TEFL Flowing Wells

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Doing up lesson plans for my up and coming TEFL classes is something that I am quite excited about. I suppose it is because I see an opportunity for creativity and that gets my juices flowing. I love the engage, study and activate model that was taught to us, both in the TEFL course itself as well as in this course on teaching business English lessons to adults. I would like to share some ideas that I have reaped from this course on how I would prepare a lesson plan for the to engage, study and activate methodology. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Bonnie B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The engaging portion of the lesson is...  [Read more]

  Alveolar sounds get their name from the fact that the alveolar ridge is being used. Again, that ridge is just behind the front top row of teeth. Here the tongue is on or very very near the alveolar ridge. It's typically the tip of the tongue or what's just behind the tip of the tongue, called the blade of the tongue. Here, we're talking about sounds such as ?t? and ?d?. If you say them at home, you can tell the tip of your tongue is on that alveolar ridge. Again, that's ?t? and ?d?, as well as sounds such as ?s? and ?z?. Again, the blade of the tongue is just near that alveolar ridge but it is very near nonetheless. The two other sounds that make it into this category is the ?l? sound, where the tip of the tongue is very clearly touching that alveolar ridge, as well as ?r? or the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A lesson plan is a detailed description of outlining instructions, various steps, and activities of what is to be thought in a lesson. Lesson plans can take on various styles based on the topic, type of activity or the learning objective of the teacher. Each teacher will have their own unique way of structuring their lesson plans. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Shanieka P. How detailed a lesson plan is, can be dependent on a number of factors. These factors may be, the length of the lesson, the objective of the lesson or whether the teacher is new or experienced. When writing a lesson plan, one should ensure that it is clear and easy to read. A good lesson plan should also incorporate...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Becoming a competent teacher and holding the engagement of a class requires several different skills and techniques to lead a well-structured lesson. Some techniques and styles will differ from teacher to teacher due to personality traits, however, there are also many skills that a teacher must possess to maintain not only the control and flow of the lesson but also the energy and interest of the class as a whole. It is important to be able to relay relevant information to the pupils is not only an informative way but also an effective and interesting way. Being confident about your delivery of the tasks during lessons will keep the students on track and motivated in class. Also Read: The 3 Basic Functions of a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In my opinion, it was very resourceful to learn and have vast knowledge that comes up with a major aim of mastering the teaching skills. As a teacher, changing someone's life permanently for the better is their personality and mind is the driving force. Every good teacher should make sure that the students are progressively understanding and learning. Teaching is a rewarding thing to do and it requires different skills to be successful in this career. These skills include: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tumusiime J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Technical fundamental skills to operate electronic equipment in the study...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences My biggest takeaway from my TEFL certification course with ITTT is the topic of learning techniques. Learning techniques vary depending on race, gender, age, cultural background , past experiences and several other variables of the students involved. I will describe my personal past experiences in regards to the subject at hand. I would like to take a moment to thank the ITTT staff for putting together this highly informative and enlightening TEFL program. It is well written, easy to understand and well organized for new and experienced ESL teachers alike. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Svetlana V. One of the first things I learned during my 60-hour TEFL course was that children are divided into two...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences There is little doubt that students who are interested, involved and motivated are easier to teach. Motivated students are forthcoming and attentive, the class flows easily, and there is more response and creativity during activities. So, with a class full of motivated kids, we find our English class is more fun. But does that mean the students can learn as much? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melanie S. In many countries, in fact, in many traditional schools across the world, grammar drilling, memorization and recitation are primary methods of teaching. Some students learn the rules and memorize all the lessons. Their motivation is fanned by the praise and good grades earned by their...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Defining games for kids can open up a broad prospect but in this topic, we are going to specifically talk about the various games that kids can not only enjoy but can incorporate in their learning curriculum. Playing games in the classroom helps kids to feel more relaxed and friendly with the teachers. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sonal L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Learning becomes more of a fun activity for them rather than the same boring schedule which makes them lethargic and least interested in studying. Introducing the various types of games that can be played in the classroom are as follows: The game monopoly...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The English language is a peculiar, fascinating beast to teach and to learn. It comes with a long legacy of Anglo-Saxon and Norman invaders, empire-building, and globalization of the 20th century. With multiple layers of rules and culture, it overflows with idiosyncrasies and peculiarities to confound native and learning speakers alike. Whether it’s pronunciation, grammar, or even just the system of time, English is a welcoming lingua franca and an intimidating coil of strangeness at the same time. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Zachary L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Any language has their culture imprinted on...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Pronunciation problems in El Salvador is very common, as many know Spanish is the main Language in this country, people in El Salvador tend to speak their native Language all the time because this is what they feel more comfortable with, as there is not any other dialect, other than Spanish, they are taught English in school, English Is the only language taught in El Salvador in public schools, but only for those that can attend one, this is because there are many people that can't attend a school due to economic matter, family problems or due to the work that is done in their household many don't have time to study and there are kids that can't attend school because they have to work, but there are many that...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas “As an ESL teacher, you may feel that your students aren't paying attention, or participating in class even though you have the perfect lesson plan.” This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Angela G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The thought of playing or using games as a teaching tool inside the classroom may sound intriguing, whether you’re a student, a parent of a student, a tutor, a friend of a student or someone just interested in gaining more insight into either learning or teaching English as a second language. You might be wondering how beneficial and productive games or fun activities would be and the impact they...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Cultural sensitivity is important to bear in mind as we all face situations daily: whether in our working environment or on a personal level. Within the Western English speaking world, we can see that there is the presence of a dominant culture (such as European American, or Western Culture) and a secondary culture (such as African, Chinese, or Eastern European culture). It is always important to bear in mind that while the English language may be widespread over the globe, the differences in culture even between people living within the same country has a profound effect on how interactions take place. In the environment of the classroom, the same examples can be seen. Whether the students are of the same age...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching techniques are a crucial aspect within the classroom and encompass all the different ways to take important information that a learner requires in understanding a specific topic and projecting it across a classroom/skype in a way that all the learners will listen, comprehend and apply. Teaching techniques come in many different forms. They can be in the form of simplistic games or the form of choral repetition. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Brendan S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Different teaching techniques target different and specific areas of the subject and in the case of a TEFL teacher, the teaching...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A monkey was at a high and safe tree branch watching the beautiful and agitated river flowing below him. The monkey spotted a fish swimming against the current and seemed obvious to the monkey that the fish was struggling and in need of assistance, so the monkey decided to act. The kind and brave monkey risks himself to finally reach out and snatch the fish from the threatening waters, placing the fish in a safe and dry place. The monkey immediately got back to his tree branch and full of joy observed the fish jumping up and down of excitement, but soon settled into a peaceful rest. The monkey couldn’t be happier, he had helped another creature! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A lesson plan can be a valuable tool for a teacher to provide an element of direction and flow for the lesson. A lesson plan can serve as a useful reference during a class and as a record for later use. The writing of the plan itself can also help the teacher to think logically and methodically about the different stages of the lesson and the goals to be achieved. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kim B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A lesson plan will generally include the lesson theme and learning objectives, personal aims regarding teaching improvement and any anticipated learning problems, with thoughts on how to deal...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What makes the language learning experience so different for young learners compared to adult learners? How do adults and children acquire a second language differently? What benefits do young learners possess over adults when it comes to acquiring a second language and vice versa? The following essay attempts to provide an answer to these questions but more importantly, discuss the general differences between 1st language and 2nd language acquisition in young and adult learners. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Trent L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Essentially, the first language we are fully exposed to as babies is our...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What makes the language learning experience so different for young learners compared to adult learners? How do adults and children acquire a second language differently? What benefits do young learners possess over adults when it comes to acquiring a second language and vice versa? The following essay attempts to provide an answer to these questions but more importantly, discuss the general differences between 1st language and 2nd language acquisition in young and adult learners. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Trent L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. To start off, let’s take a look at what language acquisition even is....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning a new language is an inherently challenging task. One important way for ESL teachers to help beginner students learn English is to focus not only on teaching language concepts but on building their confidence to experiment with the language and persist with their learning. This essay will firstly examine why building confidence is important in ESL teaching, and different strategies teachers can employ to do this, including how they interact with students and the content they choose for classes. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Emily U. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Different groups of beginner learners might be...  [Read more]