English Is A Second Language

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I am a Filipino. I was born in The Philippines and my first language is Tagalog. I remember my parents told me the first two words I ever learned or spoke were "mama" and "papa". My parents were my very first teachers. Language in Childhood Popularity of English Reasons to Learn Languages Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Gladiolus R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When we are young we acquire our first language through our parents, relatives, or from the things we see or watch. When we start schooling we then develop these receptive skills through reading, writing, listening and...  [Read more]

Date posted:2024-04-17 | Writer: Lexico English | Email: [email protected] Lexico English is a language services activity which is part of the Associazione Culturale LEAP that offers a variety of services related to English language learning and more. Our services are designed to help clients navigate any challenges or obstacles related to English, and to help them achieve their goals with ease. We are located in Padova, and offer a range of services that cater to the needs of individuals and organisations alike. Role Description This is a part-time, on-site role for an English Second Language Teacher who will primarily be teaching privately, in homes and also at our group courses in the centre of Padova. The age range would be primarily 5-18 (elementary and middle school and high...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences There are several challenges Japan faces when it comes to learning English as a second language. Japanese culture is a bubble. Everything, including their ad signs, TV, games, government, studies, work and even the internet is filled with one language; Japanese. In a world of globalization, where your goods and services can come from literally any part of the globe. Japan is one of the few remaining homogenous cultures where English is still seen as an optional language. As the global economy becomes more global, the English language will likely become less optional, but essential. In addition to the cultural issues, Japan's English curriculum in the school is largely unchanged from the '60s according to my Japanese cousins and uncles still living in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Anyone who has tried to learn a language as a second language is likely to express at some stage or another how difficult it is. We speak of absorbing our first language and having to work hard for our second. We will often look towards those who have learned more than one language at the same time, bilingual for example, as being lucky and that the path was easier for them. So, is the first language easier to learn and why, and can we use those techniques to learn or teach a second language? Language of Our Close Environment Artificial Process Which Language is Easier to Learn? Do you want to teach English as a second language? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kevin A. Please note that...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Successful acquisition of a first language (otherwise known as an L1) has almost a 100% success rate. Aside from a few people that are unable to read or write everyone can communicate fluently in their L1. Successful acquisition of a second language, however, does not occur nearly as often. Why is this so and can anything be learned from first language learning to improve second language fluency. Variations in the English Language Form Language Acquisition Process Second Language Acquisition Process Teaching Ways Children and Language Acquisition Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rebekah I. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Language is one of the most significant aspects that differentiate humans from other species. The method of human communication is considered unique as it incorporates both spoken and written communication. The use of language in communication consists of the use of words in a structured or conventional way. Language acquisition is considered one of the most unique and impressive aspects of human development both psychologically and cognitively. However, every human acquires the language they encounter as children. It is from this point that they can learn multiple languages, although these languages will always be unique from the first language they were exposed to. The uniqueness of the first language from the languages learned exposes the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A global language is a language spoken internationally, the most popular one being English. It is learned by many people as a second language. Word Origin Global Communication Language Structure Cultural Importance Challenges For Learners Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Damian B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A big part of the lexical units in the English language was taken from German, Latin, French, and other European countries. People think that languages have a strong relation between dominance and cultural power. Also read: What to Watch Out for Before Signing Your TEFL Contract...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas In educational literature, the term Second Language Acquisition (SLA) is defined in various ways, influenced by factors such as socio-cultural aspects, the specific language being learned (e.g., second, third, or fourth language), and whether the learning occurs solely in a classroom. Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis Monitor Hypothesis Natural Order Hypothesis Input Hypothesis Affective Filter Hypothesis Ready to teach English as a Foreign Language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Let's examine SLA theory through the lens of Stephen Krashen's five hypotheses: Krashen proposes two mechanisms for language development. The first is an unconscious process akin to absorbing...  [Read more]

  The structure of the question form of the Present Simple tense is the topic for this ITTT video. The positive and negative forms are discussed in other videos. Question Form: auxiliary verb 'do/does' + subject + base form of the verb Do I/you/we/they teach? Does he/she/it teach? Teaching English as a second language is an exciting and rewarding experience. The major qualifications necessary to gain a position teaching English as a second language are an internationally recognized TEFL or TESOL Certificate. ITTT has a range of courses that will provide you with the skills to begin your career teaching English as a second language. If you are interested in gaining your qualification follow the link above. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of...  [Read more]

  This video explains the usage of the future perfect continuous tense. This tense is used to talk about how long an action/event will have been going on by a certain time in the future. Although the future perfect continuous is rarely used in everyday English, if you are looking to teach English as a second language, you will need to be knowledgeable on even rare grammar points such as this. So if you are considering entering the world of English teaching the best way to equip yourself with the necessary skills is to take a comprehensive TEFL course and ITTT's online TEFL courses give you a good foundation in the areas of English grammar that you are most likely to encounter when you first set out to teach English as a second language. More information can be found about the courses...  [Read more]

The simple answer is no, you do not need to have any knowledge or experience of languages other than English to take a TEFL course or to become an EFL teacher. The ability to speak other languages is not required as the vast majority of TEFL classrooms around the world rely on the communicative approach to English teaching that specifies that English is the only language used in the classroom. How can I teach English if I don't speak the student's language? Does it help if a teacher has learnt a foreign language? Should I learn the local language while teaching English abroad? In a diverse EFL classroom, where students may hail from varied linguistic backgrounds, speaking one or two native languages isn't always beneficial. In fact, in monolingual settings, students might lean on...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Second language acquisition is used to refer to any language other than the first language, so it refers to the acquisition of any language after the acquisition of the mother tongue. How do we learn languages? Why does a person need to learn a second language? What is assimilation? What is developing during second language acquisition? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Abdelkabir E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. It functions as a recognized means of communication among members who speak some other language as their mother tongue. For example; English as a second language is learned in...  [Read more]

  In this video for a teaching English second language teaching idea the students are given a sheet of paper with a series of pictures and each picture has a prompt with complicated verb structure as well as irregular verbs. The students will have to look at the prompts and order the pictures so as to make a story in the past simple tense. For higher level students you could remove the prompts and leave it up to them to create their own story. Teaching English as a second language is an increasingly popular career move. Not only do get the opportunity to help a variety of people around the world achieve their language learning goals but you also get to experience what it is like to live in another culture, often quite different to your own, which is always a rewarding experience. To...  [Read more]

Definitely! Just as we expect professionals like surgeons or pilots to be trained, students expect their English instructors to be both knowledgeable and skilled. A TEFL certification ensures two primary competencies: Thus, being TEFL-certified not only bolsters your expertise but also fosters trust and credibility among students. So how can taking a TEFL certification provide this knowledge? The second major component mentioned at the start, that of Classroom skills. In conclusion: 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...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Susan W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. 1. Self-introduction 2. Reasons for practicing as an EFL Teacher 3. Ways in which EFL will guide me achieve my goals 4. Games and activities in the classroom 5. Planning my New Lesson Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: I am Susan and I'm 40 years female from Kenya and I have graduated with a bachelor's degree in Art in Education. I have been teaching young learners in Kenya for two years and I was invited to teach English in southern China and I am ready for the new challenge teaching abroad. I decided to do a TEFL test online so that I can acquire the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The contrast between primary language acquisition and second language learning interests professional linguists, language pedagogues, and ordinary students alike. To say that the processes are distinct and involve very different learning processes, as well as even altogether different spheres of the brain is an understatement: these are indeed different functions (Limacher, Ute "Language Acquisition Versus Language Learning" ). Differences between the two types of acquisitions Language structure and learning process Personal experience The Consciousness of language acquisition Classroom setting Natural environment Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Brett...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences In my experience, many teachers are not really sure about the difference between teaching ESL and teaching EFL in the classroom. In this post I will try to explain both situations and give some insight into each as they are actually quite distinct. The Basic Difference Potential Problems of Both Situations Typical Students of EFL and ESL The Importance of Speaking English in the Classroom Are you ready to teach English in an ESL or EFL classroom? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Amal S. ESL refers to teaching English as a Second Language in a English-speaking country where the student's native language is not English, while EFL refers to teaching English as a Foreign Language in a country...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences My first language was French –-the language of my Cajun-born mother. She wanted to pass on her cultural heritage and therefore spoke to her first-born child, me, only in French. However, once I was put into kindergarten and was unable to communicate or understand any of my teachers or classmates, my parents reverted to English because they feared to set me back in school. Personal Experience Different Learning Modes Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Madeleine K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Despite understanding their fear, I did not appreciate my parent's decision. I was very...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As a young child, I was, for some reason, obsessed with the idea of learning French. I tried a couple of languages, including Finnish at some point, but kept going back to French. I have no idea why because I was never exposed to the culture or the language itself at that age. I doubt I even knew anything about the country itself. I think I assumed learning French would make me sound smarter but, the joke's on younger me, I have no skill in French and never have. I tend to struggle with romance languages in general. My Personal Second Language Experience My Choice Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nicole H. Please note that this blog post might not...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences There is a world tendency to start learning English at a very young age. This may be a result of globalization and developing countries putting more attention on education. Apart from that, many studies and real-life experience show that young children have a great ability to grasp a foreign language, therefore kindergarten is a perfect time to begin. Children as They Are Attention Skills Lesson Planning English-learning Background Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tetiana A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When teaching in a kindergarten, it is very important to understand the features of...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Conditionals are an important part of English grammar. Take a look at the following explanation to learn how to use the second conditional correctly.   What Is the Second Conditional? The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future – things which don’t or won’t happen. For example:        If the ‘if‘ clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the ‘if‘ clause comes second, there is no need for a comma. For example: Sometimes it’s possible to use ‘should’, ‘could‘ or ‘might’ in place of ‘would‘. For example: Second Conditional Structure Like a first...  [Read more]

Undoubtedly, the demand for online English teachers is surging. With the proliferation of diverse online teaching platforms, students worldwide are accessing specialized English lessons, from one-on-one sessions to group interactions, and from foundational speaking modules to tailored courses for business professionals. This expansive and versatile online English teaching landscape has amplified the need for teachers from varied backgrounds. Are TEFL qualified teachers in demand in English speaking countries? Are online English teachers in demand in China? Yes, TEFL qualified teachers are in demand within English-speaking countries. The online teaching field offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing educators to be based anywhere, from the comfort of their homes to anywhere around the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Over a hundred years ago, in the late 19th century, a Polish-Jewish eye doctor named Dr. Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof wanted to bridge the gaps and misunderstandings between different ethnic groups that he grew up around. Being from a Polish city that, at the time, was a polyglot, multi-ethnic mixture of Poles, Russians, Jews, Lithuanians, and Germans, he saw there was a great deal of distrust between each group, and he believed it was due to the language barriers that each imposed. To create a common ground between every group, he created an international, universal language called Esperanto (Yaffe, 2017). While it was a great idea to create a language that did not belong to any ethnic group and could be used universally, it did not take off in the 20th...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Verbs are one of the most important parts of speech in English and incredibly important for learners of English. The below infographic showcases all types of verbs in the English language.   Generally speaking, a verb is a word that shows an action, state or an event. It is an essential part of a sentence and is known as the soul of language. For example: "They study English grammar." (Action) "We celebrate independence day." (Event) "I sleep at night." (State)    Following are the different types of verbs:   When a verb's past tense (2nd form) and past participle (3rd form) is created by adding ‘d’ or ‘ed’, it is called a regular verb. Some examples of a regular verb include: Walk Walked ...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I did not realize how difficult English is until I became fluent in Spanish. I am currently studying French and I am pretty good at French. I have a basic knowledge of Esperanto. English is difficult for several reasons English is not a phonetic language There are exceptions to every rule Some examples of other exceptions to English rules Pronunciation Are you ready to teach English all over the world? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Wayne K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I will just touch on each of these since a book could be written about each of these. Also Read: Teaching Young Learners vs. Adult Learners - The...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Like we all know, the English alphabet has 26 letters. These 26 letters can make 44 different sounds or phonemes – 20 sounds come from the vowels a, e, i, o and u; and 24 sounds come from the remaining 21 consonants. A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound that can change the meaning of a word. The Vowel Sounds The Consonant Sounds Syllable Stress Without Jumping to Conclusions Listen to this blog post Are you ready to take your TEFL course? Related Articles: If we consider sounds made simply by the letter 'a' for instance, in the word 'apple' – it's /ae/, in 'car' – it's /a:/, in amount – it's /a/, and so on. This, consequently, makes English a non-phonetic language, which means that the pronunciation of a word is not...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences English is considered a universal language, mainly because it is widely spoken all over the world. English was originally the language of England. Its expansion became imperative due to the dominance in world trade, religion, technology, tourism, education and so on. UK expansion and incursion of the USA as the first world power saw the migration of the English language all over the world. About 70 countries adopt the English language as their official language and statistics have it that the English language is one of the easiest languages to learn when compared with other languages like Chinese, French, German or Spanish. English Prevalence English in Asia ESL Career Difficulties Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related...  [Read more]

For those aspiring to teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), especially non-native speakers, a high level of English proficiency is essential. Specifically, you should have an English language proficiency that aligns with at least the C1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). TEFL primarily involves teaching English in regions where English is not the predominant language, so instructors need a deep understanding and command of the language. Who can be a TEFL teacher? Why is TEFL certification important? Do you have to be a native English speaker to teach EFL? 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...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As an international study major in college, I learned that the United Nations, a non-governmental organization, officially recognizes six world languages: every meeting, written document, and speech are translated into these languages. English is one of them. It is spoken and written by billions of people around the world. Having traveled in eight countries myself, I was surprised to have seen how commonplace it was for countries to translate directional signs in both the official language and in English. A student's mastery of the English language, or in any language, can be a difficult journey to venture. Therefore, this essay will explore what factors may motivate a student to learn English. English for adults Ways to learn English for young...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the second conditional to his class. He explains the usage and the grammatical structure of the second conditional. He also gives his students a worksheet to check their understanding. ITTT's Observed Teaching Practice courses (OTP) are ideal for teachers wanting to improve their teaching skills remotely from anywhere in 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. Register now & get certified to teach...  [Read more]