TEFL Grammer

On this page you will find a selection of English grammar related videos taken from our Ask Linda series. Each video features our grammar expert Linda explaining a common grammar issue that can often cause confusion among students and teachers.  [Read more]

Teaching grammar can be one of the most frustrating aspects of an English teacher?s job description. Teaching grammar can be divided into two categories, declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge. Declarative knowledge can be summed up as knowledge about a thing such as the rules of grammar whereas procedural knowledge is being able to apply the knowledge to communicate effectively. To illustrate the difference declarative knowledge would be being able to understand the instruction manual on how to assemble a bicycle where as procedural knowledge would be what you demonstrate when you actually put the bicycle together. Being good at one does not necessarily make one good at the other. Many of us native English speakers can use our native tongue correctly but...  [Read more]

A recent study suggests that teaching grammar to schoolchildren has no discernible effect on their writing skills, so why should it be of any more use in the ELT classroom?? asks Luke Meddings in an article on Friday February 4, 2005 in the Guardian Unlimited. Following a research project funded by the Department for Education in the UK reviewing 100 years of research into grammar teaching, a report was published on 19th January 2005 concluding that teaching grammar does not help young pupils either write more fluently or more accurately. Luke Meddings makes the point that, if this is the case, teaching grammar is likely to be no more useful for second- language learners than for first language learners. It seems to me that the conclusion drawn about teaching grammar...  [Read more]

Grammar is undoubtedly one of the most important aspects of the English language. It is the study of how the four main forms of a language: text, sentence, word and sound, are arranged to communicate a message accurately. Even though grammar is one of the crucial areas of English, the importance given to teaching it has been of great debate for some time. Some pedagogical theorists and practitioners question the necessity of teaching grammar and argue that English could be taught to non-native English speakers without grammar having to be the focus of a lesson. In 1622, a schoolmaster called Joseph Webbe argued that grammar could be mastered ?by exercise of reading, writing, and speaking?all things belonging to Grammar will without labour,?thrust themselves upon...  [Read more]

Enhance your teaching skills with ITTT's TEFL and TESOL training programs. Gain expertise in English grammar, teaching methodologies, and classroom management. Our internationally recognized courses provide the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in the field of English language teaching. Whether you are a seasoned educator looking to upskill or a newcomer to the profession, ITTT has a program tailored to meet your needs. 1. Comprehensive TEFL and TESOL Training 2. Specialized Courses and Certification Options 3. Flexible Learning Options 4. Career Support and Guidance ITTT offers comprehensive TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) training programs designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to...  [Read more]

Unlock Your Potential with ITTT's Grammar-Focused ESL Resources Enhance your English teaching skills and empower your students with ITTT's comprehensive grammar-focused ESL resources. Our range of innovative materials and tools are designed to help educators deliver engaging and effective grammar lessons, catering to students of all ages and language levels. Whether you are a seasoned teacher looking to refresh your curriculum or a new instructor seeking guidance, ITTT has the resources you need to succeed in the classroom. From interactive lesson plans to grammar exercises and activities, our ESL resources cover a wide range of topics to ensure a well-rounded learning experience for students. With a focus on practical application and real-world examples, educators can easily incorporate...  [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. The information provided in this Unit is very useful for my future career development and diversification of my knowledge. I've learnt about essential roles of the teacher and responsibilities of the learners. In this Unit was clearly explained importance of cross-cultural differences of the international students and that teacher must ensure respect levels maintained related that matter.In this Unit i...  [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. I was extremely excited to learn about all of the websites I have at my disposal. I was starting to get nervous about where I could find materials to start teaching students. I learned that schools will normally provide the teacher with a coursebook, workbook, and teacher's resource book. I also learned that being prepared for board work, and using the overhead projector is very important to keep things...  [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. Unit 13 is about coursebooks and lesson materials.Some teachers swear by them,some despise them.Materials can be devided into 2 groups: authentic and created materials.Authentic ones are real and more motivating.Created one are designed by the teacher to supplement or replace course book materials.Ulike authentic ones,they can be graded to the level of the students.Course book advantages and disadvatages.Best...  [Read more]

Are you looking to enhance your writing skills and boost your confidence in English grammar? Look no further than our professional grammar tutoring services in Madison, WI. Our experienced tutors are here to help you master the intricacies of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, allowing you to communicate effectively and clearly in any setting. Our grammar tutoring services are designed to cater to students of all levels, from beginners to advanced learners. Whether you are a high school student looking to improve your essay writing skills or a professional seeking to polish your business communication, our tutors can provide personalized guidance to meet your specific needs. With our one-on-one tutoring sessions, you can receive individualized attention and feedback on your...  [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. Testing is an area that I am not involved in in my current job. The only testing I am involved in is oral testing, for which I am given a detailed rubric to grade the students on. After reading this chapter I have a better sense of the kinds of tests that can be given throughout a year or a term, as well as a good understanding of the types of English proficiency tests and their uses. Even though I am not...  [Read more]

  And now it's time to have a look at our first grammar unit. Grammar in its widest sense is the structure of a language. We as speakers of the language can structure our language without a problem. However, as teachers of the language we need to be able to better analyze the grammar and the grammar that exists within statements that we make. These basic parts of grammar are called parts of speech. Each part of speech has a certain function within a sentence. Our example sentence here is "My older brother lives in Tokyo." Each one of these words is a certain part of speech, which we'll have a look at in just a minute but let's just think about the words within this particular sentence. We have ?my?, indicating whose brother it is, we have "older", indicating which brother it is....  [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. The students in the second video responded well to the visual aids, even though they were adults. Simple, interesting lessons about simple things, like animals, still kept them interested throughout. It was interesting to see how they responded to the second lesson, that most English speakers would think was a child's lesson, but the more complex lesson plan of the first video left them confused and insecure....  [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 is mostly about the tenses: present simple, present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous. I think this unit was the hardest unit for me because, I actually have a hard time using the tenses myself. Especially, present perfect and present perfect continuous. However, it is a little bit more clear to me of the difference between each tenses.I think it would have been better if there...  [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 was a bit too brief, but indeed a good listing of various issues. I think it should be presented earlier in the course, as some issues have already been covered in other units, and it would be a nice break from the grammar lessons. I have found that the use of English or native, by students and teachers, varies often, and while good to suggest it, it may depend on the school's policies. As for...  [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 made me reflect on how natural these parts of speech have become to me as a native speaker, at least so far in their usage. It is much more difficult to explain the "why" of grammar and that will be an ongoing learning experience. Additionally, I was struck by the long lists of words and tenses that must simply be memorized as I've never really considered that about the English language. I imagine...  [Read more]

Unlock Your Full Potential with Essential Grammar Tools for ESL Students 1. Understanding the Importance of Grammar in ESL Learning 2. Top Grammar Tools for ESL Students 3. How to Make the Most of Grammar Tools in Your Studies 4. Enhance Your ESL Learning Experience with ITTT Grammar is the backbone of any language, providing the necessary structure for effective communication. For ESL (English as a Second Language) students, mastering grammar is crucial for developing proficiency in English. A solid understanding of grammar rules helps students improve their writing, speaking, and comprehension skills. By grasping the fundamentals of English grammar, ESL learners can express themselves more clearly and confidently in both academic and social settings. In today's digital age, ESL students...  [Read more]

Enhance your language skills with personalized English grammar classes in Spain, offered by ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training). Our tailored approach focuses on your individual learning needs, ensuring that you receive the support and guidance necessary to excel in the English language. Whether you are a student looking to improve your academic performance, a professional aiming to advance your career, or simply an individual seeking to enhance your language proficiency, our classes are designed to help you achieve your goals. Our personalized English grammar classes in Spain are designed to cater to students of all levels, from beginners to advanced learners. The curriculum is tailored to meet your specific needs and objectives, ensuring that you receive the most relevant and...  [Read more]

Unlock your potential with professional English grammar lessons in Spain from ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training). Whether you are a student looking to improve your language skills, a professional aiming to enhance your career prospects, or an educator seeking to teach English effectively, our comprehensive courses are designed to meet your needs. With a focus on practical skills and real-world applications, our programs provide you with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in today's globalized world. In our English grammar lessons, you will learn essential language structures, rules, and conventions that are fundamental to effective communication. From basic grammar concepts to advanced topics, our experienced instructors will guide you through each lesson, providing you with...  [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. The content of this unit which is about past tenses seem to me important for the chronological order of events and actions. Put simply, the verb tense gives us the ability to talk about past actions that were ongoing or completed or before another past actions. It must be borne in mind that in a given situation or in accordance with the time, one should use an appropriate past tense so as to maintain effective...  [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. I found the discussion of different types of analyses in a Business English context (e.g., needs analysis, placement tests) to be helpful. Right now I’m teaching English at a hospital (5x1-hour sessions to 5 different departments). With this structure, there’s not a lot of time for needs analysis, but if the hospital asks me to continue on, I will try to plan in a needs analysis lesson for the...  [Read more]

  In this video we explain the difference between 'compliment' and 'complement'. Both used as a verb and a noun, 'compliment' expresses something nice about someone, for example: I complimented my brother on his delicious cooking. In this example, the word 'compliment' is used as a verb. Let's take a look at a sentence where it is used as a noun: I gave my brother a compliment on his delicious cooking. The word "complement" on the other hand is used when two things go well together, or complete each other. The word is especially often used to indicate that two foods go well together. It is also often used in fashion, such as here: 'Her black dress complements her red hair,' or 'That wine complements the fish very well'. This should clear up any confusion. Below you can read...  [Read more]

  This video focuses on the difference between "bored" and "boring". Using those two words incorrectly is a very common mistake, especially for English learners around the world. The word "bored" is an adjective describing the feeling when there is nothing to do or when a person is not interested, for example, "she was so bored that she fell asleep". "Boring" is also an adjective but this word refers to the cause of the bored feeling rather than the feeling itself. For example, "the class was so boring that she fell asleep". Here the class is the reason for the feeling. The same concept can be applied to similar word pairs such as 'interested - interesting' or 'tired - tiring'. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL...  [Read more]

  Let's begin our examination of parts of speech with nouns. Nouns are our naming words. They name a person or people, such as Jack, Jill, brother, Prime Minister. We have a place or places such as kitchen, Tokyo. Things or the things around us: pen, light, camera. We have our concepts and ideas: beauty, democracy. These people, things, places and concepts fall into two basic subcategories. Those subcategories are countable and uncountable. As their name suggests, the differentiation here is whether or not we can count our nouns or if we cannot count them. We have our countable nouns: dogs, pens, are two examples. The very nature of the words means that we can count these nouns one dog or 5, 10. Then, we have our uncountable nouns. The nouns that cannot be separated: music, bread....  [Read more]

  And now let's look at the pronouns. Simply put, pronouns take the place of a noun. We have various types of pronouns. They are personal pronouns, which can either be subject or object. We have reflexive pronouns, relative pronouns and possessive pronouns. With our personal pronouns, we have to decide whether it's the subject or the object. The subject is the doer of an action, whereas the object is the one that receives the action. Subject pronouns are: I, you, he, she, it etc. Object pronouns are: me, you, him, her, etc. In the sentence "Greg hit Pete," the subject of the sentence is "Greg", therefore I would say "He hit Pete," or I could put a pronoun in for the object of the sentence, where "Greg hit Pete", now, I go into "Greg hit him." With our reflexive pronouns, these are...  [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 focused on the needs and development of young learners in a very brief format. As an adult, it is difficult to remember how I 'acquired' my knowledge around language, so I find the idea of teaching very young learners to be very intimidating. Personally, I feel I need to do some supplemental reading and research on the language development concepts presented, so I have a more thorough...  [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. As an enexperienced teacher, this course is very informative and helpfull as it tackles the common and problems that a teacher can encounter in teaching and how to deal with them. It is common here in our country that in teaching english , teachers' use our L1 to explain the instructions if students are having hard time to understand the given task, as a result, we as a student , luck of exposure to the...  [Read more]

  And now we'll have a look at our articles. We can divide articles into these groupings: indefinite, using a or an, definite, using the, and oftentimes referred to as the zero article, is actually the absence of an article all together. With the indefinite article, we use it in a nonspecific way. "This is a pen," it's one of many pens. When using the definite article, we use it in a specific way. "This is the pen I'm using." We also use the indefinite article when mentioning something for the first time. "I have a boy and a girl." We use the definite article when mentioning that same thing an additional time or any additional times we mention it. So "I have a boy and a girl. The boy is eight and the girl is six." With the zero article, we don't use an article at all. We use it to...  [Read more]

  Moving down our list of parts of speech, we have our verbs. The first big difference between verbs that we need to look at is whether it's an action verb or a state verb. Our action verbs, as the name suggests, mean that we typically can see these things in action. We can see people working and we certainly see people going to various places. Now, we have our state verbs. These are basically indicating a state of being. Two examples would be "seem" and "have" or "own". We have a sentence such as "He seems angry." and "I own my house." You can't actually see the action happening, even though those words are used as verbs. A very big differentiation between the two here as well is, state verbs typically don't take the progressive or continuous form. That form is the verb "+ing". As...  [Read more]

  The purpose of grammar translation then is to basically translate between L1 and L2 and vice versa. So, we could take a simple example. Let's imagine that our native language was English and our target language was French and let's assume that we want to translate a document from French into English. Let's take a simple sentence. Here's a sentence in French "Ouvre la fenêtre" and we'll add "s'il vous plaît" at the end. What we want to do is to take this L2 and translate it back into English. Now, if we have a reasonable knowledge of French then we may well know that this particular verb "ouvre" "to open" translates directly and this female form of the and finally the fenêtre "Open the window" and this polite form of "please". This is all very well if the two structures that...  [Read more]