Think Coffee Nomad

Some people might think it is not so important where and how the students sit in the classroom. When they arrive for the first time, they leave it up to the students how they want to arrange the classroom and start teaching afterwards. Great care must be taken with this perception though. There are many different ways to arrange the classroom and each one of them has its own benefits and disadvantages. There is no 'best seating arrangement' for classes in general though. It depends on the available space, the type of chairs and tables, the age and personality of the students and the type of lesson that has been planned. The teacher must always take this into consideration and should plan very carefully how to arrange the classroom.The most common seating arrangements are mentioned below....  [Read more]

The role of the teacher may not be as simple as people think and is always changing. A role can be defined as an expected behaviour in a given individual social position. (1) In recent years, there has been more emphasis upon student-centred lessons as opposed to teacher-centred. In reality, it is likely that a combination of both is used depending on the type of activity concerned. The role of the teacher can be widely split into three main categories: subject specialist, classroom manager and pastoral role.Teachers should be specialists in their chosen subjects. Not only should they have studied their subjects in depth, they should also be continuously building upon their knowledge. The curriculum is constantly changing and teachers should be aware of these changes and incorporate them...  [Read more]

It would be nice to think that an ESL teacher could enter the classroom with a friendly smile, the appropriate warmer and a well- planned lesson, and the result would be a room full of students progressing continually in their language skills. However, with a task as great as learning English as a second language, the experience is rarely that easy. Learning English has its’ own unique difficulties, and it profits the ESL teacher most if these challenges are explored and prepared for before entering the classroom. One such challenge is students with learning disabilities; when it is believed that a student has a learning disability, teachers must consider diagnosis and appropriate teaching methods.It can be hard to make the decision to evaluate students for a learning disability...  [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 and internet grows at an accelerated rate everyday more and more people are talking and communicating. As such English has been...  [Read more]

In the run up to your departure overseas to teach English there will inevitably be plenty of things to organise. You will probably have one or two leaving parties to attend and you might have to clear out your old apartment and office space. Even if you only have to pack a bag in preparation for your trip, you will still need to consider exactly what you will and won’t need to take with you. Although mobile phones now have improved cameras built in, taking a separate, high-quality camera is certainly recommended. Mobile phones are only as good as the battery that runs them and these can be short lived when using the camera extensively. Bear in mind that many of the places you might visit could be lacking in charging points and you do not want your phone to die on you while you visit the...  [Read more]

Once you have completed your training and got that all important TEFL certificate in your back pocket, it is time to start applying for jobs and sending off your CV/resume. Of course, simply sending a resume to a potential employer is not much use without an accompanying cover letter to go with it. Your cover letter is the perfect tool for you to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and the reasons why you think you are the best candidate. So what exactly should you put in your TEFL cover letter? Although it might be quicker and easier to use the same cover letter for every job you apply for, tailoring each letter to each specific job will generally reap better rewards. It is highly recommended that you do plenty of research into each employer to give each application a personal feel...  [Read more]

If you perform an internet search for TEFL courses in Thailand you will find several pages of different providers offering a variety of courses across the country, but how do you know which is the best for you? At ITTT we are confident that our in-class courses are the best on offer in Thailand as we have developed them over a number of years. The key to the success of our in-class TEFL courses is the quality of the instruction provided. At all of our centers we only employ trainers who possess a high level of teaching qualifications and several years of experience teaching in an international classroom environment. All our teacher trainers are dedicated to helping each and every trainee to reach their full potential. With their guidance and encouragement, most trainees successfully...  [Read more]

Although it is natural to be a little apprehensive before taking a TEFL/TESOL course, there is no need to get overly anxious or concerned. As long as you are enthusiastic, prepared to put in the hours and are open to new ideas, you should have no problem successfully completing the training. However, there are a few things you can do in the run up to your training course to ensure that it is a smooth process that ends with that all important certificate in your hand. If you take an online course, you will be able to set your own amount of study hours and choose when you do them. In this case, it is important to plan a study schedule and keep to it if you want to complete the course in the time frame you need. Write up a calendar with weekly goals that you can realistically stick to....  [Read more]

  The next item we're going to consider is the use of dictionaries and here perhaps the first thing we should do is to make a distinction between the two main types of dictionary and that distinction is between the monolingual and the bilingual dictionary. In a monolingual dictionary you have a word and its associated meaning and those two are both described for example in English so the word and the description of that word are both given in English. Whereas in a bilingual dictionary that word meaning could often be for example the word given in English and the explanation given in Thai and vice versa. So what can we use a dictionary for? Well, within the dictionary itself obviously we can get things like how words are spelled or the spelling of the word. We can also get the...  [Read more]

Due to a strong demand in many countries, TEFL qualified teachers should have plenty of great options to choose from. Across Asia, Europe and Latin America there are countless opportunities available depending on your own personal preferences. Whether your main goal is to make as much money as possible, to experience living in a different culture, or to get right off of the beaten path, there is the ideal destination waiting for you. If you are looking for the widest choice of English language teaching jobs, look no further than Asia. Across the continent you will find countless opportunities in a wide range of fascinating countries, although the requirements do vary from one to the next. Some countries are only open to native English speakers and others will require a university degree,...  [Read more]

'Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common.'Diversity plays an important role in the classroom just as it does in an ecosystem. A healthy ecosystem is made up of many parts with subtle or obvious differences, whose interactions strengthen the whole. The classroom is also a diverse environment, where students differ in many aspects but can work together towards a common goal: learning. Students may vary in the manner in which they learn, but a good teacher integrates a variety of appropriate activities to accommodate these differences in learning so that the class as a whole is strengthened. Learning modalities can be categorized by the different ways an individual can intake and understand new material (Kang 2005) and should be taken into account when a teacher plans lessons....  [Read more]

Online TEFL courses come in a variety of formats and their popularity grows year after year. One of the most appealing aspects of this type of study is the ability to study on your own time from wherever you are in the world, as is the relatively low cost. However, before making a final decision on which type of course is best for you, make sure you know all the options out there. Our 120-hour online TEFL course and our in-person TEFL courses cover nearly identical topics. The one area where the two versions differ is observed teaching practice (OTP). Our in-person courses include extensive time in a real classroom where you can hone your teaching skills under the supervision of experienced trainers. As a result, in-person courses are generally valued more highly by employers. While we...  [Read more]

'There is no such thing as Canadian English'[it] is a myth, fabricated to reinforce a fragile Canadian identity.'(www.ic.arizona.edu.)For some, the idea of the English language is a very clear- cut, inarguable point. But for those born outside of the United States, where English has been, in some minds, redefined as American; or outside of the United Kingdom, specifically England, for which the language was dubiously titled, the matter is not so simple. Though it is natural for any language to vary according to region, if that region happens to be the 51st State, as well as being the polite prodigal son of Olde Mother England, or by name, Canada, then an entirely new web of inconsistencies has spun itself. Though all strains have sprung from the same grain, according to Wikipedia.com,...  [Read more]

  The next thing we should look at is how our consonants are arranged for the top two rows we have P and F at the left side of our chart and G and J at the right side of our chart. They're arranged this way because if we analyze the way we speak we're using the front of our mouth to use these sounds as in ?p? and ?f? and I'm using my lips and my teeth to produce those sounds and as we move to the right on the chart slowly but surely we're making those sounds it towards the back of our mouth. We can use the examples of ?g?. The sound ?g? is produced further back in our mouth than ?p?. The next thing we'll notice about our chart is that some of our symbols are shaded. Notice that none of the symbols in the vowel sections are shaded but only a few are in the consonant section. The...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Weizha Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Shizuishan Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. Unit 13 was about pronunciation and intonation. Intonation is the changes in pitch throughout a sentence. There are three main types of intonation: rise/fall, fall/rise, and flat. While rise/fall is the most common of the three, all are used in daily conversation, making them each important to understand. Stress was also a big topic in this unit. To put stress on...  [Read more]

When I decided to get TEFL Certified, through ITTT, I did not think, that as a person who holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, completing the course work would be very challenging. After all, I studied wrote about and debated complex aspects of the language and literature all through out college. How could it not be easy' I really believed that I would breeze through the course work and it would take the minimal amount of time to be completed. I had finished the first three units quite quickly, in my arrogance I really did believe they all would be finished just as fast.Then I began Unit 4 (Present Tenses) and had a very rude awakening. It was with this unit, I realized that all my college training had not prepared me in any way shape or form for what lie ahead in future grammar centered...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Yuanzhongchang? Are you interested in teaching English in Tongliao Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. English has become one of the most important language for everyone around the world. It helps foresting global and regional intergration. More and more individuals are spending times and money to learn English. But one question keeps wondering me that should students make friends in the classroom to learn English better? I think each student should make friends...  [Read more]

Online English teaching is an area of English education that has exploded over the past few years. More and more online teaching platforms are popping up offering a variety of English language classes to students all across the globe. There are group or 1 to 1 options, lessons that focus on speaking and pronunciation, and some that are entirely aimed at business professionals. The world of online English teaching is seemingly limitless. Due to this huge variety, the demand for online English teachers from all sorts of backgrounds is immense. The beauty of online teaching is you can be based wherever you like. This means you do not have to move to another country or even leave your own home to earn a competitive salary and meet students from all across the world. Many people from...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Shangyunqiao Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Zhuzhou Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. Teachers of English language must be sensitive to cultures due to the process of globalization and high demand of English language worldwide. The problem of cultural sensitivity may arise in different countries where English is taught. The issue is that language and culture are closely interconnected. When learning English as a foreign language, students do not...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in LangshAn Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Shaoyang Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. “My esweater. I cannot find my esweater. Can you help me look for?” I scratched my head. Esweater? I kicked myself for agreeing to help Rosa in the study hall. Our teacher, Mr. Randall, had told me she was struggling with basic grammar and thought I might be able to help since I had spent a lot of time in Mexico and had a good grasp on both English and...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in WengjiAng Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Yueyang Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. From a very young age, friendship is one of the first feelings we come into contact with in life. During our early years, we consider our friends simple playmates, and it is really easy to befriend people. During adolescence, friends are often more important than our parents. When we need someone to talk to, do homework or simply have fun with our first thought...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Zhonglu Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Enshi Tujiazu Miaozu Zizhizhou? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. In today’s generation, everything comes to an instant. Technology have evolved in different phases and still on the phase of discovering more to provide highly convenient resources for users. You can do anything online. It can happen on just a click of your fingertips. Some years ago, I was hesitant to apply for an online job because there...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Maotang Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Loudi Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. There is something special about a teacher. The role they play in a student’s life and education is undeniable. Just think about your school days and the role your teachers played on the rode you find yourself today. Teachers are psychiatrists, lawyers, mentors, moms, dads, doctors and so much more than just a teacher. A teacher must be able to do almost everything....  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Lulou Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Xuzhou Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. This course has been a great help to me, and I feel I need to bring you up to date on my journey to get to this point. My wife and I are retiring on May 1st of this year and will be going to Vietnam to help university students improve their English-speaking skills. We will be teaching at the local university or perhaps the nearest coffee shop. We have a love for the...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Qiaomiao Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Jiaozuo Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. This ties up our tenses units. Now the average student who learns these methods should be equipped to express themselves with the full range of English language. Future tenses matter, because they relate to intention, planning, and possibilities. Without the adequate language for such expressions, students are left with very limited planning abilities in the...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Xiguo Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Jiaozuo Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. In this unit I had the change to learn about the future tense. We covered future simple eg. I'll pick you up later future continuous e.g. I'll be getting in a car around 5pm future perfect e.g. I'll have finished my book by next week future perfect continuous e.g. He'll have been driving for two hours before he reaches Paris be going + infinitive e.g. its going to...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Fujia Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Tieling Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. This unit on teaching pronunciation and phonology was very difficult and totally insane. I drank more cups of coffee studying and trying to understand this unit than any of the others so far. I can see why teachers don't go where angels fear to tread. If I don't understand this phonemic, anemic language and symbols, how can I expect any ESL student from any country...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Hai'An Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Nantong Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. Studying in the native country from where the language comes from and is spoken by everyone is a huge benefit to the student learning the language. I speak on this from personal experience. My foreign language experience is in Korean, and I have been studying it at my home university here in the United States, but I had the privilege to experience to study Korean...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word "ingenuous". This word refers to an innocent or unsuspecting person or situation. Synonyms of ingenuous include naive, innocent and simple. The origin of the word is from the Latin word "ingenuus" meaning native or freeborn. 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. Chapter 7 was yet another chapter that helped me better grasp the "future tense' system: 1. the future simple ( I'll pick you up later) 2. The...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in ShAcun Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Ji'an Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. * FUTURE TENSE -one of the most complex areas of the english language. So many different tenses and ideas can be used with future meaning. - Future Simple Tense - e.g I'll pick you up later - Future Continuous Tense - e.g I'll be getting on the train at five p.m. - Future Perfect - e.g I'll Have finished my exams by monday. - Future Perfect Continuous - e.g He'll have...  [Read more]