A Common Valentine's Day Present Top 7

With a huge number of countries to choose from worldwide, English language teachers will inevitably come across a range of pay and benefits that vary from one region to the next. Over 250,000 native English speakers teach English abroad every year, of which a large percentage will receive an hourly pay rate with little in the way of other benefits. Although most will still have a great deal of fun and be able to live a comfortable lifestyle, teachers who find themselves in certain countries might also find that they receive free accommodation during their stay. Two of the world's biggest markets for teaching English abroad are China and South Korea, both of which routinely provide free housing for foreign teachers. The lucrative markets of the Middle East are another area where housing...  [Read more]

  Recognizing the Signs of Stress Implementing Self-Care Strategies Setting Boundaries in the Workplace Seeking Support from Colleagues Time Management Techniques Mindfulness and Meditation Practices Balancing Work and Personal Life Professional Development Opportunities Taking Breaks and Resting Properly Reflecting on Achievements and Growth Teaching English abroad can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with its challenges. Recognizing the signs of stress is crucial for maintaining your well-being. Common indicators include feeling overwhelmed, irritable, or fatigued. By acknowledging these signs early on, you can take proactive steps to address them and prevent burnout. Teaching English abroad can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with its challenges....  [Read more]

  Mira is from Australia and completed the 120-hour online course without tutor support with ITTT. In this TEFL review she tells us how the flexibility offered by ITTT?s online course meant that Mira was able to complete the course at her own pace, fitting her study time around her busy work schedule. She completed the 20 units within four and a half months. Mira has learned a lot from the course including lesson planning, student assessment, vocabulary and grammar and is looking forward to putting all she has learned to use in the classroom. 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...  [Read more]

The first major factor that has an impact on how long it will take to get TEFL certified is which type of course you choose to take. There are three main TEFL course types to be aware of: The most common form of in-person TEFL course is the four-week, 120-hour TEFL certificate. Trainees on this course usually travel from their home country to one of many locations around the world to take the course. Courses should involve a theory component, covering language awareness and teaching skills, and a practical teaching component where trainees teach classes of real English language learners and receive feedback. These courses usually take four weeks to complete and therefore some form of accommodation is required for the duration of the course. This and the travel aspect, make this form of...  [Read more]

Level 7 courses in TEFL/TESOL refer to programs that are equivalent to a Master’s degree. Here's what you need to know about Level 7 courses: Level 7 TEFL/TESOL courses are typically designed for more experienced teachers or those looking to further their knowledge and skills in English language teaching. Here are the common requirements for Level 7 courses: Level 7 TEFL/TESOL courses typically take around 6-12 months to complete, depending on the program structure and the individual's pace of study. These courses are designed for more experienced teachers or those looking to advance their careers in English language teaching. Here are some factors that can influence the time it takes to complete a Level 7 course: Level 7 courses are generally considered postgraduate-level qualifications...  [Read more]

  The enrollment procedure for ITTT's TEFL/TESOL courses is an easy process and once you complete the online application form you will receive an acceptance email within a few hours. The acceptance email will contain all the relevant information needed to begin the course. The email will also outline any special offers that may be available to you at the time of enrollment. Once you make your payment you will be able to begin the course within one working day. 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...  [Read more]

  How will I receive my TEFL TESOL certification and how long does it take? TEFL/TESOL certification is typically obtained through online or in-person courses offered by various institutions, ranging from 120 to 250 hours in duration. Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate, and in some cases, a physical certificate may be mailed to you. The process for receiving your TEFL/TESOL certification and the time it takes can vary based on the course structure and provider. Here are some common scenarios: Online Courses: Once you finish the required coursework, pass assessments, and meet all requirements, you will typically receive a digital certificate immediately or within a few days. In-Person Courses: For in-person courses, you may receive your...  [Read more]

  And now let's look at the pronouns. Simply put, pronouns take the place of a noun. We have various types of pronouns. They are personal pronouns, which can either be subject or object. We have reflexive pronouns, relative pronouns and possessive pronouns. With our personal pronouns, we have to decide whether it's the subject or the object. The subject is the doer of an action, whereas the object is the one that receives the action. Subject pronouns are: I, you, he, she, it etc. Object pronouns are: me, you, him, her, etc. In the sentence "Greg hit Pete," the subject of the sentence is "Greg", therefore I would say "He hit Pete," or I could put a pronoun in for the object of the sentence, where "Greg hit Pete", now, I go into "Greg hit him." With our reflexive pronouns, these are...  [Read more]

It is very common for teachers working overseas to send money back home for a variety of different reasons, such as student loan repayments, to pay a mortgage on a property, or simply to help out family members. Unfortunately, it is not always a straightforward process as there are several factors to consider, including transfer fees, exchange rates, and the actual time each method takes to complete. Below we take a look at some of the most common options. Banks can offer a reliable option for transferring your money, although this largely depends on where you are in the world. If you are teaching English in a popular location such as Japan or South Korea, banks are often a good choice as they generally only charge a small fee and transactions typically clear within one or two days....  [Read more]

In general, most schools and language centers will expect their job applicants to commit to contracts of between 10 and 12 months. However, if you are looking for a short term adventure during the summer break, there are a few options to explore. Although you might find some employers who will take on teachers without a long term contract, most short term opportunities are found in English summer camps or via a volunteer organization. English language camps are a popular fixture during the summer months in many countries across Asia, Europe and Latin America. These usually involve around one to two months work teaching English to young learners from primary age right through to university level, depending on the location. Although this type of work is only short term, it still provides...  [Read more]

Before we look at this question closely, we should first make an important distinction. The number of hours you teach in the classroom (often called contact hours) are not the same as the number of hours you will be expected to be in school, often confusingly called contract hours. Next, it is important to appreciate that different teaching jobs have different typical hours. There are basically three types of jobs available. Most schools abroad work normal office hours so you will probably need to be in school, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. (in many Asian countries) until 4:00 p.m. This equates to around 40 hours per week. You will not have to teach for all of those hours but a typical teaching load would be around 20-25 hours per week. When you are not teaching you will be expected to...  [Read more]

  Prioritizing Tasks for Maximum Efficiency Setting SMART Goals for Time Management Creating a Structured Daily Schedule Utilizing Time Blocking Techniques Minimizing Distractions and Interruptions Incorporating Breaks for Productivity Delegating Tasks to Improve Time Management Using Technology to Enhance Efficiency Practicing Mindfulness for Time Awareness Reflecting and Adjusting Time Management Strategies When it comes to effective time management, prioritizing tasks is essential. Begin by identifying urgent and important tasks that require immediate attention. By focusing on high-priority tasks first, you can ensure that crucial responsibilities are addressed promptly. Utilize techniques such as the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on their urgency and importance,...  [Read more]

Asia is the hottest destination for teaching English abroad right now and Taiwan is one of the most popular locations in the region. The government of Taiwan recently announced an ambitious plan to make the country bilingual Chinese – English by 2030, something that offers a big increase in opportunities for English language teachers in the coming years. Along with the buoyant job market, other great attractions for teachers are the high salaries and extra benefits, a low cost of living, the warm and tropical climate, and a well earned reputation as one of the friendliest nations in the world. You have to be over 20 years old and be a native English speaker with a passport from the USA, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, or Australia. A university degree in any subject...  [Read more]

  ITTT's online TEFL/TESOL courses are designed to help anyone thinking of teaching English overseas. On them you will learn teaching methodologies, important parts of English grammar and ideas of how to teach this grammar to your students. This video looks at one idea for the future continuous tense. For this activity students are each given a planner filled with different activities on different dates. The planners are rigged so that there is only one day when the students are both free. They have to interview each other to find out which day they are both free. To find out more about how you can become qualified and suitably prepared for teaching English overseas click the link above. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online...  [Read more]

  Spain is a popular destination for teaching English abroad as it always has a wide choice of jobs on offer, particularly in cities such as Barcelona and Madrid. For most non-EU citizens it is common practice to enter the country on a 90-day tourist visa.  [Read more]

  ITTT is a leader in the field of teacher training for teaching English as a foreign language. With over 107,000 graduates we are committed to providing the best training on the global EFL market. 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. Many problems can arise when teaching English. Some problems are problems of motivation, while others come from the content of the course. Things outside the classroom can effect the behavior of a difficult student. An...  [Read more]

  If you choose Costa Rica as your destination you should check with your nearest Costa Rican Embassy for the most up-to-date visa information before getting on a plane. Currently, it is common practice for most foreign teachers to enter the country on a 90-day tourist visa.  [Read more]

  Grammar lessons can be perceived as boring for some students, so it is important to have fun activities that encourage the students to use the target language creatively and foster high student talking time. Below is a list of ten activities that can be used for lessons on the past simple. Matching Pairs: The teacher creates a set of cards with present simple verbs and a set with the past simple form of the same verbs. The sets are mixed together and places face down on the desk. Students take turns to turn over two cards. If the two cards match, i.e. both forms of the same verb, the student has to make a sentence with the past simple form before they can keep the cards. If they cannot make a correct sentence, the cards are turned over and it is the next player's turn. The...  [Read more]

Our TEFL course in Guatemala is located in one of Central America’s best-kept secrets. La Antigua is a thriving former capital and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Throughout the city you can find well preserved examples of colonial architecture as well as fascinating ruins and the city has rightly been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to Guatemala is like stepping into another world with Mayan ruins, colonial buildings and cobbled streets all resting in the shadows of magnificent volcanoes. At 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level, La Antigua’s location in the central highlands of Guatemala make it the ideal jumping off point for trips to the Pacific coast, the beautiful Lake Atitlan and the Mayan ruins in Tikal. In addition to all that...  [Read more]

Our TEFL course in Cusco, Peru is one of the best places in South America to earn your teaching qualification. As the former capital of the Incan empire, Cusco is the ideal location to learn about the history of the Incan civilization. It is also a great place to study to become an English teacher. teaching in peru is a fantastic experience and our TEFL course in Cusco is a popular choice for those starting their English teaching careers in South America. Known as the gateway to the famous city of Machu Picchu, Cusco is at the forefront of Peru’s tourism industry. The city itself is home to a number of interesting ruins from the Incan period as well as beautiful examples of Spanish colonial architecture exemplified in the city’s cathedral and churches. From the city you can plan...  [Read more]

  In this ITTT video former trainee Ben talks about his experiences during the final week of his four week TEFL/TESOL certification course and what he plans to do now that he has gained his teaching qualification. 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. Pronunciation is one of the most difficult part of English language. Many of us doesn't think about intonation even in our native language. Unit brings us very useful methods and techniques how to...  [Read more]

  Kayo lives in Japan and took the 120-hour TEFL course with tutor support and videos from ITTT. In this TEFL review video. Kayo outlines her reasons for taking the course. As a mother she wants to be a great teacher to enable local children to use English as tool for sharing their own culture and to help expand their horizons. 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. This unit was about teaching materials. I learned the difference between authentic...  [Read more]

  The idiom "elbow room" refers to having enough room to move in or having the ability to act freely, for example: The concert was so crowded that there was hardly any elbow room at all. This means, there were so many people at the concert that you could barely move. 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. Unit 8 dealt with the future. Because the future is so mysterious to talk about, we learned 7 ways to express it. Most of the future tenses were...  [Read more]

  What are the benefits of learning the local language? Learning the local language when teaching English as a foreign language can bring numerous benefits for both teachers and students. Here are some key advantages: Cultural Understanding: Learning the local language helps teachers understand the culture of the country where they are teaching. This understanding can lead to better relationships with students, colleagues, and locals in general. Improved Communication: Being able to communicate in the local language can make day-to-day interactions smoother, such as shopping, asking for directions, or dealing with administrative tasks. This can reduce stress and enhance the overall experience of living and working abroad. Enhanced Teaching Skills: Understanding the local language...  [Read more]

Preparing for a TEFL job interview is crucial for success in securing a teaching position. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your TEFL job interview: 1. Research the School or Institution: Before your interview, take the time to research the school or institution where you are applying to teach. Understand their teaching philosophy, student demographics, and any specific programs or initiatives they offer. 2. Review TEFL Teaching Methods: Familiarize yourself with different TEFL teaching methods and approaches, such as the communicative approach, task-based learning, and the lexical approach. Be prepared to discuss how you would implement these methods in the classroom. 3. Practice Common Interview Questions: Prepare responses to common TEFL interview questions, such as why you...  [Read more]

--- Teacher burnout is a common issue among TEFL educators, characterized by feelings of exhaustion, frustration, and a lack of motivation. It can be caused by a variety of factors such as heavy workloads, challenging students, lack of support, and cultural differences. Recognizing the signs of burnout is crucial in addressing the issue early on. Symptoms may include fatigue, irritability, lack of enthusiasm for teaching, and physical ailments like headaches or stomach problems. Ignoring these signs can lead to long-term negative effects on both the teacher's well-being and the quality of education they provide. Preventing and managing teacher burnout requires a proactive approach to self-care and stress management. One effective strategy is to establish boundaries between work and...  [Read more]

  ITTT's combined TEFL/TESOL course offers trainees the main benefits of both our 120 hour online course and the in-class course. The online component covers the grammar as well as the principals, theories and methodologies of teaching English. Once the online component is completed you can then gain actual classroom experience by attending one of our training centers for seven to ten days. Here you will have the opportunity to teach local students in a supervised environment. All teaching practice sessions are observed by qualified trainers. 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...  [Read more]

As a TEFL teacher working in a foreign country, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial to prevent burnout and ensure overall well-being. Here are some strategies to help you achieve this balance: One of the key aspects of maintaining work-life balance is setting clear boundaries between your work responsibilities and personal time. It's important to establish specific work hours and stick to them as much as possible. Communicate these boundaries to your colleagues and supervisors so they understand when you are available and when you are not. Additionally, create a designated workspace in your home where you can focus on work tasks, and avoid bringing work-related stress into your personal space. Effective time management is essential for juggling the demands of teaching,...  [Read more]

TEFL International’s teacher training course in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica is simply incredible. Besides training for your internationally recognized TEFL certificate, you’ll immerse yourself in lush jungle, swim in turquoise waters and relax on some of the most stunning beaches in the entire world. Costa Rica is an absolutely amazing country and TEFL International is one of the most recognized and well-established training centers in the industry. It’s no wonder our course in Manuel Antonio has become so popular with people who wish to see the world from a new perspective. Once trained and certified, our teachers are able to travel to distant destinations and experience cultures in ways the average traveler could only envy.     Because it’s located on the Pacific Coast,...  [Read more]

The vast majority of teachers who work in South Korea are employed by either a government run public school or a private language school known as a hagwon. Both types of employer offer good salaries and other benefits but there are a few differences that might sway your decision either way. Most public and private school positions are filled in advance, meaning you will apply and interview for the job before you leave your home country. The hiring process for public schools generally follows a set timetable that includes two regular start dates. Online applications begin in April for start dates in August/September, and in October for start dates in February/March. A large number of teachers in public schools are hired through government recruitment programs such as EPIK (English...  [Read more]