TEFL Rabbit Hash

Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences Teaching classes containing a wide variety of ages can be a great challenge. I have recently experienced such challenge. Below I am going to share my teaching experience and how I managed to overcome the difficulties. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Yan Z. In Spring this year, I was asked to teach an English Drama class in a children’s training center. Before the class started, the students were recruited and assigned by the center, which was not in my control. There were 12 elementary-school students in the class. Students were age-mixed, ranging from 7 years to 12 years old. Two thirds of the students were from Grades 1-3 and one third were from Grade 4-6. In order for the younger students...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Cambridge dictionary defines grammar as ‘(the study or use of) the rules about how words change their form and combine with other words to make sentences’, but other dictionaries also include punctuation within the definition and, although they may not be strictly correct, the two aspects are so tightly interrelated, within the context of explicit and tacit meaning, the one can’t be divorced from the other. One describes the landscape — past, present, and future — while the other provides the form: defining where entities begin and end, where the silences occur before turning the corner to meet with a new sound. The landscape has a pulse: it has rhythm. This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on globalization and the spread of English. Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on teaching receptive and productive skills. Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on child development and TEFL. Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on relationships with students. Elizaveta Pachina ...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on developing students' motivation and positive thinking. Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on classroom management. Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on teaching English with the help of games. Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their ideas on teaching a class of young learners with the help of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of online education in the ESL class. Jon ITTT Teaching Ideas This ITTT TEFL article looks at 10 activities you can use in your classroom when teaching the past simple tense. Jon ITTT Destinations This ITTT TEFL article looks at Etiquette rules in 4 different countries in the popular TEFL region of Latin America. Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on why Japanese students...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on the reasons for English diversity. Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on rapport establishing. Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their experience of teaching in a university in Beijing. Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of online education in the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Discipline is inevitable in any training institution or workplace, in every society, there are norms which people must respect to maintain stability in society. Discipline is said to be rules put in place to regulate people's activities or a code of behavior using punishment to correct disobedience. Our focus here will be on classroom discipline which is the practice of teaching others to obey rules or norms which anyone who breaks the rules will be punished. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Bonghanseh Edith M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The teacher uses discipline to ensure classroom norms are maintained and safeguard a...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Alumni Experiences When we mention a second language, we are referring to a learning context in which the non-native speaker is in a community where the language is used in a large number of situations. This allows the speaker to engage in communicative interactions with both native speakers and other non-native speakers. In can also be the case that the learner is in a context in which exposure to the language occurs mainly in situations of formal learning, in which the linguistic contents are presented sequentially and in a structured way. Thus, both contexts are characterized by significant differences both in the quantity and quality of language stimuli and in the opportunities for participation in communicative interactions...  [Read more]

1. The Environmental Impact of Driving a Tesla in Chiang Mai 2. Cost Savings and Incentives for Tesla Owners in Chiang Mai 3. Convenience and Infrastructure for Tesla Owners in Chiang Mai 4. Conclusion Chiang Mai, known for its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and vibrant community, is also a city that is embracing sustainable living. As more residents seek environmentally friendly transportation options, owning a Tesla in Chiang Mai offers numerous advantages. From reducing carbon emissions to enjoying cost savings and incentives, Tesla owners in Chiang Mai are leading the way towards a greener future. One of the primary reasons why owning a Tesla in Chiang Mai is advantageous is the positive environmental impact it has. As a city that faces challenges related to air pollution,...  [Read more]

  As mentioned earlier, our example sentence has used a regular verb 'to play'. With the regular verbs we simply add '-ed'. This spelling pattern changes for words that end with a consonant and a Y: 'cry' goes to 'cried', 'try' to 'tried'. Another spelling pattern we have to be aware of is our consonant plus vowel plus consonant. In these instances, we double the consonant used: 'shop' needs the double P; 'ship' needs the double P. With these spelling patterns, and most spelling patterns in general for the English language, there are always exceptions to the rules. So we have to be aware of those exceptions. We also have to impart those exceptions on to our students. We can do so through various exercises and various activities to end our class. To form the negative sentence here,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas As a teacher, I have noticed that students have not only different tempers but also different learning styles and ways of perception. When I hear about 9 bits of intelligence I was really surprised because I assumed that there are only those students who prefer more physical activity, visual learners and those who like to hear things. No, it turns out that this field has been widely studied by Howard Garner, a professor and an author of many books on neuropsychology and brain functioning. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Aija N. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. H. Gardner devised a Multiple Intelligence theory presuming that...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In the spectrum of teaching there are many roles that a teacher has, and many parts they must play. All of the roles are dependent on variables such as the type of lesson that is being conducted, the part of the lesson that is taking place, and the dynamic of the students in a particular class. There are times when teaching, that the teacher will need to take control of the class. At other times the teacher may have a more passive role. They may be monitoring how assignments are being completed, or model tricky skills to use as an example. There are other times the teacher may be an active participant in the lesson alongside the students while other times they may need to be the facilitator or an organizer....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Motivation refers to a psychological process that gives purpose and direction. Motivation in the classroom helps students to be interested in learning. It's a process involved in the arousing and orientation of someone towards achieving a given goal. As a teacher, motivation in the classroom has a lot to do with my personality. I have to be a role model, a good leader and a good example for the students to follow. I have to listen to each and every student with keen interest, making sure I understand them and give them the attention they deserve. I'll also need to apply discipline as well as compassion. All this will help to maintain and ensure self-confident within the students. In addition, there are certain...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences It was not until I was looking at the list of possible topics for this Summative Task that I realized how much I had learned from the two ITTT courses that I have just completed. After giving some more thought to the courses and the topic I have selected above, I will try to summarize the benefits for me, and I predict for others to follow. Four thoughts or broad categories of the benefits of the courses come to mind that I will discuss below. They are not in any particular order as I believe it is the combination of all of them that will produce the most future personal returns for me. I believe now that what I have learned from these courses will help me in my work, whether or not I am teaching English in a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Native English speakers sometimes take the requirements of the language for granted. English is part of the European language family and most of its words come from Ancient Greek and Latin, which are common in other languages spoken in Europe. However, for students learning the language, English is very hard to learn. It is even more surprising the fact that other countries made English their second language, such as Singapore, Norway, Finland, and Denmark to name a few. In many parts of the world, English is spoken more fluently compared to American and British speakers. To give a few examples of how confusing, contradicting, and difficult English is, many foreign speakers learning the language always question:...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Why one-on-one teaching English becomes a trend? Because it is the best way to learn the language! There are many reasons why: it is convenient to both teacher and student in terms of time and location; student progress and development is not in rush - its juts in a perfect pace; the lessons are calibrated base on student’s needs; the teacher is solely focused on one student, and the teacher can be freely creative with the tasks and activities that the student will enjoy. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate John P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First, it is convenient to both teacher and student in terms of time and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas People might think that teachers' job is easy and anyone can do it as effectively as they can. In reality, they have lots of duties and responsibilities to play and fulfill. In fact, teachers play a very special role in education. The education system wouldn't be possible without them. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Julie Ann P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Even before the class starts, teachers are PLANNERS and DESIGNERS. They plan for every day's lessons and design activities that will be effective for his/her students. This requires time and careful designing. If the plan is not carefully made, the whole lesson will...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences English, like any language, is first and foremost the mother tongue of a person. Languages often are influenced by or entirely derive from migratory groups of people. The original native tongue of France, for example, was Gallic. The Latinized French we know today was only born after centuries of Roman occupation and assimilation. More confusing still, the nation takes its name from the Franks, who were themselves a Germanic tribe which conquered the territory from Rome. Despite this, their native German tongue had an only minor influence on French, as Roman Gaul had a quite large population. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Cole T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences TEFL is the acronym for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It basically means teaching the English language to non-native English speakers. With the TEFL field being one of the fastest-growing educational sectors that provides professional opportunities around the world, it is no wonder why many people have gotten interested in this field. All that is needed is to be a native or fluent English speaker with a certain degree of professional-level training that is globally recognized. This is the TEFL Certification. With it, teaching online, in private schools, or in certain companies and government programs is possible. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Maria I. Please note that this...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In everyone's life, there is at least one person that can be called a teacher, and it doesn't matter who is it — our older neighbor living next door or the person standing at the blackboard in a classroom for hours and trying to give you a piece of knowledge in some way. Anyway, we get something in the result. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ivan S. The teaching profession is very difficult. Teachers are people who play a big role in the formation of personality. Any teacher needs to realize what a huge responsibility he has. He can reach out to every child, pass on his knowledge, and even become a good friend. Trying to find the answer to the question «Who is a teacher» I would...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences English has undergone many changes since its roots in early Europe. It started out as a Germanic language, and standard word order along with some vocabulary still show German roots in the modern English of today. It went on over the years to incorporate numerous words and suffixes from French during the time that England was invaded and occupied by the Normans in the 11th Century. Its most recent and well-known adoption was from Latin, whose language patterns and vocabulary dominate English. Even today, the language is constantly growing and adapting as it takes on new words from Spanish due to the large Latin American immigrant population in the United States and their great cultural influence over the last...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Throughout the ITTT 120-hour course, I learned about 15 different usages of teaching aids in the classroom. Many of these teaching aids consisted of technology in the classroom. This included aids such as DVDs, overhead projectors, and interactive whiteboards. While the ITTT course did provide a great list of the positives and negatives of each of these items, it only went so far in answering the question of what constitutes positive implementation and usage of new technology in the classroom. In this essay, I will attempt to quantify what constitutes positive usage of new technology with two main points; the first being the technological, interactive experience itself, and the second being how well the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas When a child is born, parents are their first teachers and the people responsible for educating their children in the first few years of their lives. Young children pick up on the gestures, phrases, words, manners, etc., that their parents use every day, which in a sense, makes the parent the first teacher a child has. This is the parent's job until the children are enrolled in a school program. When the child enters a school program, the educator's main role is no longer on the parents. Instead, parents have a new partner, the teacher; however, the parent's job is not finished. It is only changing. Just because the parent's job modifies...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The following blog post is about an ITTT graduate who shares his story on how learning Chinese helped him to become a better English teacher in China. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joseph S. A common saying imparted to me by one of my professors goes like this: "What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone who speaks only one language? American." I have found this to be extremely true for the majority of cases, and, as a young student, it spurred me to want to learn as much of other languages as I possibly could. I grew up in a monolingual home, however, as a child, I spent much of...  [Read more]

Ramon Perez Destinations China is a country where you can venture out and explore all it has to offer. The food, the culture, the people and everything else provide an exciting experience for those willing to challenge themselves. This country will allow you to grow in ways you never thought possible. However, some of these challenges can become a bit of an obstacle in our everyday lives. Don’t fret. There are tools that can help us overcome those obstacles and make our stay a pleasant one. In this blog, we will discuss a few apps that can aid in making our day to day journey a little easier. Start your adventure by taking a 4-week in-class TEFL course in China with ITTT. WeChat is a messaging app that most, if not all Chinese people use. Even...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The roles of an English teacher in a TEFL classroom are varied and depend largely on the stage of the lesson and the situations that may arise, both planned and unplanned. Many people see the teacher as the main source of information and an example of the English language. This, in a sense, is the primary role of a teacher; however, in order to fulfill the ultimate goal a teacher has, they must create a productive atmosphere in the class and a good, working relationship with their students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Shannon T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One of the primary issues that a teacher has to overcome...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas Learning a foreign language in any part of the world is a demanding task which requires dedication and long-term commitment. It, however, can be particularly difficult for Chinese students. From a completely different alphabet to the lack of professional foreign expert training due to a high demand, Chinese students face a number of problems in learning the English language. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Dovydas Z. In recent years, increasing competition among Chinese students has transformed learning English from an optional to a required course. In spite of this, the traditional teaching methodology applied at local educational institutions has, for the most part, remained the same. Due to a large...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The business world has already gone global, and English has become the lingua franca among companies and meetings. However, being a teacher in a developing country such as Argentina can be quite a challenge when teaching English for specific purposes. That is because there is not a high demand for learning the L2 in companies, and if there is so, the working conditions are not very favorable. The lack of formation, the setting, the group, the working hours, and the material available are some of the issues that teachers may review when offered a kind of job like that. So, what options are there for teachers with little and sometimes no experience at all in teaching business English? This post was written by our...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Every language has its peculiarities, more so in the English language, which is spoken in the largest number of countries in the world. And thus has attained the status of a global language. Factors attributed to this phenomenon are many. One of the major reasons is that the Britishers had a large number of colonies which enabled them to come in contact with the inhabitants of different parts of the world. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Stone S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Moreover, the colonies had the English language as the official language. As language is the most potent means of communication, it was natural for...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teachers who walk into a new classroom are never sure what type of students will be there. Many times, they will get a class that has a mixed ability. Some of the students may have a stronger grasp of the English language than others. An experienced teacher would know what to do. But what about an inexperienced teacher? This post will describe some of the steps and strategies that would assist them. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate James O. On day one, the teacher does not need to use the text. The teacher’s job on the first day is to develop a rapport with the students. This would include getting to know the students, what they are interested in, what their level of English proficiency...  [Read more]