TEFL Catharine

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas It is inevitable that everyone will make mistakes when trying something new for the first time. Because there is no way to avoid them, mistakes should be accepted, treated as normal, and even encouraged. It is always better to make some mistakes in the attempt than not to try at all, and this is particularly true when learning a new language. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Catherine L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I studied French for four years in high school. By the time I finished my last French class, my speaking ability was still minimal and I wasn’t comfortable with anything beyond...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas ESL teachers can find themselves in various classroom situations. An ESL class may be advertised or posted on signs for students to show up at a learning center on a particular night. When the students arrive, they are most probably tested and grouped according to language level. What happens if many students are at the same level, but there is one student who is on a completely different level and has different needs? Other scenarios may put teachers in a situation where they are teaching one-to-one. Possibly, there is just a desire to tutor English language learners in a more personal setting. What are the advantages and challenges of teaching one-to-one? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As someone of mixed heritage, I have always had an interest in learning about cultures other than the one I live in America. My father is Colombian and my mother is American, so growing up I felt obliged to learn more about the Colombian background I was fairly unfamiliar with. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Catherine P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I never felt satisfied with the amount of exposure I had to my Colombian heritage. My mom never learned Spanish, so around the house, it was easier for my dad to speak to my siblings and me in English. As a result, we barely grazed the surface of the Spanish language and...  [Read more]