Quiet Quitting Teaching

Teaching idioms and slang is quite a subjective topic. I believe that it is an integral part of teaching EFL. I agree with the school of thought that says that slang and idioms are an every day part of our language and it is important that foreign students are aware of the most common forms they are likely to encounter, the appropriate use of these language forms and what is considered to be taboo in polite society. An important matter to consider is that although students can find endless reference books on almost every other form of the English Language, slang and idioms are not considered part of the syllabus and paid no or very little attention.If we do not teach idioms how is a student ever going to cope with phrases such as - To bury the hatchet, to be in the same boat...  [Read more]

Imagine you are an ESL student who has studied quite hard. You have followed your courses; you have been actively participating in class activities and discussions; you have completed all assignments; you have read your texts. In fact, you feel quite prepared to travel to the English speaking world and use your English skills quite confidently. Your assumption is a logical one. You have had no indication that the proper English you have been taught is missing a large piece of the language: idioms and slang. When you arrive in the new country, you understand most of the conversations but have quite a hard time understanding seemingly nonsensical phrases and words. This is not a situation that should occur. Teachers of English that are native speakers have all the...  [Read more]

Quite often, the terms English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) are used interchangeably to describe English language instruction to non-native speakers. However, it is becoming increasingly more well known that the two contexts are quite different, demanding the teacher approach and execute different teaching methodologies in the classes. In an ESL setting, the class is likely to be multilingual and be completely immersed in the language by living in the culture of the target language. On the other hand, in the EFL setting, the class is typically monolingual and living in their own country (Brown 2001).In Teaching by principles, author H. Douglas Brown explains that 'it is useful to consider the pedagogical implications for a continuum of...  [Read more]

  When our answers are not correct then, obviously, they need to be corrected but it is quite important that we go through a process of correction that will help students. Quite often they've made a mistake simply because of something like reading the incorrect answer out or misrepresenting what they've actually written down. So, always give the opportunity when a mistake has been made for the student to self-correct first. We can often do this in a nonverbal way to show them that they're not actually correct. We might repeat back what they've said to us in a questioning manner or we may just make a gesture to make sure that they understand that they're not correct. So, we allow for a process of self-correction. It may be that the student has actually got the answer wrong and so we...  [Read more]

Teaching English abroad has become a popular and lucrative job for many English speakers around the world in recent years. This is mainly due to the increase in demand for the English language in many countries, which has resulted in increasing competition for teaching salaries. When looking for a teaching job abroad it is always a good idea to compare the salary on offer with the local cost of living, which can vary greatly from one country to the next. A monthly salary of US $1,000 would allow you to live a very comfortable lifestyle in Costa Rica, whereas the same salary in a city like Paris would most likely not be enough to provide all of the comforts you desire. Other contract benefits such as free housing, health insurance, paid vacations, and airfare reimbursement can all add up to...  [Read more]

Turkey is famous as a crossroads between Europe and Asia and it is fast becoming known for its booming market for foreign English language teachers. Demand is very high in all the big cities and tourist resorts as English language skills are becoming more and more important in many fields of employment. It is no exaggeration to say that Turkey offers more opportunities for TEFL qualified teachers than any other country in the region. Although it is possible to find a teaching job with no qualifications, these positions are likely to be with less than reputable employers who pay at the bottom end of the local scale. Most good teaching jobs will require a TEFL/TESOL certification, while some may also ask for a degree and/or previous experience. It is worth noting that many employers prefer...  [Read more]

  The next category we are looking at in our series on teaching special groups in ESL are individuals. Teaching individuals, or one-to-one, forms a large part of the ESL market. Find out the positives, negatives and tips in this video. 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 onto the next. In this unit, I learned about developing good rapport between myself and the students in the classroom. This is very important because it will indicate how the lesson will flow and...  [Read more]

  The next category we are looking at in our series on teaching special groups in ESL are young learners. We consider students aged 2 to 16 young learners. Find out the positives, negatives and tips when teaching young learners in this video. 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 onto the next. This unit, Troubleshooting, was focus on some of the most common problem situations that teachers can encounter in the classroom and also suggest ways of dealing with them....  [Read more]

  Regardless of which type of beginners you are teaching here are our top 10 tips for the teaching of beginner classes. 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 onto the next. The content of this unit focused on the productive skills of writing and speaking for communicative purposes. The unit provided a brief overview of the equal importance of writing and speaking in the classroom, of which writing is often pushed to the wayside as language production (via...  [Read more]

  Within the teaching of ESL throughout the world, there is a whole spectrum of the types of groups that you may be involved in. It's worth breaking those types of groups down to have a look at some of the more specific things we need to do when we're teaching those groups - and this is what this video focuses on. 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 onto the next. I feel that I have learned to understand more than just to help and move on. Children needs more...  [Read more]

  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 onto the next. Technology can be a huge resource for teachers within World Language classrooms. However, in order for the applications to be useful, it is necessary that teachers understand how to use the various technological devices, setup the devices ahead of time, and have a backup plan should technology fail (it is both a blessing and a curse!). During this unit, the benefits and drawbacks of various methods of...  [Read more]

  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 onto the next. Course development is one of the most important issues in a teacher's career. It's essential to make a complete procedure to start working with business students. The first step is to ask typical questions concerning interests, previous experiences and preferences. The second step is to do the Placement test. The next step is to do needs analysis. The final step is to make a course plan and to describe the...  [Read more]

  The zero conditional is the most basic form of the conditionals in the English language. This is a teaching idea for the zero conditional that can also be adjusted for any other types of conditionals. 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 onto the next. This lesson provided information on learning theory, and the most appropriate methods for each set of learner age groups. It discussed each of the four theories (and mentioned a fifth), and how they are applied...  [Read more]

  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 onto the next. In this lesson, I learned about the many methods of teaching English as an L2 language. Of the teaching methods, I find that the ESA- Engage, Study, Activate- method is most interesting and thorough because of the versatility and flexibility it gives a teacher. As a teacher using ESA, I can gauge the understanding and interest of my students and add more study and activate materials to better suit their...  [Read more]

  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 onto the next. This unit went over what you should focus on when you are planning a lesson. It really made a point to emphasize that you should always remain flexible. Always be open to change because sometimes activities don't go as planned or they might go quicker or slower than planned. Timing was another thing that was stressed in this lesson. You should try to estimate the time of each activity. I think it would be...  [Read more]

Unlock your potential and embark on a rewarding journey with our comprehensive online teaching English certification program! At ITTT, we offer a top-notch training course that combines theoretical knowledge with practical teaching experience, equipping you with the skills and confidence to excel in the field of English language teaching. Whether you are a seasoned educator looking to enhance your qualifications or a newcomer with a passion for teaching, our program is designed to meet your needs and help you achieve your professional goals. Our online TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification program is carefully crafted to provide you with a solid foundation in the principles of language teaching, classroom...  [Read more]

  This teaching idea is very similar to the activity we can use for the future continuous. We pair up our students, give them diaries and have them find the day on which both of them are free to meet. This video shows you exactly how to execute this activity in the classroom. 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 onto the next. Pronunciation is extremely difficult area, especially in languages far removed linguistically from English. A German most certainly has an...  [Read more]

  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 onto the next. While it is the most basic form of verbs usage, the present tense did pose some problems to me. Not in the way that I would use them, but in the way that I actually have to name the proper tense to my students when teaching. Very informative on that point since all of those matters are very far in my memory. However, what I found most useful are the commonly made mistakes which I would not have foreseen,...  [Read more]

  This video looks at various teaching ideas for the 'going to' future tense. Pictures are a great tool for lower-level students to look at evidence based on the pictures and making predictions using the 'going to' future. Other ideas might include weather predictions, as well as planning a party or holiday. 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 onto the next. Unit 17 deals with teaching aids and equipment to be used inside the classroom. Some of these teaching...  [Read more]

Our unique instructional videos provide an invaluable addition to the TEFL training experience. These extracts from our 120-hour course with tutor support cover many aspects of teaching such as English grammar and lesson planning.  [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]

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]

Every year, thousands of new and experienced teachers head to Europe looking for adventure while working as an English language teacher. A large number of these will arrive in the usual hotspots across Italy and Spain where the competition for jobs can be very high. If you are looking for something a little different that is slightly off the beaten path, then the Central European Teaching Program (CETP) may be worth a look. The CETP is a long running program that places applicants into schools in Hungary to work as English language teachers. The CETP is open to native English speakers from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., or any other EU country. As the scheme has no official upper age limit it is a particularly good option for older teachers who might find it difficult to secure jobs in...  [Read more]

Asia and Latin America are two of the most popular regions for teaching English abroad. Both have a strong demand for English language instruction, and there are always plenty of employers ready to take on experienced and newly qualified teachers in a wide variety of countries. If you are undecided on which destination would suit you best, take a look at the following points as they might help you to make an informed choice. In general, most people who head to Latin America will find that they can live comfortably on their earnings, but are unlikely to save much (if anything at all) of their monthly salary. Paying rent and other bills, socializing, and exploring the region should be affordable for most, but if you have debts to pay off or need to save to fund further travel, it may not...  [Read more]

Teaching beginners is one of the most interesting and ongoing training as a teacher will keep on discovering other techniques in order to capture the understanding of the beginner, rather to make the beginner understand. The term 'beginner' may not mean all the students are in one category, they are categorized as follows:The absolute beginner- these are students who don't know English at all. (htt://esl.about.com) there are a number of things to keep in mind when teaching someone who has had no prior (or very little) contact with the language, you need to carefully choose what you present, for instance, types of needs that needs to go into planning a lesson: If I begin the lesson with, Hi my name is--------.What's your name' I am presenting three (!) concepts at once*The verb...  [Read more]

Most people who want to teach English overseas will eventually come to a point when they consider taking a TEFL training course. However, many teaching establishments throughout the world will hire teachers with no experience or training ' a four year college degree will do! If it is not necessary for all TEFL jobs, why spend the time and money taking a TEFL course' While it may be the case that it is not a prerequisite for every job, completing a TEFL course gives a prospective teacher many advantages over an uncertified teacher.In Teaching English Abroad, Susan Griffith is careful to point out that a TEFL certificate does not necessary offer a straight shot to the job of one's choice: personality and experience can also factor in heavily. Griffith also maintains,...  [Read more]

It is common knowledge that learning grammar can be a complex process. However, learning vocabulary is not as simple as many assume it to be. And retaining it for a lifetime is not simple at all. One model for learning new vocabulary consists of five stages. Having sources for encountering new words, receiving a visual and auditory image of the word, learning meaning, making memory connections to strengthen recollection and finally, using the words.In many instances, the teacher is given mandatory books and lesson materials to use as resources. Since the final stage of using the words is the result of the middle three stages, those are precisely the stages the teacher should focus on.The author recommends synonym usage to assist in the learning of new vocabulary. So a...  [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]

There is something about Volunteer Teaching that is very appealing. I have always been interested in it. Now I have undertaken the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course, it is actually a possibility, not just a thought. You can get invaluable experience using TEFL in schools from Monterrey to Mombassa. There are also some amazing volunteer projects available and opportunities for TEFL graduates to pursue. If you have the time and the desire, there is no better way to experience a country's culture than to live and work with their people. In many circumstances, you are helping some of the world's most underprivileged people to learn language skills that could make a real difference to their lives, not to mention the future prosperity of their...  [Read more]

There are many different methods to teach grammar, but this essay will present the three that might be the most effective in retaining student interest. 1.Situational Presentations2.Text and Recordings3.Test Teach Test 1.Teaching grammar via Situational Presentation In order for grammar to have meaning, it needs to be placed within a context. For instance the preposition 'beside' has no meaning to a student unless it's placed within a context. Using a model sentence such as the 'The bread is beside the toaster' gives the word a basic context. Situational presentation refines the context and thus the meaning by building a 'situation' around the model sentence. It can be presented in three stages with the following example of teaching prepositions based on an airplane ride.Stage...  [Read more]