Student Centered Teaching Examples

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Teaching and learning are processes that go hand in hand with one another. Effective teachers are able to inspire and engage students with a desire to learn. They must be able to impart their abilities of learning into students in various ways. Through my personal teaching experiences, I firmly believe in establishing high, yet attainable expectations, creating a curriculum that is student centered, and providing real life experiences for students to help them grasp the concepts taught in the lesson. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sarah N. Effective classroom management is more than being a strict or authoritative figure, it requires a structured learning...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Storytelling in the classroom can seemingly be one of the most diverse and engaging ways to help students learn English as a second language. Storytelling for the purposes of this essay is a broad term that I am using to refer not only to students telling stories about what they did on the weekend for example but also using existing stories that are well known and loved, for example, Harry Potter or the Lion King. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jamie S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Firstly, classroom activities using storytelling when centered around the students are a great way for students to get to know one another....  [Read more]

Shirin Sophy Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Learning, which has always been a controversial issue, is perhaps one of the most significant characteristics of the human race. The earliest learning theory was proposed by the world-renowned Greek philosopher Plato (428 BC- 347 BC), who simply questioned the knowledge acquisition ability in terms of encountering a thoroughly new topic and answered this question in order to hypothesize the theory of recollection. According to Plato's answer to the question of how individuals learn new topics, the soul is fully aware of the knowledge at birth. People simply recall and recollect it. During the 20th century, numerous hypotheses have been developed by psychologists in order to clarify...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In 1983, Dr. Howard Garner presented his theory of multiple intelligences in his book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (1). His theory suggests that IQ, which is a more traditional form of measuring intelligence, is far too limited in its range of testing (1). Although not all of the intelligence included in the theory can be targeted easily when preparing a learning activity, multiple intelligence learning is a good theory to apply to teach English as a foreign language. This is because it can be used to teach at any level, and a strong intelligence can be used to develop skills involving a weaker one. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sidney M. Please note that this...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching a real class, first, we need to mention the rapport between teachers and students. What makes a good teacher and a good learner are tend to be “student-centered” class than “teacher-centered”, which means teachers’ talking time is less than students’. Being a good teacher will always remind and encourage learners about their learning motivations and interests. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Crystal D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Before teaching a class, we need to plan a class and what you expect students to achieve by the end of the class. In a lesson plan, we need a learning objective what do you...  [Read more]

Shirin Sophy TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Even though most contemporary teaching approaches and lesson planning methods agree on the importance of language generation or activation opportunities during and at the end of every lesson, it is still controversial to decide on when and how this is supposed to be aimfully and practically applied. There are various factors to take into account when it comes to lesson planning and designing the phases, especially the activation that seems to be the culmination of every lesson and requires more meticulousness and creativity. The following features that are briefly discussed in this article can directly affect the quality of the lesson and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas What comes to mind when one thinks of an English classroom? Is it organized rows of desks filled with students writing vocabulary and grammar into their notebooks while the teacher talks in the front? This is the classic image of a classroom. A student goes to school to learn what they don’t already know. When teaching English, it can be easy to fall into the trap of rote memorization and reliance on grammar and vocabulary. However, is this method effective? Does this way of learning motivate students to become lifelong learners of a foreign language? It is less useful to teach students many things than to teach them the skills needed to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A classroom can be a daunting environment for a teacher. They have been placed as the responsible leader of a classroom, and it is their duty to ensure that the students leave with something. Specifically, in an ESOL classroom, teachers feel that there is a lot of pressure to not fail the students. To assuage this anxiety, teachers must find security in their confidence. They have trained, and they have the knowledge to succeed. By relying on the information that they know, they can create a learning environment that provides comfort for everyone. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sophia L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Grammar is a very important piece of learning English. Students need grammar as it gives them a handle on the language, helps them to become reflective of the language and to build fluency. The goal of a grammar lesson is to present the grammar, help the students comprehend the main points and to move into practice, which starts as controlled practice and passes to free practice. The goal for the students is to develop fluency through the grammar structure, presenting the grammar in a meaningful context. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Natalja S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. It is important to set up the grammar and the...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences “Some theorists suggest that lesson planning is not a good idea as it creates a more fixed, teacher-centered lesson” (ITTT TEFL 009 Lesson Planning, pg 1). However, I would argue that without a lesson plan many inexperienced English teachers may often lack direction. I will discuss how to best use a lesson plan to achieve the greatest successes in each lesson. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melissa B. There are many important functions in a lesson plan. The first being, it is an aid to planning. It allows you to consider what the students should be achieving in each lesson and how you can make this possible. It allows you to logically move through the engage, study and activate...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas As a new teacher, grammar was initially very difficult for me to teach. It was difficult to demonstrate grammar patterns succinctly. Luckily, the school that I work for has provided help by having an established curriculum. The key to teaching grammar, however, has been teaching variable inputs in otherwise unchanging structures as part of student-centered games. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Stephen W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. If I were to teach the pattern, “What does Billy like?/ He likes _____”, then I would have several options. I could read the pattern and have the students listen. This would be ineffective...  [Read more]

Shirin Sophy TEFL Information Teaching Ideas How the seats are arranged in a classroom can convey numerous implicit messages about the pedagogical approaches and methods employed in a specific school and the teacher who works there. A well-designed seating arrangement not only facilitates the interaction between the teacher and the learners but it also enables the students to interact together, which is a paramount feature of a student-centered class effectively. There is a wide variety of interaction patterns that each can be appropriately applied considering the aim and objective of a lesson and the ongoing task; however, a well-adjusted seating arrangement may pave the way for the flow of the information during the lesson...  [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]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A lesson plan is a series of instructions written by the teacher on how to cover his lesson It is also a working document to refer to during the lesson ad a record of the class content useful for future lessons or for other teachers. An effective lesson plan should be flexible and open to change. How a lesson plan is written depends upon the teacher. It's complicated because it doesn't exist the perfect way to write a lesson plan. It can be formal following a specific pattern or written in the form of notes but simplicity is essential. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daniela F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Firstly, a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A common theme that has been present in the 120-hour TEFL course, the 50-hour Business English course and the 50-hours Young Learners course has been that different age groups of students have different expectations of their teacher. Adult learners, for example, have fixed views on teaching and learning styles that they have built off of prior learning experiences. Young learners, on the contrary, typically are open-minded to new learning experiences and teaching methods. Young learners are typically not as motivated to learn English because they may not realize the direct benefits of learning English due to their lack of life experience. To specify, young learners, are anyone between the age of 2 and 13. Young...  [Read more]

Mudita Yajnik TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Classroom setup is an important part of setting up a welcoming and friendly environment. It is the foundation on which a teacher can build strong relationships with their students, and build a more student-centered class while incorporating their passions into their work. The way a classroom is set up is a great first impression for students, which means it’s important for teachers to put in an effort to make their classroom a welcoming environment. Moreover, a fun classroom set up can reflect your personality or what you’re passionate about as a teacher, and it can be a fun way to introduce yourself to the students. Even having speakers so that you can play music in the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A good student-teacher relationship inside the classroom is necessary for the instructor to teach efficiently and for the students to learn effectively. Several factors need to be taken into consideration to manage the classroom well. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Roxanne C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First of all, good eye contact should be established within the classroom. This signifies the connection between the teacher and students and it shows sincerity on the part of the teacher. Eye contact is encouraged during a teacher-centered activity but not in students- centered activities. Proper use of gestures, on the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences What is the role of the teacher in English learning? Although ‘teacher-centered education’ was taught in the past, ‘student-centered education’ is more emphasized in the modern era. Accordingly, the role of the teacher is also changing from the teacher who delivers the knowledge of the subject to the teacher who facilitates students’ successful learning. It is important to recognize that teaching and learning are an integral part of each other. (Harmer, 2007). Teaching practice should not be simply ‘one-way’ delivery of knowledge to students. Teachers should play a role in motivating students to participate in learning. A variety of learning methods should be tried to enjoy the process of...  [Read more]

Ahmed Taha TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The curriculum has been used in the past as a collection of topics and syllabuses for children and young people to be learned during their school years. However, this definition does not do justice to the wider outcomes required by the real world or to the complexity of what many teachers are actually doing to promote the well-being of children and young people. It fails to define the overall objectives that the program is supposed to serve. Learning is often greatly influenced by when and how success is evaluated and how the effects of measurement are used. Therefore, evaluation needs to be seen as an important part of the process of learning....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences There can be a lot of difficulties a teacher might face in the future lesson. You might have to manage a class without any help or you might have students from different nationalities, ages, interests or so on. I believe, however, that most of the problems you might have would be solved if you planned the lessons carefully in advance. There are some reasons to support my idea. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Eri S. First, you can find what you should exactly do in a lesson as a part of a whole course by planning the lesson in advance. Otherwise, you go forward with your lesson aimlessly and you might lose sight of the final goal of the lesson. It is important to understand what the...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The seating arrangement is one of the most important topics in classroom management. Classroom management refers to the various skills and techniques that teachers use to keep students organized, orderly, focused, attentive, on task and academically productive during the class. However, this essay is going to explore more on the various methods of seating arrangement and how they influence classroom management. There are three most common seating arrangement methods that can be used by the teacher. These include the traditional rows and columns, horseshoe or U-shape and clusters. These are going to be explained in detail outlining their advantages and disadvantages in relation to the classroom size and shape,...  [Read more]

Laura Payne Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas I am currently working as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan. Before I began this job I assumed that because Japan has a largely homogeneous population, all of my classes would be monolingual. However, I was wrong in this assumption. In addition to my Japanese students, I have many students who are Brazilian or Filipino. These students largely do not use Japanese as their mother tongue and have to learn both English and Japanese as a second language. This diverse student population, in addition to my work experiences and studies, has taught me a lot about working with both monolingual and multilingual classes. In the few monolingual classes that I teach, it is fairly easy to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Whether online or in-person teaching English to children is higher energy than adults. A teacher must be kind, happy, fun and energetic. A teacher must speak clearly, slowly as needed and use lots of hand gestures, visual aids, and props. Teachers should prompt students, giving them time to answer and lots of opportunities to speak, ensuring a student-centered class. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Laurel C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Teaching English online presents some differences from a traditional class. It can have the benefit of being in the comfort of the child’s home with interactive games that seem less...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences To say that an English Teacher should complete a TEFL course is an understatement, an English Teacher must complete a TEFL course and obtain a TEFL certificate. I say this as an English teacher who has five years of experience and has taught in three countries in Europe. From a professional point of view and also from a financial point of view a TEFL certificate is a huge advantage. As I discovered during my research on TEFL certificates, Teachers who hold a TEFL certificate are well sought after and the job opportunities are endless. What is amazing is that the TEFL certificate opens possibilities to an English teacher to teach all over the world. Getting a TEFL certificate is tantamount to opening a gold...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences There is no doubt that it is the Information Age people are currently living in. And it is cannot be ignored that online education is one of the fastest growing teaching and learning methods in recent years due to different reasons and needs, which takes the advantages of the Internet and save both teachers' and learners' time and energy that has been spent on the distance and traffic. Among that, ESL online learning gets a great acceptance from the ESL learners. And here is a discussion about the advantage of ESL online education. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Xue L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Compared to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Last fall, I taught students of varying abilities in the same EFL classroom. For example, I had students from China and France who were false beginners, students from Brazil whose placement tests assessed them at the intermediate level, and students from Italy who were intermediate/advanced. This course took place in the United States and was a challenge to teach because I had students who were not accustomed to the Roman alphabet, students who were accustomed to being academically successful, and a student who had developed a love-hate relationship with school settings. In addition to their various EFL-learning needs, the students ranged in age from late teens to mid-fifties. In simplest terms, I was concerned...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A method of teaching contains the techniques used by teachers to impart knowledge to students. These strategies are determined partly on the subjects to be taught and partly by the nature of the learner. In this task, I will give some examples of different teaching methodologies, compare these techniques, and explain why it is important that teachers, mostly who are teaching in a foreign country should know these methods. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nathalie L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One of the most effective methods of teaching is ESA (Engage, Study, and Activate); this teaching method allows your student to be...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In a classroom, teachers assist students to transfer new knowledge to receptive knowledge, then further to product knowledge. Take English as an example, learning involves pronunciation, meaning, usage, grammar, etc., mistakes are frequently spotted while checking all the boxes. It is rather vital for teachers to deploy correction techniques to right the wrong use, to motivate students to learn from mistakes and to build the correct mindset towards mistakes. Hence, it has been widely accepted that to correct mistakes is one of the basic responsibilities of a teacher. Necessary and proper corrections are justified as an effective way for students to absorb and use the new language. Any underestimation and underuse...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom management is vital to the role of teaching EFL learners of all ages and abilities. This essay discusses some of the reasons why classroom management is important and how effective class management can help optimize teaching and learning time. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Carol T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. EFL learners often learn English outside the contexts and environments where it is used in everyday life, therefore the classroom is often their only opportunity to learn and to practice English (Krashen, 1976). An effective EFL teacher will not only create an environment where students have adequate...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This essay will focus on the differences between one-to-one teaching and group teaching. With both teaching approaches, there are advantages as well as disadvantages. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alida K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Recently, there has been an increase in demand for one-to-one lessons, particularly within the business industry (Teaching Special Groups, Unit 19). Students feel they are receiving a service tailored to their wants and needs than that of a group lesson would. Furthermore, teaching one-to-one allows the teacher to create a plan that directly suits the learners' needs; for example,...  [Read more]