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Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences When it comes to learning English, non-native speakers can feel quite torn on whether they should learn British English or American English. They have their similarities, but can contrast each other strongly. The differences can be confusing for English speakers as well. The diversity in spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary can really throw you off. In this article, I will be focusing on these three topics. Let’s explore spelling, shall we? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tabitha C. Growing up in the USA, I learned to spell in a simplified form. American English focuses on how the words are pronounced, therefore the words are spelled according to their sounds. Kələr in the British...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas It is clear for a lot of people that American English is a little different from British English, but why exist these differences? Many languages are spoken in all the world, and some of them have different branches, in the case of British and American English, one of the reason for having these differences, for example en the word colour for UK and color for USA is because, British English has taken the original words from French and later in America the spelling has been simplified, here is a list of words that are different in UK and USA: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Juan Pablo S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Every teacher’s goal is to be effective in the classroom and help students learn. Educators want their students to be eager and engaged. Humor is an important aspect of teaching and has the power to fuel that engagement. This paper will attempt to show the value of humor in the classroom and how humor enhances learning, regardless of the culture or country in which a person is teaching. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melynie T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. My first introduction to teaching English in Taiwan was when I was called into the Principal’s office with complaints from the parents that their children were not...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences “Teachers can change lives with just the right mix of chalk and challenges.” are the words of Joyce Meyer. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Snehal A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A teacher is often seen as a role model, who inspires and encourages students to strive for greatness, live to the fullest potential and see the best in them. A teacher also called an educator helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue. Teaching is a process in which the learner, the teacher, the curriculum and other variables are organized systematically and psychologically to attain some pre-determined goals. Also Read: 2...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Within any given goal, people can have a variety of motivations for accomplishing them. One person may want to complete a TEFL course in hopes of making a career out of teaching abroad, bounding from one country to the next like a hungry grocery shopper jumps from one sample booth to another, while someone else may require one to teach EFL online from the comfort of a cozy home office. I, myself wish to teach online and abroad, but whatever the individual motivation, completing a TEFL course has amazing benefits applicable to all situations. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Angelina H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. For...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The United States and the United Kingdom's imperial histories and modern influences have had a significant effect on the English wording. Since English was exported to different countries across the world, the language has undergone different variations, the most common one being the British English vs. American English. The British introduced the language to Americans in the 17th century. At that time, the spelling had not been standardized. Given the number of regions where English is used, differences are bound to arise. Even though British and American English may seem similar, there are disparities in vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Fahimeh T....  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Reviews & TESOL Reviews For ITTT, our community of students and alumni is the most important to us. That’s why we’d love to share what our course grads have to say! This will not only have others make a better decision in whether TEFL/TESOL is for them, but it will also help the ITTT community grow bigger and stronger! The below answers were given from real ITTT alumni who have agreed to share their thoughts for our blog section. Mark Durston 120-hour TEFL/TESOL Course and 50-hour Teaching English to Young Learners Course I enjoyed the Parts of Speech, Coursebooks and lesson materials, and the receptive and productive skills the most. The fact that TEFL put me in touch with so many online resources was an invaluable...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas English is a demanding language because there are so many regional English words and pronunciations which require a great receptive skill to receive and understand for example can’t in the UK is pronounced |kɑːnt|and in the US is pronounced |kænt |. The same English language, it is spoken quite differently; in the UK there is different pronunciation between the English spoken in Glasgow, London or Cardiff. It is also different in countries that have it as a primary language, such as Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, and New Zealand. For EFL students, Listening becomes a bit of a challenge, because of these pronunciation differences. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Christopher Zacharia L....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences English is a language that, like other languages, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. Sort of mash-up of ancient Germanic languages and Roman Latin, English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world thanks to the spread of British and American influence across the world over the last several hundred years. It is a tricky language, infamous for its many exceptions and grammatical nuances. While English, compared to some languages, has a relatively low variation between regional dialects (low enough for speakers of radically different dialects to understand each other at least partially), these differences can be significant enough to confuse someone who is learning English as a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. I love learning new things; my thirst for knowledge has always seemingly been unquenched and I have always been excited to share that passion with others. What's more, my love for world cultures and the history of diverse peoples drove me into a career in education. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melissa T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I have been teaching 10th grade World History now for seven years in a suburban high school in Fort Worth, Texas. I am truly passionate about education, and although I don't claim to be an expert, I have picked up some valuable...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning new vocabulary is considered as an integral part of learning a new language. Even children who learn their mother tongues learn isolated phrases and words before making complex sentences. Similarly, in second language learning, teaching new words and phrases plays an important role in helping learners’ communication. Based on David Wilkins “without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed”. If learners spend their time on learning grammar, their English will not improve greatly. However, if they learn more words, phrases, and expressions, they can express almost anything (Thornberry, 2002; Watkin, 2005). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations Winter is upon us, which doesn’t have to mean that you can’t travel and explore the world! These are the top 10 places to take your TEFL course in winter. Visiting Moscow during winter is an absolute visual wonder. Your Russian fairytale will come true when you explore the city’s beautiful parks, squares, and churches covered in powdery snow. While temperatures can reach crazy lows, when you pack a thick coat and waterproof boots, you’re going to have the time of your life in Moscow in winter. Get started and take our in-class TEFL certification course in Moscow and find out more about living and working in Russia in our country guide. Also read: Top 10 Cities in Europe with the Highest Demand for English...  [Read more]

Laura Payne Destinations TEFL Information The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is not the only means to teach English in Japan, but it is one of the most popular programs out there both for aspiring teachers and those who wish to pursue other fields. I first joined this program a little over a year ago. In the short time since then, I've gained incredibly valuable experiences through my work as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT). Local prefectural governments and larger government bodies, including Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, manage the JET Program. They hire ALTs from English-speaking countries all over the world to increase Japan's international understanding at the level of local communities. Japan is an...  [Read more]