What Can I Get Certified In Quickly

  In the TEFL review, Matt describes how he was living and working as an English teacher in Japan when his employer asked him to get TEFL certified which he did through an online TEFL course with ITTT. Policy changes around the world mean that many countries now require their English teachers to have at least a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate. ITTT's online courses are a great way to gain certification without having to take time off work. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Prior to starting a class, an English teacher needs to take into consideration many parameters. How many students will I have to teach? How old are they? What are their levels? What knowledge did they already acquire in terms of vocabulary and grammar? What are their nationalities? In this blog post, we are going to focus on the problems that an English teacher can encounter when teaching to students of different nationalities and cultures. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Manon L. First of all, it is important to define what a monolingual class and a multilingual class are. Monolingual students are students who all have the same native language. For example, teaching English to Thai...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences So, you have decided to become a foreign teacher and move abroad. Start a new journey and perhaps a new career or just using this experience to see for the world and take a gap year. But have you thought about all the other things that go along with going to another country? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jacq-Pierre B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Yes, you are there to work and enjoy your time, but there are a lot of extra things that you need to. How are you going to communicate with people? How are you going to get around in your new town? What will everything cost? Will you meet other foreigners in your city? Will...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Before we start looking at the actual receptive skills lesson, it is useful to think about what potential problems there could be in these lessons. ### Watch the video about this topic Firstly, when the students are reading in a language that is not their native language, they tend to read every word as a separate piece and when reading word to word, it is very difficult to get an overall impression of what that particular text is saying. Secondly we need to consider the sentence length, in a lot of articles that we will have available this can be very long and many of our students will not be used to that depth of language. So it's important to have a think about the way in which...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In today's world, everything is online. Most of the demographic that will be learning English as a second language is very comfortable with being online, in fact, most prefer it. Almost all of our teaching materials will be available online or have supplemental resources that will help with learning that is found online. It is important as a Teacher to find ways that engage the students and create a learning environment that is fun and interactive. It is also important to have access to the latest and most up to date information available, this is done much more effectively thru online resources. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Brian E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Teaching Ideas The receptive skills of reading and listening, generally get less attention than the other skills of speaking and writing. Here we look at some of the reasons they are avoided and why e should overcome these fears. Before we start looking at the actual receptive skills lesson, it is useful to think about what potential problems there could be in these lessons. Firstly, when the students are reading in a language that is not their native language, they tend to read every word as a separate piece and when reading word to word, it is very difficult to get an overall impression of what that particular text is saying. Secondly we need to consider the sentence length, in a lot of articles that we will have available this...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I think to best address this question you need to know why I took this course. I am a USA certified teacher who arrived in China almost 6 years ago after a teacher in the Florida school system for 13 years. I was an ESE (Exceptional Student Education) certified, Middle School Math and Science teacher. When I first arrived, I assumed all the foreign teachers I worked with were also certified teachers. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jennifer K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I quickly discovered this was not true and began to experience working with TEFL/TESOL teachers. There was a distinct lack of understanding in many...  [Read more]

Charlotte Lam TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Changes in school are a very common situation, especially during these days when there is so much uncertainty in society—for instance, the pandemic situation, the economy, etc. We have experienced a lot of changes in school, including school suspension, online teaching, teaching during the pandemic, etc. In this post, I will outline how to cope with changes and what you can do to have a successful change in school. Change happens so quickly in class—for example, changes to the curriculum, tests, teaching methods, or school schedule. If we see such a big demand for change, we would usually feel scared because we don’t know where to begin...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Regardless of which type of beginner class you are teaching here are my top ten tips for the teaching of beginners. The first thing is to keep it simple, you have to remember when teaching beginners that your language level has to be at the same level or at most slightly above theirs, otherwise they're not going to understand you. One of the ways in which we can reduce that language level down to its lowest possible value is to be visual rather than verbal. Certainly at the starter level and within all levels in fact visual information is a far easier way to transmit that information than trying to talk about it. Something we need to do as often as possible is to get the language...  [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]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas English as a global language, very young learners are becoming an increasingly bigger market in China. Children as very young learners are in a golden period of language learning. Relevant research supports children have a natural ability to learn a foreign language in the same way they learned their mother language. That's why most people are aware that children learn a language more quickly and effectively than adults. So when can children start to learn a foreign language? The answer must be the earlier the better. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sha J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. For children in the Kindergarten,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What outdoor activities can help when teaching English? Literally any outdoor activity you can imagine can be of great help when teaching English. There are many different words and phrases that are used in specific types of situations and there is only so much role-playing and slide-show presenting you can do in the classroom. Sometimes taking the lesson outside is the best way to teach your students how certain words and phrases are used in particular scenarios. When you bring the lesson outdoors, students can start to make the mental connections in their brains between what they have learned in the classroom and experiences in reality. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew M. Please...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Age is one of the most decisive factors in language learning. The first thing foreign language teachers should pay attention to here is how young learners differ from adult learners. First of all, young students learn better through play, while adults are highly advanced in using their abstract and analytical intelligence. The second distinction that can be added is that young students can be bored very quickly and easily. Usually, after 10 minutes, attention and attention disappear. Young students are also very egocentric and need special attention more. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Seçil B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas As a teacher, you should always give your students effective and meaningful feedback on their performance and progress. However, it is all too common for students to feel like they are being criticized by their teachers instead of being given constructive and useful comments. That’s why we have listed these 5 great ways to give your students feedback. When giving feedback, you should tailor it to each specific student and base it on their individual needs. Also, keep in mind to only give feedback on the actual goal that is being worked on instead of on the person itself. While it can be very easy to bring your personal feelings towards a person into your feedback, you need to stay objective. Feedback should always...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Deciding to be a teacher in a kindergarten can be intimidating for some inexperienced teachers in the beginning. In my case, I was quite unsure of teaching very young kids and would rather teach adults. However, I ended up in China and started to teach English in a kindergarten and it resulted to be easier than expected. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Samy H. I would say that the key point in order to be a good kindergarten teacher is establishing a good rapport with the kids since the beginning. Kids at this age are very young and some of them won’t like the teacher in the beginning. Some warmers, songs, and games with them will quickly solve the problem. In a few days, all the kids...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas First and foremost I am going to assume by monolingual groups, we are referring to groups of students who all speak the same language, and multilingual groups refers to groups where the students all speak different languages, not that they are necessarily multilingual. Each group has its challenges, but I can also the benefits of teaching each group. And of course every case will be unique, so it may just also depend on the situation you are in. But these are what I believe in general are common things you may come across. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Crystal N. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. For monolingual groups, if...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching English to beginners is a challenge for new and experienced ESL teachers. Although with proper planning, materials, getting the students engaged and motivated in the lessons can make teaching English to beginners fun and rewarding especially when your students start to get the hang of it. It’s a great feeling to see them move from having absolutely no knowledge of English to be able to speak basic English. A few things to think about. Talking a lot is just going to waste your time and leave you frustrated. Two keep your lessons fun with as much talk time as possible for the students, allowing them to practice what they are learning in a fun environment. Always praise your students, a student who thinks...  [Read more]

Kavinna Batra Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas English is a fun language to learn; however, it can even throw off the most professional learner with complex spelling rules and difficult grammar. Learning English quickly could seem difficult, even though it is considered to be accessible and reasonably easy for many to learn. I'm here to tell you that as long as you have the right plan, you can learn English quickly and easily. If you start to feel like you're not making ground, which at some stage happens to all learners, don't say, "I don't speak English," or "I'm never going to get this." Honestly, ban those words from your vocabulary! They just blur your comprehension of the progress you are making and remind you that it is...  [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 Many different factors go into the equation of balancing and implementing a class effectively as a teacher. Some of the important skills for teachers to acquire is the ability to foresee possible problems, understand their audience, and know what may cause behavioral or learning issues, and through this create a learning environment that minimizes obstacles and maximizes success. Troubleshooting effectively in the classroom is key to any successful teacher. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Adam D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Every relationship starts with a first encounter, and when a teacher first meets a new class or...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas There is something special about a teacher. The role they play in a student’s life and education is undeniable. Just think about your school days and the role your teachers played on the road you find yourself today. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Huibré T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Teachers are psychiatrists, lawyers, mentors, moms, dads, doctors and so much more than just a teacher. A teacher must be able to do almost everything. The teacher has a big responsibility and must be eager to put his heart and soul into his/her calling. The classroom is not like some fancy, air-conditioned office where you can just...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas As Margaret Fuller once said, “Today a reader; tomorrow a leader”. Reading is a habit that has a great number of benefits. It allows an individual to gain knowledge, expand their vocabulary, improve their writing skills and reduce their mental stress among many other things. Thus, we must instill a love for reading in children from a very young age. Three main ways to do this would be to find out what their interests are and help them find books that are about their interests, to show the children how passionate you are about reading and to motivate them to read as much as possible by rewarding them for it. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Fathima S. Please note that this blog post...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas When you teach English as a foreign language it’s important to pay attention to details that we sometimes ignore when communicating with other native level speakers, either in spoken or written English. Some people have got into the habit of writing in uppercase/capital letters, use abbreviations, and don’t think much about punctuation. We also tend not to be too critical of people’s spoken English as long as we get the point across. ‘There’s a lot of cars on the road today’ is grammatically incorrect for example. We also tend to enjoy speaking when we should be letting others speak. This is a particular issue in the classroom when you should be maximizing student talk time and minimizing yours. Here are...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A teacher’s job is to teach pupils. While that sounds straight forward the question arises what makes a good teacher. If a teacher teaches all day, the outcome of the work lies in what was being taught. Pupils are taught what the teacher teaches. Now an easy thing to say is, that a good teacher should provide good teaching. But what would be, if the majority of students would not learn anything in a specific lesson, that would be regarded by other teachers as good teaching? The answer, of course, is, that all students are individuals and respond differently to the teaching. Making it dependent on the students, a more practical definition of good teaching is: Good teaching is, which makes the pupils learn and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas It is true that following a lesson plan may make the class rigid and lack flexibility. But for some inexperienced teachers, we may get panic when there are unexpected things arising in the class. By preparing a lesson plan, firstly we will have a thorough idea about what is going to happen so we can be mentally ready to some degree. Secondly, each step from the lesson plan has it a specific reason to exist to assist an inexperienced teacher to learn about how to manage the class. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Wu Z. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Having a plan at hand with the learning objective listed clearly can help us...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Abraham F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Teaching tools used for learners: One bucket with nontoxic learner-approved clay. Each bucket of clay will have five sticks, each stick a different color. Paper plates matching the color of the clay. Scissors and crayons. Learner approved audio about a rainbow song. The object is to gain the learners' attention. The learning environment created will be interesting, fun, and relaxed. Class level - children between the ages of 8 – 10 class volume 10 learners. Learners will be...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Description: Teaching English as a foreign language in a kindergarten can be a dynamically different experience than teaching students in older age groups. Teaching in a kindergarten has advantages such as motivation, smiles, and the ability to learn the material in short bursts. It also has disadvantages, such as; short attention spans, diapers, and tantrums. Teaching young children can be extremely rewarding and extremely demanding. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate William K. Teaching Children between the ages of two and five has some advantages that can be very rewarding. My first class ever was teaching children between the ages of two and a half and three and a half. I was quick to...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas There are many interactive tools that can be used during teaching to enhance a lesson and keep students engaged. There are also a few tools that are a teacher’s lifeline during a lesson. Course materials that range from props and pictures of vocabulary words to simple worksheets and lesson plans are integral to teaching a good lesson. They can provide basic aid to a teacher or help keep the students’ attention. But, when overused or used during the wrong times, course materials can become problematic and disadvantageous. Different things that a teacher brings to a lesson can make or break an ESL lesson. This post was written by our ITTT graduate Emma H. There are some course...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences What is volunteer teaching? In my opinion, it is bringing justice to our life. The modern world is made up of contrasts, though it is difficult to realize when living in civilization. But despite the fact that many countries are developing very quickly, there are still many places in the world where people live in much less favorable conditions. This, of course, relates to many areas of life: ecology, medicine, the opportunity to get a job, working conditions and wages. At the heart of many of these points is the most, in my opinion, important one – an education. It depends on education what children will grow up in any country. Therefore, many teachers from civilized countries decide to use their educational...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Sometimes, it can be challenging for most of us to focus on specific tasks. It's normal to find your mind wandering when you should be focused on a particular thing. According to a 2010 study 1 by Harvard psychologists Matthew A. Killingsworth and Daniel T. Gilbert, we spend nearly 47 percent of our waking hours thinking about something other than what we are doing. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate MANEL R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. It's even more challenging for kids to stay focused on one task even if they are interested in it, especially...  [Read more]