People With Different

When considering the importance of the role of a teacher, what then is the importance of how they teach when faced with different and diverse cultures? First, we must look to the definition of culture itself: ?A culture may be conceived as a network of beliefs and purposes in which any string in the net pulls and is pulled by the others, thus perpetually changing the configuration of the whole.? (Jacques Barzun, quoted on site: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural- services/articles/culturel) So if culture is indeed a highly upheld structure that supports each individual, then we must carefully take into consideration how we incorporate the culture in the classroom to create a sense of unity. In teaching to a different culture, one must first reflect on their ...  [Read more]

In the same way that people look different, people are also intelligent in different ways. In 1983, Professor Howard Gardner came up with the concept that we all have multiple intelligence (MI). In the following I will briefly explain this concept further; highlighting how it can be incorporated into lesson plans when teaching English as a second language (ESL); how it can help students build on their strengths, while limiting their weaknesses in their grasp of the English language; and how it is useful when considering different cultures in the classroom. I will also discuss how MI explains that students all learn differently, according to which form of intelligence they are stronger in.Gardner (1983) has categorised intelligence into 8 key areas: 'Linguistic Intelligence:...  [Read more]

  Even though many people use "may" and "might" interchangeably, they actually have slightly different meanings. The word "may", for example refers to a possibility, while "might" conveys slightly more uncertainty. In the example "There are dark clouds in the sky. It may rain later", we use "may" because the dark clouds suggest the possibility of rain. The sentence "I'm sick but I might come to the party" uses "might" because it is not certain the person will go to the party. This means, you should use 'may' when there is some kind of a sign that predicts or indicates future happenings. You should use 'might' when expressing something a little more unlikely or uncertain. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification...  [Read more]

There are many benefits to be enjoyed while working overseas as an English language teacher, including the unique opportunity to be surrounded by a new language on a daily basis. If your dream is to perfect your Spanish language skills by living and working in a Spanish speaking environment, then you have several great options to choose from. There are over twenty countries with a combined population of nearly half a billion people where Spanish is the main language. Many of these also have a large demand for English language teachers. If you are looking to immerse yourself in Spanish culture and language, where better to do it than in Spain itself. Famous for its stunning architecture, beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine, and laidback attitude, Spain has plenty to offer foreign...  [Read more]

There is no simple answer to this question as the reasons for teaching English are different for different people. For some it is the chance to help people who need English to improve their job status and to provide for their families. For others it is the adventure of heading overseas that is the real draw. With a TEFL qualification you can realistically look for work in almost any country you can think of. Another major benefit of teaching English that is often overlooked is that it provides a huge boost to the confidence and future careers of thousands of people who see it as a major step on their work and study journey. Whatever your own reasons for wanting to teach English, you will get to travel, help other people, and gain valuable work and life experience, all while exploring your...  [Read more]

A career in TEFL is one that many people could find attractive for different reasons – a passion for teaching, a passion for English, a desire to live abroad, or even a desire to meet people around the world. It is a career that offers many opportunities. However, what many big-dreamers who desire a career in TEFL may not realize is that there can be a lot of obstacles in such a career, especially to a native English speaker teaching abroad. This article looks at obstacles in three specific areas, professional, teaching, and personal obstacles, which TEFL teachers teaching abroad are likely to encounter.A career in TEFL is not considered a “real” career by some, according to an article in TESOL Quarterly by Bill Johnston. Johnston supported this claim...  [Read more]

Many thousands of people every year, of all nationalities and from all walks of life, make the decision to take a TEFL certification course for a wide variety of different reasons. For some it offers the chance to earn a bit of spending money while traveling in far-flung corners of the world, while for others it is a great way to make fundamental changes to their career and life plans. If you are one of the many thousands of others who have thought about studying TEFL, but are yet to act, here are some of the main reasons why we think you should take the leap. Most people have periods in their life when the job they are doing becomes dull, mundane, and all too repetitive. So what better way to shake things up and make a change to the same old same old than by taking a training course that...  [Read more]

Here I was, waiting to teach a 'Lets Learn English' session with the Pacific and Asian newcomers to Australia. I was to continue the conversational English lessons with them. The attendees were looking forward to the class. I could tell this by the enthusiasm in their greeting as they arrived and by their hunger to learn in previous sessions. What's more we were having fun as we journeyed into the English language together. What's the biggest problem these students have I thought' The simple answer is 'the peculiarities of the English language, or more specifically'words. So what are words anyway' They're just sounds or noises that we utter after all. Unlike lower animals we may not bark neigh, moo, roar, purr or growl, but we do react instinctively to what's happening around...  [Read more]

Global English? in a sociolinguistic context refers almost literally to the use of English as a global language http://www.english.ucsb.edu/faculty/rraley/research/global- Englishl.? The English language as a global language has proved itself to be taught and learned by people from all across the world. In many countries English is usually taught as second language and there is a big demand for knowledge to speak. TEFL courses will help to create English as a global language by continuing to create in classroom sights around the world, especially in countries where English is only spoken as a second language or not spoken at all. ?The English language is important for ?science? as it brings efficiency to a subject, but in the scheme of literature, the English ...  [Read more]

Introduction Considering the difficulties that learners from different backgrounds are faced with is appropriate because I will soon embark on a teaching career which will bring me in contact with many people from different backgrounds and the challenges they face in mastering the English language. Having learnt English myself at some point in life, has made me aware of some of the difficulties my students are faced with. My experience in having overcome these difficulties could be a great help to my students, if these are used in the proper way. The danger is that one might compare others to oneself. This is useless because it?s extremely difficult to say that people with a certain background only face one set of problems. The difficulties are as many and as varied...  [Read more]

IntroductionConsidering the difficulties that learners from different backgrounds are faced with is appropriate because I will soon embark on a teaching career which will bring me in contact with many people from different backgrounds and the challenges they face in mastering the English language. Having learnt English myself at some point in life, has made me aware of some of the difficulties my students are faced with. My experience in having overcome these difficulties could be a great help to my students, if these are used in the proper way. The danger is that one might compare others to oneself. This is useless because it's extremely difficult to say that people with a certain background only face one set of problems. The difficulties are as many and as varied as the...  [Read more]

Check out Tesolcourse.com about TEFL - Canadian Based Online TEFL Courses and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: A.B . - Scotland said: Knowledge and understanding of grammar has improved Expanded ideas of how to make lessons fun and interesting while developing students? abilities Think the 2 week practical course will help put these into practice and help work towards being a good TEFL teacher A.D ? USA I can't even put into words how much I feel like I have accomplished in participating in this program. I started with this program to get a taste of what it may be like to teach...  [Read more]

The term Active Learning means ''student interaction with content, with materials and with peers in a multi-disciplinary, multi-sensory and multi-graded approach' (Meyers, 1993 pg 39). Active learning helps the teacher handle the diversity of student levels in the classroom.In an Active Learning classroom the student is provided with the time, the materials, and the organized classroom routines and expectations they need in order to allow them interaction with their learning. It is important for educators to realize that Active Learning supports not only English-speaking students but second- language learners as well.If we think that students are learning English so that they can use it in their everyday lives to better themselves and their opportunities, we must realize that...  [Read more]

After completing a TEFL certification course and working as an English language teacher, some people look to branch out into other avenues of the teaching profession in order to gain more experience or to earn a higher salary. One such route is to become a TEFL trainer. Teaching people to become classroom teachers can be a very rewarding and well paid job and a route into management positions or even setting up your own language school. The first and most obvious requirement is to successfully complete a TEFL course. This experience will give you the basic knowledge you need to teach English and also a valuable insight into what it takes to be a good teacher trainer. Crucially, it is not necessary to be at the top of the class when taking your course, as many of the best teacher trainers...  [Read more]

Howard Gardner is a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a renowned author; his theory of multiple intelligences is a critique of the notion that there exists but a single human intelligence that can be assessed by standard psychometric instruments. Multiple intelligences theory proposes that it is more efficient to describe an individual´s cognitive capacity in terms of several relatively independent but interacting cognitive capacities rather than in terms of a single "general" intelligence. Gardner suggests that there are at least nine different or distinct intelligences: 1.Linguistic: the capacity to use language to express what´s on your mind and to understand other people. Any kind of writer,...  [Read more]

"Global English" in a sociolinguistic context refers almost literally to the use of English as a global language http://www.english.ucsb.edu/faculty/rraley/research/global- English.html. The English language as a global language has proved itself to be taught and learned by people from all across the world. In many countries English is usually taught as second language and there is a big demand for knowledge to speak. TEFL courses will help to create English as a global language by continuing to create in classroom sights around the world, especially in countries where English is only spoken as a second language or not spoken at all.The English language is important for 'science' as it brings efficiency to a subject, but in the scheme of literature, the English language is...  [Read more]

For the purpose of this article I assume that there is absolutely no difference between TEFL and TESOL, they are both a means of teaching English to people who do not have it as their first language. So why do people think to themselves sitting at home, maybe I will train to be a teacher, but not a regular teacher that we all grew up with at school. But someone who teaches the English language to non English speakers in foreign countries. Well the reasons are varied but almost everyone can identify themselves with at least one. Some realize that the jobs they work in are not quite what they thought they would do growing up. So in search of excitement and something more worthwhile they sign up to TEFL. Others like myself are really gypsies and have a great urge to...  [Read more]

What is slang' A simple online definition is, "The nonstandard vocabulary of a given culture or subculture, typicaly consisting of transitory coinages and figures of speech." (Catchword) What is an idiom' From another online source, "Idiom refers to a grammatical construction unique to a certain people, region, or class that cannot be translated literally into another language." (Pearson Canada) When learning any language, these two concepts are an important part of complete understanding. The first hurdle a language student must overcome is grammar. After getting a basic understanding of how to string a language´s words together to form something understandable to an average native speaker, the next step is vocabulary. While grammar and vocabulary are definately an...  [Read more]

Teaching English in any environment offers a wide variety of benefits that will enhance your future career, whatever path you choose to follow. If your English teaching experience also included an extended period living and working outside of your home country, then this will certainly look very appealing on your resume when applying for other jobs further down the line. In the modern age where every job seems to have a huge number of applicants and everyone seems to have a degree or other high-end qualifications, being able to add an overseas teaching adventure to your application could well be the difference between securing an interview and being put at the bottom of the pile. So what are the major benefits that teaching English abroad adds to your CV/resume? This is the most obvious...  [Read more]

The theory of multiple intelligences was proposed by Dr. Howard Gardner, a professor of education at Harvard University, in 1983. It claims that there are seven different intelligences, or styles of learning and understanding, rather than the two that are routinely taught in schools and employed in jobs throughout the world. These consist of visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic and logical- mathematical. As may be evident, only the latter two have been given credence in most cultures. This becomes especially apparent when one examines the educational systems thereof. Thus if Gardner´s claims have any merit, than a severe revision of teaching methodologies is in order, to say nothing of the values that cultures...  [Read more]

Our TEFL certification course in the Philippines gives you the opportunity to learn how to teach English in a country made up of over 7,000 different islands. The Philippines is a beautiful archipelago, brimming with friendly people and a rich culture. Its many popular features include marvellous beaches, a wealth of wildlife, and a varied and exciting night life. During your TEFL course you can enjoy some of the best SCUBA diving and snorkelling in the world, indulge in the delicious and inexpensive local cuisine, and participate in the country’s many lively festivals. Attending a TEFL course in the Philippines is sure to be an experience you will never forget. For those interested in training and working in the Philippines, it is worth noting that English is a widely spoken national...  [Read more]

The English language was created in England. Throughout history, this language has spread to many parts of the world. It is used as a link language for International business and diplomacy. According to Madhukar N. Gate, it has taken thousands of words from other languages such as French, Latin, German, Greek and so on. We can even find Sanskrit words in English. For example: Guru and Pundit are two Sanskrit words used in English. English grammar is quite simple, in many languages nouns have grammatical gender which makes some verbs and adjectives change. This doesn?t happen in English. The adjective ?big? is used with all nouns such as man, woman, child, book etc, as well as applying to both singular and plural nouns. Counting large numbers in English is very simple. For...  [Read more]

IntrodutionEnglish Pronunciation: How does it differ and why' We''re all native English speakers aren''t we, what''s all this about sounding different' Everyone knows that a guy from the states sounds different to a fellow from England. But, can we break it down' Can we state a few simple rules that are continually repeating' Rules that a country''s native always follow when pronouncing a word. The rules which determine their accent. Let''s try. MainAccents vary within countries, so as a starting point, let''s just take the standard English that is spoken. This is considered to be ''General American'' for the US and ''Received Pronunciation'' for England.Rule 1: American is rhotic (i.e. pronouncing all r''s) and English is non-rhotic (pronouncing r''s only when followed by a...  [Read more]

The English language was created in England. Throughout history, this language has spread to many parts of the world. It is used as a link language for International business and diplomacy.According to Madhukar N. Gate, it has taken thousands of words from other languages such as French, Latin, German, Greek and so on. We can even find Sanskrit words in English. For example: Guru and Pundit are two Sanskrit words used in English. English grammar is quite simple, in many languages nouns have grammatical gender which makes some verbs and adjectives change. This doesn't happen in English. The adjective 'big' is used with all nouns such as man, woman, child, book etc, as well as applying to both singular and plural nouns.Counting large numbers in English is very simple. For example,...  [Read more]

Howard Gardner is a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a renowned author; his theory of multiple intelligences is a critique of the notion that there exists but a single human intelligence that can be assessed by standard psychometric instruments. Multiple intelligences theory proposes that it is more efficient to describe an individual´s cognitive capacity in terms of several relatively independent but interacting cognitive capacities rather than in terms of a single "general" intelligence. Gardner suggests that there are at least nine different or distinct intelligences: 1.Linguistic: the capacity to use language to express what´s on your mind and to understand other people. Any kind of writer, orator, speaker, lawyer, or other person for whom...  [Read more]

There are many different language teaching methods and teaching styles. Diane Larsen-Freeman states in her book Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching, that the term 'language teaching method' is a 'set of links between actions and thoughts in language teaching' (Larsen-Freeman 1). The actions and thoughts of teachers, worldwide, lead to many different teaching styles. Through the TEFL course offered by ITTT, students of teaching learn about the ESA method. Engage, Study, and Activate (ESA) is a great outline of how to run a classroom. Many different styles can be incorporated within this outline, as well.One method, the Direct Method, has been applied for many years by language teachers. The one very basic rule of the Direct Method is that there is no...  [Read more]

Since the late 19th century, English has been identified as the most far reaching language in the world. In his book, English as a Global Language, linguist David Crystal defines what constitutes a global language and provides a useful categorization of English speakers around the world today. Crystal also describes the forces driving global English to grow in its current direction and argues that the role of English in the current world is unlike any other example of an international language in history. In his final assessment concerning the effects of English on communities and countries as well as in his projections about the fate of global English, Crystal presents some challenges to making this phenomenon become a force for betterment in the world but also shows how...  [Read more]

I?m sure ?Classroom Management? holds many different meanings for many different people. For me, it is the way in which your students behave and act during any given class and how you, as a teacher, deal with the differences in student demeanor, actions and behavior. Thai culture is different in so many ways from the culture I was brought up with in England. Being incredibly patriotic, it is difficult for me to say that I prefer the outlook that nearly every Thai I know holds ? but for me it is true. The Lonely Planet guide to Thailand sums up the hierarchal structure which is still prevalent all across Thailand in one of it?s opening Chapters ? ?The Culture?. ?All relationships in?(Thailand)?are governed by connections between phuu yai (?big person? or senior) and...  [Read more]

The theory of multiple intelligences was proposed by Dr. Howard Gardner, a professor of education at Harvard University, in 1983. It claims that there are seven different intelligences, or styles of learning and understanding, rather than the two that are routinely taught in schools and employed in jobs throughout the world. These consist of visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic and logical- mathematical. As may be evident, only the latter two have been given credence in most cultures. This becomes especially apparent when one examines the educational systems thereof. Thus if Gardner´s claims have any merit, than a severe revision of teaching methodologies is in order, to say nothing of the values that ...  [Read more]

I think I would have very little disagreement to the statement that English is a global language. The massive growth in the economies such as the USA or the influence of the ever growing European union has had a massive effect on the languages spoken today by the worlds' population. Linguists today estimate that there are roughly between five and six thousand different languages in the world. Many of these are obviously unknown and not very frequently used. English is estimated to be the third most natively spoken language in the world behind mandarin Chinese and Hindi, but this does not tell the whole truth about English in the world today. As communication...  [Read more]