Where Is Valentines Day Celebrated

It is a common misconception that teaching English abroad requires a large amount of money up front before you even start earning. While you will need to cover the cost of your TEFL certification and get yourself to the destination you have chosen to work in, you should soon start earning enough to get those outlays back quickly. However, in some destinations the cost of living is so high that it can seem like you are constantly hemorrhaging money. So where can you teach English and live well on just a small budget? Here we look at some of the cheapest destinations for teaching English abroad. Thailand makes an appearance on many lists of the best places to teach English abroad for various reasons and one is its relatively low cost of living. Although the average salary for English...  [Read more]

Within the world of English language teaching there are many acronyms used to describe what type of teaching is involved in any particular scenario. EFL is one of the more common ones you will come across and it stands for English as a Foreign Language. You will find EFL is most commonly used when describing the teaching or learning of English in a non-English speaking country, such as Spain, Japan, or Mexico. It is very common for either of these acronyms to be used when talking about any situation where a student is learning English, however, there is a technical difference between the two. As previously mentioned, EFL is when the student is learning English in a non-English speaking environment, for example, a Japanese student learning English in Tokyo. In this scenario there is often...  [Read more]

Asia is a vast continent with a rich diversity of cultures, landscapes, and attractions. Apart from the well-known destinations, there are many other popular places to visit in Asia that offer unique experiences for travelers. Here are some lesser-known but equally captivating locations: Popular Travel Destinations in Asia: Asia is a vast and diverse continent with a plethora of exciting travel destinations to explore. Some other popular travel destinations in Asia, beyond the well-known ones, include: Off-the-beaten-path destinations in Asia offer unique experiences away from the typical tourist hotspots. These less-explored locations can provide a deeper cultural immersion and a chance to discover hidden gems. Some off-the-beaten-path destinations to explore in Asia include:  [Read more]

The best place to learn the Spanish language depends on individual preferences and learning styles. Here are some popular options to consider: Learning Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country offers numerous benefits beyond just language acquisition. Here are some advantages of studying Spanish in an immersive environment: To find a reputable language school for studying Spanish abroad, consider the following steps:  [Read more]

Looking to catch a CELTA game in Seville? Here's what you need to know to experience the excitement of one of the top football leagues in Spain. From where to buy tickets to the best places to watch the game, we've got you covered. 1. Buying Tickets: Before you can enjoy a CELTA game in Seville, you'll need to secure your tickets. Tickets can be purchased online through the official CELTA website or at the stadium on game day. Make sure to book in advance, especially for popular matches, to avoid disappointment. 2. Match Day Experience: On the day of the game, immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere of Spanish football. Arrive early to soak up the pre-match buzz, grab some traditional snacks and drinks, and maybe even pick up some merchandise to support your favorite team. 3....  [Read more]

The Philippines offers numerous options for studying TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) due to its high demand for English teachers and its English-speaking environment. Here are some of the best places to study TEFL in the Philippines: Top TEFL certification programs in the Philippines: Yes, there are several renowned TEFL training centers in the Philippines that offer quality programs for aspiring English language teachers.  [Read more]

Teaching adult true beginners from day one is an interesting challenge and requires a strategy which must be formulated in advance. Do you begin with phonics' Can you start with rote memorization' How can you approach people with different learning styles' What has been the students experience in school previously' There are many considerations but in the end a good plan smoothes the way to the first day. When teaching the alphabet the issue of using phonics comes to the forefront. Many programs use a system of phonics instruction along with grammar and vocabulary topics. Teaching the sounds rather than the letter names per say has advantages and disadvantages. The learner will make more progress in speaking skills when he starts by learning the sounds. He will be able...  [Read more]

  Rachel is from Australia where she had been working as a school teacher. She decided to take the four-week in-class course in Buenos Aires to further her education and opportunities to teach English to speakers of other languages. In her TEFL review, she speaks about her experience at the training center in Buenos Aires. Since she is a primary school teacher back home, she enjoyed working with local children during the course. At the same time, she also enjoyed teaching adult learners and highly benefited from the teacher trainer feedback sessions. 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....  [Read more]

For both newly qualified and experienced teachers, one common concern when planning to teach English abroad is how to find accommodation that is comfortable, in a safe location and suitable for your personal needs. The good news is you are unlikely to be the first foreign teacher in the area you are heading for, so you will probably have several options to choose from. Here we break down the most common aspects of organizing accommodation when teaching abroad. For many teachers, accommodation is not an issue as employers often provide housing as part of the teaching contract. Schools in countries such as China and South Korea, as well as many countries in the Middle East, routinely provide some form of free or subsidized accommodation. If you sign-up for a government-run recruitment...  [Read more]

  In this TEFL review video Danny gives us a brief tour of Hong Kong where he is teaching English. Danny also outlines his three reasons for choosing to earn his TEFL certificate with ITTT. The first is the great flexibility ITTT’s courses provide, with six months to complete the course students are able to work in their own time and fit their studying around any other commitments they may have. The second is the reviews he read about the course online. The third is the affordability of ITTT’s courses allowing you to earn a teaching certificate without stretching your budget. 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...  [Read more]

Many potential TEFL trainees come to us and ask whether they need to speak another language in order to teach English overseas or online. The good news is the answer is most definitely NO, you do not need to have any language skills other than a thorough understanding of the English language. Obviously, if you do speak the native language of the country you intend to live and work in it can be a real help in many ways, but it is not normally required by the employer. The specific requirements for teaching English abroad or online will vary depending on the country and the individual employer. In all cases a thorough understanding of the mechanics of English will be required. On top of that, a TEFL certificate from a reputable course provider is usually a must, while some jobs will also...  [Read more]

Acronyms are widely used within the English language teaching world and EFL is one of the most common. English as a Foreign Language is typically used to describe any scenario where English is being taught or learned in a country where English is not the main language. In this situation most students are learning English as part of their school studies, in order to travel overseas, or as a hobby, and they rarely get to use it outside of their lessons. An example of EFL would be an American teaching English to Italians in Rome. While EFL stands for English as a Foreign Language, ESL stands for English as a Second Language. In practice these two acronyms are regularly used interchangeably when talking about English teaching, however, there is a genuine difference between the two that you...  [Read more]

Living in this global age where technology is always at our fingertips and our economies between different countries are becoming tightly knitted together to have prompted many people to learn and improve their diction and the communication skills in the area of business for work and personal reason. Because of this great opportunity, teachers can have a great opportunity in teaching Business English as a foreign language. Among some of the benefits of learning to teach Business English is we will learn to improve our business communication skills for our personal reasons. We will become more fluent in marketing and selling ourselves to our clients and our clients will feel more confident in hiring us because we will provide them with interesting and stimulating classes that are...  [Read more]

Turkish is an agglutinative language, where numerous endings are tacked on to simple roots. For example, k'''msenmemeliydiler can be broken down as follows: K'''k = small Mse = regard something as N = passive/reflexive Me = negative Meli = should Ydi = past Ler = theyTurkish has a word order based on: a) adjective stands before noun, adverb before adverb; b) the finite stands at the end of the sentence. English word order can be a major stumbling block for Turkish students, especially long, complex sentences. Turkish students have to overcome a number of potential obstacles when learning English. Some of the primary ones include: Phonology Vowels: eg ' as in back is difficult for Turkish-speaking learners, lying as it does between their /e/ and /'/. They often substitute /e/: set...  [Read more]

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...  [Read more]

These days, nearly every economic, political and social development is defined by its association with the broad-based phenomenon commonly identified as globalization. Understandably, economic integration favors standardization, and historical circumstance has led to the adoption of English as the primary language of international commerce. Consequently, the differences between British and American English should be of interest, if only for the historic role that these two nations have played in the unprecedented proliferation of a single language. Due to the limitations of this essay, three distinct elements of language will be discussed: vocabulary; grammar; and pronunciation.Perhaps the most understandable distinctions between British and American English are the...  [Read more]

  The next example of a game that we can adapt very easily for classroom use is the game of Jeopardy and in this particular game, what we can do is to have a set of levels for our questions, I'd say one through five, where one is going to be the easiest example and five is going to be the most difficult and then, in each of these sets of boxes, we can have various grammar points, such as tenses, perhaps modals, vocabulary and maybe even conditionals. So what the students can do is they can pick a particular topic first of all and within that topic, they can pick the level of the question that they want and then we can have a set of cards that have been created to fit into these slots and we can ask them that question at that level. So, a very simple adaptation of the game jeopardy...  [Read more]

Demand for ESL teachers is high in all areas of the world and employers typically prefer those who have a TEFL qualification over non-qualified applicants. It is highly recommended that you first complete an internationally accredited TEFL certification before applying for an ESL teaching position. Having some form of teaching experience will also increase your options for employment, though as with a degree, this is not always a requirement. With countries ranging from ancient to very modern, Europe offers a whole range of history, climate, and population density. There are many countries where a degree is not required and these include the ever popular, Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic. If you are looking for something quieter, areas of Greece, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria may be...  [Read more]

Many of the world's biggest and most lucrative markets for English language teachers are typically restricted to native English speakers only. Destinations such as Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, are all great options for native speakers but not for thousands of other qualified teachers whose first language is not English. But don't despair; there are still plenty of exciting destinations all over the world where non-native English speakers can confidently apply for teaching positions. In countries where restrictions on nationalities are in place, the term 'native English speaker' generally refers to teachers from the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Other countries where English may be the first language, such as...  [Read more]

Yes, most countries require foreign visitors to possess some form of visa in order to enter for tourism, business, education, or employment purposes. The requirements vary greatly from one country to the next, so we recommend that you contact the relevant embassy or visit their website to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. Here we break down the most common forms of visa that you are likely to come across. These are generally issued to short term visitors who do not plan to work or study during their stay. There are several categories of tourist visa depending on the destination and your own country of origin. The most common is the 'upon entry' tourist visa that is issued in the form of a passport stamp on arrival at the immigration desk. For example, US...  [Read more]

Many of the world's biggest and most lucrative markets for English language teachers are typically restricted to native English speakers only. Destinations such as Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, are all great options for native speakers but not for thousands of other qualified teachers whose first language is not English. But don't despair; there are still plenty of exciting destinations all over the world where non-native English speakers can confidently apply for teaching positions. In countries where restrictions on nationalities are in place, the term 'native English speaker' generally refers to teachers from the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Other countries where English may be the first language, such as...  [Read more]

When picking a destination for teaching English in 2022/23 you will have plenty of options to choose from. Some people will choose a location that offers the highest salaries, while others will make their decision based on cultural reasons or even where you can find the best social life. And of course, in the current climate teaching English online is more popular than ever as you do not even need to leave home. Every option has its pluses and minuses, so take a look at this brief rundown on all the most popular choices. Asia is without doubt the top region for teaching English abroad in terms of job numbers. The continent is absolutely huge and home to a wide diversity of great teaching locations. You will find many exciting cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Bangkok,...  [Read more]

The Middle East continues to be one of the most popular regions for English language teachers as there are plenty of jobs on offer and the potential salaries are among the highest you will find anywhere in the world. Extra benefits such as paid airfares and free accommodation are also the norm in most cases. However, as the rewards are so good, the requirements and competition for each job is generally very high. There are a wide variety of employment options throughout the country, all of which offer very competitive salaries. Monthly rates start in the region of 9,000 AED (currently $2,500), and rise to over 20,000 AED ($5,500) for those with high levels of qualifications and classroom experience. In addition, most teaching jobs will also include a benefit package that typically...  [Read more]

If you plan on teaching English in Europe you might have come across something known as the Schengen Area. This area is currently comprised of 26 countries with a combined population of over 400 million people. The area was set up in 1985 with the intention of removing border controls to make moving between countries hassle free. The Schengen Area should not be confused with the European Union which is a separate institution. Before its creation you would have to show your passport at every border to receive an entry stamp, while now anyone including TEFL teachers can move freely from one country to another without any restrictions. Essentially, by entering a country that is a member of the Schengen Area you are entering the area as a whole. Regardless of which country you enter first, the...  [Read more]

The first major factor that has an impact on how long it will take to get TEFL certified is which type of course you choose to take. There are three main TEFL course types to be aware of: The most common form of in-person TEFL course is the four-week, 120-hour TEFL certificate. Trainees on this course usually travel from their home country to one of many locations around the world to take the course. Courses should involve a theory component, covering language awareness and teaching skills, and a practical teaching component where trainees teach classes of real English language learners and receive feedback. These courses usually take four weeks to complete and therefore some form of accommodation is required for the duration of the course. This and the travel aspect, make this form of...  [Read more]

Americans who wish to teach English in Europe typically need to obtain a work visa or residency permit in the specific country where they plan to teach. The requirements can vary depending on the country, but here are some common types of visas Americans may need: Visa requirements for teaching English in European countries vary depending on the country and your nationality. Here is an overview of the common visa types and requirements: Americans can typically teach English in Europe on a tourist visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It's essential to understand the regulations and limitations to ensure compliance with local laws and immigration requirements. Here are some key points to consider: Yes, Americans can teach English in Europe with specific work visas. To legally...  [Read more]

  Yatunde is working as an English teacher and just recently completed our 120-hour online TEFL certification course. She saw immediate improvements in her teaching skills and is now able to effectively teach her adult classes around the globe. 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. A bond must be established on the first day of the class where the students don't each other and so is the teacher. The students should feel welcome specially for the...  [Read more]

  This video focuses on the modal auxiliary verb "can". In the classroom, you probably initially introduce the word "can" in the context of ability. However, there are more usages, such as possibility, permission, request and advice. 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 about the course books and lesson materials. There two types of materials authentic and created materials, where authentic materials are newspapers, magazines, songs,...  [Read more]

Creating a welcoming and inclusive organizational culture is essential for fostering a positive work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best. This not only boosts employee morale and engagement but also enhances productivity and overall success. Organizations that prioritize inclusivity and diversity tend to attract top talent, retain employees for longer durations, and benefit from a wide range of perspectives and ideas. In this competitive business landscape, companies must focus on building a culture that celebrates differences and promotes collaboration among team members. Inclusivity goes beyond simply hiring a diverse workforce; it involves creating a supportive environment where every individual feels accepted and appreciated for...  [Read more]

  Now here are some teaching ideas for the future continuous tense. Here, we have an activity where we'll be asking students to spontaneously make some excuses based upon some invitations. We can do this in pairs or small groups. The teacher will have cut these cards up and the students will place them into a pile, randomly picking up a card. So one student might pick this card up and say 'Would you like to play tennis with me tomorrow?' The other student will be challenged to come up with an excuse as quickly as possible, which might be 'No, I'm sorry I'll be working.' Then, we have the next student pick up the next card and we challenge an additional student to make an excuse. Here we have another teaching idea for the future continuous tense and this involves two students trying...  [Read more]