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English Speaking and Writing Errors made by Chinese Primary Students - TEFL Blog
William Noble
Destinations Teaching Ideas
I have been an online ESL teacher to Chinese students for over 13 years, mostly with primary students but also with secondary and adult students. I am also a father and have homeschooled my daughter over her primary years. Like many teachers, I've enjoyed teaching at this level of education as it lays the foundation in English. As it set the foundation, my teaching helped students to overcome common errors in production skills, speaking and writing. Teaching both my daughter and Chinese students at the primary level also helped me also to understand the different expectations between first language and second language students.
Speaking Errors
Phonetics
Dark L
Aspiration
Consonant Clusters
Suprasegmentals
Intonation
Psychology
Writing Errors... [Read more]
How to Help Chinese Native Speakers to Follow English Grammar Rules in Speaking - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Grammar is the rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in a natural language. Simply put, grammar is the general rule of a language. Language is logical; grammar tells us in which order we say words. It's about how words become phrases; how words and phrases become sentences and how sentences become language.
The Essence of Grammar
Different languages have different grammar rules
How to teach grammar (EFL: how to teach Chinese students English)
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Yang S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Some of these rules are acquired naturally in... [Read more]
Pronunciation Problems for Learners Speaking Chinese as their First Language - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sheneil J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Problems with Consonants
Problems with Vowels
Problems with Rhythm and Stress
Problems with intonation
Minimal Pairs
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Chinese does not have either of the "th" sounds (like "that" and "this"). Most other languages do not have these sounds and they are problematic for most learners of English. The difficulty is the point of articulation- the tongue has to be between the teeth, not behind them. Many people say that English speakers look like they're sticking their tongues out all the time because of the "th" sounds. It... [Read more]
How to Help Chinese Native Speaking Students in Their ESL Practice - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
China is one of the leading countries in the world that has been in the search and quest to learn the English language. In recent years the demand to learn English has been on a rise. Every school tries to have a teacher who can teach the language to the learners. However, in this process of learning, many learners encounter a series of problems which make the language learning process not an easy task both for teachers and students. However, we are going to be looking at very common problems students learning English as a foreign language face in China.
First Language
Lack of Interest
Pronunciation Difficulties
Ways to Solve The Abovementioned Problems
1. Speak English to Students Only
2. Work on Building Students' Confidence
Do you want to teach... [Read more]
How Mandarin Chinese Helps Me in Teaching English - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Foreign language experience is complexed on so many different levels, it is a window into a different culture, often a different country and even a different paradigm of thinking. There is a multitude of language experiences people can have, each with their own intricacies and uniqueness. As a native English speaker from South Africa, living in China has provided me with extraordinary foreign language experience.
The Most Difficult Language
Benefits of Mandarin Experience
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Marlan S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Mandarin, the national language of... [Read more]
How Learning Chinese Made Me A Better English Teacher In China - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
The following blog post is about an ITTT graduate who shares his story on how learning Chinese helped him to become a better English teacher in China.
What do you call someone who speaks only one language?
"My insights into their language and culture were incredibly helpful."
"Many Chinese are anxious about speaking English with natives - more so than is to be considered normative."
"The best ESL teachers are the ones with experience with the native language of their students."
Listen to this blog post
Now it's your turn to get TEFL certified!
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joseph S.
A common saying imparted to me by one of my professors goes like this: "What do you call someone who speaks three languages?... [Read more]
The Typical Challenges for Chinese English Learners - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
This essay answers the question for number 10 "what are the main problems for learners in the country of China?" I am a professor at Jiangnan University in Wuxi, China and share my observations. Our students are in the North American College (NAC), with partners in Canada at Lambton College and Northwood University, USA. Three areas are most interesting to their learning challenges: college preparation, listening and writing.
Exam System
Lexical Units
Digital Autism
Writing
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Annette P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Students enter NAC with a low score on... [Read more]
Troubles Faced by Students from China When Learning English - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
If you think of Chinese ESL students it is safe to assume that most teachers would immediately worry about how they should teach phonics to Mandarin speakers. It is also true that the media has portrayed the Chinese accent as one of the most challenging to understand or even get rid of.
Personal Experience
Phonetical Errors
Grammar Challenges
Problems Due to Geographical Origin of Students
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Graciela G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Usually, the first thing you will notice as an ESL teacher, speaking from experience, is the difficulty Chinese ESL students face... [Read more]
Future Perfect Speaking Cards - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Here are some great printable speaking cards aimed to practice the usage of the future perfect tense in speaking.
Have your students work in pairs or teams. Have them take a card and interview each other on the given questions. This activity is aimed to practice the usage of the future perfect tense in speaking.
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[Read more]
English Learning Problems For Chinese Native Speakers and Solutions - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Most teachers come to China to teach English with only a general idea about Chinese culture and language which they should have to deal with as soon as they arrive in China. The reason I chose this topic is that I am fluent in Chinese and have experienced Chinese culture in all its facets for over than seven years. But let's not beat around the bush and get down to the nitty-gritty.
Shyness/lack of confidence:
Grammar issues:
Pronunciation issues:
Th: /s/ instead of /th/
V: /w/ instead of /v/ (mostly with southern Chinese)
Lt: /t/ instead of /lt/
Intonation:
Lack of learning structure:
Do you want to teach English in China?
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ruben M.
Chinese people often seem to be shy or... [Read more]
IAcademy Education - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
ICan is a Canada based online ESL company committed to transforming ESL learners into dynamic, confident English speakers. ICan offers Speaking Classes, Writing Classes, and IELTS preparation courses.
Ican Speaking: Young students of speaking and conversation are given interactive playful lessons with new vocabulary, phrases, and games. Our teachers are there to help guide their pronunciation, correct their mistakes, and to create as much conversation as they can from what the student has given them.
Mid-level and more advanced students use an interactive but less playful program which is more based on the conversational aspect of English. Along with grammar, the students are regularly prompted by the course material to speak on the different subjects introduced. Each lesson begins with a... [Read more]
Silent Letters when Speaking English - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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When practicing speaking English it can be confusing for language learners to find that certain words have a silent letter that shouldn’t be used. Here we look at some of the most common examples.
When teaching English to non-native speakers the presence of silent letters can be a cause of great confusion among students and teachers alike. For the learner it can be frustrating to find that the written form of the word they have just mastered is actually spoken without using all the letters. There are a few basic rules when it comes to silent letters, but as is usually the case with English, there are often exceptions.
Silent (B) Rule 1: The letter B is usually not pronounced after M at the end of a word e.g. comb, bomb,... [Read more]
Problems for Young English Learners in Public Schools in China - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Since the opening of China to the Western world, Chinese society and economic prowess have both continued to grow at exponential rates. This has led to its status as a rising power, culturally and economically, and an international power increasingly interconnected with many parts of the globe. As Chinese educational infrastructure tries to match pace with the rapidity of the country's progress, one educational mandate that has persisted in importance over time has been that of English learning for all young learners across the country. The government sees English proficiency as a matter of national economic competitiveness, in fact requiring that English is taught as part of the public school curriculum as preparation for China's 高考 (gaokao),... [Read more]
Speaking Tips C1-C2 Levels in English - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Are you about to take an English speaking exam or simply want to improve your speaking skills? These advanced C1-C2 level English phrases are going to spice up your English conversations and make you sound more professional at the same time.
We've all been there. You're in a conversation and get asked a question but you have no idea what to answer or don't understand the question. Instead of giving a blank stare or blurting out "huh?", there are some more professional things to say when you don't understand a question:
Getting asked about things you like and dislike is part of almost every conversation. Instead of answering with a simple "yes" or "no", there are some better ways to spice up the conversation:
Getting your... [Read more]
Problems for ESL Learners in China - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
The English language has become so essential in china because the country wants to successfully promote internationalism and keep the lines of communication open for trade and business matters. As one of the global powers, it's in the country's best interest to keep afloat of shifting trends in international matters.
Governmental decision
Spelling
Pronunciation
Singular / Plural Aspect
Gender
Articles
Lack of opportunities to practice
Word order
Individual differences
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ramy M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
The government has recognized that English is now... [Read more]
The Importance of Speaking English in Today's World - TEFL Blog
Hoàng Minh Huy
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
Language is a tool for communication; we use it to share our ideas and learn about those of other people. Communication occurs anywhere speech is present. Without speaking, we are unable to communicate with one another. Therefore, speaking skills are crucial for language learners of any language.
The Importance of Speaking Skills in Language Learning
The Benefits of Fluent Speaking in a Second Language
Challenges Faced by Language Learners in Speaking
Strategies for Improving Speaking Skills in English
The Global Impact of English Language Proficiency
Conclusion
Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language?
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Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
English skills include speaking,... [Read more]
What Does it Mean to be a TEFL certified Non-Native English Speaking Teacher?
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Well, before starting this summative task and as I was going through the list of topics, I noticed this one…TEFL for non-native English speaking teachers (N°30) and thought: that's the one I want to talk about.
What TEFL means for a non-native English speaking teacher
What it does not mean
A balanced and broader view of this situation should help such one to remain optimistic and confident.
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Yes, I am a non-native English speaker and months ago, I have given to my life a completely different orientation, leaving behind nearly a 30 years career spent in the financial and business fields. As being one important step included in this global professional and personal project,... [Read more]
How to Build Confidence in Chinese Business Students - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Self-confidence has been seen as a major contributor to a person learning a language. As a teacher and a counselor, I agree with Jack Welch's quote: Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing that I can do because then they will act. Confidence exists of three realms: who I am, what I can learn, and what I can do. These are steps that can be taken to help Chinese Business English students improve confidence in these realms.
What is self-confidence?
Who am I?
What can I learn?
What can I do?
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today!
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate William N. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.... [Read more]
7 Great Games for Your ESL Conversation Class - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Teaching speaking skills is an important part of an ESL class. Sometimes, entire conversation classes are established that focus solely on speaking. Here are 7 great games for your ESL conversation class.
1. Mystery Party Guest
2. Choose Your Victim
3. Ice-breaker Jenga
4. 20 Questions
5. Apples to Apples
6. Get to Know You Bingo
7. Create A Game
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Write down the names and key points about five celebrities and assign them to the same amount of students in your classroom. One by one, a student enters a "party" with another student playing the host. The host must then find out the identity of each guest by having a conversation with everyone.
Have your students stand in a circle. Choose a specific... [Read more]
Can TEFL work for non-native English speaking teachers? - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
TEFL Information
TEFL is considered a career with few opportunities for non-native English speaking teachers as a lot of employers only hire native English speaking teachers. However, with the expansion of TEFL worldwide and the increasing number of individuals ready to get TEFL certified and move abroad to teach, there are also many non-native English speakers who enter the career of TEFL teaching. A TEFL certificate allows teachers to explore the world, break out of their national boundaries while working a rewarding job and earning a competitive salary.
Polish Your Portfolio
Get TEFL Certified
Get to you know the employer
Create your teaching portfolio and materials
Choose the right location
Now it's your turn to get TEFL certified!
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Listen to this... [Read more]
Problems for Learners of English in Mandarin Speaking China - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Over the past three years, I've had the privilege of teaching English as a foreign language online for a company called Education First. The format would normally be an internationally diverse group in an audio-only platform. During these sessions, I found that my students from China would have specific challenges in pronunciation that many of my European and Brazilian students would not. I recognized their tendency to add an "a" at the end of words that clearly ended in a consonant. Unfortunately, I was not educated enough in the specific challenges that Mandarin speakers faced in their attempt to learn English. I'm scheduled to begin teaching in China later this year, and it has become clear to me that I need to drill into the specific challenges faced... [Read more]
Why English Speaking is Difficult for Many Thai Learners - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Thailand is famously known as " the land of smiles". In some situations, smiling is the way to save face or to avoid conflicts. This often includes the time when Thai people have to communicate with foreigners in English and have no idea what the other meant. They simply smile to get out of a situation instead of making the best out of it by practicing their English speaking skill. On the other hand, they build up a fear of making mistakes and avoid being in that particular circumstance in the future. As English today plays important roles in tourism and the Thai economy as a whole, still, Thai people struggle to communicate effectively. Here are some areas suggested why it is difficult for Thai learners to improve their speaking skills.
Cultural Aspects... [Read more]
Asking and Giving Direction Phrases in English - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Asking and giving directions is one of the most useful topics when learning English as a foreign language, or any language as a matter of fact. The following words, phrases and expressions will help you and your students understand how to ask and give directions in English.
Asking for and giving directions is one of the most important English speaking skills. There are many different ways how we can ask for directions and just as many possible ways to respond and give directions. The key here is to be as detailed and precise as possible and refer to landmarks and buildings that make it easier to identify the right way.
How do I get to the library?
I'm looking for...
Can you show me on the map, please?
I'm looking... [Read more]
Teach ENGLISH Online! - speaking tips - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Register now & get certified to... [Read more]
The Truth About TEFL for Non-Native English Speaking Teachers - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
Sometimes non-native English speakers are discouraged in their pursuit of teaching English as a foreign language. With the right TEFL certification course and training, anyone who is a fluent English speaker can also be a great teacher. There is really no reason for non-native English speakers to worry as the following alumni report will clearly show.
Listen to this blog post:
English Proficiency
Nobody Knows Everything
You Can Relate to Your Students
You Can Anticipate the Students' Problems
Non-Native English Speaking Teachers Rule!
Are you ready to teach English abroad?
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Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials!
This post was written by our ITTT graduate Lola H.
I chose this topic because I... [Read more]
CHINEASE Ltd. - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Chinease is an international education group supported by Northumbria university. We currently work with over 80 Chinese and British Universities and institutions to provide teaching jobs, manager positions in education. And served over 200 excellent teaching vacancies for you.
We not only provide a large number of high-quality working opportunities but also one-step humanized services. We always accompany with you from resume to final entry without placing burden on you. And our Chinesae department will arrange post-entry docking and a full range of settling in services, to help you experience and understand the amazing Chinease culture to integrate into the local environment.
Find out how we can help you secure your dream teaching job in China. Please do not hesitation to contact us. We... [Read more]
Problems for Learners in China and How to Help Teachers Overcome Them - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
After spending five years in China as an ESL teacher, corporate trainer and university lecturer I would like to share a few of the most common problems for Chinese learners and ways for teachers to overcome them. I will focus on problems regarding cultural differences, pronunciation and first language interference.
Social challenges
Pronunciation
First language influence
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michal W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Despite China's opening to the outside world in recent decades, it is still a very closed society with only anecdotal knowledge of Western culture (by... [Read more]
Can you teach English in Thailand without speaking Thai? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
Absolutely, teaching English in Thailand doesn't necessitate fluency in Thai. In fact, most language schools in Thailand prefer that ESL instructors use only English in the classroom to promote full immersion, regardless of their Thai language proficiency.
Is there a need for English teachers in Thailand?
What are the requirements for teaching English in Thailand?
Thailand has seen a surge in demand for English teachers, driven by its expanding economy and an increasing eagerness among its population to master the language. As English education gains prominence, those with TEFL certifications generally find more lucrative opportunities. The shift towards long-term contracts has led schools to prioritize instructors willing to commit for extended periods, rather than brief stints. With... [Read more]
Which are the best Spanish speaking countries for teaching English abroad? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
There are several great Spanish-speaking destinations for teaching English abroad, here are our favorites right now:
Each of these countries not only offers a vibrant Spanish-speaking setting but also has a significant demand for English teachers. Immerse yourself in the language and culture while shaping the future of eager learners.
What are the benefits of teaching English in Spain?
What are the benefits of teaching English in Mexico?
What are the benefits of teaching English in Chile?
What are the benefits of teaching English in Costa Rica?
What are the benefits of teaching English in Argentina?
If you are looking to teach English in a Spanish-speaking country, Spain might be the obvious choice. Here are some great reasons to consider it:
Experience the warmth and charm of Spain... [Read more]
3 Things to Consider When Teaching University Students in China - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Teaching English to foreign students can be challenging, yet one of the most rewarding experiences. Providing education on the English language to young, middle-aged, or older individuals can be an eventful experience, shaping an instructor's portfolio and personal life. In this report, I explore possible advantages and disadvantages of teaching English to university students in China from a prospective instructor's perspective.
Individual Needs
Working on Personal Qualities
Listen to this blog post
Enjoying The Process
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dhanisha N. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Teaching, in general, can be an action-packed... [Read more]