Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language Book

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Multiple researchers have shown that learning a new language is a healthy exercise for one’s brain. In today’s world where connection to each other has been made easy by technology, it has also become very important to be multilingual. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sipho D. English is still the widely spoken language in the world but the is a growing trend of Mandarin Chinese learners , Spanish learners and a number of students too tackling languages like French and German. This has been largely due to open trade, huge corporations having multiple trading offices all over the world. Gone are the days when interpreters would be needed for translation duties when a company ventures...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Spanish is my mother tongue; however, I also managed to learn English and French at a young age. Both of these languages stuck with me even years after I had left the countries where I learned them. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jorge P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Despite staying in those countries for a short time (less than a year), it surprised me how, when comparing myself with people who had had similar experiences, my language skills were much better than theirs. Looking back on those days, I believe that it’s because I was not learning the language for itself, but rather as a means to an end. I was using those...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas There are four basic skills in any language: receptive skills – reading and listening, and productive skills – speaking and writing. Usually, when we learn a new language, we tend to access our learning process and result by checking how our productive skills are and forget that before we can the product, we need to receive first. Data says that the production of every 100 words in writing needs a receipt of 1000 words in reading which means to be able to produce anything, one must get as much as 10 times receipt. Similarly in listening and speaking. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Josephine L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I have chosen this topic as I have been living in France for the past seven years and I would like to write about how I learned French and how learning this language has helped me in teaching English as a foreign language. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daniel L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I remember when I wanted to come to France, I bought a book called 'French in three months'. I followed the instructions, I learned the words and I had the impression that I could speak French albeit very slowly with a terrible accent. On arrival in France, I quickly learned that my French was nowhere near as good as I thought it...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas When we are born, our first contact with our native tongue is one hundred percent oral. Our mother is the first one to speak to us in her native language and as we grow we are constantly exposed to words, expressions, and conversations that we take in and start to understand in our everyday life. Once we reach a proper school age everything starts to change because we are introduced to a new way of communication that goes beyond body language and oral expressions. We are introduced to written language. This rite of passage is as normal as it´is expected to be, but we must take into account something that in the last couple of decades has become part of this experience; the simultaneous learning of a foreign...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas One of the most challenging contradictions I had to face as a high school language and literature teacher in Germany was the principle that each child should have equal opportunity when, sadly, the inequality often starts long before high school, and that as a teacher, you should give every student the chance to achieve excellent performances when, in reality, the latter also depends on factors outside of the classroom. In conversations with parents, I often pointed out specific deficiencies in their child's essays as I was taught to. I made suggestions on how to improve them, hoping in vain that next time, the student would get a much...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Just as a map is a guide to a territory, grammar is the guide to a language. A language course ought to include such guidance, through which the student perceives direction. The ability to read a map, and, as a result, delineating the goal´s location, facilitates the endeavor to set the student onto the right path. When a learner understands the universal logic of language, he can put his native language into context within every foreign language. This comparison of languages will reveal similarities. To learn that all languages are alike will make the acquisition easier. If the teacher wants the student to understand that languages are closely related he has to present grammar as a common aspect of all...  [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 Teaching Ideas Fears of declining reading rates have long plagued the United States. In 2007, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) released To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence, a report showing that reading rates for all demographic factors had declined. The report shed light on the potentially devastating effects that such a decline may have: this was not about mourning the loss of book sales, but about reading’s impact on citizens’ abilities to comprehend written material, improve their socioeconomic standing, and maintain a successful career. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Veronica B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences More and more persons enjoy traveling and even make it their lifetime hobby! More young couples and families are hungry to discover new cultures and love meeting like-minded people. Sometimes mature individuals, who find themselves in different circumstances, either by choice or not, are looking for a change and wish to learn a new skill that would give them something worthwhile to do on their travels. These are only just a few reasons why someone would want to complete a TEFL course. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Genoveve C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. For me personally, completing a TEFL course will give me the...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT TEFL Information As with most professions the world of [Teaching English as a Foreign Language](37 Key English Teaching Terms Explained) has many of its own particular and sometimes peculiar terms and jargon. Getting to grips with the wide array of acronyms in the industry can sometimes feel like learning a whole new language! So if you have trouble telling the difference between your IWB and your OHP this article is a great guide to what’s what in the English language teaching industry. Two of the most commonly used phrases in English teaching relate to certification, and they are the two that cause most confusion. The culprits are TEFL and TESOL. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and TESOL means Teaching English...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas As I've had to study several foreign languages, I've realized many things about what's necessary and helpful in studying foreign languages. And I think many of these things could come under the heading of sensitivity to the culture that the language one is studying comes from, as well as an awareness of one's own culture. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Peter B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One thing I've noticed about much of the course material available for some of the foreign languages I've studied, as well as educational texts on other subjects written in English, is that one can see the culture and cultural...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I have read everything that has fallen into my hands ever since I can remember, and that goes for both my native tongue, Spanish, and my second language, English. I remember waiting in line and reading and re-reading a thousand times a sign on a window directly in front of me! Sometimes it can be maddening being this way, but in the long run, I firmly believe that my passion for reading has finally paid off! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Marcela C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When I began studying English, and I was about 11, I started what it seems now like a race! A race against who? Me! Every new word, meaning,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In the following essay, I have chosen to explain my late-in-life interest in becoming certified as an EFL teacher, based on my background with foreign language experience, which began at an early age. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Manuel GK. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I was what some would call an early bloomer. As a baby, my mother read to me at night until I fell asleep. By the age of 2, I could speak in simple but uninterrupted sentences with proper syntax. By a few months after my third birthday, I was able to read the same children's’ books that my mother used to read for me and speak more complex sentences...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences This essay answers the question for number 10 “what are the main problems for learners in the country of China?” I am a professor at Jiangnan University in Wuxi, China and share my observations. Our students are in the North American College (NAC), with partners in Canada at Lambton College and Northwood University, USA. Three areas are most interesting to their learning challenges: college preparation, listening and writing. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Annette P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Students enter NAC with a low score on the national gaokao entrance exam. The student body represents a culture where...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In the following essay, I have chosen to explain my personal experience on why reading can be an invaluable resource in both primary (L1) and secondary (L2) language acquisition. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Manuel G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. As a very young child, my mother read to me at night until I fell asleep. By the age of 2, I could speak in simple but uninterrupted sentences with proper syntax. By a few months after my third birthday, I was able to read the same children's books that my mother used to read for me, which resulted in my being able to produce a variety of basic sentences with an improved choice...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching English online is a huge growing market in today’s globalized society. According to the British Council, there are over a billion people who are learning English (750 million English as a foreign language learners and 350 million English as a second language learner). The difference between EFL and ESL learners is that EFL learners live in a country where the language of the community is not English and English is used by a learner in rare instances such as for business or pleasure; while ESL learners live where English is either a primary language or has an established role in the society and the language is used daily. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nina S. Please note that...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching English to non-English speaking students can be a big and challenging task. You need to be full of patience, understanding and passion if you decide to enter this vocation. I worked for ten years as a kindergarten teacher in the Middle East and at times it seemed like I was in a “jungle survival” competition. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alona J. I was really in shock when I entered into the classroom on my first day as I had students with zero-English and it was really hard to understand them all. There were also many parents sitting around with their children who were crying and having tantrums. Normally, each class should have an Arabic Assistant Teacher but at that time...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas As teachers, we often assume that we understand what our students are going through and that we can relate to the experience of learning in school because we have been there ourselves. However, many of us who teach English as a foreign language require a different empathy element to relate to our students truly. Learning a new language is a humbling experience, and doing it as a foreigner in a foreign culture is even more humbling. The question is, how many language educators can relate to this? Personally, though I do not know how many TEFL teachers have experienced a foreign language and culture for an extended period, I have had the privilege to experience it myself for...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Often times, when one thinks about teaching English as a Second Language (henceforth 'ESL'), the predominant thought is that of, "[w]hat can I as a teacher do to help my students improve?" For the most part, the reflection is introspective, rarely moving out of these bounds. However, one is of the opinion that parents play a large factor in the child's learning of a foreign language. Canvassed below are some of the reasons why one is of this opinion. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ignatia D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Most learners of English live in societies where English is not the predominantly spoken language....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Second language acquisition depends on the interpersonal relationship) between teacher-student as well as student-student. These interpersonal relationships are based on rapport, which is defined as ”a mutual, respectful, enjoyable, and positive connection” (Frisby, 2018). There are two quotes that reflect this. First, Aristotle stated, “educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” Second, Confucius stated, “By three methods we may learn wisdom; First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is bitterest. These quotes highlight the need for rapport. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate William...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In between the lesson structures of teaching a five-year-old how to ride a horse and a 20-year-old did I first witness the relationship between age and abilities, attention spans, and structural needs of the different students. As German riding schools would follow a structured pyramid system to train a horse and rider from the ground up, so can teachers of a first or secondary language. Questions to discuss in this essay are, “What is early childhood development? What comes next?” and “How can a teacher encourage students through the different stages of development?”. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kate S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information Alumni Experiences TEFL is an essential certificate for native and non-native English speakers who want to teach English abroad. TEFL stands for "Teaching English as a Foreign Language". It is believed that TEFL courses are merely a precondition to teaching English abroad, but actually, a TEFL will open a completely new world of education and travel. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Wissal A. Teaching English as a foreign language involves being able to convey the English language in an articulate and interesting manner. TEFL educators help students improve their English skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. TEFL is often taught using teaching aids and...  [Read more]

Ahmed Taha TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas As an English teacher, who is best? Native speakers of English or non-native speakers? Given the widespread belief that native speakers make better English teachers than non-native speakers, Jennifer Jenkins writes, "we will begin by analysing why this should be true." Is it true that native speakers make better teachers by definition, or just that they have a better understanding of English as a second language? To begin, here are two researchers who argue against the notion that a native speaker is a better teacher: Teachers of English are expected to teach English as a subject, not as a broad linguistic phenomenon, but as a subject that stands...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas First of all, nearly all the statistics and reality observation show that English in Spain is low. The problem is a set of factors whose central aspect lies in the oral part. People in Spain are not accustomed to watching movies or watching television in English due to language dubbing in all original version media. The result is what it is: that the Spanish are at the tail of Europe in the domain of foreign languages. As a result, children do not get used to the English language from an early age, and as we know, the acquisition of a new language is better sooner than later in life. When you teach English in Spain, it starts from a...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences While attempting to actively assimilate into a foreign language environment overseas, it has been an ongoing journey and challenging adventure in these previous three years. There have been a few noted observations and insightful discoveries indeed. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Angela W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Through living in a tier three city where English is not commonly used, the role of an English teacher and the position of a Chinese student have been assumed simultaneously. Despite the lack of English usage in people’s daily living, independent vocabularies, phrases and sentences could be seen...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The role of a kindergarten teacher can be very challenging yet highly rewarding. This is usually the first time that children have left the safety, comfort and familiarity of their own home and families, and it is often the first time that they have direct and regular contact with a second language that is completely foreign to them. This new environment needs to ensure that the children are completely at ease and ready to begin their language learning journey. So, what are the best methods for teaching EFL in a kindergarten? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Chen M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Imagine a classroom where the teacher is lecturing the entire class time. Student’s attention span starts to flee, they begin looking for any source of entertainment. They are now distracted and unable to apply the lesson the teacher is demonstrating in the real world. Teacher lecture time should be supplemented with other methods of teaching. Students need mental breaks and activities to engage them in the lesson. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Abigail A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Learning a new language is an engaging activity, it needs to be practiced and repeated for communication to become second nature. The...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas People learn for life, but the most significant fundamental knowledge for successful learning is set in the early years. It's In the early years that children have curiosity. They are curious about the world they are surrounded by. For this reason and a scientific one, children learn more quickly than adults, especially languages. Of course, this can be made possible if they receive the right stimulation and support from their parents. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Charlotte R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Parents have a significant role and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Being inspired by the once-famous quote at a very young age: "To learn another language is to have one more window from which to look at the world," Chinese Proverb, I soon realized that a second language is essential. As a result, ever since I was a little girl, I always want to be an English teacher to help other people who have a dream to extend their world. After many years of teaching English, I have recognized that Grammar is one of the most struggle things when students learn a foreign language. However, Grammar is the basic base that each learner needs to master if they want to use the language fluently. This essay will mainly discuss how to maximize the effectiveness of teaching English Grammar to...  [Read more]