I Dont Speak English In Chinese

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]

Hoàng Minh Huy Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas In recent years, the number of people learning English has significantly increased due to its importance. It offers various benefits, such as career opportunities, financial stability, and studying abroad. English comprises four essential skills, with speaking being a crucial step in mastering any language. This article outlines strategies to speak English fluently like a native. Leveraging Technological Advancements Engaging with Native Speakers Immersing in an English-Speaking Environment Conclusion: Diverse Paths to English Mastery Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! First and foremost, technology's rapid advancement aids English...  [Read more]

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 Do you want to teach English in China? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: 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]

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! Related Articles: 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]

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 Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: 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]

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 Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: 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]

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]

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? Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ruben M. Chinese people often seem to be shy or...  [Read more]

Of course! While holding a university degree can unlock more avenues, many language schools worldwide are open to hiring individuals without one. The passion and skill to teach can often outweigh formal academic qualifications, so not having a degree shouldn't deter you from pursuing your dream of teaching English internationally. Why is a degree required for certain teaching jobs in other countries? How can I get a teaching job abroad if I don't have a degree? What countries can I teach English in if I don't have a degree? Europe Asia Central and South America The Middle East and North Africa While we at ITTT believe essential qualities like passion and dedication often outweigh the need for a formal degree in language teaching, visa regulations in many countries dictate otherwise. To...  [Read more]

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) Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: 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]

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]

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! Related Articles: 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]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! 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!   Register now & get certified to teach english...  [Read more]

  There are some general Do's and Don'ts that need to be considered when teaching business English. Watch this video to get more insight into teaching this special group of learners. 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 english abroad! It was a very interesting but also guided unit demonstrating the activities in writing as well as speaking.The ideas produced as well as the extensive assistance showed me how well...  [Read more]

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! Related Articles: 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]

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 Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: 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]

The straightforward answer is NO. Aspiring TEFL instructors often wonder about this, but the primary requirement is a profound mastery of English. While knowing the native language of your destination country can offer advantages in daily life and understanding cultural nuances, it is not a prerequisite for most employers. Your expertise in English will foster an immersive learning environment, encouraging students to actively engage with the language. What will I need to teach English as a foreign language? How will I teach English if I don't speak the local language? What are the benefits of learning the local language? How to learn another language while teaching English abroad The prerequisites often differ based on the region and specific employer. Universally, a profound grasp of...  [Read more]

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! Related Articles: 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]

  There are some general Do's and Don'ts that need to be considered when teaching young learners. Watch this video to get more insight into teaching this special group of learners. 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 english abroad! Phonetics are such an important part that is overlooked so much! I realized how much I need to learn and practice it, I learned the types of stress, intonation, how every single part of...  [Read more]

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]

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]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Writing dates in English can be done in a variety of ways. Here are some common ways to write dates in British and American English.   What is the correct format for dates in English? This is something very important to teach your students when teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). How to write the date in English usually depends on the following things: Whether you write a formal letter or an informal note; and whether you use British or American English. Let's take a look at the examples below. As you can see, there are a number of ways in which you can write the same date. As a general rule we can say that the more complicated the style of date, the more formal it is. In British English (which is mainly used in...  [Read more]

Absolutely! Many language schools worldwide are more interested in your teaching skills and passion than your specific educational background. While possessing a degree can offer additional opportunities, it is not a definitive barrier. Many individuals without degrees successfully pursue and thrive in English teaching roles abroad. Why is a degree required to do certain TEFL teaching jobs? How can I get a TEFL job if I don't have a degree? Where can I teach English if I don't have a degree? While there is no universal mandate stating TEFL teachers must have a bachelor's degree, several TEFL jobs do require one. The primary rationale behind this requirement is not necessarily pedagogical but administrative, mainly to fulfill visa regulations set by specific countries. Indeed, while...  [Read more]

When it comes to accents we all have one no matter where in the world we were brought up. Most of us are familiar with the basic differences between British and American accents, but what about accents from Australia and New Zealand, Canada and South Africa? And within each of these countries there are dozens of regional accents, just to complicate things further. So, we all have an accent, but is it a problem when teaching English as a foreign language? What English accent should I teach my students? How do English language students learn English accents? It is important to understand that there isn't a universally correct accent. The debate typically centers on British versus American English. Historically, the British accent (often referred to as the Queen's English) was widely adopted...  [Read more]

For those aiming to teach English in Vietnam, a TEFL certification is often a key requirement. While Vietnam is an increasingly popular destination in Southeast Asia for English educators due to growing demand and competitive salaries, having a TEFL certification, especially one with at least 120 hours, can significantly boost your chances of securing a position in reputable schools. What qualifications are required to teach English in Vietnam? Who are the main employers of English teachers in Vietnam? What visas are required to teach English in Vietnam? How should I apply for English teaching jobs in Vietnam? When should you apply for English teaching jobs in Vietnam? To obtain a work permit to legally teach English in Vietnam you must be a native English speaker with a bachelor's...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Destinations Alumni Experiences I have been in China for four years; I came here on 15, September 2015, as a student. During this time pursuing my Master's degree, I taught English as a foreign language in training centers, elementary school, high school and currently teaching in a Polytechnics. Weak Language Foundation Late Start: Weak Language Acquisition Device: Teen Development Problems: Curriculum Structure Combined Topics Per Lesson: Student Placement: Course Materials: Lack of Motivation Testing of Students: Student Placement: Poor Language Training Institutions Teaching, Learning, and Business: Unprofessional Teachers: Lack of Regular Training: Are you ready to take your TEFL course? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: English has become one of the...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Walking into a kindergarten classroom in any language may have most teachers running right back out the door. A kindergarten classroom can be like a circus. The teacher is the ringmaster. The students range from man-eating lions to trapeze artists to clowns. It's important to remember that kindergarten students do not understand they are meant to be learning great truths and skills that will set them up for the rest of their life. They want to play, love, be loved, and enjoy every aspect of life to the fullest, even when they are sitting in the classroom. Even the physical excitement that kindergarteners have can be used to create an even deeper understanding of language and should never be seen as bad. Children love to explore and learn....  [Read more]

Working as an English teacher in a foreign country is an excellent opportunity not only to teach students how to speak English but also to teach them about the culture of your home country. It is equally important for English teachers to take the time to learn about the particular social customs of their host countries. Whether you are in a meeting with your colleagues or are invited to a social event, there will be things that will undoubtedly be done differently than back home, sometime in quite bewilderingly different ways. Learning the reasons behind the way these things are done will help you to understand why and as a result help you to have a more fulfilling experience in your host country and help you in the classroom. In many countries in Asia deference is shown to those with...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations Italy is one of the most popular destinations for teaching English in Europe - and it's not hard to see why! With so many amazing cities to choose from you will be spoiled for choice in this Mediterranean paradise. Listen to this blog post: Tips for Teaching English in Italy Here are the 7 most beautiful cities in Italy for teaching English abroad. Teaching English in Bologna Teaching English in Florence Teaching English in Milan Teaching English in Naples Teaching English in Rome Teaching English in Venice Teaching English in Verona Are you Ready to Live and Teach English In Italy? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Because of strict EU laws and regulations, it can often be difficult for non-EU citizens to...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Destinations France is one of the most popular destinations for teaching English in Europe. While a lot of people settle in Paris to enjoy the Parisian lifestyle, there are a lot of other exciting cities in all parts of the country. Here are the top 8 places to teach English in France. Listen to this blog post: Tips for Teaching English in France Bordeaux Grenoble Lyon Marseille Nice Paris Rennes Strasbourg Are you Ready to Live and Teach English In France? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! Due to local laws and regulations, it can often be difficult for non-EU citizens to secure a visa and work legally in France. However, if you are dreaming of living and working in France, don't despair. We have a thorough guide to...  [Read more]