What Language Did Japanese Speak

SPEAK promotes the emergence of communities where locals and newcomers meet to share their culture and develop meaningful bonds by providing a web platform for individuals to facilitate informal language learning environments and community events. From this simple service, SPEAK is fostering the creation of spaces where newcomers have the opportunity to share the value they bring and develop meaningful relationships with locals as equals, not feeling they are disempowered receivers as in most integration initiatives. The informal environment and methodology used allow participants to learn with each other, while at the same time breaking barriers and creating meaningful relationships, creating a multicultural community where cultural heritage is cherished. This network has created...  [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 Alumni Experiences In the wake of the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Japan, there has been an increase in elementary school level English classes. As an assistant language teacher half into my fourth year, I have had the rare chance to work the entirety of my time in one elementary school where I have had many great memories. However, being present every day I began to notice that some students were struggling or in some cases, not even trying when it came to English class. Talking with my peers and colleagues from other elementary schools as well as my own, there are some common problems that many students seem to experience in an English class. These problems include learning in a counter-productive environment, inconsistent exposure to the language, and a lack of...  [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 I work in two schools. I am an assistant language teacher at one commercial (low-level English) high school, and an integrated (high-level English) academic junior high and high school. I have had experiences with different kinds of students, Japanese-English teachers, and classroom atmospheres. In Japan, students take an entrance exam to get into high school. If they scored low on the entrance exam, then they are placed in the lowest ranking class. Each school has a certain number of classrooms for each grade. Both of my high schools have six classes total for each grade. There are usually around forty to forty-two students in each class as well. Teaching forty plus students in a crowded classroom is difficult. And unlike many stereotypes of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences During my stay in Japan, Japanese people often told me how they can't communicate in English despite studying the language for six or more years in school. In Japan, students in junior and senior high learn English grammar and vocabulary in compulsory formal English classes. English is also taught in elementary school as foreign language activities. Yet despite spending several hours in English classes, many Japanese people graduate high school with poor English communication skills. Education system Class culture Learning goals Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rachel M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or...  [Read more]

Asia Ridley TEFL Information Alumni Experiences English education in Japan has been prominent for decades and starts in elementary schools. It is in high demand as the relationship between the U.S. and Japan as well as the abundant amount of tourism. Last year straight after graduating from university in the United States, I moved to Japan and began teaching English. I was fortunate to pass the interviews and become part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme {JET}. Being an assistant language teacher {ALT} in the Japanese education system versus a conversation school has its differences. Therefore I will be diving into how one can contribute to the classroom as an ALT. Japanese Elementary School Collaborating with your Homeroom Teacher Outside of the classroom Conclusion Are you...  [Read more]

  So, we'll focus first of all on a speaking skills lesson and perhaps a starting point for this would be to ask a question which is: Why do we speak to each other? The reason that it's important to ask ourselves this question is that whatever answers there are to this should be present in our lessons. So, why do we speak to each other? Well, there are a multitude of answers to that but when you boil them all down to their essence, they probably actually come down to one or two things. We communicate to each other by speaking because of either a need. We need something. We want something or a desire to achieve something. 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...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daisy C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Grammar Pronunciation Japanese schools Japanese culture Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: One problem facing many Japanese students learning English is differentiating between countable and uncountable nouns. In the Japanese language, the same word is often used for 'much' and 'many'. In English, 'much' is used to describe countable nouns, and 'many' is used to describe uncountable nouns. A problem facing many EFL learners, especially Japanese learners, is idioms. The English language has thousands of idioms, which are used in everyday life. These are...  [Read more]

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]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! This is a fun conversation board game to speak about summer holidays with your ESL students.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences There are several pronunciation problems that students of English will face in Japan; however, I will focus on two. 1. Differences in the phonetic systems of two languages 2. Lack of exposure to authentic English resources Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Brandie K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The first of these problems they face is the fact that Japanese doesn't have some of the same sounds in its' alphabet as English does. For example, Japanese does not have a hard R sound; instead, it has a sound that is a mix of R and L. So, when students from Japan go to say rice, for many...  [Read more]

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) is a prestigious initiative, established by the Japanese government more than 30 years ago, aimed at enhancing English language proficiency among Japanese students. Annually, the program recruits approximately 5,000 international participants, placing them in schools across Japan. Beyond its educational goals, JET uniquely prioritizes fostering cultural ties between participants and the Japanese community. Given the competitive salary and array of additional benefits, securing a spot in the JET Program is highly sought-after, making the application process quite competitive. What are the requirements for the JET Program? What teaching positions are available through the JET Program? What are the benefits of the JET Program? The Japan...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In Japan, elementary schools typically employ an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) to provide support to homeroom teachers during English classes. I have been working in such a capacity for the past two and a half years, first through an international program and currently as a direct-hire via my local city hall. Until recently, mandatory English classes at the elementary school level have been limited to the fifth and sixth grades, but new national requirements are being rolled out that will require mandatory English classes as early as third grade while doubling English classroom hours for the fifth and sixth grades. English Language Tests Designing Activities Team Building Group Lesson Planning Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL...  [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]

SOURCE: The Culture Trip Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences There are several challenges Japan faces when it comes to learning English as a second language. Japanese culture is a bubble. Everything, including their ad signs, TV, games, government, studies, work and even the internet is filled with one language; Japanese. In a world of globalization, where your goods and services can come from literally any part of the globe. Japan is one of the few remaining homogenous cultures where English is still seen as an optional language. As the global economy becomes more global, the English language will likely become less optional, but essential. In addition to the cultural issues, Japan's English curriculum in the school is largely unchanged from the '60s according to my Japanese cousins and uncles still living in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this essay I will be discussing the problems for young Japanese learners of English, and what problems Japanese learners often encounter as well as explaining some of the reasons why teachers can run into problems while teaching in Japan. I will be referring to the book "The Smart Guide to Teaching English in Japan' by Charlie Moritz and Martin Bragalone, as well as drawing from my knowledge and experiences of studying and volunteering in Japan. Japan can be a challenging but rewarding country to work in, despite stereotypes of Japanese people being polite and studious so it is important to consider that reality can be different when teaching in Japan. Eikaiwa Juku ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) Kindergarten/International preschool Do you want...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Here are various discussion topics about traveling to encourage your ESL students to speak.   Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!  [Read more]

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 Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rebekah I. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Over a hundred years ago, in the late 19th century, a Polish-Jewish eye doctor named Dr. Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof wanted to bridge the gaps and misunderstandings between different ethnic groups that he grew up around. Being from a Polish city that, at the time, was a polyglot, multi-ethnic mixture of Poles, Russians, Jews, Lithuanians, and Germans, he saw there was a great deal of distrust between each group, and he believed it was due to the language barriers that each imposed. To create a common ground between every group, he created an international, universal language called Esperanto (Yaffe, 2017). While it was a great idea to create a language that did not belong to any ethnic group and could be used universally, it did not take off in the 20th...  [Read more]

Deciding on the best place to teach English in Japan depends on individual preferences. Tokyo, the bustling capital, offers the allure of city life and the most job opportunities. Osaka combines vibrant urban experiences with rich history, while Kobe is renowned for its international atmosphere. Beyond the main cities, there are countless towns that provide an authentic cultural immersion. Regardless of location, teachers can expect a competitive salary and a unique cultural experience. Tokyo Osaka Kobe Sapporo Fukuoka Unsurprisingly, Japan's most densely populated area, Tokyo, tops the list. It is a realm of its own, brimming with teaching opportunities thanks to its nine million-plus residents and offering the country's highest salaries. Although the cost of living is notably high,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A global language is a language spoken internationally, the most popular one being English. It is learned by many people as a second language. Word Origin Global Communication Language Structure Cultural Importance Challenges For Learners Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Damian B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A big part of the lexical units in the English language was taken from German, Latin, French, and other European countries. People think that languages have a strong relation between dominance and cultural power. Also read: What to Watch Out for Before Signing Your TEFL Contract...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! As a teacher of English as a foreign language, it's a good idea to teach students polite words and expressions right from the start. While diplomatic language often includes difficult vocabulary, it's actually not that hard to add some polite spice to a simple sentence - even for beginner students.   Of course you can make sentences a lot more polite by using the two magic phrases "please" and "thank you". However, there are a lot of other ways to use more polite language when speaking to others. For English leaners, the problem mostly comes down to the fact that words and expressions that are considered "kind" in one language, aren't always kind in another. English uses a lot of language strategies to express politeness that...  [Read more]

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Verbs are one of the most important parts of speech in English and incredibly important for learners of English. The below infographic showcases all types of verbs in the English language.   Generally speaking, a verb is a word that shows an action, state or an event. It is an essential part of a sentence and is known as the soul of language. For example: "They study English grammar." (Action) "We celebrate independence day." (Event) "I sleep at night." (State)    Following are the different types of verbs:   When a verb's past tense (2nd form) and past participle (3rd form) is created by adding ‘d’ or ‘ed’, it is called a regular verb. Some examples of a regular verb include: Walk Walked ...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Language acquisition is a process that engages different skills and is therefore influenced by them. Reading, which is among the four main language skills, is considered to be influential in this process in many ways. In my opinion, it is one of the best contributors to the journey of learning a new language and although its advantages seem to be exclusive to reading comprehension, it involves other skills to a high degree as well. Reading Resources Benefits of Reading Speaking Skills Reading as a Way to Master Speaking Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Faezeh C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching a language seems to have its roots precisely in teaching grammar: one of the first learning methodologies in history was grammar-translation. Used to translate Greek into Latin, it was inefficient for speech development, yet it remains one of the most popular teaching methods in education. Unfortunately, even from my own experience as a student, this is the preferred teaching method and it wasn't until recently that a more interactive way of learning was introduced in schools. Reasons to Learn Grammar Approaches to Teaching Grammar 1. Deductive approach 2. Inductive approach Young Learners Adult Learners Potential problems Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post: This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Just as a map is a guide to a territory, grammar is the guide to a language. A language course ought to include such guidance, through which the student perceives direction. The ability to read a map, and, as a result, delineating the goal´s location, facilitates the endeavor to set the student onto the right path. When a learner understands the universal logic of language, he can put his native language into context within every foreign language. This comparison of languages will reveal similarities. To learn that all languages are alike will make the acquisition easier. If the teacher wants the student to understand that languages are closely related he has to present grammar as a common aspect of all languages. Grammar describes principals of...  [Read more]

Date posted:2024-04-19 | Writer: Newton College | Email: [email protected] Newton College is looking for a talent who can be our Language Support Specialist in Upper School (Secundaria). Requirements Hold a degree (Licenciatura) in Education, Special Education, Applied Linguistics or related field. English level: CPE or bilingual Certification in teaching English as a second language (TESOL), English language teaching (CELTA) or equivalent. Minimum 3 years' experience teaching a foreign language. At least 2 years of IB Program experience Experience working with students who have language-based learning differences or second language learners. Responsibilities Actively participate in collaborative spaces with colleagues, including observation of student work/data to adjust...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences When approaching formal and non-formal language it's imperative to keep in mind that people are by nature designed to be different, therefore arguing which is more important is a waste of time. Based on cultural upbringing and life experience both play an important role in regards to teaching a student. Formal and informal language are used daily, though, both habituate different societal spaces and their ratios change. Either can bleed into each other when language becomes really interesting. The Use Of Formal Language The Use Of Non-Formal Language Things to Keep in Mind Are you ready to teach English abroad? Related Articles: Listen to this blog post This post was written by our ITTT graduate Thomas H. Defined simply formal language avoids "I",...  [Read more]