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The Most Distinct Differences between American and British English - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
When it comes to learning English, non-native speakers can feel quite torn on whether they should learn British English or American English. They have their similarities, but can contrast each other strongly. The differences can be confusing for English speakers as well. The diversity in spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary can really throw you off. In this article, I will be focusing on these three topics. Let's explore spelling, shall we?
Important Spelling Differences
Differences in Word Choice
Same Word - Different Pronunciation
Other Things to Consider
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tabitha C.
Growing up in the USA, I learned to spell in... [Read more]
What are the main differences between American and British English? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
British and American English showcase several key differences that learners should be aware of:
These differences underline the richness and diversity of the English language, influenced by geographical and historical contexts.
Differences in vocabulary
Differences in grammar
Collective nouns
Have and take
Prepositions
Past tense verbs
Differences in spelling
Differences in dates
Vocabulary discrepancies constitute a major source of confusion. Numerous words have distinct meanings in the two language versions. While teaching English, it is natural to focus on the words that make the most sense to you personally. However, it is important for students to be aware of alternative terms to avoid confusion later on. While the extensive list of vocabulary differences is too lengthy to present... [Read more]
The Most Important Differences Between British and American English - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
American English and British English are two varieties which are taught in English teaching programs around the world. Although it is accepted that no one version is corrected, there are certainly preferences in use. Someone who can speak, read or understand one variety of English, he/she'll also probably be able to understand most of the other varieties without problem.
Pronunciation differences
Vocabulary differences
Spelling differences
Grammar differences
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Sumeyra Y.
The differences between American and British English can be categorized in four ways:
British English and American sound remarkably different. The... [Read more]
British English vs. American English: 50 Differences Illustrated - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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The differences between British English and American English are always fun to take a look at. Below are 40 differences between the two illustrated.
Learn the difference between American English vs British English.
British vs American English
1. Post ………… Mail
2. Film ………… Movie
3. Rubbish ………… Garbage
4. Football ………… Soccer
5. Chips ………… Fries
6. Rubber ………… Eraser
7. Zip ………… Zipper
8. Sweets ………… Candy
9. Biscuit ………… Cookie
10. Maize ………… Corn
... [Read more]
How Important is the Difference Between American English and British English for EFL Learners? - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
This summative essay will exam the importance of teaching the differences between American English and British English for EFL learners. I will examine the intention behind teaching these differences, and when these teachings should be applied, and to what effect and purpose. This essay will focus primarily on the problems of pronunciation and spelling, which are the two main differences. I am a British citizen, born and raised in London, England, and currently teach at a public high school in Tokyo.
Spelling
Challenges for Beginners and Intermediate Learners
What do Students Think?
Grammar
Interesting Experience for Adults
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate... [Read more]
Specially vs. Especially - What's the Difference? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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In many situations, the two words "specially" and "especially" are used with the same meaning, but this is not always correct. Let's take a closer look at the difference between "specially" and "especially".
The word "specially" means 'for a particular reason' and is used with an adjective in the past participle form, for example:
The word "specially" means 'particularly' and it is used at the beginning of a phrase but never at the beginning of a whole sentence, for example:
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Some of the differences between American English and British English ▷ Infographic - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
British and American English differs in several ways that encompass vocabulary, grammarand spelling, and a student is not wrong if they use either version. Teachers should teach the English that they themselves speak but also have an awareness of the differences between the two. If a teacher is required to teach a course book that is in a version of English different to their own, then they should teach the English used in the book.
Some of the differences in vocabulary covered in this graphic are fairly well known such as ‘pavement’ (GB) and ‘sidewalk’ (US), others not so much as in the case of ‘fortnight’ (GB) and ‘two weeks’ (US). While the differences between the two don’t generally matter, a teacher may prefer to teach one version... [Read more]
Do & Make: What's the difference? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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The verbs "do" and "make" are among the most used words in the English language. These two words often confuse English learners because they often use one verb for both in their native language (like "hacer" in Spanish). To help your students understand this better, take a look at the following chart below showcasing the difference between "do" and "make".
"Do" and "make" are two verbs that frequently confuse students learning English. The following explanations will help you better understand the difference between "do" and "make" and when to use each one.
1. "Do" is used when talking about work, jobs or tasks:
2. "Do" is used to refer to non-specific activities, for example:
3. "Do" can be used to replace a... [Read more]
Further vs Farther - What's the Difference? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Further and farther are easily confused as both words can be used to say “at a greater distance”. To be sure you are using them correctly take a look at the following explanation.
How to Use Further
Further Examples:
How to Use Farther
Farther Examples:
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Older vs. Elder – What’s the Difference? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Older and elder are two similar sounding words that can sometimes be used incorrectly by both native and non-native English speakers. Let’s take a look at how they should be used correctly.
When teaching the English language you often come across words that sound and look similar. Sometimes these words can be used interchangeably to mean the same thing and sometimes they cannot. In this example older and elder can sometimes be used to say the same thing, but they have to be used differently.
The adjective old has a base form, a comparative form, and a superlative form: OLD, OLDER, and OLDEST.
Examples of the three forms:
These can all be used when talking about things and also people. For example:
However,... [Read more]
Weather vs. Whether - What's the Difference? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Weather and whether are a pair of homophones which means they sound the same, but they have different spellings and meanings. Here we explain how to use these words correctly.
WEATHER Definition and Examples
Weather can be a noun or a verb.
WEATHER Examples:
WHETHER Definition and Examples
Whether is a conjunction, which joins two words or phrases together.
WHETHER Examples:
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Teaching ESL vs. EFL - What’s the difference? - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
ESL is English which is usually taught to students in an English speaking country. EFL is English which is taught to students in a foreign, non-English speaking country. As it is true of many European countries, where is common to learn to speak more than one foreign language. For these reasons ESL is typically the term used in the United States, an English-speaking nation, whereas EFL is more often the term of choice in countries where English is not the native language.
What's ESL? What's EFL?
Teaching ESL versus teaching EFL
ESL Students Need...
1. Hands-on English lessons suitable for their immediate needs.
2. Explicit cultural instruction.
3. Bridges towards integration.
EFL Students Need
1. Lots of practice using English, especially... [Read more]
Everyday vs. Every day - What's the Difference? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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The two expressions "everyday" and "every day" are frequently used in English but often confused. Take a look at the below infographic to find out the difference!
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What's the difference between online courses, in-class courses and combined courses? ▷ Infographic - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
ITTT offers three ways of earning your TEFL certificate. These are in-class, online and a combination of the two. But how do they differ and which course is the right one for you? The first option is the in-class course and this is best for those who like a structured study environment and have the ability to attend a four week on-site course. Trainees on the in-class courses benefit from the more than 120 hours of study time the course involves, plus the advice of experienced and qualified teacher trainers.
You will also receive six to ten hours of observed teaching practice giving you the chance to earn valuable practical experience and feedback on your teaching. Upon graduation of the in-class course you will receive an internationally recognised certificate and lifetime job... [Read more]
British English vs American English. Which is Better? - TEFL Blog
Jon ITTT
Alumni Experiences
As more and more countries place a growing importance on its people to learn English as a secondary language, for work purposes or for general use, there is a growing debate about which is the better English to learn - British English or American English.
Both versions are essentially the same
Prioritise teaching "Good English"
Certain students may need specific versions of English
Points to consider when choosing a version to teach
Exploring the differences can be an interesting lesson
Don't get obsessed with minor differences
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Max E.
The argument stems from the growing influence of America in the modern world. British... [Read more]
In-class and online TEFL/TESOL courses: What’s the Difference? - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
TEFL Information
There are three common ways of earning your TEFL/TESOL certificate; in-class, online or a combination of the two. But how do they differ and how can you decide which course is the right one for you?
In-class TEFL/TESOL training
Online TEFL/TESOL courses
Combined TEFL/TESOL courses
Which course is best for you?
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The first option is the in-class TEFL course and this is best for people who like a structured study environment and have the ability to attend a four week on-site course. Trainees on in-class courses benefit from more than 120 hours of study time, the advice of experienced and qualified teacher trainers, foreign language learning experience, welcome meal and excursion,... [Read more]
Why Teachers Need to Be Careful with British English and American English - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Learning English is very difficult, there are many various grammatical and spelling differences between the English spoken throughout the world. Most notably is British and American English grammar. There are also differences in the pronunciation and meanings of many words. While you would think learning English would be a simple task, it is not, after all how different can English be from English? There are a few additional factors - Canadian, Australian, South African, Indian English, etc. have their own differences, these are differences that must be taken into consideration while you study the English Language.
Why Learners Have to Know Variasions
Differences in Spelling
Differences in Pronunciation
Differences in Vocabulary
Differences in... [Read more]
All About British Tea - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Teach English Abroad
SOURCE: infographixdirectory . com/food/all-about-english-tea/
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The Difference Between Business English and General English For EFL Teachers - TEFL Blog
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
The term business English is used to cover the English language taught to a wide range of professional people, and students in full-time education preparing for a business career. There's a lot more to learning a second (or third or fourth!) language than just vocabulary and grammar because languages are used differently in different contexts.
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This post was written by our ITTT graduate Rupanpreet K.
Business English is the type of English used in business contexts. Some types of English, like novels or law briefings, welcome long, sophisticated vocabulary. Business English isn't like that. Good writing is direct and to the point. There is less focus on grammar in... [Read more]
Tips for Stating the Date in English - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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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]
British English v American English - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Teach English Abroad
SOURCE: www . lebonbon . co . uk/lifestyle/infographic-you-sound-like-youre-from-london/
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British vs. American: Which English Accent to Choose? - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
British English versus American English always sparks a lively discussion. I have read some articles so far as to compare these 2 languages and gather the information from the online resources.
Personal experience
The history of English
Vocabulary challenge
Teaching implications and classroom problems
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Zahra J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
I am Iranian and have many American and British friends and I have been living abroad for about 6 years. As an English speaker as a second language, it took me a while to learn what is British and what is American English.... [Read more]
The Difference Between Teaching English to High School Students and University Students - TEFL Blog
Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Teaching English to high-school students and teaching English to university students are uniquely different and require different skills and teaching methods. High school students are in a period of development known as adolescence. One of the leading developmental psychologists, Erik Erikson, defines adolescence as a period of struggle between identity versus role confusion (Hutchison, 2013). During adolescence, high schoolers are going through many physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes (Hutchison, 2013). They are struggling to define who they are in this world not about their parents. They want to make their own choices in life based on their reasoning. A high schooler may choose on their own to learn English as a foreign language, but... [Read more]
Difference Between UK Great Britain England? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Teach English Abroad
SOURCE: visual . ly/difference-between-united-kingdom-great-britain-and-england
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Do or Does ESL Worksheet - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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This is a worksheet to practice the difference between do and does in English.
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You’re vs. Your - What is the difference? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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Let's take a look at the difference between YOUR and YOU'RE in English with example sentences.
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Last posts written by Linda from: 60
Linda is a passionate traveler, language learner and TEFL teacher. After spending some time teaching in China, she moved to Korea in 2015. She now calls South Korea her home.
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
This blog post was written by a recent TEFL graduate who shares their thoughts on why you must take a TEFL course to teach English abroad.
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
This blog post was written by a recent TEFL course graduate who has summarized the most important differences between British and American English.
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
This blog post was written by a recent TEFL graduate who shares their reasons why they would recommend taking a TEFL course to their friends.
Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences
This blog post was written by a recent... [Read more]
Top Differences when Teaching Multilingual versus Monolingual Classes - TEFL Blog
Federico Riva
Destinations TEFL Information
Before we start to look at the differences between teaching monolingual and multilingual classes, we should first define what these terms actually mean.
Advantages of teaching a multilingual class
Disadvantages of teaching a multilingual class
Advantages of teaching a monolingual class
Disadvantages of teaching a monolingual class
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Multilingual classes will have a range of first languages, so they have different L1's. An example here may be the teaching of English to a group of students from a range of countries, in an English speaking country. An example could be a class of Europeans from different countries,... [Read more]
How to go from teaching English online to teaching in-class? - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ TEFL FAQs
This post discussion focuses on making the transition between teaching English as a second or foreign language online to doing the same thing in a physical classroom. It assumes you have been teaching for some time online in a particular situation and therefore have background knowledge of teaching.
There are three main factors that we will cover:
Teaching English online may be done from anywhere in the world where a good stable internet connection is available. Teaching EFL in-class is also available worldwide in English speaking and non-English speaking countries. You should do enough research to make yourself aware of the culture of the country you intend to teach in, as you may find the requirements somewhat different if you have been teaching online.
Also read: TEFL, where can I... [Read more]
ITTT - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Question: What is TEFL?
The acronym TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. While this term is used for the physical act of actually teaching English abroad, it is also commonly used to refer to the training courses that many prospective teachers complete before heading overseas, as well as the qualification they receive upon successfully graduating from the course. By gaining a TEFL certificate it is possible to find work as an English language teacher in almost any country of your choice worldwide.
TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language
TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
ELT - English Language Teaching
TEFL Qualifications
Choosing a TEFL Certificate Course
Online or In-Class TEFL Course
Finding a Teaching Job
Teaching Hot... [Read more]