How To Become A Teacher In Wa State

There are many different paths on the road to becoming a teacher. As a college student in the United States it seemed there was only one: get certified in your state and start teaching. However, as I explored the idea of teaching internationally I found that as many teachers as there are, there are almost that many different paths to becoming, and developing your career as, a teacher. There are a few ways to become a certified teacher in the United States. Someone looking to be a teacher can get certified in college with only one year of student teaching after graduation, or she can enroll in a post-graduate masters program at a university. Either way, extra work beyond a simple undergraduate degree is necessary. In order to teach in the International School...  [Read more]

Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding and challenging positions in the work force. Teachers are given the difficult task of introducing new material to students, making sure they can grasp the knowledge, and present the new material in an interesting manner. This difficult task is only complicated further when something such as a language barrier is added to the formula. Being an EFL teacher is very rewarding but is not an easy task. Everyday EFL teachers are faced with both language and cultural differences. Many foreign school systems are just that to the Western culture;foreign. Many of the teachers in the foreign schools have a different view on their position in the classroom. The teachers are the largest presence in the classroom doing nearly all of the...  [Read more]

Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding and challenging positions in the work force. Teachers are given the difficult task of introducing new material to students, making sure they can grasp the knowledge, and present the new material in an interesting manner. This difficult task is only complicated further when something such as a language barrier is added to the formula. Being an EFL teacher is very rewarding but is not an easy task. Everyday EFL teachers are faced with both language and cultural differences. Many foreign school systems are just that to the Western culture;foreign. Many of the teachers in the foreign schools have a different view on their position in the classroom. The teachers are the largest presence in the classroom doing nearly all of the speaking to...  [Read more]

There are many different paths on the road to becoming a teacher. As a college student in the United States it seemed there was only one: get certified in your state and start teaching. However, as I explored the idea of teaching internationally I found that as many teachers as there are, there are almost that many different paths to becoming, and developing your career as, a teacher.There are a few ways to become a certified teacher in the United States. Someone looking to be a teacher can get certified in college with only one year of student teaching after graduation, or she can enroll in a post-graduate masters program at a university. Either way, extra work beyond a simple undergraduate degree is necessary. In order to teach in the International School community, a ...  [Read more]

The role of the teacher has significantly changed for past few years due to advent of new technology. Although the same qualities of a good teacher are still required from the educators, the style of teaching has fundamentally changed and transformed from teacher- centered method of teaching into student-centered teaching pattern. Nowadays teacher’s personality is still considered an important factor in a process of teaching. Thomas Peacock in his article “Native Students Speak What makes a good teacher'” states that a teacher should possess two kinds of characteristics: teaching and personal. As Peacock indicates “teaching characteristics include having cultural knowledge, being interested in students, listening and understanding to their problems...  [Read more]

The role of the teacher has significantly changed for past few years due to advent of new technology. Although the same qualities of a good teacher are still required from the educators, the style of teaching has fundamentally changed and transformed from teacher- centered method of teaching into student-centered teaching pattern. Nowadays teacher?s personality is still considered an important factor in a process of teaching. Thomas Peacock in his article ?Native Students Speak What makes a good teacher?? states that a teacher should possess two kinds of characteristics: teaching and personal. As Peacock indicates ?teaching characteristics include having cultural knowledge, being interested in students, listening and understanding to their problems and using...  [Read more]

If you are looking for an exciting destination to take your TEFL/TESOL course in, choose Georgia! Filled with historic sites, spectacular national parks, and exciting cities, Georgia is a great place to become an English language teacher. Georgia is the last of the original Thirteen Colonies and features quite a collection of historic sites. On top of that, its natural landscapes are also worth noting, especially the northern part with the Blue Ridge Mountains and the east with its splendid Atlantic Coast. Visitors and locals also have the choice between over 60 major parks where they can engage in various different outdoor activities. Atlanta is home to our renowned training school. The center is located in downtown Atlanta and offers convenient amenities. To explore Georgia to the...  [Read more]

TEFL or Teaching English as a Foreign Language refers to teaching English to students for whom it is not their mother tongue. TEFL can take place in English-speaking regions, for example in language schools or summer camps or before the start of a university degree, but usually occurs in the student´s own country. There, TEFL can be either within the state school system, or private, either in an after-hours language school or with a one-on-one tutor. The teachers may be native or non-native speakers of English. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)Taking a TEFL course as a non-native English speaker was a great experience, with a wild awakening. Life has a way of bringing surprises, not bad or good, they become what you make them to be, and the outcome depends on how you embrace...  [Read more]

TEFL or Teaching English as a Foreign Language refers to teaching English to students for whom it is not their mother tongue. TEFL can take place in English-speaking regions, for example in language schools or summer camps or before the start of a university degree, but usually occurs in the student´s own country. There, TEFL can be either within the state school system, or private, either in an after-hours language school or with a one-on-one tutor. The teachers may be native or non-native speakers of English. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Taking a TEFL course as a non-native English speaker was a great experience, with a wild awakening. Life has a way of bringing surprises, not bad or good, they become what you make them to be, and the outcome...  [Read more]

BACKGROUNDOne of the major problems that a language teacher faces is how to deal with errors. It is generally agreed that correction is a part of the language learning process; however, over-correction can be a factor in demotivating students and making them reluctant to use and/or continue studying the language being learned. Therefore, the issue of how and when to correct is a very critical issue for teachers of a foreign language.ACCURACY ACTIVITIESWhen the aim of the lesson is accuracy, errors are usually corrected immediately. Attention to mistakes during this part of the lesson improves the chances of accuracy during the fluency stage (Mumford and Darn 2005). One way to indicate incorrectness is to ask the student to repeat what he/she has said. Another way to indicate ...  [Read more]

Classroom success for teachers and students encompasses classroom management, classroom discipline and seating arrangements; which are all dependent upon seating arrangement styles. In order to determine which seating arrangement style (SAS) is best for a class one must look at the reasons or the importance of a particular SAS.SAS are important for classroom control and management, student security, student interaction and socialization, ease of teaching, special needs of students such as seeing or hearing, and are a good way of memorizing students' names in the beginning. There are many factors in determining a SAS.Prior to selecting a specific SAS a teacher must determine how the class will be taught and which subject. Will there be a math class where every...  [Read more]

Introduction:Listening is the ability to identify and understand spoken language. Listening is a receptive skill. The receptive skills used in language acquisition: listening and reading enable the productive skills: speaking and writing (Saricoban, 1999). Listening is the communication skill used most often in the assimilation of information and the most neglected in foreign language teaching (Norris, 1993). Effective listening is dependent upon the listener's decoding skills, i.e. the listener's ability to make sense of the message. For foreign language learners accurate and intelligent listening is a necessity. A good teacher will enable intelligent listening by enhancing her student's decoding skills.Unlike written and spoken evidence, successful listening is more ...  [Read more]

When training to teach English as a foreign language, or any other subject for that matter, at some stage the need arises to examine what exactly it is that makes someone a good teacher. After all, if you do not know the qualities you should possess, how are you to become one? The TEFL International handbook provides a summary of teachers? own suggestions of the characteristics required, and lists personality traits such as patience and kindness, and skills such as the ability to motivate, understand and entertain (1). The handbook uses this list to surmise that a good teacher is one who ?cares about his/her teaching, but cares more about the learning of the students? (2). If the students? needs are therefore the number one priority, then self-analysis on the part of...  [Read more]

When training to teach English as a foreign language, or any other subject for that matter, at some stage the need arises to examine what exactly it is that makes someone a good teacher. After all, if you do not know the qualities you should possess, how are you to become one' The TEFL International handbook provides a summary of teachers' own suggestions of the characteristics required, and lists personality traits such as patience and kindness, and skills such as the ability to motivate, understand and entertain (1). The handbook uses this list to surmise that a good teacher is one who 'cares about his/her teaching, but cares more about the learning of the students' (2). If the students' needs are therefore the number one priority, then self-analysis on the part of the...  [Read more]

This paper is concerned with teaching the productive skill of writing for students of non-native English speaking countries. This is an area that has all but been ignored in the past and somewhat over looked in the field of TESOL, as administrators, teachers and students seem to be more concerned and more focused on the speaking side of the productive skills. As more and more ESL students are seeking writing help at the college and university levels, the need becomes clear for better writing instruction in the ESL classroom. The ability to write well is not a naturally acquired skill, nor is it a linear process easily fit into some pre-taught format. Writing must be taught as a set of practices in a formal instructional setting and must be practiced. Good writing ...  [Read more]

The city of Madison in Wisconsin, USA, is blessed with extraordinary natural landscapes. The area around the city is the traditional home of the Native American Ho Chunk tribe who lived in this sacred land surrounded by four lakes, Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Kegonsa, and Lake Waubesa. When the first American settlers came to the area they built their homes and named the city after former US President James Madison. Many travellers from around the united states and across the globe come here to visit a variety of attractions, including Monona Terrace, First Unitarian Society Meetinghouse, and Memorial Union. As you can see, Madison is the perfect combination of nature and history that makes for a great place to take your TEFL/TESOL course. Madison has a long history that begins in...  [Read more]

One of the worst teaching experience is having a class come to an abrupt halt while someone searches a dictionary for a specific word, one usually not found in the end anyway. The problem of using dictionaries as a crutch could be rectified by not allowing the use of them in a lesson at all. The great art of circumlocution could be used instead, albeit kicking and screaming. Those experiences of being derailed by frantic dictionary searches would make any ESL teacher shudder and swear off dictionaries entirely. Should native language to English language dictionaries be banned altogether' Some would argue that using dictionaries is a good technique to use in the classroom. One that actually helps to create a more independent learner ( www.tefl.net/teacher_training). The...  [Read more]

One of the worst teaching experience is having a class come to an abrupt halt while someone searches a dictionary for a specific word, one usually not found in the end anyway. The problem of using dictionaries as a crutch could be rectified by not allowing the use of them in a lesson at all. The great art of circumlocution could be used instead, albeit kicking and screaming. Those experiences of being derailed by frantic dictionary searches would make any ESL teacher shudder and swear off dictionaries entirely. Should native language to English language dictionaries be banned altogether? Some would argue that using dictionaries is a good technique to use in the classroom. One that actually helps to create a more independent learner (...  [Read more]

Home > Esl Resources Findings in many of the past studies do indeed suggest that small- sized classes are indeed more effective that larger classes... As a TEFL educator, I have been faced with various challenges in the classroom... The use of songs in the ESL classroom can be a fun and innovative way of covering a range of English language topics... The study of business is a study of communication... The rapport between a teacher and their students plays a very important role in determining if the class will be successful and enjoyable... For many years Teachers of English have used the PPP model of Presentation, Practice and Production for the preferred model of teaching... ?There is no such thing as Canadian English?[it] is a myth, fabricated to...  [Read more]

Home > Esl Resources Findings in many of the past studies do indeed suggest that small- sized classes are indeed more effective that larger classes... As a TEFL educator, I have been faced with various challenges in the classroom... The use of songs in the ESL classroom can be a fun and innovative way of covering a range of English language topics... The study of business is a study of communication... The rapport between a teacher and their students plays a very important role in determining if the class will be successful and enjoyable... For many years Teachers of English have used the PPP model of Presentation, Practice and Production for the preferred model of teaching... ?There is no such thing as Canadian English?[it] is a myth, fabricated to...  [Read more]

As a TEFL educator, I have been faced with various challenges in the classroom. Of those that I have encountered, fostering motivation and interest in my students has been the most demanding. As Melissa Kelly states in her recent article on motivating students, '['] motivation is probably the most significant factor educators can target in order to improve learning.' During the time I have spent teaching English, I have realized this. Without motivation, a classroom is dead.According to research findings, there are three significant factors that play into classrommAccording to research findings, there are three significant factors that play into classroom and student motivation: control, competence and connection (Kelly). Kelly refers to these as 'students' needs', and emphasizes...  [Read more]

As a TEFL educator, I have been faced with various challenges in the classroom. Of those that I have encountered, fostering motivation and interest in my students has been the most demanding. As Melissa Kelly states in her recent article on motivating students, ?[?] motivation is probably the most significant factor educators can target in order to improve learning.? During the time I have spent teaching English, I have realized this. Without motivation, a classroom is dead. According to research findings, there are three significant factors that play into classromm According to research findings, there are three significant factors that play into classroom and student motivation: control, competence and connection (Kelly). Kelly refers to these as ?students? needs?, and ...  [Read more]

Being an EFL teacher can bring numerous rewards and happiness, but even the most experienced EFL teacher runs into challenges in the classroom from time to time, especially when teaching young learners. Challenges may range from wondering how to organize the seating of your students in the classroom to having a student that is disruptive. There are many challenges that TEFL teachers face, and unfortunately many are not given the resources/ideas or training that is beneficial and essential in maintaining a productive and homeostatic classroom. This is an essay about some of these challenges, and of course some ideas for classroom management.Classroom management can be challenging for anyone, but especially for the new teacher who has little experience in this area. It is not...  [Read more]

China has been proclaimed to be the largest market for English learners. In the last twenty years, progress in teaching and learning of English has exploded. Arriving in China August 1993 was not my first time there. Though it was my first time in the Northeast. I was to spend the next twelve years of my life in the city of Shenyang. An industrial city of 7 million people. My first impression was that it was like being in a 1950´s black and white movie with no sub-titles.. I was to teach at Shenyang Institute of Technology. My first year, I had 800 students. All except one of the classes, were freshmen. One was a class of 25 graduate students. Shenyang was my home until October 2005. There were tremendous changes in China during those years affecting...  [Read more]

China has been proclaimed to be the largest market for English learners. In the last twenty years, progress in teaching and learning of English has exploded. Arriving in China August 1993 was not my first time there. Though it was my first time in the Northeast. I was to spend the next twelve years of my life in the city of Shenyang. An industrial city of 7 million people. My first impression was that it was like being in a 1950´s black and white movie with no sub-titles..I was to teach at Shenyang Institute of Technology. My first year, I had 800 students. All except one of the classes, were freshmen. One was a class of 25 graduate students. Shenyang was my home until October 2005. There were tremendous changes in China during those years affecting all aspects of life....  [Read more]

'Red is rojo. Green is verde. Blue-Azul, Negro-Black'? As a high school student I opted to take a foreign language course in Spanish. Honestly, I do not remember a lot of the language (and I even took four years!), but what I do remember are those elements that were taught through the use of song. The example above is sung (and continues) in the tune of ?Are you sleeping?? In this same course we became familiar with a few popular Latin American songs; one such song was ?Amor Prohibido? by Selena. I may not be able to recall the meaning of all the words in the song, but I can still, nonetheless, successfully sing through the entire song with correct pronunciation. My experience and current research have shown me the immense power that songs can have in the...  [Read more]

Classrooms are places for seriousness, but they are also places for serious enjoyment. Indeed, fun and entertainment are effective tools of instruction, and games are excellent ways of bringing fruitful fun into the classroom. I would contend, moreover, that games of varied sorts can be introduced at every stage of a lesson as integral parts of the Engage, Study and Activate phases.Rik Ruiter and Pinky Y. Dang, authors of Highway to E.S.L: A User-Friendly Guide to Teaching English as a Second Language (2005), note the significance of games in a chapter entitled 'Fun E.S.L.' Heading for the Sunset'. They explain that it is essential to take breaks from using only the textbook as students 'will become bored as anyone would from being forced to do the mundane' (2005: 281). ...  [Read more]

This paper is concerned with teaching the productive skill of writing for students of non-native English speaking countries. This is an area that has all but been ignored in the past and somewhat over looked in the field of TESOL, as administrators, teachers and students seem to be more concerned and more focused on the speaking side of the productive skills.As more and more ESL students are seeking writing help at the college and university levels, the need becomes clear for better writing instruction in the ESL classroom. The ability to write well is not a naturally acquired skill, nor is it a linear process easily fit into some pre-taught format. Writing must be taught as a set of practices in a formal instructional setting and must be practiced. Good writing involves composing...  [Read more]

The drivers for any person from any country around the world to complete a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course are wide and varied. In this article I will impart my personal reasons for undertaking the TEFL course and present some reasons others that I have discovered through my research and interviews. I will also demonstrate the reasons for choosing TEFL from the number of available English Teaching certifications on the market. Finally I will conclude with a summary of my perceived benefits and challenges experienced whilst studying for TEFL Certification.Personally I was driven to TEFL with the aim of becoming an English Teacher in Japan. I hold a strong desire to live and work in a foreign country and teaching English has proved to be a popular and ...  [Read more]

Home > Articles I never made a mistake in grammar but one in my life and as soon as I done it I seen it... So you've decided you want to teach English as a foreign language... There are many different practices that could be used for good classroom management and as with all techniques these need to be adapted to your own classroom, taking into account the age, culture, and personality of the class as a whole, and of you as a teacher... Classroom management requires a positive relationship between the teacher and the student... I believe that Classroom Management is the key component in any educational setting... I?m sure ?Classroom Management? holds many different meanings for many different people... Classroom management is a teacher?s ability to organize and control ...  [Read more]