TEFL Mill Plain

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teacher: Hoang Thi Thanh Hue Observer: N/ A Date and time: 19/09/19 Class level: Beginner Room: 201 Expected number of student: 10 This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hue H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. New vocabulary: banana, bread, chicken, cookie, orange juice, milk New structure: I like/ don’t like _____. Teaching aids: a paper bag, 03 real food items, pictures of foods and drink, drawing paper, board, and pens, worksheets Also Read: Can I cancel my contract early when teaching English abroad? For the students to be able to identify and name foods and drinks and talk about their likes and dislike To improve my...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The bulk part of the teacher’s work is to adjust the learning material to the needs, goals, and interests of students. Even though some groups’ needs may coincide with each other, the group’s dynamic is something truly individual in manner. The same goes for one to one students. From this perspective, it becomes evident that the difference between teaching one to one and groups has many layers to it. The number and nature of activities the teacher prepares for the class is different; so is the style of communication. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Polina K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The first thing that needs to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Once I arrived in Vietnam to teach the English language, I realized that poor pronunciation is common in Vietnamese students as well as teachers. These mistakes are similar, as it was obvious the Vietnamese teachers passed them to the students. In this essay, I am going to deliberate on the causes of the problem and suggest a few solutions. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Mohammad E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First, we will start with the problem origin. The Vietnamese language is monosyllabic. Vietnamese people are familiar with pronouncing monosyllabic words, thus it is considerably hard for them to pronounce...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The best thing I learned from the TEFL course cannot be explained in one thought or topic sentence because it was significant. However, for this essay, I will narrow it down to one concept. I am an experienced licensed teacher from the United States, but there is always more to learn. In the United States, I would have one or two students in my class each year that were not native English speakers. So, the idea of teaching a classroom of students where all the learners are not native speakers is new to me. I was unfamiliar with ESA's acronym (Engage, Study, Activate) until I took this course, and I appreciate this concept the most. ESA was the best thing I learned from this...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas In this blog post, we will consider some important educational background theoretical and practical knowledge. The planning of a lesson for speaking skills (one of the two productive skills) requires us to look first at the ideas of accuracy versus fluency. We will start by defining our terms. 1) Speaking accuracy relates to the correct usage of grammar and vocabulary. 2) Speaking fluency relates to our ability to continue speaking without any interruption, such as thinking what the next word should be. If we consider language learning in general and an ESA style lesson in particular, then within the whole lesson fluency and accuracy are equally important. With an ESA lesson however...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The theory of multiple intelligences states that there are eight different intelligences human potential can be expressed through, including linguistic intelligence (word smart), logical-mathematical intelligence (number/reasoning smart), spatial intelligence (picture smart), bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (body smart), musical intelligence (music smart), interpersonal intelligence (people smart), intrapersonal intelligence (self-smart) and naturalist intelligence (nature smart). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melanie L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Individuals have strengths in different areas of intelligence and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Over the course of this certification program, I learned an abundance of information and methodologies, but none as important as the ESA outline; the ESA methodology is, undoubtedly, the best thing I’ve learned from my TEFL course. The ESA procedure provides a myriad of benefits, engaging learners in a series of dynamic activities aimed to create a seamless and effective educational environment. Due to the adept and fluid nature of the ESA methodology, it is easily the most important tool taught to me throughout this program and something I foresee utilizing often in the near future. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Richard H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

  So, having elicited this particular structure, what I'm now able to do is to move on to the actual study activities. Typically, they will be in the form of worksheets to check that the students actually understand this information. So, I might prepare three activities. They may not do them all but, for example, I could prepare these three study activities. So, the first one is going to be a fairly straightforward matching activity, where perhaps they match the subject to its correct verb "to be" in that part of the sentence. The second one is going to be a gap fill. For example, I might use this verb here and ask them to complete a sentence using that verb, so that I can check that any spelling changes that take place are correct and the final one is going to be an unscramble,...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations If you are interested in teaching English as a foreign language, it is probably not news to you that China offers some of the best opportunities in the world for teachers. The country has over 300 million English learners leading to an incredibly high demand for qualified teachers in all parts of the country. Teacher salaries are very lucrative, ranging between 6000 RMB and 12000 RMB per month, or around $1,000 to $2,000 US dollars, and added benefits such as paid housing and airfare make China a great destination for new and experienced teachers alike. However, you should be aware that a TEFL qualification is necessary in order to secure a work permit to teach legally in China. Find out more in our step-by-step guide...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences “Why do I have to take a TEFL course?” I asked this question when my daughter suggested to me to enroll in this course. Having decided to say goodbye to my current job as an international homeroom teacher, I am now embarking on a new journey of applying abroad for a teaching position at an international school. Thanks to the Americans who defeated our Spanish colonizers way back the 19th century, they brought their educational system to the Philippines. Ever since I started school, I have been taught the American way using the English language as the medium of instruction. However, even if I am learned in English, I have to get a TEFL course to prove my competence in the English language. So here we are....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas "A man doesn't learn to understand anything unless he loves it" Goethe The role of the teacher is very important in our lives. A good teacher provides us with knowledge, motivation, and encouragement while creating interest in his subject. He cares about his students and demonstrates patience. An experienced teacher knows what role or roles to take during his lesson. The most important role is the role of an organizer. The teacher instructs the class through daily activities. He may also split students into pairs for role-playing or encourage mill drill exercise, where students come to each other, ask questions, and receive answers. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ekaterina H. Please note...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The best thing I have learned from my TEFL course is the ESA method. I discovered this method in Lesson 2 of our course which, for me, is one of the best and useful lessons in the whole course. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Horacio A. In my previous experience, I had learned most of the methodologies explained in Lesson 2, but I had never had the chance to know about this method before. ESA stands for Engage-Study-Activate, the three stages or phases of this method. This method was introduced in 1998 by Jeremy Harmer. It is the most dynamic and creative method, suitable to any level. It is an eclectic method, because it combines the best of previous methodologies used in language...  [Read more]

Lydia Pincott Destinations Alumni Experiences “But...why are you here?” It’s a phrase often uttered by Japanese, confused about what your reason could be for straying from the usual temples of Kyoto, shops of Shinjuku, and street-food of Osaka. The beaten path in Japan is pretty great and worth exploring thoroughly, but if you’ve done it, or feel like you’ve done it from seeing other people’s pictures, these 3 destinations are for you. Take a 4-week in-class TEFL/TESOL course in Japan and get a headstart in your teaching career! Picture this: Sandy beaches with perfectly turquoise waters stretching out as far as the eye can see, cafes with fresh, flavorful food just waiting to be devoured, and cheerful locals happy...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I have been an English teacher in China for roughly 3 years, one of the biggest challenges I face every day is the look I get from the children when they see me for the first time. I stand out a mile away (blonde hair and blue eyes) so they are either very eager to speak to me or they are petrified. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jeanne H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. As a training school teacher, we have to do a lot of recruiting demos and then brand new students will come and watch this demo and decide if they enjoy our school, the teachers and the course books that we use. The majority of the students have no...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences When teaching English to non-native English speakers one may often come across a learner from a different culture than one's own. Many certified TEFL teachers may have been drawn to this program because of this exact aspect. Teachers may want to fulfill personal goals of traveling to unique countries and experience different cultural activities. Teachers with their TEFL certificate are extremely likely to find themselves teaching students with a different cultural identity than their own. This is very rewarding for students and teachers alike but comes with certain challenges that should be dealt with appropriately. Every country has subjects and issues that are taboo and not engaged with much in everyday...  [Read more]

Anastasiia Ovchinnikova Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas It's already been a year and a half since I said goodbye to my young English learners at a small bilingual kindergarten in Beijing and packed my suitcases to start a new life chapter in Spain. The memories of this time, 10 GB of pictures and videos on my hard drive, and a little notebook with local recipes still warm up my heart. The life of an expat is not that easy, but it's worth it in so many different ways. This blog post talks about the most important things that I've learned after almost three years of living and teaching English in China. The first month after you arrive in a new country is...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Motivating students starts with the teacher. A teacher who enters the classroom with an unkempt and indifferent appearance would less likely to motivated students. Teachers are the best role model of students and must look presentable in front of their students. But do not overdress or overdress may look unapproachable. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Lara K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Not only the appearance matters but also the teachers' passion and knowledge too. Teachers must keep themselves updated and continue to obtain new skills and knowledge. If the teacher knows a lot about the material he/she is teaching, the...  [Read more]

Anastasiia Ovchinnikova TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Let’s travel back in time a few months, when all schools and universities were closed and moved to teach their students remotely. Educators worldwide had to adjust their teaching methods to the new circumstances by moving their cozy, inspiring classrooms into the digital world. That was quite a challenge for many foreign language teachers to modify their offline routines to face the standards of distance learning and still be able to provide personal help and assistance to their students. This situation has proved that, unfortunately, teachers lack professional development and resources to address the challenges of distance learning....  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The advancement in video technology has proven wonders in furthering education. For teachers specifically, it has allowed for them to be trained and professionally developed from anywhere in the world. Video technology for teacher training has several benefits, of which I’ll name a few. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Benjamin D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One of these benefits include the cut down of added cost for the teacher or their school of employment. Having video technology, teachers can do training without leaving their home to travel somewhere else in the world to get the needed training sessions. Another...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas One of the great things about teaching conditionals is that once you discover some classroom activities that work well for one, they can be adapted to suit any of the conditional patterns that you may be asked to teach. Here are 7 fun activities for teaching conditionals for the ESL classroom that you can easily adapt to help your students understand the correct structures and usages. Tell your students to stand up and form in two lines (teams) and have an item that can be thrown and caught without causing injury or damage. Set the timer on your phone to sound after about 30-45 seconds. The teacher calls out the beginning half of a conditional sentence, throws the ball to a student at the beginning of the line and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Education is one of the most important bricks at the foundation of every society and high-quality education can only be achieved with the help of well-prepared teachers who care about the learning of their students. A teacher should not only master and constantly be up to date with the changes in the field of the subject he/she is teaching but also be able to convey his/her message in such a way that the students understand and enjoy. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Catalina T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Depending on the stage of the lesson and the type of activity, lessons can be more student-centered or more...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Education today revolves more around encouraging the student to awaken their confidence, curiosity and desire to learn. A number of teaching techniques have emerged due to this change in education. In my point of view, the following teaching skills are essential to language teaching. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rong L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In coping with a foreign language, confidence plays a very large part. Students need to feel that they will be able to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real life and be able to tackle many different situations in a foreign language in a foreign country. It is...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I chose the topic, "How to teach English to children online" because this is ultimately what I want to do with this TEFL certificate. This topic also incorporates a few of the other topics. I will however just focus on teaching children and how I can be the best teacher to them and help them achieve their goals. I will mainly refer to what I have learned in Unit 19, Teaching special groups. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Zahn-Mari T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. It is my understanding that being teaching for younger students is very rewarding, because not only do you help them develop and grow, you get to see and follow...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Classroom management is a topic that is so broad, so overwhelming that it’s hard to know where to begin. A group of people coming together to learn a common subject or topic under the guidance of an instructor is called a class. The people taking the instructions are called learners and the place where the instruction takes place is called the classroom. Ensuring the smooth and uninterrupted learning environment in a classroom so that teaching takes place successfully is called classroom management. Progressively I will be discussing the strategies used to achieve effective classroom management. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Modestine A. Please...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations So, you love to travel and want to teach English abroad but you’re also a vegan? The good news is that you won’t have to choose between your dietary needs and your dream of exploring the world. The following places are vegan-friendly destinations ideal for teaching English abroad. Due to its significant Buddhist population, Thailand has plenty of vegan food options to choose from. There are vegan eateries all over the country, and you’ll also find healthy salad bar concepts, organic farm-to-table, Japanese macrobiotic and all sorts of other vegan eateries here. Even your regular restaurants often have meatless pad Thai, tom yum soup, coconut milk-based curries and salads on their menu. What’s specific for...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas One of the most difficult aspects of English teaching is not grammar or even structure; it’s the externalization of ideas through the act of speaking with the teacher or students. The thought seems trivial but when put in an environment where the language taught overrides their own most students have a hard time organizing their ideas and thoughts to form coherent sentences that expresses what is on their minds. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alvin M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Most students struggle with the idea since it requires both an understanding of the English lexicon and the pronunciation required to...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations Alumni Experiences Hungarian Budapest, Hungary 37 Bachelor’s Degree in International Communication with a Specialty in East-Asian International Management; Master’s Degree in Social Sciences with a Thesis on Human Values in Contemporary Education; Diploma in TESOL by ITTT. I have been living in Japan for almost twelve years. Other than Japan, Korea, and the U.S. (Arizona), I have been mainly to European countries, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, and Denmark. Budapest, Hungary, and Beppu, Japan Staying in Japan made it a necessity but I had already had experience in tutoring English in Hungary as a student. I did not have any concerns...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Even in picking on what books and materials to aid the lesson, from authentic to created, cultural awareness should always be part of the consideration. The cultural background of the students should be first studied and researched, as this will play a significant role in the learning process. Even though many students may have been exposed to cultural exchange programs, personal interactions, and awareness through social media, we still differ in cultural needs. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Julia B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The first impression for the educator is that it may see as a hurdle, but to look on the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The benefits of using flashcards in the ESL classroom are well-documented. When teachers use flashcards, they typically provide their students with three learning pathways: visual, kinesthetic, and audio (assuming that the exercise requires the students to say something related to the flashcard). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joseph O. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In addition to appealing to a wide range of learning styles, flashcards are very multifunctional. They can be used to teach simple things such as basic vocabulary words, advanced grammar structures like complex sentences, and many things in between. Flashcards...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Earning a TEFL certificate has the potential to lead a new teacher down a number of paths where the only uniform outcome is the title “English Teacher”. A new teacher could find themselves in a number of situations varying in the nationality and age of the student, as well as level or desired specialization over the course of their career. It is of great importance, therefore, for teachers to be comfortable and confident with this open-ended outcome in order to better plan and prepare for helping their future students, whoever or wherever they may be. An area I find particularly interesting based on my current experience is the dynamic between one-to-one and group teaching. My current job requires a lot of...  [Read more]