TEFL Matthews

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 Behind every successful company or sports team, there is an efficient leader. One who is capable of executing the team’s goals and vision to the maximum capacity. A teacher is no different. A successful teacher is capable of elevating the performance of his or her students. In this summative task, I will discuss the different roles a teacher must perform and why they are essential to the job. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In my former profession, I was a successful manager of a defense contracting firm in Virginia (USA). In my role as a supply chain manager, I wore many...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This unit focuses on the different uses of teaching equipment and what to take into consideration while choosing the adequate teaching equipment. Of the many named in the lesson, I have selected 3 to discuss in further detail. The whiteboard, the DVD player, and online resources. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these, and for a teacher to have an efficient lesson, it is important to manage these resources. By managing these aids, we can fully use them to improve our classes. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. As an ESL teacher, the whiteboard is unequivocally necessary...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I originally went to college to study to be a Social Studies teacher in the US. I did not complete my education classes so I just graduated with a liberal arts degree in History. I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember but my life took a different career path. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Now as I am embarking on a journey across the world in China I realized that there are a lot of things that I needed to learn to be a teacher. Throughout this TEFL course, I have learned a lot about being a teacher. I have learned things such as classroom management. Classroom...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning English is often a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be boring or something to trudge through. By making English lessons fun and engaging, the students will be more motivated to learn the subject matter. Some ways that the teacher can make learning fun include playing games and turning activities into contests with positive reinforcements like prizes or additional game time. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Flashcards are wonderful educational tools in the classroom. Learning with flashcards can be a fun and interactive educational experience for both children and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A new teacher has many things to consider when instructing a new group of students in a foreign country. One of the most important aspects and one that should never be overlooked is the understanding of cultural sensitivity. In this summative analysis, I will speak about the importance this has to the development of the teacher-student relationship and ultimately classroom management. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In my prior profession, I managed a successful defense contracting firm. I had a very diverse group that consisted of many different ethnicities. In this eclectic group,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas These days, young children from non-English speaking countries are increasingly being forced to learn English and many parents believe that their children knowing English will benefit their children’s futures. The demand for English teachers, particularly in Asia, is quite high and this has called for many schools and English learning centers in Asia to look to hire native English speakers. As demand is high, there often is a compromise on the quality of the teachers. Working with young children requires specific skill sets that often can be taught but must also come naturally. This essay will address issues and provide recommendations on what is needed to be able to work with young children that are learning...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What outdoor activities can help when teaching English? Literally any outdoor activity you can imagine can be of great help when teaching English. There are many different words and phrases that are used in specific types of situations and there is only so much role-playing and slide-show presenting you can do in the classroom. Sometimes taking the lesson outside is the best way to teach your students how certain words and phrases are used in particular scenarios. When you bring the lesson outdoors, students can start to make the mental connections in their brains between what they have learned in the classroom and experiences in reality. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew M. Please...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas While there are many things a teacher can do to prepare for the classroom, the way students interface with their teachers is something that can be both difficult and spontaneous. Building rapport with students is crucial to maintain a high level of energy and focus throughout a class session. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Even though a teacher may have an entire lesson planned out, if students do not feel comfortable participating in front of their teacher, the pace of the class becomes stilted. A well-constructed lesson plan may be filled with fun activities for the students,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Sometimes, it can be challenging for most of us to focus on specific tasks. It's normal to find your mind wandering when you should be focused on a particular thing. According to a 2010 study 1 by Harvard psychologists Matthew A. Killingsworth and Daniel T. Gilbert, we spend nearly 47 percent of our waking hours thinking about something other than what we are doing. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate MANEL R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. It's even more challenging for kids to stay focused on one task even if they are interested in it, especially...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I'm pleased to say that I could teach or lead a class to learn English as a foreign language, challenging and rewarding. I have little experience tutoring adults in learning English. My studies learning what could be ahead for a teacher looking to lead a class in English was so rewarding. The challenge to get the students to engage in activities is a top priority for the teacher. I'll have to develop and practice proven ways to present to the class a lesson where the students may absorb the English language and will stay with them for the rest of their life. I had to give some thought about what I would write for my Essay and how I would present this topic, so I'm happy to be able to present flashcards for...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Many people may think that the worst part of being an Uber driver are the belligerent midnight trips from downtown to the suburbs or the aggressive pre-coffee commuters or the fact that a five-minute drive can take thirty minutes because of gridlock. However, as an Uber driver of one year, I believe that the worst part about the job are trips to the airport. When I interacted with passengers going to the airport, I would think of all the new things they would get to try and the different cultures they would learn about. The problem with these trips was they were a constant reminder that the world is just waiting for us to explore it, but I was stuck leading a conventional and mundane life. This post was written by...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The trust that a person has in another is one of the most important parts of communication and the first step in strengthening bonds. Establishing rapport can put any individual at ease, whether it be in the business world, classroom setting or even a neighbor. To execute efficiently, a teacher must first inspire confidence in his or her students. In this summative assessment, I will show how establishing rapport is essential to the flow of the classroom. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joseph Matthew B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In my former profession, I was the manager of a successful defense contracting firm in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences If you ever find yourself driving in French Canada, you will be stopped by stop signs that say ‘arrêt’, which is stopped in French. Almost all drivers in North America would know that this means stop because it’s the same octagon red stop sign. In Japan it’s very different, stop signs are triangular with Japanese script on them but, beneath the Japanese, you can find English subtitles which read ‘stop’. In fact, if you travel anywhere in Japan, the majority of signs and announcements related to travel are offered in Japanese and English. English has been taught in Japanese schools since the American occupation after World War Two. However, according to an EF English Proficiency Index in 2017,...  [Read more]