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The Struggles of Teaching Difficult English Language Patterns - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
There are many different types of peculiarities when concerning the English language, and this essay is aimed at the difficulties in teaching those peculiarities to learners that are not fluent in the English language. It can be difficult for native English speakers to progressively learn the subtle nuances as children graduating to young adults and navigating complexities of the language as adults; deciphering whether or not these peculiarities warrant further investigation or retention based on usage and context. These oddities of the English language can be exponentially more difficult for those attempting to learn the English language as a second language, having fully grasped the complexities of their own language only to have to navigate the... [Read more]
How to write a TEFL cover letter? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
Crafting a compelling TEFL cover letter is essential when applying for English teaching jobs. This letter complements your CV/resume and serves as an opportunity to highlight your passion for teaching and your suitability for the role. Essential elements of a TEFL cover letter include:
Remember, your TEFL cover letter is an essential tool in conveying your commitment and expertise in the field.
Make it unique to the position on offer
Focus on your personal qualities and not just qualifications
Keep it brief, neat, and professional
Be yourself and include all the necessary contact details
How to layout your cover letter
Although it might be quicker and easier to use the same cover letter for every job you apply for, tailoring each letter to each specific job will generally reap better... [Read more]
Write about your Family - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a great writing exercise for ESL students to practice speaking about their family.
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Spring Worksheet Write the Word - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This printable spring worksheet covers six spring-related vocabulary words that the students need to identify and then write on the line provided.
The vocabulary words from this sheet are:
For more advanced students, you can have them write a whole sentence containing each word on the line.
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Find and Write Ending Digraph Sheet - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Find the words that end with digraphs -ch, -sh, -ck and -th and write the words in the right columns.
This is a great activity sheet to practice the digraphs -ch, -sh, -ck and -th with winter related words and vocabulary.
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Is it Difficult to Teach Children Online? - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Most would say it's an almost impossible task, one that requires a lot of patience and repetition. How are you supposed to keep their interest? How do you communicate to them efficiently despite not being physically present? Teaching children may not be an easy task, however, I believe it would be a most rewarding one. Teaching online is something that I have been keen on and would like to venture into after completing this course. We are moving into a digital world where we will all soon be connected over the internet. This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to reach and enrich the lives of children globally.
Is it a good choice?
Cultural exchange
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Why Teaching Business English Isn’t As Difficult As It Seems - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
As a former teacher of English as a foreign language, I have some experience teaching business English. Majority of my classes were for general English conversation. However, as I continued teaching, my workload increased to include a few business-focused classes. At first, I was intimidated and nervous about teaching these students. Did I have enough knowledge about business to teach them? Would I have the information they needed? After a lot of preparation and a few lessons, I realized that business classes are not much different than regular English classes and I need not know much about business to be a successful business English teacher.
Businessmen Are Ordinary Learners
Teacher's Responsibilities
My Experience
Are You Ready to Teach Business... [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]
Techniques to Transmit New and Difficult Concepts to Students - TEFL Blog
Ramon Perez
Teaching Ideas
Every day, we learn something new. It can happen on the street, at work, at school and even in our home. We can attain new skills and knowledge through our interactions with our surroundings. Utilizing our 5 senses and past experiences to make sense of what is going on, we can ascertain new concepts and make proper use of them in our daily lives. However, as a teacher, we are tasked with transmitting abstract concepts that become difficult to fully grasp through traditional methods. Consequently, some teachers rely on literal translations to bring the point across.
VISUAL AIDS
ACTING/ROLE PLAY
ENUNCIATION AND SPEECH
MIMING
CONCLUSION
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Since the student's exposure to the target language can be extremely limited outside of the classroom, it's... [Read more]
Great Ideas for Teaching Writing Skills in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Mark Crocker
Teaching Ideas
Image by Alice Bolden via Writix
Listen to this blog post:
Think outside the box
Encourage creativity, not perfection
Encourage students to write about what interests them
Writing doesn't have to be a solo activity
Introduce multi-skilled lessons
Writing games
Are you ready to teach writing skills in your own classroom?
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Of all the language skills that are taught in the ESL classroom, teaching writing skills is often seen as one of the least popular. Some teachers consider these lessons to be a bit boring, hard to evaluate and somewhat limited in what you can incorporate into them. However, this doesn't have to be the case as teaching writing skills to your ESL students can actually be interesting, fun and productive. Take a look at these... [Read more]
Reasons Why Pronunciation is More Difficult for Adults than Children in El Salvador - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Pronunciation problems in El Salvador is very common, as many know Spanish is the main Language in this country, people in El Salvador tend to speak their native Language all the time because this is what they feel more comfortable with, as there is not any other dialect, other than Spanish, they are taught English in school, English Is the only language taught in El Salvador in public schools, but only for those that can attend one, this is because there are many people that can't attend a school due to economic matter, family problems or due to the work that is done in their household many don't have time to study and there are kids that can't attend school because they have to work, but there are many that do go to school and take English classes.... [Read more]
Linda is a passionate travel writer of both an American and German background - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Linda is a passionate traveler and English teacher exploring the world one country at a time. After studying Mandarin Chinese, she moved to Guangzhou, China, to pursue an internship at a German online marketing company. She loved it so much that she decided to move back to China after finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Management in California.
After working in online marketing for a while, she got into English teaching. Teaching English overseas has enabled her to experience life in different countries and fund her passion for travel. She taught English in China for a year and also during my her year in South Korea.
She’s been living in South Korea since 2015 and returned to working in online marketing and teaching online in 2016 remotely.
On her Website, she shares her tips and... [Read more]
How long does it take to get a TEFL job? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
The duration to secure a TEFL job varies for each individual and depends on multiple factors. While it is challenging to provide a definitive timeframe, it is encouraging to note that most of our graduates secure English teaching positions shortly after completing their certification. Factors like the chosen country's job market competition and the applicant's qualifications can strongly influence the job search duration.
How does the destination impact on TEFL job recruitment?
How do hiring seasons impact on TEFL job recruitment?
How can an individual teacher boost his TEFL job prospects?
One of the biggest factors is where you choose to work, as the demand for teachers varies greatly from region to region and country to country. China has such a huge demand that there are often not... [Read more]
Great Ideas for Teaching Listening Skills in the ESL Classroom - TEFL Blog
Mark Crocker
Teaching Ideas
Of the four language skills taught in an ESL classroom, listening skills are often overlooked as teachers can be unsure how to make these lessons interesting and relevant to their students. However, as listening skills are a fundamental part of the language learning process, it is vital that we give them the classroom time they deserve. The good news is that there are many ways to make listening skills lessons both fun and productive. Here are 6 ideas for livening up your lesson plans.
Popular Culture
Secret Phrase
Celebrity Squares
Describe the Picture
Listen and Quiz
Vowel Cards
Listen to this blog post
Are you ready to teach listening skills in the classroom?
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One simple way to engage your students in a listening lesson is to use popular... [Read more]
Valentine's Day Cryptogram - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a fun worksheet to practice Valentine's Day vocabulary in your ESL classroom. Your students have to write the correct letters below the pictures and match the words and pictures in the box. They then have to write the correct letters below the pictures and read the poem.
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What are they going to do? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Your ESL students have to write sentences following the example in the "going to" future tense.
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Specific Challenges of One-to-One teaching and Ways to Overcome Them with the Help of the TEFL Course Content - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
I have taught English in a classroom setting to large groups of adults for 4 years through a non-profit agency located in a mixed-race urban area of the United States. More recently, I have been teaching English to foreign learners on a one-to-one basis via video chat, also for four years. Given this background, I can speak from a wealth of personal experience to the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of each. As my goal is to continue to teach individuals online, I was admittedly skeptical of what I might gain from a TEFL course, as most certification programs are geared toward classroom teaching abroad. Having completed the ITTT course, I find myself very satisfied with having gone through the process, as I have gained many new resources for my... [Read more]
Verbs in Present Continuous - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Use the verbs given and write what the people are doing right now.
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Thanksgiving I Am Thankful Turkey - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a writing prompt page for students to write about what they are thankful for.
Print out this fun Thanksgiving "I am Thankful" Turkey worksheet and have your students think about what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving season. Introduce the meaning of Thanksgiving and give some examples of what you can be thankful for.
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Where is the best place to teach English in Spain? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
For TEFL-qualified teachers seeking the best places to teach English in Spain, top cities to consider include Madrid, the vibrant capital; Barcelona, known for its rich art and architecture; and Seville, the heart of Andalusian culture. Other noteworthy options include Granada and Palma de Mallorca, both of which offer unique cultural experiences and teaching opportunities.
Also read: How do I find a job teaching English in Spain?
Madrid
Barcelona
Seville
Granada
Palma de Mallorca
The capital of Spain, Madrid, houses over 3 million residents, and its thriving English language learning community ensures an abundance of teaching positions. Both public schools and private language institutes frequently seek new staff, while private tutoring can provide a profitable avenue. On average, Madrid... [Read more]
Free Valentine's Day Letter Worksheet - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Have your preschool or Kindergarten students trace and write the uppercase letters on the hearts for Valentine's Day.
Trace and write the uppercase letters.
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My Summer Vacation Worksheet - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Let's talk about vacation! This worksheet lets your students talk and write about their summer vacation.
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Foods Likes and Dislikes - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a fun worksheet where your ESL students write about foods they like and which foods they don't like.
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Crossword Fun School Items - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Look at the pictures and write their names in order to complete the crossword, then find the secret message.
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Top Tips for Online ESL Classes with Younger Students - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
In the past few years, teaching English as a second language on the internet has gained a lot of reputation for English teachers around the world. The convenience of only needing a stable internet connection and a computer to go to work sounds far more pleasing than going to a school or other institution to teach a couple of hours per day. Additionally, online teaching provides opportunities for English teachers to travel to new destinations while still being able to work as a freelancer. Consequently, teaching English to children online, in different parts of the world, must be one of the most rewarding aspects of the job. However, many obstacles need to be overcome to be a successful English teacher for children online. Hence, these will be... [Read more]
Creative Writing Prompts: My City - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a creative writing prompt about your student's city. Have them write answers to all the questions asked at the top of the sheet.
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Can and Can't with Animals - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Here's a fun worksheet for students to be able to write sentences about animals with a grammar focus on can and can't.
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Free Thanksgiving Writing Worksheet - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Check this free Thanksgiving writing printables out. Share it with your students and have them write down who or what they are thankful for.
Print out this fun Thanksgiving "I am Thankful For" worksheet and have your students think about what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving season. Introduce the meaning of Thanksgiving and give some examples of what you can be thankful for.
If you have additional time left, you can let your students color in the pictures on the sheet.
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Do you like...? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a fun worksheet about food and drinks for ESL students. The students write about what they like and don't like.
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How Can Knowledge of First Language Acquisition Aid Successful Second Language Acquisition? - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Successful acquisition of a first language (otherwise known as an L1) has almost a 100% success rate. Aside from a few people that are unable to read or write everyone can communicate fluently in their L1. Successful acquisition of a second language, however, does not occur nearly as often. Why is this so and can anything be learned from first language learning to improve second language fluency.
Variations in the English Language Form
Language Acquisition Process
Second Language Acquisition Process
Teaching Ways
Children and Language Acquisition
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rebekah I. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the... [Read more]