Top Most Difficult Languages

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Most researchers agree that the learner’s first language influences the pronunciation of the target language and is a significant factor in accounting for foreign accents. So-called interference or interference from the first language is likely to cause errors in aspiration, stress, and intonation in the target language. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Vesna A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Some Chinese students tend to have difficulty with English sounds because they are deeply influenced by similar Chinese sounds. However, they are very different from each other. A particular sound which does not exist in the native...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning is always hard especially learning something new such as English learning. English is a different new language compared with Chinese, so when we are learning, definitely we will meet all kinds of difficulties in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate XIAO J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Due to the lack of vocabulary, beginners can not get the main idea of a story. They usually expect to know every single word and if they miss some words, they will become extremely nervous so that they lose their confidence at all. The best way to avoid it is to pre-teach some potentially...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Experiencing stress in a classroom can be inhibitory to the learning process of a student; however, stress can originate from many causes and cannot always be avoided as the cause may be an integral part of learning, especially in the case of new languages. Students learning English will have to learn to accept and overcome stress as part of the process if they hope to not allow stress to inhibit their learning. Understanding when and why difficulty is being experienced may help a student overcome these issues, and it can help a teacher support his or her students through difficulty. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Christian F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our TEFL expert shares their thoughts on the top ten mistakes that online teachers make. ✅ Check out this article to find out what these mistakes are and improve your online teaching today! Kavinna Batra TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Education comes in many forms. ✅ Yet, nowadays, it seems like a college degree is the best and the most meritorious achievement in education –something that employers not only support but also demand. Anastasiya Akpinar Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas ...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas When you select information to teach in your lesson, you need to think about what level the students are at and how well your lesson fits into what they already know and what they need to know. When you begin teaching it can be quite difficult to know what students are likely to comprehend at each level and few EFL teachers follow the same students from beginner to advanced level. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Shorena B. Beginner-level students aren't necessarily children. Many people discover a need or desire to study English later in life. Students at beginner level can't speak or write accurately in the present simple and present continuous tenses. Those who know some words in English...  [Read more]

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Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Given the increase in globalization during the late 20th and early 21st centuries and the growing inter-dependencies of domestic economies within the international marketplace, English, as a primary language medium for conducting international business arrangements, has become an increased priority both socially and within the business environment. However, notwithstanding the importance of English fluency within contemporary society, Japan and Japanese English learners face difficulties when trying to achieve competency. These difficulties and issues can be shown by the 2018 EF English Proficiency Index which ranked the English level of Japanese learners as rank 49 out of 88 countries which place Japan within the...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences Prior to engaging in this online TESOL course, my only experience with regards to any teaching or instructing was acting in the capacity of a flight instructor/teacher. Having been employed at a school located in the United States, many of the students traveled from around the world to train at our academy because it was very safe and relatively inexpensive. With this, came some difficulty with regards to the language barriers between student and teacher as well as difficulties in certain translations. The students were required to pass an English proficiency test prior to commencing the training, however some students still had difficulty with the language rhythms and cadence as well as certain vocabulary words,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences According to the website “Master in special education degree program guide,” the most common learning disorder is Dyslexia. The condition affects 10% of the global population, which translates to roughly 2 to 3 children in every class. Many types of dyslexia can interfere with different basic learning skills, such as reading, memorizing, learning a foreign language and some may also have trouble understanding jokes or expressions. Depending on the person, the impact on skills will be different. The psychological explanations for Dyslexia involve the cognitive understanding of short- and long- term memory, which suggests the idea that people with Dyslexia have a shorter phonological loop span than...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The difference between formal and informal grammar is very apparent both in everyday life and during ones time as a teacher of English as a foreign language. These differences, I believe, play an important part in why many language learners find it so difficult to understand and become fluent. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daniel B. As a native English speaker and an ongoing learner of Spanish I find myself struggling with these differences as well. Much of the English grammar we learn in school in America is grammar that the person knows they are likely to use very sparingly. This is why most students fail to truly pay attention in their literature...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Teaching Ideas In a world where teaching English online has become the norm, stress levels among teachers seem to have risen significantly. ✅ The truth is that teaching online doesn’t come naturally to most teachers, no matter how experienced they are. Take a look at these common issues and a few tips for reducing their impact. Mark Crocker Teaching Ideas When teaching English at home or abroad it makes sense to use every option available to help you plan and deliver the highest quality lessons possible. ✅ In this post, we look at a range of different online apps that are designed to do just that, from organizing and planning to in-class activities and homework. ...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Teaching Ideas In a world where teaching English online has become the norm, stress levels among teachers seem to have risen significantly. ✅ The truth is that teaching online doesn’t come naturally to most teachers, no matter how experienced they are. Take a look at these common issues and a few tips for reducing their impact. Mark Crocker Teaching Ideas When teaching English at home or abroad it makes sense to use every option available to help you plan and deliver the highest quality lessons possible. ✅ In this post, we look at a range of different online apps that are designed to do just that, from organizing and planning to in-class activities and homework. ...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Unlike learning a first language, learning a second language is a task that can sometimes seem frustrating and at times even impossible. There are many reasons for this as learning a second language is very different than learning your mother tongue. Firstly, there are biological factors involved and the fact that normally children tend to assimilate things more easily than adults. Secondly, it is often harder to get the same level of exposure to the language than it is when learning a native language where repetition from parents etc. is constant. That is why when you sign up for an English class, or any other language for that matter, teachers will try to replicate that scenario with endless repetitions and fun...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Over the past two years, as part of an international community, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting people from all over the world. We share the common experience of learning an L2. I’ve spoken to nearly 100 people now, and what I’ve learned about learning L2 is, well, it’s hard. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Janis U. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Most people I’ve “interviewed” have either learned an L2 over many years or are still in the process of learning it. Of those that have learned an L2, they tend to be more fluent than accurate and most have learned L2 out of necessity within 1-3 years. I consider...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations While many people wanting to teach English abroad move to countries in Asia or Latin America, Europe is also a popular destination that cannot be ignored. Despite stricter visa regulations and tougher job markets for teachers, there are still many places in all parts of Europe that have a need for foreign teachers. Here are the top 10 cities in Europe with the highest demand for English language teachers. Spain is one of the most attractive countries for teaching English abroad in Europe. The country’s capital Madrid has the largest job market for EFL teachers in Spain. While citizens from non-EU countries may find it difficult to secure a work visa in Spain, many teachers are able to obtain a student visa which...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences My experience in teaching English to young learners is based in Japan. At the start of my time teaching, my student group consisted of two children of the same family. The siblings are a boy, age five, and a girl, age three, who participate equally in the English conversation sessions. Three main factors of this situation present difficult walls, preventing forward progress. Those three factors are distracting objects, counter-productive classroom philosophies, and personality conflicts. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Brandon F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First, the English conversation takes place in the children's...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences This essay answers the question for number 10 “what are the main problems for learners in the country of China?” I am a professor at Jiangnan University in Wuxi, China and share my observations. Our students are in the North American College (NAC), with partners in Canada at Lambton College and Northwood University, USA. Three areas are most interesting to their learning challenges: college preparation, listening and writing. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Annette P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Students enter NAC with a low score on the national gaokao entrance exam. The student body represents a culture where...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Many students of English as a Second Language (ESL) find that, of the many struggles they have with the language, pronunciation is the most difficult to master. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sophie M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Pronunciation is an extremely important ability to have to sound more fluent in English. By gaining the knowledge and skill of proper pronunciation, an ESL student can come across at a much higher level of English ability and intelligence. However, this is easier said than done. In South Korea, for example, certain sounds aren’t used in their language but are used in English. Because these...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences When learning a foreign language, pronunciation is one of the most important aspects; as well as one of the most complicated ones. Learning pronunciation takes a lot of effort from both the teacher and the students. It’s the responsibility of the teacher to find the best methods, techniques, and procedures to make the teaching-learning process as smooth and easy as possible. In the case of the students, they might be facing issues like phonetics and phonology of a language that could either have some similarities with their mother tongue, or none at all. The students will be exposed to new sounds, new intonation patterns, new stresses and new rhythms. These are more than enough reasons for the teacher to pay...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information To find out whether it is best to complete your TEFL certification online as a distance learning course or in-class by attending a training center, you must understand the main differences between an online TEFL course and an in-class TEFL course. Linda Dunsmore Destinations With over 400 million native speakers, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world behind Chinese with 1.2 billion. English comes in third with 360 million native speakers worldwide. If you are interested in learning Spanish, check out the top seven Spanish-speaking countries for teaching English abroad. Linda Dunsmore Visa and Legal ...  [Read more]

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Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas As an international language that is widely used around the globe, English has been important and increasingly influential in our lives over the years. Learning English seems to be an inevitable, prioritized task for many of us. This is also applicable to kindergarten children aged 4 to 6 years in many Asian countries. As a former kindergarten teacher who taught English, I have encountered several problems during my time teaching kindergarten kids in Asia. These problems could be attributed to child development and their social environment. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Wei L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Kindergarten...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Second language acquisition in native English speakers from the United States is one aspect of American culture that is not widely discussed and seemingly overlooked in terms of its importance. Many factors contribute to the United States’ largely monolingual culture despite have a “melting pot” of sorts with a population comprised of multiple ethnicities and nationalities. This culture of English speakers points to strong geographic features of its continental location and debatably its position in the world’s economic index and political landscape. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Adam L. Comparatively, Europe is comprised of multiple countries with strong national identities and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Learning languages is for most of us, not an easy undertaking, mostly because it requires building new frameworks in our brains and lots of practice. Learning English as a second language is not an exception. By now, it’s already well-known the importance of speaking English in a globalized world, and so even governments are making an effort to include it in their education plans. As an example, English is taught in both private and public schools throughout Turkey, but despite all these efforts and adjustments, not a lot of Turkish people can speak English beyond basic sentences and isolated words... so, what’s happening? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sergio S. Please note that...  [Read more]

Marie Hernandez Visa and Legal TEFL Information Job interviews are among the most daunting tasks for anyone. Here are our 5 steps to help prepare yourself for your TEFL interview. Linda Dunsmore Destinations If you are looking for a unique place to move to, check out our list of the top 5 TEFL destinations for adrenaline junkies and adventure seekers! Mark Crocker TEFL Information Online training courses have many advantages and they are becoming increasingly popular with people looking to get TEFL certified. If you are new to self-study or are concerned that you will struggle with distance learning, take a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As a non-native English speaker, I was very scared of teaching English or even thinking about teaching English at the beginning of my teaching career. But some months later I realized that I have a huge advantage compared to the native speakers: I still remember the difficulties of learning English and I know what might cause problems to my students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Gabriella S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. So I can always emphasize and slow down when it is needed without being impatient. Learning English requires time, and learning to speak well requires even more time and patience from both the...  [Read more]

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Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The use of reading in the course of language acquisition is valuable and often underrated. Before undertaking a detailed explanation, I will first offer a general example to demonstrate the problem of teaching without it. Imagine you are teaching the word “ball” to an older student. You could ask them to say “ball, ball, ball” in a drilling manner. This can be inefficient and above all, boring for the student. But suppose that you do teach it enjoyably. How many words might they learn? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Peter C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. For most teachers, they will give one or sometimes two...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations Italy is one of the most popular destinations for teaching English in Europe - and it’s not hard to see why! With so many amazing cities to choose from you will be spoiled for choice in this Mediterranean paradise. Because of strict EU laws and regulations, it can often be difficult for non-EU citizens to secure a visa and work legally in Italy. However, if you are dreaming of living and working in Italy, don’t worry! Check out our detailed guide on how to legally teaching English in Italy for people outside of the European Union. The capital of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna is a premier destination with a lot of exciting attractions. Not only is Bologna stunningly beautiful, it’s also home to the...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Many texts on this subject begin primarily by defining the term 'classroom management'. I equally think it is not out of place to begin a discussion on classroom management from the same perspective. Classroom management refers to the variety of skills employed by which teachers and schools to curtail disruptive behavior of learners so as to create a congenial environment for teaching and learning. It is the case from the definition that the classroom setting may not always be as well-ordered and peaceful for teaching and learning as it should be and may require certain organizational skills and the ability to create of a friendly and disciplined atmosphere in order for teaching and learning to be effective. In...  [Read more]