Where Was Valentine's Day First Celebrated

Discipline in the classroom is many faceted. In this article, I will focus on being proactive with discipline. I have been a teacher for over twenty-five years and have always worked to create a positive, caring and supportive classroom for my students. In a classroom, there must be rules, positive consequences and negative consequences. That is part of creating a positive discipline plan. If teacher is proactive, she will have much less difficulty with discipline. The goal i s to be able to teach the curriculum in a comfortable classroom atmosphere-for you as a teacher and for your student. The single best resource I have found for discipline is a book entitled The First Days of School by Harry Wong. Harry says, ?What you do on the first days of school will...  [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]

  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]

I'd like to write about my experience in volunteer teaching with an ALT, Assistant Language Teacher, at the local elementary school.Through this experience, the following important points that were covered by the TEFL course have been re-confirmed.1. Planning and preparation before lessons.2. Usage of the whiteboard/blackboard, flash cards, and the CD player.4. Facilities: classroom or gym'3. Body language: gestures and eye contact4. Voice control: volume, pronunciation, and accent5. DisciplineChiba prefecture, north east of Tokyo, where I live has been employing ALTs from all over the world for a number of years. Most of them are just out of college. Some of them have lived in Japan as exchange students in the past. ALT stands for assistant language teacher and therefore they...  [Read more]

I started the course on 8/1/07.I was quite nervous in the days prior to starting as I haven`t really studied intensively for a number of years. I was also a little worried about standing at the front of the class teaching English but not speaking Thai. I hadn`t done any reading about how the course actually works and I now know that it would have been a good idea to have done this.The first day you get thrown in at the deep end because you have to stand at the front of the class and talk for 3 minutes about a subject of your choice.The three minutes seemed a lot longer than it was.At the time I didn`t really see the point of this exercise but now I can appreciate the relevance of it.It`s basically a confidence builder and also gives you some insight into what it will...  [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 16 covered conditionals and reported speech. Conditionals are sentences that connect 2 clauses of past, present or future. Typically this achieved through "if"/"when" expressions. Therefore, conditionals have two clauses, the "if" clause and the main clause. There are 5 main conditionals; zero, first, second, third, and mixed. Also covered in this unit was reported speech and direct speech. I had the most...  [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]

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]

  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]

  Here are helpful tips how to identify the various past tenses in the English language and complete worksheets successfully. The video also helps you to structure an effective lesson around the past tenses in an EFL classroom around the world. 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 learn of the Dos and Do nots of being in charge of a classroom. Most importantly this chapter showed how I may ensure effectiveness in the classroom. There...  [Read more]

  Now, let's take a look at the present continuous tense. The continuous tense is used to talk about actions in progress at the time of speaking or around the time of speaking. The first thing to notice with the continuous tense is that we must use the verb plus '-ing' form, also known as the present participle. You'll see it in any continuous tense, especially with the present continuous. We have three different forms of this tense. First, we have the subject 'I' used with 'am teaching'. Then, we have 'you', 'we' and 'they are teaching'. Finally, we've got 'he', 'she' 'it is teaching'. The 'am', 'are' and 'is' are forms of the verb 'to be' and here with this tense is used as an auxiliary verb or a helping verb. In order to form negative sentences, we simply add the word 'not'...  [Read more]

I chose to write my article on this subject because I feel like I have so much to say about the course and how great I think it is. Wow! I don’t even know where to really begin because there is a lot that can be said about the course, but I will keep it to a minimum. I guess I would begin by saying that when I first registered for the course I thought it was going to be a breeze, because how could it not be' I am a native English speaker after all. I will say now that anyone who thinks this is in for a rude awakening. This course is very in depth and has taught me things that I would never have even considered before in the subject of teaching English as a foreign language. The first few lessons seemed to be pretty straight forward and I still thought it would be fairly...  [Read more]

  Amber took the four-week in-class course in Buenos Aires because she was looking for a new challenge. Teaching English abroad will enable her to travel the world and gain new experiences at the same time. In this TEFL review, she says how much she enjoyed her month-long stay at the center in Buenos Aires and especially enjoyed teaching adults. She is excited to start her first teaching position. 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...  [Read more]

'The acquisition of language 'is doubtless the greatest intellectual feat any one of us is ever required to perform.''Regardless of where we come from in the world we all have the innate ability to use language. In the early stages of our lives we will actively seek out ways of interacting with our parents through various methods such as babbling.Over the past 50 years three theoretical approaches to explaining how early language development takes place, namely, behaviourist, innatist and interactionist approaches.It was Noam Chomsky, who in 1983 proposed that language development should be described as 'language growth,' because the 'language organ' simply grows like any other body organ.The vast majority of people are not exposed to 2nd language learning until they are teenagers...  [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]

You learn a lot in your classes, but you can?t learn about human relationships and about life from a book.? -Julie Venci, Washington University It was a little daunting at first. In fact, I was downright nervous. ?Go out and find someone in the community to do a student profile on.? Find someone in the community? I was already plunked half way across the globe, in a totally different culture attending a TESOL certification course, and now I had to go out on my own and offer someone an hour-long, free one on one course?oh, my! Conducting a student profile seemed like an impossible feat, but as time progressed I came to realize the importance of one. As described in a chapter from the Diversity Institute: ?In order to effectively choose teaching methods and help...  [Read more]

Celta de Vigo, a renowned football club in Spain, has a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1923. The club, based in the city of Vigo in Galicia, has a passionate fan base and a strong presence in Spanish football. Over the years, Celta de Vigo has experienced both triumphs and challenges, making it a fascinating team to follow for football enthusiasts. Celta de Vigo was established on August 23, 1923, by a group of Vigo-based sports enthusiasts. The club's founding marked the beginning of a journey that would see Celta de Vigo rise through the ranks of Spanish football. In its early years, the club competed in regional leagues before eventually earning promotion to the national stage. As Celta de Vigo continued to grow and develop, the club began to make a name for itself in...  [Read more]

China has been proclaimed to be the largest market for English learners. In the last twenty years, progress in teaching and learning of English has exploded. Arriving in China August 1993 was not my first time there. Though it was my first time in the Northeast. I was to spend the next twelve years of my life in the city of Shenyang. An industrial city of 7 million people. My first impression was that it was like being in a 1950´s black and white movie with no sub-titles.. I was to teach at Shenyang Institute of Technology. My first year, I had 800 students. All except one of the classes, were freshmen. One was a class of 25 graduate students. Shenyang was my home until October 2005. There were tremendous changes in China during those years affecting...  [Read more]

China has been proclaimed to be the largest market for English learners. In the last twenty years, progress in teaching and learning of English has exploded. Arriving in China August 1993 was not my first time there. Though it was my first time in the Northeast. I was to spend the next twelve years of my life in the city of Shenyang. An industrial city of 7 million people. My first impression was that it was like being in a 1950´s black and white movie with no sub-titles..I was to teach at Shenyang Institute of Technology. My first year, I had 800 students. All except one of the classes, were freshmen. One was a class of 25 graduate students. Shenyang was my home until October 2005. There were tremendous changes in China during those years affecting all aspects of life....  [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]

To Teach, Travel, Work and Live abroad! says the ITTT website. Indeed, the main reasons for wanting to be a certified TEFL teacher are most probably these. If you are a student, to travel the world, discover different cultures, meet new people and learn the local language. If you are an office employee, frustrated by the routine and bored with your job, to escape to China or Japan to teach and learn about Buddhism. If you are an experienced teacher, to give a new dimension to your teaching. If you want to help others, to do volunteer work in Africa.There are a multitude of personal and professional reasons that may motivate people from all walks of life to do a TEFL course. For me it was to be a real teacher. This is my story.I am a native English speaker, but have lived in...  [Read more]

Promotion for May 2026: $300 deposit For May 2026 only, all in-class and combined course deposits are reduced to just $300. Sign up today! Cebu is a city in the midst of overwhelming growth that blends its ancestral heritage with a modern business edge. Standing as the country's top business and tourist destination, Cebu was crowned as the Queen City of the South. Finding its own place under Cebu's friendly skies, business and leisure coincide together with office buildings and beach resorts. Cebu is an elongated island some 250 kilometers from North to South and 45 kilometers across at its widest point. It is central to the Philippine archipelago and some 600 kilometers south of Manila. This location combined with a sheltered deep water harbor has made Cebu the base for most of the...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word "ulterior". This word is an adjective and used to refer to something that is rather distant or situated far away. It can also indicate something that goes beyond something that is discussed or openly said. The word derives from Latin ulter and was first used in the English language in the 1600s. 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 about evaluation and the importance of doing...  [Read more]

My article is based on personal experiences as I teach a French Kindergarten class on a voluntary basis. One September afternoon my sons? new teacher asked if I would be interested in teaching English to her Kindergarten class. Standing in front of the class for the first time I realized how dreadful it could be. I didn?t have any real experience, only teaching my children at home. Armed with a few songs, an alphabet chart, and a mini lesson plan, I found myself defenseless in front of a class whose concentration span was short. They just wanted to play. It didn?t help that their teacher was there and kept telling them to be quiet in French. I finally managed to speak to all the children and ask them their names. It was difficult and I had to revert to asking questions...  [Read more]

Promotion for May 2026: $300 deposit For May 2026 only, all in-class and combined course deposits are reduced to just $300. Sign up today! Santorini is many peoples’ idea of the quintessential greece. The picture postcard island of Santorini is the last of the Cyclades islands to the South. The closests islands are Ios, Folegandros, Sikinos to the North, Anafi and Amorgos to the East and Crete to the South. Generally referred to it as a single island, Santorini is actually a series of five islands. Santorini (Thira) is the main island and around it Thirasia and Aspronisi (parts of the ancient Stroggili) and the two volcanic islands Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni. Until about 1645 BC, Santorini was one island named Stroggili (circle in Greek), until the volcano in the middle of the...  [Read more]

  A final example is going to be an example of a patchwork ESA lesson and remember we said the form of this particular lesson will start with and engage always and will finish with and activate and there'll be some variation of E, S and A within the brackets here. So we're going to generate our patchwork ESA lesson as follows. Starting with the engage, the students are going to look at holiday photos and talk about what they like and don't like from what they see. From that, we're going to move directly into an activate phase and what the students are going to do is to make comments about holiday brochures and try to act out a role-play between the travel agent and a customer. Again, as this is taking place, the teacher will be moving around and looking for gaps in knowledge in...  [Read more]

To embark upon yet another career at the ripe old >?age of 51, may seem like madness to most people. However, most >?people would not have given up a successful 27 yr career in Nursing >?as I had done 7 yrs previously. This was to take a fitness >?qualification that enabled me to have??a “midlife” crisis, and >?become a fitness professional and eventually a Club Manager. >?However, the realization that advancing middle age was not >?conducive to teaching aerobics classes forever, led me to the >?beautiful island of Phuket in March 2007. My plan was to qualify as >?a TEFL teacher and remain on the island for a year at least, >?practicing my newly aquired skills. Yes, I could have done...  [Read more]

I went to France when I was fourteen and I didn?t speak any French. I lived in Toulon where barely anyone spoke English; I was therefore forced to speak French everyday at home and at school. Being surrounded by French resulted in me being able to speak it fluently with no knowledge of French grammar. After ten months, I returned to Australia speaking French as my second language. I continued to study French at school, but in a completely different approach. The lessons were carried out in English and we studied the French news and French current affairs. I learnt a lot more complicated vocabulary and was able to form more complex sentences. I also studied beginner Spanish at school. From the first class, we were only allowed to speak Spanish. This approach...  [Read more]

Promotion for May 2026: $300 deposit For May 2026 only, all in-class and combined course deposits are reduced to just $300. Sign up today! The brazilian ITTT course is located in the amazing city of Natal. Aptly known as the ""city of sun"", Natal enjoys a pleasant 360 days of sunshine a year, with a comfortable average temperature of 28°C. Natal is one of the closest spots in Brazil to both europe and North America, receiving direct flights from a number of European cities. Natal is also famous for having the best air quality in the Americas and is blessed with more than 20 incredible beaches with crystal clear waters and coral reefs along the coast - a spectacular destination for your TEFL course. Every year, thousands of tourists are attracted by the gorgeous dunes, balmy weather...  [Read more]

'You learn a lot in your classes, but you can't learn about human relationships and about life from a book.' -Julie Venci, Washington UniversityIt was a little daunting at first. In fact, I was downright nervous. 'Go out and find someone in the community to do a student profile on.' Find someone in the community' I was already plunked half way across the globe, in a totally different culture attending a TESOL Certification course, and now I had to go out on my own and offer someone an hour-long, free one on one course'oh, my!Conducting a student profile seemed like an impossible feat, but as time progressed I came to realize the importance of one. As described in a chapter from the Diversity Institute: 'In order to effectively choose teaching methods and help students learn,...  [Read more]