Teacher Talking Time And Student Talking Time

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I think of a teacher I had back in junior high in South Africa that made my learning experience memorable and that in turn earned me a diploma for achieving honors in my year-end examinations. He spoke little and allowed us as the students to discover and solve problems partially by ourselves. So, my aspiration is to apply the same or similar principals in teaching. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Candice F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When teachers talk too much, students lose their concentration, they become bored and find the tedious explanations hard to follow sometimes. Teachers should give students time to answer,...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences I have now taken both ITTT's 120-hour TEFL/TESOL course and the additional course for teaching young learners. Both courses have been very beneficial, and, although it is difficult to narrow the benefits down to one "best" thing, one of the most helpful things I have learned is the idea of reducing teacher talking time and increasing student talking time. I have found this concept to be particularly valuable as I prepare for a future TESOL position, and I have been very pleased to find that it has benefited me in my current teaching job in an American classroom, as well. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Erin S. First, and most directly, the idea of frequently engaging students in speaking is useful as I...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom Management is a skill that a teacher must try to learn and gain. This skill is a skill of managing the class, organizing the class and the classroom, having a relaxed manner, and maintaining discipline. As a teacher, it’s not easy to have a relaxed manner and maintain discipline at the same time. To achieve this goal the teacher needs to know how to balance. How a class is managed effectively and efficiently can affect how students perform in the class. Which is another word that means the classroom management decides the environment of studying? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate WING Y. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas TTT stands for Teacher Talking Time, ’of which teachers can't have too little. Teachers will speak more in class, when present knowledge, manage the classroom, correct students’ mistakes, praise students or provide feedback, and set up or demonstrate the classroom activities. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tang C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Here are some inadequacies of too much TTT. Firstly, TTT is opposite to STT (Student Talking Time), and more TTT means less STT. Teachers are already proficient in using English. Jeremy Harmer[1] believes that: Getting students to speak- to use the language they are learning- is...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word firebrand. This word has two different meanings. The first meaning is quite literal and describes burning wood. The second meaning is rather figurative as it refers to a person who is usually inflicting change as a result of being passionate about a certain topic or cause. 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. Personally, enjoyed going through this unit and reading about the different roles...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Have you ever had the experience of saying a fictional character's name out loud to someone for the first time and they don't know whom you are talking about even though you're reading the same book? I have and it was a confusing feeling. The thing I have learned about English is that to truly learn it, you need to speak it. When we learn English by speaking it out loud we can avoid the mistakes of mispronouncing words that we have only ever read in our heads. This is the primary reason I think we need to decrease teacher speaking time in class and dramatically increase student speaking time when we are teaching our students English. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jennifer A. Please note...  [Read more]

  When considering Teacher Talk Time, we can perhaps look at the major advantage and disadvantage of the teacher actually talking. The major advantage is that you as the teacher are usually the only real model for the language, the source of correct English. So at some stages, your talking time is very important to the students. So when you?re modeling language, that use of Teacher Talk Time can be very advantageous. There are major disadvantages to overusing Teacher Talk Time, however, and perhaps the major one is that whenever the teacher is talking, the students are listening and if the students are listening, then they themselves cannot be talking. So, Teacher Talk Time reduces the opportunity for Student Talk Time. So, we should try to minimize the use of Teacher Talk Time...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I guess we all have been there. Sitting in a classroom where the teacher never stops talking. How did it feel? Was it interesting and motivating or was it perhaps boring and discouraging? Did you have the feeling of having learned something when the lesson was over? Whereas getting students talking in the classroom has proved quite a challenge to many teachers, having them verbalize what they are thinking about is very important. Even when the learning has been handed over to the students, it is still very tempting to spend far too much time giving directions, repeating important information and instructions, and telling students how they did rather than asking them to reflect on their work. This post was written...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas One of the most difficult aspects of English teaching is not grammar or even structure; it’s the externalization of ideas through the act of speaking with the teacher or students. The thought seems trivial but when put in an environment where the language taught overrides their own most students have a hard time organizing their ideas and thoughts to form coherent sentences that expresses what is on their minds. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alvin M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Most students struggle with the idea since it requires both an understanding of the English lexicon and the pronunciation required to...  [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 Alumni Experiences Let’s remember the latest class you’ve had. What were you doing? Were you explaining a new rule? Were you answering your students’ questions? Were you telling a story from your life? Weren’t you talking too much? Let’s discuss how to decrease teacher speaking time (TST) and increase student speaking time (SST). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate DALER R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. According to the communicative approach, TST shouldn’t be greater than SST, moreover, it must be much less than the last one. Why? There are several reasons. First of all, we have to mention that the more a teacher talks the less...  [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]

Michela Coticone TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Classroom management creates a set of rules and guidelines that helps to keep an organized classroom environment. Having a good structure for classroom management opens the door for the teacher to engage in the students learning and development. It would be almost impossible for the teacher to be able to do his/her job effectively if a classroom is disorganized and fails to have effective classroom management expectations in place. To practice good classroom management the teacher must be patient and set clear boundaries throughout the course This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sarah C. Please note that this blog post...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this essay, I will talk about the differences and pros and cons of one to one and group teaching. All the arguments given are based on my teaching experience with young learners. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Lin C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The biggest advantage of this teaching style is the easily manageable class. The teacher doesn't need to think about more classroom management skills and ways of working with an individual student. The second plus of one to one teaching is that the teacher saves more energy. It is easy to keep the student focused on content. By contrast, it is hard to keep the whole group...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word sprachgefühl. This word refers to a person's intuitive ability to produce language in a natural way. Sprachgefühl is one of many Gernan words that found their way into the English language at the end of the 19th century. The word is a combination of sprache (language, speech) and gefühl (feeling). 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. In this lesson we were learning about classroom...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas Giving directions as a teacher to non-native English speakers in an EFL classroom often requires a set of techniques to ensure the students truly understand the directions and can follow them how you want them to. The following 10 tips to help your students follow directions when teaching English abroad work for students of all ages and levels but are especially useful for English learners of young ages or low levels. Before starting an activity, be sure to take some time to explain the instructions carefully to your students. This starts by making it clear that the students should now pay attention as you will give the directions. If you don’t make it clear that you are about to explain an activity, some students...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word captious. This word describes a person who likes to point out flaws and errors and enjoys raising objections to other people's statements or opinions. Common synonyms for captious can be critical, faultfinding, and judgmental. 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. In this video lesson we can observe the same lesson being taught twice. Watching the video is easy to recognize the errors made by...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching a group of new students can, and frequently is an intimidating challenge. Working with students who are just meeting you, and have unknown skill levels often creates a chaotic environment. By incorporating pieces of music that are familiar to the teacher and students we can increase rapport, improve confidence, train listening skills, and engage students quickly and more effectively. There are multiple ways to use music in the classroom and to teach English as a foreign language, and each should be tailored to the needs of the students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Everitt G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Songs...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom management is an important and essential skill for teachers and students. Classroom management aids teachers in organization and time management. Teachers who manage and instruct the class using eye contact, their voice, and group the students together using pair work and group work have more effective classroom management. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Costas P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Keeping eye contact with the students establishes a good rapport. It helps them to show their involvement in the lesson and ensures that the students understand what is going on in the classroom. It maintains discipline and...  [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]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas We all know what it’s like to teach a class with reluctant students who don’t want to talk. It’s like pulling teeth. However, with these 7 awesome ESL conversation activities, you can really get your students talking! For this activity, you simply use a tumbling block game such as Jenga and write 1 simple ice breaker question on each block. Before a student places a block on the stack, they must first answer the question on the block. This activity is especially great for small ESL classes or for small groups in a big class. Also Read: The 5 Best Ways To Build Rapport With Your TEFL Students First, take a few minutes to brainstorm characteristics a person might have. This could be something like “has flown in...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences I made a good number of blunders my first year teaching that still make me cringe. I learned though. And it's fair to say, when it comes to managing a classroom, most of what we learn as new teachers is trial by fire. It's also smart to heed the advice of those who have walked - and stumbled - before you. If you are struggling with discipline, here are five tips that you can start using right away: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Yilong L. Are you teaching in your normal voice? Every teacher can remember this from the first year in the classroom: spending those first months talking at an above-normal range until one day, you lose your voice. Raising our voice to get the students'...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom management deals with role flexibility, organizing and maintaining discipline. The student’s confidence and learning effectiveness will depend on the teacher’s classroom management skills. The teacher must know when it is time to be firm or when to leave students alone. The level of firmness depends on the age of the students. Overall, it is best to keep a controlled environment at the beginning then tail it off with a relaxed environment especially with kids or younger learners. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Victoria G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One of the disciplinary methods of classroom management is...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Kindergarten students are at the "Beginner" phase of learning English. Therefore, you must treat the students and the learning experience in a fun and appropriate manner. Being kind, friendly, and entertaining is vital for young learners and your rapport as a teacher. Building a good rapport is essential to truly provide the best English course and helping the Kindergarteners progress throughout the semester. Since the students are so young and open to learning, talking only easy, simple words are beneficial to them at the moment. Do not go into further detail in the time being. They are beginners and need to learn the absolute basics before going into further detail about grammar. Your role as a teacher will be...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching is probably one of the most rewarding professions that can exist. I've always dreamed to be a teacher, being able to make a difference and be the one students can look up to. This opportunity was given to me when an English training institute from China called Web international English (also called Web) hired me as an ESL teacher. The web is a private English school which provides different class sizes such as VIP(1 to 1), Private(1 to 4), Salon(1 to 10) and Social(1 to 25+). These various courses helped me to differentiate and experience the difference between teaching one to one and groups. Hence I will detail in the following paragraphs my personal observations between both types of classes. Starting...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Our TEFL graduate considers the most important teaching responsibilities. Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Students need parental help but how should it be organized to achieve better results in education? Find out in this blog post. Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas February is a great time to introduce Black History into your EFL classroom! Here are 5 Great Activities For Black History Month in the EFL Classroom. Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This blog post is devoted to the problem of classroom management skills. Elizaveta Pachina ...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom Management is the skill of organizing and managing the class, having a friendly, relaxed manner and maintaining discipline. Keeping a classroom under control is often my biggest challenge mostly with the pupils. With the help of the ITTT 120-hours TESOL/TEFL course, I've finally found some classroom management strategies that actually worked and eventually turned things around. These strategies apply to all levels of learners and even to new and existing classes. I can now say things have got to the point where my classes are now under control, focused, on task, and learning effectively. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Cheng Y. Please note that this blog post might not...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Teaching Ideas When I had completed approximately thirty percent of the TEFL course I decided to go to a local school here in the North East of Thailand, where I live, and my friend, who is a Canadian national, is the English teacher at that particular school. I had already arranged with him, that I would take his English lesson acting as a visiting English trainee teacher, and he would assess me. I gave a lesson to the students in the English language sentence structure. On completion of the lesson I approached my friend and asked his assessment of my teaching abilities, and he replied that I taught to a satisfactory standard apart from the fact that, I was a little bit nervous and the students didn’t speak much at all. Although...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Teaching Ideas The teacher’s role is to catch the interest of the students and to give them confidence. Getting the students involved in the lesson will also help to prevent most of the disciplinary problems. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Marie Alice C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The first thing is for the teacher to try to know his students. Knowing their name is, of course, necessary to get their attention or indicate who is to answer the question, but the teacher should also try to know their surroundings. The students will be more willing to participate if the topic has been carefully chosen to fit their interests. Making sure that...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A role is a form of duty that one performs. A teacher will adopt a teaching style that typically reflects his or her general personality in some way. If the teacher tries to be someone or something she or he is not, for eight hours a day, it will soon become tedious and very hard work. No matter the style the teacher will be applying, the teacher needs different roles in a classroom given the situation that arises and lesson plan. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate GLADYS N. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. There are many roles of a teacher. I will list each of them and also give examples that may apply to each role of a teacher....  [Read more]