What Are The Listening Barriers

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A foreign language is a sector of linguistics that is region-based and as the name states are foreign to the country or the person. And this entails that language is part of the culture and personality of every person. As each language is unique and meaningful in its way and turn reflects the culture, values, and behavior. No region or country does not have its language, culture, and beliefs. Overall, when learning a foreign language you are learning not only linguistics but their religion, their way of interaction, their mode of transportation or their way of life. And in the world today, English is considered as the universal language of the world because of globalization and in turn is the generalized or...  [Read more]

Zainab Sadriwala Destinations Alumni Experiences Karachi is a city of opportunities for the citizens of Pakistan and for the people abroad. Professionals from all around the country aspire to make their living in this cosmopolitan city which has so much to offer for those who are ambitious. Hence teaching being no different, Karachi offers a wide array of opportunities to the aspiring young generation to make their mark in this highly esteemed profession. The first reason I'd like to mention is the high demand for qualified English teachers in the city. Good language teachers are scarce as they also seem to have challenges in their educational experience and the vicious circle keeps on repeating. That's why there is a surge in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences When a student walks into any classroom, his outlook on the class has a lot to do with how a teacher may present themselves, and the qualities that make up that outward presentation. This concept proves itself to be true as the course goes on, and key concepts are taught. The student's perspective on the material is largely dependent on the specific qualities of the teacher that make him or her a dependable source of information. This essay will explore how patience, listening, and empathy are important qualities for English teachers to have and maintain, and how those qualities are vital in the teacher and student learning equation. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sierra S. Please...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I have had the opportunity to study several foreign languages, some in a formal setting, some self-taught. Through my personal experiences learning other languages, I have developed some insights into language learning. I would like to describe some of my experienc| ITTT | TEFL Bloges, and some of my thoughts on what I have learned from them, and from this course. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kim T. My first experience in language learning began at age fourteen with French; by the time I graduated high school I had studied French, German and Spanish as part of my curriculum. The method in use then was ALM, so as a result, I learned language patterns very quickly. However, the only...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Typical English classes, apart from facing miscellaneous issues concerning management, motivation, dependence, and discipline, have to handle a particular set of complications in the language they are attempting to acquire. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ati V. Understandably, far from taking into account some language – impaired, or those with learning disabilities, attention deficits or other language disorders, not one single item lies behind the problem of a student being unable to acquire what they are taught, or go to schools for. Cultural barriers, on top of the list, cause widely various difficulties for English learners worldwide. Iranians are never an exception here. The...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I would like to start by saying that some jobs look simple and many people would deem they are easy at first sight. Alright, it is not completely true. One will never know how something tastes until tasting it his/her own. It is the same thing with the teaching task. Some people would say it is an easy peasy job; just stand right there giving instructions on the front of a couple of students. It is entirely the opposite, it is a tiring job, but the tire here is more related to one's psychology and inner side. However, it is relative for teachers depending on many standards like the age of the students, culture, or nationality. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate KWONG C. Please note that...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas We live in an ever-changing world that is becoming smaller, more connected. Communication is faster and more diverse than ever. Computers, cell phones, and social media have increased the speed of communication. Therefore, the need for people to respond quickly and the language that has become synonymous with international communication is English. Thus, the demand for learning the language is increasing at a constant rate. But though people may have the need, they may lack the confidence to take on a new language fully. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Katherine R. Please note that this blog post might not...  [Read more]

Charlotte Lam Destinations TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Are you considering teaching in Hong Kong as a native English teacher (NET)? If yes, do you know who you are going to work with? Here are some ways you can effectively prepare yourself and collaborate with the local teachers in school. Most of the teachers are local in Hong Kong kindergarten. Therefore, you are very likely to partner and work with a local class teacher. As a new teacher in school, it's absolutely important to listen to your local partners because each school has its own culture and working style. Therefore, take some time to observe other teachers when you are at work. It helps to observe a lot on classroom management strategies...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information Alumni Experiences This blog post was written by our TEFL graduate Ning Z., who shares their own personal story of learning English after emigrating to the United States from China at the age of 18 and how this personal learning experience helped them to become a TESOL teacher today. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Ning Z. I had emigrated to the US from China at the age of 18 and am delighted to be able to share my language acquiring experience and shed some light on some of the challenges a new language learner might encounter during the course of learning. English is taught in middle and high schools in China as a compulsory curriculum, so, before arriving in the US, I had some prior...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In today’s world learning English is no longer a possibility, but an essential part of being a world citizen. However, we must face the fact- for some people- to learn English grammar is not so easy and fun, they hate grammar and even think it is the most boring part of learning a new language. On the other hand, others are extremely interested in learning grammar rules and practice it as much as they can. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Glaucia S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Whoever wants to become an effective language learner cannot run from grammar lessons; it is a crucial part of the learning process besides...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Our goal as EFL teachers is to get our students to learn to communicate through a second language; therefore we should try to make them want to learn it actively. For this, it is necessary to take into account several factors which affect the learning process, analyze how to better motivate students and encourage them towards positive attitudes in EFL competences; other student’s learning feedback, the classroom, the teachers, the English language and its culture. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Vicror L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. All of the aforementioned factors will affect our student’s motivation and as a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Who was your favorite teacher in elementary school? Mine was my 5th-grade Teacher, Mr. Powers. Not because he was super cool, or cute, or wildly entertaining. It was because he was an amazing teacher. He was a retired Air Force pilot, yet was never very hard on us and I can’t think of a single time that he got upset with us. I believe this is completely due to his amazing classroom management skills. I try my best to model my own teaching skills after Mr. Powers while teaching here in Istanbul, Turkey. Cultural and economic differences are actually the least of my problems while working with these amazing children. The most challenging aspects happen to be making the most of classroom space, ensuring the...  [Read more]

Anna Domiczek Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Puppets can serve as a wonderful pedagogical tool in the ESL classroom. Young children are very familiar with them since puppets play a large role in the world of children’s imaginative play, and they have become widely accepted as a pedagogical tool because they are valuable in serving as an anchor in overcoming the language barrier. Their potential in ESL teaching could be used to enhance instruction and provide many useful benefits. Research clearly shows the benefits of using puppetry in English language teaching, and the use of puppets is an effective approach in teaching English to young learners. From the perspective of a preschool teacher, research results are very...  [Read more]

Mia Santarelli Destinations You’ve renewed your passport, packed durable walking shoes, and typed up a detailed itinerary directing your steps in Italy. Your Italian ducks may seem like they’re in a row, but sometimes, a dream adventure to a foreign country can turn into a stress-filled series of mishaps, unless you take advantage of technology and the apps that will make your trip a dream come true. The first time I traveled to Italy, I could not wait to arrive and begin exploring the hidden histories that the winding cobblestone streets offer their visitors. Navigating a city like Florence, in which the streets are decorated with signs indicating streets that curve into twisty knots, like a bowl of al dente spaghetti, or listening to locals...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The United States of America, Canada, The United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. If one is not a citizen of one of the aforementioned countries, they are not likely to be considered as a native English speaker. There are certain countries such as the Caribbean Islands, India, Philippines and Singapore in which English is the official language and which use English as a primary language among the citizens. However, they are not recognized as native speakers of English due to various reasons, mainly accent, even though the use of the English language, including both grammar and vocabulary, doesn’t differ too much from British English or American English. This post was written by our...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Language has always played an important role in communication between people. Today, in the globalization, the importance of mastering a foreign language has become increasingly prominent. English is the most widely used language in the world. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Xiao W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In the 21st century, English is not unfamiliar to us Chinese. In our life, we can find English everywhere with little attention. Most Chinese learn dumb English. Few people can communicate with foreigners without barriers. Some Western netizens can't help wondering why English is so difficult for Chinese to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learners, whether children or adults, tend to lack attention in the classroom at some point. Certainly, this problem varies from one type of age-range to the other. Indeed, this issue may be due to different reasons: mature students may be tired from work, whereas youngsters may struggle to keep up with the content. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Debora M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Moreover, additional factors may come to decrease motivation in the classroom. For instance, some learners find the topic being at hand particularly difficult; others may just be bored or going through tough problems at home, and the list...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Being an American living in France has given me firsthand experience as to what it is like to struggle with learning a new language. I studied Spanish for six years, in Junior High and High school. Language acquisition was easier then. I can attest to the fact that younger learners learn more quickly. For me, the two major problems with learning French are the tenses and not being able to understand what people are saying. I get stuck in the present tense, often forgetting to change tenses in conversation. I also need to hone up on my listening skills. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Patricia J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Laura Payne Destinations TEFL Information The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is not the only means to teach English in Japan, but it is one of the most popular programs out there both for aspiring teachers and those who wish to pursue other fields. I first joined this program a little over a year ago. In the short time since then, I've gained incredibly valuable experiences through my work as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT). Local prefectural governments and larger government bodies, including Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, manage the JET Program. They hire ALTs from English-speaking countries all over the world to increase Japan's international understanding at the level of local communities. Japan is an...  [Read more]