TEFL Miller

According to research conducted by Grant Miller and Tracy Hall, '' classroom order encourages student engagement, which supports learning' (Miller para. 1). In many articles and studies that are readily available, the popular perspective seems to be that classroom order must happen before learning can happen; order must be present for student engagement to be present. It is common to employ traditional classroom management techniques based on the creation of order: threat or promise of reward. Order, it is perceived, creates an environment where students are engaged. Perhaps that idea is slightly backwards. Perhaps it is not order that leads to engagement, but engagement that leads to order. Teaching to multiple intelligences engages more students. More students engaged...  [Read more]

The Engage, Study & Activate framework (ESA) (Course Materials, unit 3) is an organizational framework that will create lesson plans that ensures students will “be motivated, be exposed to the language, and have the opportunity to use it.” The elements of the framework are: Engage: arouse the students’ interest and get them involved in the lesson.  Study: focus on the language (or information) and how it is constructed.  Activate: Students are encouraged to use any/all of the language they know (prior and new knowledge) focusing on fluency more than accuracy.   The Information Processing System model (IPS) of human learning (storing and retrieving information) developed by Atkinson and Shiffrin (Abbott, 2007) is one of the most widely used...  [Read more]

A teacher can provide the greatest source of information for many students. In many ways, a teacher is a mentor for whom the students can turn to for encouragement, knowledge, and feedback. Thus, a teacher must be available and receptive to his/her students to provide a support system when conquering a new language. By motivating the students to try the language concepts and to participate, a teacher is building the foundation necessary for the students to gain interest in this field. Many teachers believe in situated motivation, where the teacher is responsible for the environmental and extrinsic conditions (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia website). Without encouragement and motivation, it is unlikely that the students will want to expand their knowledge and be willing to...  [Read more]

An understanding of the concept of group dynamics provides valuable insight into the processes involved in a successful group lesson. This awareness can assist the TEFL teacher in identifying what stage the group is up to and the direction it is taking, ultimately enhancing the cohesiveness of the group and the learning experiences achieved. One of the most well-known and widely used theories of group dynamics is Tuckman?s (1965) four-stage model of the ?Group Cycle?. This represents a sequence of processes that are not necessarily in order, but which are linked to and determined by each other, and seem to be readily observable in groups. The stages of ?forming?, ?storming?, ?norming?, and ?performing? are identified by Tuckman and an additional stage of ?mourning? /...  [Read more]

An understanding of the concept of group dynamics provides valuable insight into the processes involved in a successful group lesson. This awareness can assist the TEFL teacher in identifying what stage the group is up to and the direction it is taking, ultimately enhancing the cohesiveness of the group and the learning experiences achieved.One of the most well-known and widely used theories of group dynamics is Tuckman’s (1965) four-stage model of the “Group Cycle”. This represents a sequence of processes that are not necessarily in order, but which are linked to and determined by each other, and seem to be readily observable in groups. The stages of “forming”, “storming”, “norming”, and “performing” are...  [Read more]

The TEFL International course in northern Thailand is held in Chiang Mai, which was once the capital city of the Lanna Kingdom and is now the capital of North Thailand. Chiang Mai was founded more than 700 years ago, and is one of the oldest cities in Thailand; it’s recognized as having an independent cultural personality of its own. The Thai people love their beloved northern capital; a quaint, walled and moated city surrounded by a beautiful landscape nestled in a valley surrounded by national parks consisting of mountains, rivers, forests, waterfalls, meadows and rice fields. As a location, Chiang Mai offers a unique experience for TEFL International TEFL Courses in Thailand. Many feel that Chiang Mai is an essential part of any visit to Thailand. Located more than 700km northwest of...  [Read more]

The tefl international course in france is in Plelauff, a scenic French village bordering the renowned Nantes-Brest Canal in the Côtes-d'Armor. It lies in central Brittany not far from the region's rugged coastline, steep cliffs and numerous delightful, medieval towns. Plelauff is an ideal spot simply because it is so central to everything. A charming, peaceful little village designed to truly help you get away from it all, it nonetheless offers a significant number of attractions. Nearby villages include Gouarec and Plougernevel while the closest towns are Rostrenen (a 10-minute drive), historic Pontivy (20 minutes) and the slightly more distant St Brieuc (40 minutes) which stages the popular Breton rock festival in summer, and is the nearest main line train station. The village of...  [Read more]