagues, lesson planning has never been among the most interesting or engaging activities. The reasons are always different: some believe that lesson planning is not effective because a teacher cannot predict the direction of the lesson. Others think that it is a complete waste of time because the process of planning a lesson may seem boring and time-consuming. As a beginner teacher, I had a false belief that lesson planning is not important for an ESL teacher, especially if the group of students has a high level of English. However, after teaching for a longer period, I have realized that only with a certain amount of planning can an ESL lesson be not only...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences An essential role of the teacher in the classroom is to build a relationship with his or her students to help them learn the subject being taught. There are many ways to set up a situation in which students can and will learn effectively. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Peter O. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A teacher must be a leader, a manager, an administrator, an organizer, a designer, and an assessor. Above all, they must be a motivator to give their students a desire to learn, which is vital to mastering new concepts and skills. The teacher must be approachable and have good verbal and written communication...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Though I have been an English teacher for a period of seven (7) years in two different countries including my home country, yet I spent hours trying to decide the most appropriate topic for my summative essay, I finally decide to choose “The best thing I've learned from my TEFL/TESOL course” Why? Because I genuinely learned a lot during the course of my study and I will like to share my views, but I will discuss only two major points in this essay. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Oluwatosin B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Lesson planning is a vital component in the teaching of English because a good lesson plan...  [Read more]

Georgia Payne Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences The unofficial motto of the JET Programme is ‘every situation is different (ESID).’ This is completely true, and every JET’s day looks different depending on whether they work in a public or private school, whether they have co-JETs or are solo, their teaching partner’s style, and the school’s schedule. I teach in a private junior and senior high school in central Tokyo, where students are aged 12-18. The following is my own experience, but every ALT’s (assistant language teacher) experience on the JET Programme is vastly different. In Tokyo, almost everyone commutes via train, and depending on where you live, your commute could take...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Lesson planning is one of the most important elements of successful teaching in the ESL (English as Second Language) classroom and every TEFL (Teaching English as Foreign Language) lesson needs a plan, particularly so in the case of the less experienced teacher starting their career in a foreign country. The often-cited argument that over planning can create a less fluent atmosphere in the classroom does hold some truth but just as the artist is tutored not to attempt abstract art until first mastering the art of realism, the teacher likewise is best placed not to address a class unprepared until first mastering the art of pre-planning. Many proficient teachers will attest to the fact that successful lessons are...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The role of a teacher conceals in itself the huge responsibility of shaping the world and making it a better place. A teacher should be able to cultivate a sense of strong positive emotions and self-confidence, should be well aware of the different needs of the students and should be capable of providing an endless number of opportunities for them to learn and grow. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Anil K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. However, many teachers find the mixed-ability classes, a challenging situation to deal with. The students' demographics change according to a lot of parameters. The term mixed-ability...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate BUSAYO J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Planning our teaching “backward” from desired performances on rich, authentic tasks helps teachers focus on what matters most. With this performance orientation, teachers are less likely to simply march through lists of content objectives or pages in a textbook, or to have their students complete worksheets on discrete skills. When genuine performance is the goal, we can emulate the practices of effective coaches and sponsors of extra-curricular activities by following a general instructional process like the following: * Once the performance task...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences English language learners at high school and college levels in Mongolia face a variety of structural and cultural difficulties that often prevent them from moving beyond an intermediate or even-low level in spoken and written English. This post will look at a few of the core issues and examine some of the ways to help improve the type of instruction provided in Mongolia that could prove beneficial for future language students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ariel W. First and foremost, teacher training in areas like lesson-planning, teacher/student talk time, impromptu speaking and writing activities, and classroom management needs to be improved. This problem stems directly from the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences This blog post will focus on answering why lesson planning is important. The fundamentals of lesson planning will be discussed while also covering topics such as teacher demeanor, necessary preparation, and flexibility. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hannah C. Firstly it’s important to point out that lesson planning isn’t seen as a necessary tool for all teachers yet is largely considered helpful and if done so effectively, ensures the smooth running of a class. This means not having a rigid, unchangeable plan but instead somewhat of a guide to keeping a lesson on track, ensuring students are getting the most of the lesson and reaching their learning objectives. Flexibility is key...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Lesson planning is vital to ensure a smooth lesson. If you are new to teaching English as a foreign language, lesson planning might seem daunting at first. However, after reading through this comprehensive guide, you should already feel a lot more confident! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Betty S. A lesson plan is like a set of notes. It tells us what we are going to teach and how we are going to teach. A lesson plan is important because of several reasons. Mainly, it is a road map to help the teacher know where s/he is going in the lesson. With a lesson plan teachers are more confident because they know what to do in every step of the lesson. It provides a systematic outline to induce...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas So you’ve got your TEFL certificate in hand and landed your dream teaching job abroad. Once you’re at the school, it’s time to prep for your classes. More often than not, teachers are expected to create their own course syllabi for their different classes. Here is our guide to writing your first TEFL syllabus. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Zirui P. The syllabus of a course is the frame of what the course is. It tells the students and the teacher what is being taught in the course as well as in what order it is being taught. This is especially true in language learning, as different types of syllabi will indicate what is being learned. There are many types of syllabi for language learning. Depending...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I believe it is very important to plan and write down lessons, for the benefit of the students, myself, relieving teachers, and especially while I am an inexperienced teacher. A lesson plan acts as a device for a singular lesson, helps create a series of lessons, and as a record of what has been taught. Self Evaluation Forms will be vital as a new teacher so that I can continuously self improve. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kylie G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When I take the time to write down a lesson, it requires thinking about the level of that particular class and what I want to achieve by the end of the lesson....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Confidence is a feeling of self-assurance from believing in one’s own abilities or qualities. It is indispensable if we want to succeed in doing anything, and learning English is no exception. Confidence enhances performance, making learning less stressful and remembering what is learned a lot easier. It gives English learners the courage to explore and discover the language with or without teachers. Confident learners are not afraid of making mistakes or challenging themselves. All these lead to success eventually, not only for the learners but also for the teachers. Therefore, ESL/EFL teachers (teachers) need to build confidence in students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Recently there was a debate on whether technology should be used in the classroom. It intern created these questions; is it profitable in the long run? Is it worth the money for parents? Are we as educators feeding into the technology movement? Breslin, McKeown, & Groves (2012), states “technology refers to methods, systems, and devices which are the result of scientific knowledge being used for practical purposes.” It is important to note that some students are already interested in and engaged in using technology. Mareco (2017), pointed out “Technology is entwined in almost every part of our culture. It affects how we live, work and plays and most importantly learn.” As a result, it creates...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Let's think about a definition of the word 'game' and try to find it in dictionaries or encyclopedias. We will see that apart from amusement value, a game is considered to be a valuable educational tool. Undoubtedly different games are used mainly to entertain and bring fun, and only the secondary aim can be perceived as having teaching or educational significance. Whether students can or cannot understand the teacher's hidden purpose in applying games during a lesson, the process will bring fun, relaxation, and interaction. At the same time, the result will be meaningful and long-lasting. This post was written by our TEFL certification...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Since I am still relatively new to teaching, I felt it was important to reassure myself on why I choose this career path as well as my efficacy in the role. Self-monitoring is extremely important in both our personal and professional lives. Self-regulation leads to personal growth and that is invaluable in our lives. I believe that the teacher needs to be a student first. As a teacher begins to develop more experience in their role over time, naturally follows comfort and sometimes comfort can lead to complacency. I believe that students cannot benefit from a complacent teaching professional because the world around us changes frequently. Students need to be informed on the most up to date and accurate information...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Designing the syllabus of a course is one of the greatest challenges a teacher has to face and undertake way in advance to the actual implementation of the said syllabus – and before the actual beginning of any language course. When a teacher starts to plan a syllabus, he/she may not even have an exact, clear and set idea of what is expected of him/her and the students to achieve and complete during and by the end of the course. Still, planning is essential as it can save a lot of time for everyone involved, eliminate many problems, and provide the teacher with a framework and a starting point for plans and modifications. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Zalán Palotai-K. Please note that...  [Read more]