Teaching English To Foreign Students

  Our next consideration is going to be how we actually group our students. There are perhaps three types of grouping arrangements that we can consider and within those we'll have a look at the potential positive and negatives of those particular arrangements. So firstly, what arrangements can we use? We could arrange our group as a whole class so all of their activities will be done as a whole class. They could be working as individuals and the final grouping arrangement we'll consider is that of small groups or indeed the use of pair work. So for each of these types of arrangements what are the potential positive and negatives with that type of arrangement? For the whole class certainly one of the main positive features is that it gives that class a sense of belonging. Secondly...  [Read more]

  It is very important that whenever we?re doing an activity that we use the students names wherever possible when we're asking for feedback and so on and so forth. There are a number of benefits to using the students? names and they can include helping to actually organize the class itself, certainly to acknowledge when a student has given the correct answer and so forth, to indicate who should respond, rather than just asking a general question to the whole class. By using the names we can ask an individual to respond to that particular question. One point to note here is that if you are going to ask an individual student it is very useful if you put their name at the end of the question. This is useful because if you start with their name then all of the other students know that...  [Read more]

  There are many different types of groups of students that you will encounter when teaching English as a foreign language. This video introduces you to the five different types of student groups. 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. This unit was very useful for learning what the different type of present tenses are known as. I have always been confident at sentence structure and known how a sentence should look and sound, but never know the...  [Read more]

  There are some other classroom management issues that we need to consider and they may include issues such as writing on the board, giving students individual attention, the use of teacher talk time, the way in which we should give instructions to our students, the building and maintaining of rapport with our students, and finally the one that perhaps most new teachers particularly spend a lot of time worrying and thinking about, is the issue of classroom discipline. So what we'd like to do is to take each of these in turn and look at some of the major issues surrounding these classroom management issues. 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...  [Read more]

  Our next consideration is that of giving instructions to our students. In order for those students to effectively carry out an activity, we need to make sure we have given clear and unambiguous instructions. It's also very important to check that the students understand the activity before you start. If you've done that work correctly then the teacher shouldn't need to say anything once an activity has started because the students are very clear about what they're supposed to be doing. So some ideas when giving instructions. As we've mentioned use simple language. Secondly, rather than trying to explain an activity, then do a demonstration which is visual. Thirdly, try to use wherever possible common words that come up within every activity. These would be things like ?look?,...  [Read more]

  Our next main issue is going to be that of giving students individual attention. Here many classroom management and leaving potential discipline problems can be avoided by applying some simple rules to giving your students attention. The first one is to think about the way in which you ask questions. Don't ask questions in a predictable order. If you just go around the class asking questions from one person to the next then the person at the end of the class will know that it's going to be some time before you actually get to them. So try to mix up the way in which you're asking questions. In terms of answers to questions don't allow individual students to dominate all of the answers. One of the things that we can do to help this particular issue is to use the students names as...  [Read more]

  Many people are unaware quite how accessible a career teaching English as a foreign language is while others are simply not aware that it is even possible to live and work abroad in almost any country in the world. Not only is possible but it is relatively easy to achieve in a short period of time. By following the 6 steps outlined in the video, you could be working abroad as an EFL teacher before you know it. 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. ...  [Read more]

  The dynamics of classroom interaction is often dictated by the arrangement of the classroom itself and the way in which the classroom is arranged could depend upon a number of factors and they might include things such as the age of the students, so for example we're unlikely to have the same arrangement for adult learners as we would have for young learners. It could also depend upon the actual physical space available. The physical space may determine how we have to arrange our classroom to maximize the opportunity for interaction and so forth. It will also depend on what material is available and by material in this case we're talking about the actual desks and chairs and so on and so forth. Perhaps the final thing we might put here is that it could also depend upon the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A teacher who teaches students in an environment using their native language will play various roles in the classroom. My interpretation of these roles includes their abilities to facilitate and manage learning through their personalities, have an understanding of their student’s needs while also being a genuine messenger. As a manager, it is the teacher’s responsibility to control the environment and organization of the classroom, the students’ behavior, and the class syllabus. As a messenger, it is the teacher’s responsibility to deliver the content on the syllabus to the students to improve their reading and writing abilities. We can, therefore, summarize the main role of a teacher teaching in an...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences When one begins to study a new language, they can often find themselves to be a bit overwhelmed. Language acquisition is not an easy task, and it comes with many challenges and difficulties attached. Although, as ESL teachers, we are trained to look out for common errors and given the best teaching ideas and methodologies to use in the classroom, it can sometimes feel as though something is missing. Teachers who have studied a foreign language and have had experience using the language possess that missing piece, and their foreign language experience makes them better teachers. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Gabrielle N. These ESL teachers were once in their students’ shoes; they, too,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Many factors can impact students’ motivation such as social, psychological, educational, economical, etc. However, a teacher can still play an important role to keep the students motivated. In Afghanistan’s educational tradition, students are often compared to each other, and they are ranked based on tests and exams throughout the course. Additionally, the teacher corrects every student’s assignment. Notice the word “correct” has been used instead of “mark” or “assess.” The teacher will try to point out every single mistake or error. Having six years of English language teaching experience, plus observing my colleagues’ and students’ behaviour, and studying the methods of foreign language...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Over the years, Chinese universities have opened more opportunities for foreign language teaching, especially with the English language. The growth of the Chinese economic market is a relatable reflection and result of these opportunities. As a teacher at a Chinese university, and conveying my expertise, it is visible for me to see many advantages and the disadvantages. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Barbosa J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One of the challenging points of teaching a language at a Chinese university is the cultural differences. The Chinese students portray a particularly shy and reserved style of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Brown (2001, p. 72) claims that “One of the more complicated problems of second language learning and teaching has been to define and apply the construct of motivation in the classroom”. Motivation is a significant determinant of success in learning a second or foreign language. “It can be defined as a driving force that pushes someone to do something” (Astuti, 2013, p. 14). Without motivation, it seems to be impossible to achieve success in foreign language learning. “Motivation could be considered as the emotion that a person could have towards learning a foreign language, and it is determined by his/her predisposition and personality characteristics.” (Karahan, 2007, p. 2). This post was written by...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Alumni Experiences In the ITTT course, I was able to learn about the many different roles a teacher may use to assist learners of English in the classroom. However, as more and more teachers are learning, a lot of the students’ ability to learn is based on factors external to the classroom. Some of these include positive relationships at home, extracurricular activities, time spent studying, explorative self-learning and so on. Nonetheless, teachers can affect the choices the students go on to make outside of the classroom. In this way, it is important to think about what type of role might be impactful from a student’s perspective. This paper will argue that a wide range of roles may have a positive effect on a student’s...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Having been an English teacher of high school students in Japan for the past 2 years, I have noticed that motivation in the classroom is as much dependent on the students as it is on me as the teacher. There are three aspects that I have identified and used in my environment to get the student motivated and engaged. The Japanese culture is largely conservative and group orientated and those are crucial to take into account if one is to succeed in their teaching career in Japan. The following plays a big role in setting a tone whereby students are motivated and engaged. Those aspects are culture, societal pressure, and peer pressure. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Samukelisiwe P....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences According to my experience, there are two stages when learning a foreign language. I am a Mandarin native speaker. Learning English is my foreign language experience. The first stage of my English learning experience was in my childhood. Learning English is an obligation in primary school, secondary school and high school. In my opinion, in this obligatory education, our learning curve is limited. The second stage of my English learning process was as an international student in England. It was a tremendous improvement in my English learning path. I would say it is like the ESA lesson but it lasts longer than one lesson! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nina S. Please note that this...  [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 A teacher’s role has the greatest impact on a student’s ability to learn the language. I have never experienced teaching a language to foreign students yet, but I have been a student of a foreign language. The students always tend to feel overworked, or overly informed, and lose their attention and interest in the class, regardless of their own decision to attend the class. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Beatriz E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. It is very important to define a teacher’s role, not just to be the facilitator or resource person, but to be their language model and influence. Being fully aware of your...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Confidence - how many times we’ve heard about it. That it’s important, that we should have it, that we should build it, that we should help students or any other people develop it. But what does it mean? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Iuliia S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. It’s been always difficult to explain what is it, as it’s something that comes from feelings of well-being, acceptance of yourself, belief in your abilities, skills, your own experience. I would say it’s a ‘self-power’, that lets you move through any difficulties, helps you to grow and become a ‘someone’. The Merriam-Webster dictionary...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching English to foreign students can be challenging, yet one of the most rewarding experiences. Providing education on the English language to young, middle-aged, or older individuals can be an eventful experience, shaping an instructor’s portfolio and personal life. In this report, I explore possible advantages and disadvantages of teaching English to university students in China from a prospective instructor’s perspective. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dhanisha N. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Teaching, in general, can be an action-packed experience. There are often peaks and valleys. Thus, it is interesting and...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences Experience with foreign language is beneficial for both the teacher and the student. If students know that their teacher has some prior knowledge of their native language, it will make early communication easier for both parties. While I feel learning the student’s language is important for early communication, it shouldn’t be used more than needed. The goal of the TEFL teacher is to assist students in their acquisition of the English language. It is possible that using the student’s native language could present difficulties. I believe that commending a student on correctly completing a task in both English and their native language creates another learning opportunity for them. If the TEFL teacher has some...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences How to maintain motivation and communicate instructions with beginner students, whilst avoiding their native language is definitely a difficult thing for teachers. First, we’ll discuss how to motivate beginner students of the English language. Second, we’ll see how to communicate instructions in a new or foreign language and the benefits of using the language you are teaching over the students’ native language(s). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Mitchell R. There are a number of strategies that the teacher can use to motivate beginner students of English. Some effective strategies for boosting and maintaining student motivation in additional or foreign language classroom are the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Establishing Rapport is important because it plays an important part in helping the class be successful, enjoyable, and engaging. If the teacher has established rapport, the students are more likely to feel comfortable, which will result in the students being active and participating in class lessons. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Angela H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. This may sound simple and obvious, but it is very important to learn your student's name. For a teacher, this can be difficult especially if there are numerous students in the classroom. Learning the student's name can help to facilitate two-way...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teachers of Foreign Language classes, in which students are not very successful at learning the language, usually find themselves in situations, in which their teaching abilities are placed under scrutiny and they are required to provide viable explanations for their student's failure. As no one likes to be placed under a microscope, the teachers often find a culprit and it is usually the students’ level of motivation. The students themselves, however, are almost always said to be bursting with talent and ability (Chambers, G.N, 1999). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Olivia L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. If this is...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Having experienced campus life as a non-native English speaker and foreign student in Canada, I have learnt a few key aspects that affect the overall learning experience in a diverse classroom. The effectiveness and efficacy of the teacher primarily hinge on their ability to engage the students enough to maintain a reasonable level of motivation. I have observed a few ways that would increase the motivation of the students, especially within a classroom full of students from diverse cultural backgrounds and language levels. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jeannie C. By using real-life examples, current affairs, personal testimonies and even the current...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As a foreigner in a foreign country, cultural sensitivity is important. As a teacher being culturally sensitive in the classroom is of more importance. As a foreigner, there is the ability to interact with people of various ages, occupations, and other demographics in foreign countries. In foreign countries, there are different ways in which society treats certain age groups, occupations, and other demographics. As a teacher, there could be the goal of interacting with native people and groups appropriately. As an English teacher one may have the opportunity to interact with students that vary in ages. As a teacher, the interactions that one would have would be with students, schools, and school faculty. As a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As a Belgian born citizen, I was brought up with different languages. Belgium is officially a trilingual country: French, Dutch, and German are all official languages. Dutch is my mother tongue, I have been learning French since primary school. Later, in high school, German and English were added to my curriculum and in college, I extended my language skills by taking a Spanish course. This means I have been studying foreign languages since primary school until my university degree when I was 25 years old. This made me decide to write on the following topic: why non-native English speakers can be good TEFL teachers. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Roel S. Please note that this blog...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas There are many important factors that a TEFL or TESOL teacher needs to consider their students when teaching. One of these factors is the stress of their students. Every student has a reason and motivation for wanting to learn and study English. However, this motivation can also come stress to perform with excellence or to learn it at a quick pace. This is stress can easily overwhelm even the brightest and most diligent and passionate of students. While the students themselves will be the final initiators to deal with their stress, there are ways that the teacher can help as well. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nicholas S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Deciding what role will be held as a teacher as many variables. Teachers can be anywhere from instructors to policemen and many things in between on any given day. Being aware of which role is necessary and when will have an impact on the teacher and students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Johnelle M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When taking on the role of instructor, knowledge of what is being taught is important. In this role, the teacher is the one students will look to for an understanding of what they’re looking to learn. When teaching English as a foreign language understanding sentence structure, proper...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Teaching Ideas In any classroom, for students to successfully learn to the best of their abilities, they must be motivated to do so. If a student is not motivated to learn, they will not actively engage with the lesson, they will not focus on the information presented, and they will not retain the new material. This is why motivation is so essential for each student’s learning experience. A large part of achieving student motivation comes from the teacher inspiring this motivation. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alexandria A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Motivation is defined as the desire to act or move towards a goal. Everyone has...  [Read more]