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Evaluation and Testing of Students in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Evaluations are the useful tools or techniques that provide insight for modification, planning and in some cases re-designing a course. Student evaluation also provides the opportunity to address issues regarding student learning while the course is still in progress. There are different ways a teacher can assess a student's language level:
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Tests
Placement Test
The Diagnostic Test
Progress Test
Practice Test
Tutorials
Evaluation by the Students
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a) Testsb) Tutorialsc) Evaluation by the students.
This post was written by our ITTT graduate Michael O.
Students can be tested from time to time during the course.... [Read more]
Helping Students Conquer Stress in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Learning a new language can elicit stress/fear responses in students. This is especially prominent in speaking as it can make people feel vulnerable/ashamed in front of their peers. It is very common for students to feel shy, especially if they are one of the weaker students in English or don't have the motivation to learn the language.
My Personal Language Learning Experience
Ways to Support Students
1. Classroom Dynamics
2. Attention to a Group, not to an Individual
3. Team Building and Peer Work
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daniela A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
I have experienced... [Read more]
6 Teaching Skills to Support Your Students Learning Process - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
It's my dream to be a teacher since I was a little girl. It's so lucky, I became an English teacher after I graduated from school. I like my job, I always prepared a lot before my class, such as materials, flashcards, teaching plan and so on. Because I hope my students will enjoy my class and gain knowledge through my class.
1. Attitude
2. Sense of Humor
3. Lesson Structure
4. Teaching Approach
5. Games and Activities
6. Encouragement
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I heard that a good teacher must be a good actor. I really impressed by this sentence, it always reminds me, no matter how tired you are and how sad you are, once you enter in the classroom, you must be full of energetic and keep a... [Read more]
Learning Difficulties: How to Support Them Within The Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Learning difficulties can found in all teaching environments, be it a classroom of mixed ability students, a one-to-one tutoring session, teaching EFL or online teaching. Learning difficulties affect all age groups, both genders, and all languages and cultures, therefore a good teacher must be able to both foresee and prepare for supporting a student's learning difficulties. This is even more important when teaching EFL students as unless these difficulties are met and coping methods are established then the student will struggle to make any progress in their learning English as a second language.
My Personal Experience
Real-Time Lessons
Learning Challenges
Lesson Procedure
Other Ways to Help
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today!... [Read more]
How to Motivate High School Students in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Motivation in the classroom is the biggest reason why I teach students in a high school setting. I am a public-school teacher and I get English as a Second Language students all the time in my classroom. I am a 10th-grade teacher but my students' ages range from 14 years old to 19 years old. The number one factor that I teach is for motivation. My students are already matured and have seen things they probably should not have at their ages. Once they get to my classroom, they are mine to teach. I do my utmost best to teach my students. I have students from all over the world, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Egyptian, Asian, Africa, to name a few countries. I now have wonderful scores. I also have a high likability rating from my students; the... [Read more]
Classroom Actions - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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These classroom actions are ideal to teach your beginner ESL students for smooth classroom management.
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Getting Student Placement Right - The Best Desk Arrangements for EFL Students - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
As a teacher of English as a foreign language, or any subject really, you have to consider the seating arrangement in your classroom. Studies have shown that seating arrangements where the teacher can see the faces of all of the students at all times increase student engagement and are therefore beneficial for their learning. Considering this, here are the best desk arrangements for EFL students that you should try out in your classroom!
Single Rows
U-Shape
Double Rows
Clusters
More things to consider regarding desk placement:
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Setting up the students' desks in single rows is great for teacher demonstrations and independent table work. While this arrangement is very formal and... [Read more]
7 Ideas For Teaching ESL - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Ideas for teaching ESL students in the classroom starting with structure and listing out what they will be doing.
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How and When Should a TEFL Teacher Adjust Their Teaching Style? - TEFL Blog
Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
English is one of the most common languages in the world. Knowing English can help people communicate with others from different countries and seek opportunities to have a better job or life. English can bring benefits to everyone, no matter how old they are. Therefore, English is becoming essential in many areas and more people, from kids to adults, are learning it as a second language. To help people learn English effectively, teachers play a significant role in their learning progress. There are many types of students and depending on their needs, ages, and personalities, teachers must learn how to adjust their teaching styles accordingly.
Different Reasons For Learning English
Different Age Groups - Children
Different Age Groups -... [Read more]
Classroom Management as a Skill in the Modern ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Classroom management is the skill of organizing and managing the class, having a friendly, relaxed manner, and maintaining discipline. Good classroom management allows students to increase their motivation. Motivation has an impact on a student's academic performance. The main purpose of assigning jobs is to teach them some responsibility.
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Satinder K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
While they do learn how to be responsible by taking care of their belongings and keeping their desks clean and organized, a classroom job helps students keep the room smoothly.... [Read more]
What Drives Students in the Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
How can a teacher motivate an EFL classroom? Motivation is a major part of learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL). There is more to motivation in the classroom than knowing English is a useful language to learn.
Importance of Motivation
Ways to Motivate
Types of Motivation
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Aaron F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Students should be motivated to attend and pay attention in the classroom. Each student should be constantly reminded of their own, personal reason to learn English. Finally, the best motivation comes from... [Read more]
The Ways Parents Help Students in Learning Languages - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
It is a truth acknowledge in all cultures that our parents are our first teachers. What the adage means is very simple but profound. Learning begins at home. Learning is bolstered also at the home. The success of a child's educational endeavor later in life also owes a lot to the home.
First Steps
Home Reading Activities
Supporting in Formal Learning
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In learning the English language and the different language skills, parents can also be of great assistance to their children. Below are some ways parents can provide help to their kids and boost their chance of succeeding in their English language learning endeavor and a majority of the support that parents can provide to their... [Read more]
Go Fishing ESL Icebreaker Printable - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is an easy classroom activity to encourage your ESL students to speak in English. All you have to do is cut out these fish with the questions to play.
To play, simply print out the sheet, cut out the fish and laminate them to make them more durable. If you want to be really creative, you can create a pond or a fishing area in your classroom where your students can “go fish.”
Another great idea would be to have the fish in a box or container and let students draw them out one at a time.
To make fishing rods, all you need is string, magnets, and dowel rods. Be sure to also attach some magnets on each fish and your students can start fishing!
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Songs in the ESL Classroom for Younger Beginners - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Music-based learning is an effective technique to develop English proficiency within an early youth classroom. Classroom-based singing can create a fun learning environment and lead to the development of musical skills, social interaction, and English vocabulary.
Simple Rhymes
Examples of Suitable Rhyme Songs
Involving the Class
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This post was written by our ITTT graduate Patrick H.
The most effective method for younger learners is the use of various simple rhymes. Rhymes are simple in nature and may easily be adapted to the current material that is being taught. The teacher and students will benefit most from a circular seating arrangement as it allows both... [Read more]
Free Printable Fall Word Search - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This free printable fall word search is perfect for introducing the fall season to your ESL students.
This fun printable printable fall word search is ideal for any ESL and EFL classroom. The students can work on this worksheet either at home or in the classroom. You can have them work on it individually or do it as a fun activity for the whole class!
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Printable Fall Word Search for ESL Students - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Introduce the changing of the seasons to your classroom with this fun printable fall word search for ESL students.
This fun printable printable fall word search is ideal for any ESL and EFL classroom. The students can work on this worksheet either at home or in the classroom. You can have them work on it individually or do it as a fun activity for the whole class!
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[Read more]
The Secrets of Organizing Any ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Effective teachers not only possess expertise in content knowledge but they are also great classroom managers. If teachers cannot manage their students then they cannot teach their students. Learning will only take place when the classroom is well managed. The first day of school is the most important day for teachers to create 'rules' in the classroom.
The Essence of Classroom Management
Teacher Responsibilities
Relationships
Expectations and Directions
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nikki D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Classroom management must happen on the very first day of school... [Read more]
Features of ESL Games in the Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
A lot of activities can be settled and performed in a classroom to teach a non-native language. From tasks until routine exercises, a wide range of dynamics might be applied for a teacher. But games have different and unique features for a lesson, and its matter and characteristics need to be debated for developing consistent teaching of content.
What is a Game?
What is the Game for?
Game Directions
Sense of Competence
Communication
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Fábio A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
First of all, it must keep in mind the concept of a game, which could be described as... [Read more]
Phonetics and Phonology in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
What is phonology? Most students have not even heard about it. Whenever I ask my students whether they know or have ever learned about phonetics, the same answers come out, "No, we don't know about it at all". It is no wonder they reply like this because there is no phonetic teaching lesson in English classes from KG to high school here in my country. As for me, I got to study about this only when I attended college. Even then, it wasn't taught comprehensively and I only learned very little. So I couldn't read nor write phonetic symbols very well. Thus I thought it was the most difficult part of studying English.
Reasons to pay attention to phonetics
Phonetics in the early years
Benefits
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Related... [Read more]
Seven Effective Ways to Motivate Students in a Diverse Classroom - TEFL Blog
Mark Crocker
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Having experienced campus life as a non-native English speaker and foreign student in Canada, I have learnt a few key aspects that affect the overall learning experience in a diverse classroom. The effectiveness and efficacy of the teacher primarily hinge on their ability to engage the students enough to maintain a reasonable level of motivation. I have observed a few ways that would increase the motivation of the students, especially within a classroom full of students from diverse cultural backgrounds and language levels.
1. Stay Relevant
2. Stay Connected
3. Stay Competitive
4. Stay Hi-Tech
5. Stay Hi-Touch
6. Stay Tuned
7. Stay Modern
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How to Cope with Stress in the Classroom when Students Feel Miserable - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
There are many important factors that a TEFL or TESOL teacher needs to consider their students when teaching. One of these factors is the stress of their students. Every student has a reason and motivation for wanting to learn and study English. However, this motivation can also come stress to perform with excellence or to learn it at a quick pace. This is stress can easily overwhelm even the brightest and most diligent and passionate of students. While the students themselves will be the final initiators to deal with their stress, there are ways that the teacher can help as well.
Know how stress looks like
Strategies to conquer stress
Personal example
Understand there can be anticipated problems
Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!... [Read more]
10 Tips to Help Your Students Follow Directions When Teaching English Abroad - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
Giving directions as a teacher to non-native English speakers in an EFL classroom often requires a set of techniques to ensure the students truly understand the directions and can follow them how you want them to. The following 10 tips to help your students follow directions when teaching English abroad work for students of all ages and levels but are especially useful for English learners of young ages or low levels.
1. Ask for Their Attention
2. Minimize Distractions
3. Speak Quietly
4. Break Down Instructions
5. Number Your Directions
6. Be Precise
7. Wait Before Repeating
8. Don't Ask "Do You Understand?"
9. Rephrase Questions
10. Use Visual Reminders
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Teacher Roles and Responsibilities in an ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Teachers play an intricate role in children's formative years, both intellectually and socially. For schools to have a positive effect on children, they will be dependent on good teachers. A good teacher has many specific attributes with some being professional roles they have and others being embedded in their personality.
Management
Evaluation
Organization
Attitude
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Shelby W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
During the class, the teacher must be able to manage and control the students. This means the teacher needs to be able to stand in front of the class as a... [Read more]
5 Minute Activity: 3 Words per Category - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a fun 5-minute activity for your ESL classroom. Have your students write 3 words per category as fast as they can.
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How to Give Feedback to Your ESL Students - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
hey everybody it's lisa here and i'm glad to welcome you to a new itttt live stream uh so i'm going to wait for a while for some more people to join us uh but while doing so i'm going to change the slide uh just one sec so that you could see it um bigger so i'm going to zoom in and yeah i'm just going to present itttt right right straight away uh so itttt is a leading tefl and tesol training and we provide high quality tefl certification so if you are interested in becoming a teacher and you are willing to build on um a successful career tefl should be the first step uh in this journey uh so check us out we are presented on various social networks uh and yeah just go ahead and subscribe to our youtube channel or follow us on instagram so choose um that social media you like and let me get... [Read more]
Songs In an Early Childhood ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
It is a very well known fact that English is a very melodic language, it sounds very soft and children love singing in English. When you keep a certain rhythm, rhyme, and pace, it is very likely to learn faster and better almost any topic.
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Young Learners
The objective would be to sing and to touch the body parts at the same time.
Both engage and practice stages are important during the lesson as they will have to be well balanced and guided.
More Ideas
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Valeria T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
For a group of very young... [Read more]
The Many Roles of the Teacher in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
The role of a teacher is constantly changing throughout the day. The teacher's role can be influenced by: the lesson, the students, and the circumstances that might arise during a classroom session. Teachers frequently perform various roles when teaching students, some of these roles include: instructor, facilitator, mentor, psychologist, counselor, and policeman.
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A teacher can act as an instructor.
A teacher can act as a facilitator.
A teacher can act as a mentor.
A teacher can act as a psychologist.
A teacher can act as a counselor.
A teacher can act as a policeman.
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This post was written by our TEFL... [Read more]
4 Activities for Teaching Future Tenses in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Teaching Ideas
In a previous post, we looked at various teaching ideas for future simple and here we're going to describe some fun ideas for teaching three other future tenses. There are a wide variety of usages for future tenses and it's always important to make sure your activities focus on the usages that you've taught in your lesson. For example, future continuous can be used to talk about an ongoing action at a point in the future, a fixed future event, polite enquiries or to predict the future or the present. Predicting the present is one that students often have trouble conceptualizing, so we might as well start from there.
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Predicting the present
Ongoing action at a point in the future
Expected achievements at a point in the future... [Read more]
Ensuring Student Motivation and Engagement in the Classroom - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
As a teacher myself, I am aware of the importance of ensuring my students are engaged in all their lessons and learning experiences. Students are more likely to participate fully in their learning if they are interested and/or motivated to be there. There are many reasons why students take EFL courses or classes and it is important for the teacher to understand what has brought them there. I believe that by knowing or finding out why students are in the class, we as teachers can gain an incredible insight into how best to engage them in their learning.
Personal Teaching Approach
Multiple Intelligences Theory
Ways to Engage
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate... [Read more]
4 Positive Ways to Motivate Students in the Kindergarten Classroom - TEFL Blog
Jon ITTT
Alumni Experiences
How to motivate and keep the students interested in learning the English language?
1. Make Class Communicative:
2. Make Class Fun:
3. Forge Relationships:
4. Give Feedback:
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Richard B.
To teach at the Kindergarten level the teacher has to be mindful of keeping students' attention and maintaining order. It is important to have structure and routines. To ensure the students are comfortable, happy and engaged while learning and practicing English there needs to be a balance between patients and strictness. To keep their attention, it is good to enlist fun little games to help maintain order in the class. It is... [Read more]