TEFL Vantage

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Cultural sensitivity derives from the differences among different cultures throughout the world. In the context of English teaching, teachers who move to another country must seriously consider the cultural pattern in the targeted country or region. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Eleana V. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Cultural diversity is by default a very interesting topic and teachers should prioritize in gaining more knowledge regarding the new culture into which they will be integrated. They have to be culturally sensitive during the lesson and be aware of the cultural differences that may arise. Before moving to...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT TEFL Information A large number of EFL students study English to pass exams that will enable them to gain a visa for a particular country, go to university abroad or to prove their English ability for a job. The Cambridge English exams are some of the most popular in the world and include exams tailored towards young learners, general English skills, academic English and business English. Throughout your career as a certified TEFL teacher you are likely to have students that need help in preparing for one of these exams so familiarizing yourself with them is an important part of being a successful teacher. These tests are designed for children in primary or lower-secondary education. There are three tests in total and these are:...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences When I started teaching I just used to get into the class and start teaching straight from the textbook for the whole lesson with no variation whatsoever. I used the textbooks like they were a highway code. At first, it was all good and my lessons were moving along fine, but then after a while of teaching the same group of students, I found that they began to lose interest in my lessons. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Fungai M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. One day I went to witness my colleague teaching and I was amazed. She used all sorts of extra equipment and teaching aids and the students were so excited and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas When we are born, our first contact with our native tongue is one hundred percent oral. Our mother is the first one to speak to us in her native language and as we grow we are constantly exposed to words, expressions, and conversations that we take in and start to understand in our everyday life. Once we reach a proper school age everything starts to change because we are introduced to a new way of communication that goes beyond body language and oral expressions. We are introduced to written language. This rite of passage is as normal as it´is expected to be, but we must take into account something that in the last couple of decades has become part of this experience; the simultaneous learning of a foreign...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas One important factor to consider when teaching English abroad is how you arrange the seating in the classroom. Space in a classroom can be limited at times so it's important to maximize what you have available. There are multiple ways to arrange a classroom and knowing which ones will provide the most benefit is important. To ensure the best environment for the students and teacher it is essential to have an understanding of the options, as well as when and how to use them. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alex C. As a rule a classroom will generally consist of at least four walls, an entrance, a surface to write on and desks for the students. Even with only...  [Read more]