Yada Yada English Hotel Tefl

nepal, birthplace of the Buddha, truly is a special place. Nestled along the uniquely impressive and world-renowned Himalayan mountain range, Nepal is a mystical country of warm-hearted people, time-worn temples and an incredibly diverse geography. Its landscape is incredible, boasting some of the best walking trails on the planet. Although Nepal isn’t particularly well-off in financial terms, the country’s welcoming and friendly people, landscape, traditions, religions and culture all culminate; for many, one visit is simply not enough. From the awe-inspiring Himalayas to the lush green national parks, the countless temples and pagodas to the bustling markets, street sellers, and clubs and bars of Kathmandu, Nepal has something for everyone, and for most visitors to Nepal, something...  [Read more]

ITTT has recently opened a TEFL & TESOL training center in Bundoran, a popular seaside resort in County Donegal, Ireland. If you wish to be TEFL/TESOL-certified and would love to take a course in Ireland, this is an opportunity you cannot miss. Check out course details and fees for ITTT's Bundoran TEFL/TESOL center here! Limerick, home of our TEFL training centre in ireland, is nestled in the heart of Munster, in Ireland's sunny south-west region. Limerick is a city boasting a rich history, dating from at least the Viking settlement in 812. Limerick is home to some of Ireland's most famous historical attractions: King Johns Castle, Bunratty Castle, the Hunt Museum (located in the city centre) and St. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick's oldest building. Limerick is also a vibrant...  [Read more]

Cambodia is one of the most exciting countries in Asia and it is not hard to see why. The country is blessed with rich culture, natural beauty, and ancient structures. One of the most-visited sites in the country is the temple complex of Angkor Wat. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, Angkor Wat attracts over 2 million tourists annually. Gateway for the temples of Angkor, Siem Reap was always destined for great things. Visitors come here to see the temples, of course, but there is plenty to do in and around the city when you are templed out. Siem Reap has reinvented itself as the epicentre of chic Cambodia, with everything from backpacker party pads to hip hotels, world-class wining, and dining across a range of cuisines, sumptuous spas, great shopping, local tours to suit both...  [Read more]

Definition of TEFL: The acronym means the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language, usually in a country where the first language is not English. It could therefore be applied to any teaching situation where the English Language Learner (ELL) has a first language which is not English. The profession of teaching is regulated throughout the world, although the level of regulation varies from country to country. This is also true of the EFL teaching sector, however, there are some differences. The teaching of EFL has two main sectors, public and private. The public sector mainly includes government institutions such as schools and higher education institutions. The private sector includes private schools and language centers and a large number of self employed freelance teachers. Each 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. In this unit, I have learnt about the present tense. EFL teachers believe there twelve tense in all, which is quite different from Asian and Slavic languages on this aspect.There are three times in English: the past, the present, the future. Each of these times has four aspects: simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous, so twelve in all. This unit focuses on four present tenses: the present simple, the...  [Read more]

With a population of around 11 million people, Seoul is a thriving, modern capital and is one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Located on both sides of the Han River, Seoul has a fascinating and long history which can be witnessed in the ancient neighborhoods that are nestled amongst the gleaming towers of the city’s current skyline. Despite offering a low cost of living compared to other major cities around the world, Seoul is a thoroughly modern destination with excellent infrastructure. Seoul remains a popular destination for TEFL teachers as it enables them to have a high standard of living no matter which part of the city they choose to live in. Seoul is a cosmopolitan destination with over 700,000 foreigners calling the city home. Multi-national areas such as Itaewon and...  [Read more]

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 island erupted and Caldera was created. The two volcanic islands appeared much later from various eruptions starting from 157 BC until the last one...  [Read more]

With the changing nature of the world today learning English is becoming more and more important in the business sector. As such, numbers of people from non English speaking backgrounds, specifically, business men and women, to learn English that is appropriate in a business environment is increasing exponentially. Globalisation of the macro environment of business means there is an increseasing need for there to be one international language for businesses and more importantly, business people to communicate in. Companies are changing from being national to multi national and global. The are also seeking to outsource certain functions within their business structure to attempt to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. With enormous differences in labour costs globally, there are...  [Read more]

The rise of TEFL, TESOL, CELTA, and similar organizations is by no doubt a reflection of the increasing demand for English to be taught in numerous countries worldwide. What actually constitutes a global language is in and of itself an entirely separate debate. For the means of this particular essay, English as a ?global language? will be used loosely to refer to the rise of English internationally in many different bodies. Whatever the reasons for the rise may be, it does not have to diminish the cultural uniqueness of individual countries. Rather, the idea of a global language can be embraced as advantageous, especially as a means of uniting various countries, as seen by the rise of many teaching organizations. In 1997, David Crystal wrote, English as a Global Language, and focused his...  [Read more]

After spending the last year in Korea I feel sharing my experiences there will be of great assistance to any ESL teachers who are considering or have accepted a position in the country. Firstly, I would like to outline the basic conditions of employment in the country The average salary is around 2,000,000 Won per month, which is equal to around $2,200, this amount is fairly standard whether working at a government school, university or the most common place of employment the all prevalent language school or ?Hagwon? in Korean. Furthermore, your employer will provide free accommodation, round trip air fare and will make a contribution to both the government run health insurance program and pension fund. Additionally upon completion of your contract you will receive one month?s severance...  [Read more]

Wherever one travels in the world these days English quickly becomes the the common language of communication between different nationalities. This was a trend that began during the days of the British Empire with it??s global trade and political network. The process has accelerated dramatically since the end of the Second World War with the rise of the American world hegemony. ??A language becomes a world language for one reason only, the power of the people who speak it. Power means political, economic technological and cultural power of course.?? ( Crystall.D. 2001). More recently technology has made a huge impact in the form of satellite T.V. and the internet in particular, giving fresh impetus to the movement for English as the dominant second language of choice. According to the...  [Read more]

Faster than global Starbucks addiction, English is sweeping the Planet. With over one quarter of the people on Earth speaking English 4, the language is fast replacing French as the new lingua franca 2. There is a reason that English is considered by some, to be on the fast track to becoming the World?s first Universal language 2. It is simply necessary to be able to communicate with people from around the globe these days. Powered by telecommunications and the internet along with distance breaking inventions such as airplanes 2, the world has become a much smaller place. We can now chat via the Internet with someone in another hemisphere and then go out to lunch with an exchange student who has flown in from another continent at a restaurant where the server is a native of yet another...  [Read more]

The English language is undisputedly one of the most challenging languages to learn, predominantly due to the vast number of inconsistencies and frequent irregularities and exceptions to the rule (am almost clich?d term). English, like all languages, is constantly developing and evolving ? it is not fixed, and not unlike to physical environment, is being subjected to an increasing number of changes (possible the result of increasing globalization). Historically, England was the birthplace of English ? it has, however, spread widely, and not exactly, to many parts of the world. As language spreads, words become altered, words become are added, and possibly most frequently ? words are lost. One only needs to read Shakespeare to appreciate that language is alive and alters ? much of the...  [Read more]

Introduction I have met and spent time with some language teachers here in the U.S. who prefer to teach low-level learners. The teachers tell me, for one thing, lower-level learners are often more enthusiastic than their more able counterparts. They can also make noticeable progress in a relatively short time. The points below can help to make a class at the beginner level more effective. False Beginners Probably the majority of low-level English classes will be for 'false beginners', learners who have studied English before, but have little or no communicative ability. Planning and Preparation Have some idea of how much material you are going to cover. Give your students an overview of the course and how much material you expect them to cover. On the other hand, don't make your plan too...  [Read more]

One of the biggest issues facing the United States is the number of immigrants coming to the US from Mexico and Central America. With the large number of immigrants flowing across the border, the problem of language has arisen. Throughout the US? history, the issue of what language should be spoken has been real. My father grew up in a Polish community. While he was in elementary school, he would be punished if he spoke any Polish. Today, across America, we are seeing this same sort of problem with Spanish speakers. Many people believe that schools should be ?English-only,? and that immigrants and their children should only speak English if they decide to come to this country. Arizona and California have both passed laws banning bilingual education, ?[p]rohibit[ing] any ?teaching of...  [Read more]

The TEFL International course in Mexico is in historic Chiapas, the southernmost state in the country. Chiapas is bordered by the states of Tabasco to the north, Veracruz to the northwest, and Oaxaca to the west. To the east Chiapas borders Guatemala, and to the south the Pacific Ocean. Chiapa de Corzo, where the TEFL training centre is situated, is an often overlooked small attractive colonial town with an easy going, provincial air, according to the 2009 edition of the Mexico Lonely Planet. This sums up the little town, with an emphasis on overlooked; which is what probably makes Chiapa de Corzo so special. There really is so much to do in the town and in the surrounding area, and hardly anyone knows about it. Chiapa de Corzo has quite a bit of day tourism during the high seasons, as...  [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 directly...  [Read more]

Given the linguistic dissimilarities between the English and Korean languages, there are inevitably a multitude of pitfalls awaiting the Korean-speaker who seeks to learn English. With nearly eight years of experience teaching in South Korean language centers, locally known as hagwon, I have personally witnessed difficulties involved in nearly all aspects English education, ranging from faulty teaching methods to fundamental difficulties with grammar and phonology. In order to evaluate these problems, some basic features should first be explained. Korean, like Japanese, is officially considered by most linguists to be a language of unknown origin. It does, however, share many common features with Ural-Altaic languages, such as Mongolian and Turkish. As such, there are no natural cognates...  [Read more]

According to Wikipedia.org, the term ?Lingua Franca? refers to a language ?widely used beyond the population of its native speakers?. [1] There are many different ways in which a language can reach ?Lingua Franca? status; through warfare and colonisation, through international commerce and through the distribution of information via various Medias, but to mention a few. Many languages have enjoyed Lingua Franca status in different parts of the world throughout history. The Lingua Franca of the Roman Empire during the period between c.300 BC ? AD 300 was Koine Greek. [2] From the 17th century up until quite recently, when it was replaced with English, French was the lingua Franca of diplomacy in Europe. Today, Arabic is the Lingua Franca of the Muslim communities of the world and English...  [Read more]

"British English vs. American English"- the title itself suggests a battle or a contest where only winning matters. In many ways, this is exactly what it is. It is a silent struggle for domination that is mainly fought in the halls of academia where dictionaries and encyclopaedias are the weapons of war and the generals are professors. Why has this happened? Its human nature to be competitive and ?survival of the fittest? is one of the most well known phrases in the world; regardless as to which continent you are on. When the continents involved are two of the worlds? superpowers, the sayings ?God save the Queen? and ?God bless America? take on a whole new meaning. There are many differences between American English (AmE) and British English (BrE). These include pronunciation, lexis,...  [Read more]

Giving English to an American is like giving sex to a child. He knows it´s important but he doesn´t know what to do with it. Adam Cooper (19th century) The Americans are identical to the British in all respects except, of course, language. Oscar Wilde There are more varieties of English than just British and American English, however these are the two which are most commonly taught in EFL and ESL programs. Of the two, American English, for a variety of reasons has become the more dominant. Its influence has been growing steadily since World War Two as American economic, military and political power has expanded. Globalisation and the expansion of the Western, and in particular, the American way of life has heavily contributed to this. There are numerous ways...  [Read more]

In the same way that we would expect our surgeon, dentist or airline pilot to have undertaken some training, our students of English might also expect their teachers to be trained and competent. What does it mean that our English teacher is competent? Possibly there are two major components to the answer: 1. The teacher has adequate subject knowledge. 2. The teacher has some classroom delivery skills. First you need to find a course that offers these components. While many native English speakers have learned the rules of English grammar sub-consciously as part of their language development, this does not give them the necessary subject knowledge required to teach English. So both native English speakers (NES) and non-native English speakers (NNES) should have some background knowledge of...  [Read more]

As the generally accepted minimum standard for mainstream teaching jobs is a level 4 qualification, a level 3 certificate alone would not be considered enough to teach English. However, before you make any decisions on which course to take it is best to be fully informed about the different course levels available. Once you have digested all the information below regarding course levels you should be ready to pick the right one to suit your current situation and your future plans. One important factor regarding TEFL course levels is that there are many different frameworks out there for ranking them. Many countries, regions, organizations, and course providers have their own system for ranking the available courses. However, despite the many frameworks, most are designed using the same...  [Read more]

In these videos our grammar expert Linda demonstrates how to correctly pronounce a wide variety of common and not so common words that you might encounter in an English language classroom. Come back regularly as our Ask Linda series is frequently updated.  [Read more]

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]

We should start by acknowledging that there are some countries where a degree is required for certain teaching jobs. However, even within these countries there are often opportunities for teachers without a degree. In such situations you would need to be more flexible in terms of the type of job and conditions. As we will see later, undertaking volunteering or internship programs are examples of such flexibility. The main point here is that you can teach in many countries without a degree, provided you do have some other attributes or qualifications that employers are looking for. One of the most important qualifications worldwide for EFL teachers is the TEFL certificate. If you have a certificate of at least 120 hours then you should be able to find a number of jobs available to you. You...  [Read more]

General educational psychologists believe there are three main sources of motivation for students, and these directly apply to students of the English language. First, a student?s personal, natural interest in a subject, called ?intrinsic satisfaction,? influences their natural affinity for learning more about the materials covered in a class. Second, the teacher?s perceived expertise, the prestige of the school, and/or the future impact on employment prospects, called ?extrinsic reward,? defines for the student how much he/she is likely to benefit from learning English. Finally, when students are successful in a given task ? whether this be a simple activity, a test or the overall course ? they combine satisfaction with reward and are likely to be more motivated to continue the learning...  [Read more]

The study of business is a study of communication. The most important goal a graduate business student can have is to acquire good grounding in the principles of business and finance, sufficient technical knowledge and an adequate understanding of the role of an M.B.A. to serve as a bridge for communication between the strategic decision-makers and the science and management people who implement the strategic plans. Just as students in a formal business education program have the goal of acquiring a base of knowledge to make them better able to function in the business environment, most students of business English seek to acquire tools to function in a business setting. Learning English for a special purpose results in a dual focus, development of language skills and learning content. In...  [Read more]

Volunteer teaching can be the most rewarding experience of your life or a total nightmare depending on your expectations and attitude. You need to be realistic about what kind of person you are. Are you the type who can travel the world making your own contacts and decide independently where best to spend your tine? Or are you the type who needs to know exactly where you will be sleeping each night and exactly what your days will hold? Most of us fall somewhere in between. People often ask why should I pay to volunteer somewhere? Aren?t they already getting my time and effort for nothing? Well is most cases it costs the organisation money to have you there, sometimes the benefit outweighs the cost for them and sometimes not. ?In Nicaragua, I often heard the comment that ?volunteers come...  [Read more]

Introdution English Pronunciation: How does it differ and why? We??re all native English speakers aren??t we, what??s all this about sounding different? Everyone knows that a guy from the states sounds different to a fellow from England. But, can we break it down? Can we state a few simple rules that are continually repeating? Rules that a country??s native always follow when pronouncing a word. The rules which determine their accent. Let??s try. Main Accents vary within countries, so as a starting point, let??s just take the standard English that is spoken. This is considered to be ??General American?? for the US and ??Received Pronunciation?? for England. Rule 1: American is rhotic (i.e. pronouncing all r??s) and English is non-rhotic (pronouncing r??s only when followed by a...  [Read more]