Ice Breaker Activity For Teachers

hi guys hey linda here from itt with another live session this week i'm so happy to be here again hope to see many of you guys today thanks so much for joining if you're listening to this as a podcast episode thank you so much for the download we recently just hit 3500 podcast downloads which is super exciting thank you so much for your support and um yeah today's topic i'm really excited about because it's something a little bit different than what i'm usually talking about and today i'm going to share with you the the best icebreaker games that every efl teacher should know so yeah i'm gonna be showing you guys what fun games you can play in your classes i know that some of you are already teaching and you probably know some of these games or you know versions of these games so feel...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The roles of an English teacher in a TEFL classroom are varied and depend largely on the stage of the lesson and the situations that may arise, both planned and unplanned. Many people see the teacher as the main source of information and an example of the English language. This, in a sense, is the primary role of a teacher; however, in order to fulfill the ultimate goal a teacher has, they must create a productive atmosphere in the class and a good, working relationship with their students. Learning trajectory Lesson flow Role model Find your role as a TEFL teacher today! Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Shannon T. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas When we start to learn new things as children, we tend to do that with the help of games. That is why in many classrooms of young learners, we find games to be a highly popular medium amongst educators. It is a way of absorbing and processing a piece of information in a fun and educational way. But when we grow up, we somehow forget the necessity of games in the classroom. Ice Breaker Ways to Include Games into Your Lesson What Games to Choose? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Anna B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When it comes to learning a second language, children immerse themselves in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Classroom management is an important part of every classroom lesson. Due to the classroom complex dynamics having this skill is important to maintain discipline, to have an organized lesson, to create a friendly and positive environment to nurture the student's learning. Lesson Plan Understanding What Causes Problems Classroom Environment Rapport Are you ready to become a TEFL teacher? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Oscar V. As part of classroom management, maintaining discipline is important to ensure the class is effective and goes according to the plan in order to achieve the lesson's goal. There are plenty of ways to maintain discipline inside the classroom. The first thing to...  [Read more]

The realm of ESL teaching books is expansive, with renowned publishers offering a plethora of resources. Generally, ESL teaching materials can be categorized into: These categories encompass a range of tools, from structured lesson plans to interactive activities, essential for any ESL educator. Book Series Teaching Theory Books Activity Resources There are a number of well known book series. These are specifically written for the ESL teaching market and are generally set at the five levels most often taught. These levels are Starter or Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate. A typical book series at each level will contain three books. These are the teacher book, student book and resources book (or similar names). The teacher book gives an outline...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning a new language can be incredibly challenging. To even attempt to learn a language that is not one's mother tongue takes both incredible courage and humility, especially when the language is English. As a teacher of English, stress must be expected and prepared for in order to keep students feeling encouraged and wanting to try. These are my tips for doing just that. Build Rapport Praise Play Organize the Environment End-of-The-Day Activity Do you want to teach English abroad? You are one step from it. Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate AmyJoy G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First, make sure...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences We all probably know, that music has no language. It is kindly welcomed by all nations equally, as well as all races, ages and cultures. So how can music or songs help us to teach English and to do it more effectively? Music aids memory Songs can teach vocabulary Music provides clear patterns to follow Using songs and music build rapport Do you want to teach English around the world? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alena A. Music lets us go deeper into conscious that anything else, it is much more memorable, so the words and grammar structures may be remembered much faster. It also helps to relax and to feel happy, so using songs in the classroom is not only a good idea, but it is also an...  [Read more]

  So speaking activities will come in many different forms but we can generalize them into three basic types. Control activities tend to be used in the study phase and here, the teacher will be helping the students in terms of what they need to say and how they go about saying it. So, there's a high level of structure within a controlled activity. A guided activity has slightly less structure than this and it can be used in either the study or the activate stages themselves. The final type of activity or class of activity is called creative activity and this one would be used in the activation phase. In a creative activity, we're giving a scenario or a very small amount of structure and we're asking the students to actually create their own answers to this particular question....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A classroom is a place where most individuals engage in attaining new information and interacting with others for a particular purpose. Stress, one of the major causes of various illnesses, can arise from both the teacher and the students within the classroom. Often times, when the stress level rises, the level of interest in the task ahead is usually reduced and the task remains undone or the individual simply quits. This end result can, however, be avoided as the purpose for learning in to eventually gain a greater understanding of the information being taught. The essay will, therefore, focus on ways to overcome stressful situations in a classroom. 1. Setting Goals 2. Create a Fun Atmosphere 3. Speak Your Heart Out Do you want to teach English abroad?...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Education and teaching are always changing. Thus, teachers are constantly thinking of new ideas and techniques they can implement in their classroom and teaching plan to more effectively educate their students. Presently, the notion of games within the classroom is widely popular among teachers. One may think that this relationship between games and learning is ironic, as most individuals classify games as a hindrance to education. However, through its engaging attributes, the tendency to boost class morale and motivation, and overall improvement within student's creativity, games in the classroom that inspire education are very effective when teaching. Engagement Power Attention-Grabbing Power Revision Applicability Ice Breaker Do you want to teach...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Teaching Ideas Let us imagine. How if English teachers only conduct English lessons inside the class? Will the students have fun all the time? Many English teachers reflect on that so, in reality, they try to conduct English lessons not only inside the class but also outside the class. They think that conducting English lessons outside is also needed and important. Therefore, English teachers use some outdoor activities to help when teaching English. By doing so, English teachers believe that they can help their students to increase motivation. They also believe that outdoor activities can give students fun and joy. Here are some interesting activities that English teachers can use to teach English outside the class. Principles of Motivation What I can do Look around and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The trust that a person has in another is one of the most important parts of communication and the first step in strengthening bonds. Establishing rapport can put any individual at ease, whether it be in the business world, classroom setting or even a neighbor. To execute efficiently, a teacher must first inspire confidence in his or her students. In this summative assessment, I will show how establishing rapport is essential to the flow of the classroom. Personal Experience Methods to Build Rapport 1. Customized Activities 2. Grouping 3. Class Dynamics and Discipline How did it work for me? Preparation Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joseph Matthew...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas One of the most difficult aspects of English teaching is not grammar or even structure; it's the externalization of ideas through the act of speaking with the teacher or students. The thought seems trivial but when put in an environment where the language taught overrides their own most students have a hard time organizing their ideas and thoughts to form coherent sentences that expresses what is on their minds. Challenges Ways to work on it Repetition Activities Other ideas How to deal with reluctant students Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alvin M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Most...  [Read more]

  Our next consideration is that of giving instructions to our students. In order for those students to effectively carry out an activity, we need to make sure we have given clear and unambiguous instructions. It's also very important to check that the students understand the activity before you start. If you've done that work correctly then the teacher shouldn't need to say anything once an activity has started because the students are very clear about what they're supposed to be doing. So some ideas when giving instructions. As we've mentioned use simple language. Secondly, rather than trying to explain an activity, then do a demonstration which is visual. Thirdly, try to use wherever possible common words that come up within every activity. These would be things like ?look?,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas During the grammar lessons of learning English, the aspect of tenses is inevitable. Tenses could be passed, present or future which could further be broken up into simple past, simple present or future continuous just to highlight a few. The past tense is important because it gives one some background information about an event when such an event is assessed. What is testing? What is evaluation? Why is it important for students and teachers? Course review Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate David K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Testing is a process that can be done using a particular scale...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Teachers who walk into a new classroom are never sure what type of students will be there. Many times, they will get a class that has a mixed ability. Some of the students may have a stronger grasp of the English language than others. An experienced teacher would know what to do. But what about an inexperienced teacher? This post will describe some of the steps and strategies that would assist them. "The teacher needs to arrive early to assess the environment of the classroom." Start with a game! Hold pre-assessments Identify your students Mix stronger students with weaker students Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate James O. On day one, the teacher...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Do teachers' interactions with students matter? After all, a teacher's role in the classroom is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge or skill in such a manner that a learner can accomplish a specific outcome. Is it necessary for a teacher to know students' weekend plans or when Sally is going to take her driver's test? Does know students' interests give a teacher an advantage when it comes to selecting the methodology and techniques, he/she selects in teaching subject-specific knowledge or computer skills in a classroom? If the answer to the above questions is yes, then how can a teacher best establish rapport in the classroom that leads to effective teaching? Listen to this blog post: 1. Comforting students on the first day 2. Creating classroom...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Flashcards can be great tools for eliciting vocabulary, but teachers should not overlook the numerous other uses for these great tools. Flashcard games can add excitement to young learners' classes. The following activities are aimed to drill the vocabulary in the second study phase of the lesson, after the elicitation of vocabulary. 1. Game for liars 2. Get on the other side of the bridge 3. Memory challenge 4. Keyword race 5. More for listening skills Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kiyomi Ann H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The liar game is a flashcard activity that can be used to...  [Read more]

  Our next consideration is going to be building and maintaining rapport. The importance of rapport is that within our communicative activities, we're asking the students to talk to each other. If they feel comfortable with each other and with us, then that interaction is much more likely to be useful. So how do we actually build and maintain rapport? Well, it's easiest if we consider two stages of the course itself. What we can do at the start of the course and what we can do throughout the course to help build and maintain that rapport. So at the start of the course, it's very useful if we ask the students to create a name card and to make that name card visible to everyone. Secondly we need to try to do some ice breaking activities that will allow the students to interact with...  [Read more]

  Located at the Great Lakes, Michigan is truly an exceptional state in the USA. This is also due to the fact that Michigan is the only state that is made up of two peninsulas that are divided by the lakes. Due to this unique location, Michigan is also called “The Great Lakes State”. Millions of visitors flock to Michigan each year to explore all that the state has to offer. The Upper Peninsula is famous for its many hiking and trekking trails but horseback riding, fishing, and boating are also very popular activities. The Great Lakes coastline, as well as the state’s many rivers and lakes offer some of the best views when hiking. A great way to explore all the beautiful nature is to rent an off-road vehicle. Michigan is home to 97 individual state parks, six state forests, and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Keeping students motivated to learn can be one of the biggest challenges a teacher may face. Without motivation, the students can become bored and complacent; they may even start to act out and disrupt the class. A few ways a teacher can keep their students motivated are by participating in games and physical activity, reward, and praise, and having a good attitude as a teacher. 1. Use Games and Activities 2. Praise and Reward 3. Have a Positive Attitude Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Victoria O. Also read: Top Online Lesson Plan Resources for New and Advanced Teachers Games and activities are a good source of motivation because they are fun....  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas You have to put the emphasis on the right syllable," I said, finishing my demonstration. Challenges in the Second Class: Timing and Assumptions Learning from Mistakes: Lessons for Effective Language Teaching Apology and Humility: A Turning Point Valuable Lessons for Language Instructors Carrying Lessons Forward: Teaching English with Confidence Are you ready to teach English as a foreign language? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! My very first class of students learning Russian had expressed their disdain for their books with stress notes denoted on every word. They started reading from the copies without the stress marks and consequently were butchering the...  [Read more]

Welcome to The TEFL and TESOL Podcast by ITTT! Here you will find a collection of all our available episodes in one place. Episodes cover a variety of topics that are related to TEFL, TESOL, and teaching English abroad or online. We regularly add new episodes. This podcast is perfect for anyone interested in teaching English abroad or online and getting TEFL or TESOL certified. Our podcast episodes range from TEFL and TESOL Q&As to interviews with exciting guests, inducing ITTT graduates, ESL recruiters, and other TEFL experts in the EFL industry. Download the episodes on your mobile device or listen to them directly on your laptop! 10 Alternative TEFL Destinations for an Off-the-Beaten-Path Teaching Experience:   TEFL, or Teaching English as a Foreign Language, is a...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Teaching Ideas As every TEFL certified English teacher will know, it is all too common to find you have completed the lesson but there is still time left before the end of the class. While first-time teachers might panic in this position, experienced teachers will always have a few go-to activities to use in these situations. To help you out we have put together the following suggestions for fun, educational activities that can be brought out with little or no preparation. Telephone Pictionary The Never-Ending Story Why/Because Charades Whiteboard Slam Would You Rather Open Questions Listen to this blog post Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: This is a classic old classroom game that is still great fun to use today. First, you need to arrange the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences "To be a good teacher, you need to love what you teach. Teachers are given the word not to put their thoughts to sleep, but to wake someone else's." - V. Klyuchevsky, Russian historian Teaher's Self-development Teacher's Attitude Teacher's Professional Development Teacher's Self-evaluation How Self-analysis Influences Teaching? Do you want to be a TEFL teacher? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Zarina S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A teacher who is able to learn will also be able to grow as a specialist, improve in his/her pedagogical activity and perfect his/her professional skills. The first and constant helper in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas When a class is managed well, there is a minimum of disruptions that distract from learning. This is more of an issue in a class for children, as opposed to adults. Nevertheless, in all classes, maintaining the comportment of the group to facilitate learning is the objective of sound classroom management techniques. Furthermore, it is also important to develop cordial and friendly relations with learners on an individual basis, and with the class as a whole. Having a rapport with students, and creating a classroom community that is based on shared rules and norms that are understood and reasonable for everybody, is an essential part of classroom management. When accomplished, this creates a classroom culture that students feel safe and welcome in. This...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Conditionals are a fundamental part of English grammar that every teacher should know like the back of their hand. Let's take a look at the zero conditional below.   Zero conditionals are used for facts that are generally true and do not change. They refer to a general situation that always happen (for example in the rules of a game or laws of physics) if a condition is met. The condition always has the same result. The zero conditional uses the present simple in the if clause and in the main clause. Zero conditionals are also called "Type 0 conditionals" (general truth – general rule).   Let’s take a look at some example sentences: Here, the condition is leaving ice in the sun. This is an if-clause because it...  [Read more]

  Just to finish off this particular section on lesson planning, we're going to go through a couple of procedures that should take place during the study phase periods, particularly when we're doing the activities. It is quite important that before we actually go into a study activity that we go through a process of showing how that activity is going to work and one acronym that is often used for this is D-E-GO. The D part of this stands for a demonstration of the activity. Now, it's very important that you don't try to explain how the activity is going to work but rather you actually demonstrate the process. An example of the demonstration of the process of the activity could be something as simple as taking the first question and using it and writing it on the board. This will show...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Although all parts of a lesson are important, the engage phase (or warm up) may be the most important. The engage phase is the departing point of the lesson, where you need to draw the attention of the students away from other occurrences of the day and make them focus on learning the English language. Choosing an activity to grab the students' attention can be a challenge, as it needs to work within just a few minutes. Through various studies, music has shown to be an activity which utilizes many parts of the brain at once, and therefore is a great activity to "jump start" the brain, and get students to focus more quickly. Why Music Activities are Great for Language Learners Music to Make Things More Challenging Music Activities Using...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In my opinion, the most important role of the teacher is a provider of information, and all other roles are needed to help students absorb that information effectively. To prove my point let's take a look at major roles. Traditional Roles More Advanced Skills Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Yurii P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The provider of the information is the traditional role of the teacher. The teacher gives lessons on a particular subject such as grammar, parts of speech, pronunciation, etc. He builds up the understanding of the English language in general and moves students...  [Read more]