Learning English Is Difficult

  This TEFL review is from Karyna who is currently teaching abroad. She is from the Ukraine and recently took our 120-hour online TEFL/TESOL course as she is a young teacher and wanted to gain a new qualification for your professional development. She enjoyed the course a lot and was able to use the new skills in her classroom abroad while taking the course. This way, she saw quick improvements in her teaching skills and, thus, recommend this course to all new teachers out there. 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...  [Read more]

  Is it difficult to teach English in another country? Teaching English in another country can be both challenging and rewarding. Here are some factors to consider regarding the difficulty of teaching English abroad: Cultural Differences: Adapting to a new culture can be challenging and may impact your teaching style. Understanding cultural norms and values can help you connect with students more effectively. Language Barrier: Overcoming language barriers, especially if you are teaching in a country where English is not widely spoken, can be a hurdle. Learning some of the local language can help you communicate with students and colleagues. Classroom Management: Different countries may have varying expectations when it comes to classroom etiquette and behavior. Establishing clear...  [Read more]

One of the most common challenges faced by TEFL teachers is classroom management. This includes dealing with disruptive behavior, maintaining discipline, and keeping students engaged throughout the lesson. TEFL teachers often find it challenging to strike a balance between being authoritative and approachable, especially when teaching in a foreign language. Implementing effective classroom management strategies, such as establishing clear rules and routines, using positive reinforcement, and creating a supportive learning environment, can help address this challenge. Another significant challenge for TEFL teachers is the language barrier between themselves and their students. Teaching English to non-native speakers can be difficult when there is a limited shared language for communication....  [Read more]

  Peter from Hungary recorded this TEFL review video after completing his course with ITTT. Peter has been teaching English to young learners for 12 years. He took the 120-hour course with tutor support and videos and learnt many new things as he was studying. Peter hopes to teach elsewhere in the world now that he has earned his certificate from ITTT. 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. Reflecting upon this unit, I have had the most troubles so...  [Read more]

  So, the document itself needs to contain some general information about the class, for example the name of the teacher, the date and time of the lesson, what level of class is being taught and in what room, how many students are we expecting, this is important, when we've got things like photocopying and materials to do, what is the context of the lesson, in other words, what is the lesson actually about, what vocabulary or grammar point is this lesson covering and sometimes it's also useful to write out what the focus of the lesson is. So, in effect, the context of the lesson is telling us the grammar point, for example, that might be the present continuous tense, whereas the focus is telling us how we're going to go about teaching it. Another example to illustrate this: Let's...  [Read more]

  Neil took the in-class TEFL course with TEFL International in Zhuhai, China. In this TEFL review video, Neil points out what was covered in the course including grammar, pronunciation as well as the practical side of teaching. He found the trainers encouraged him to put what he was learning into practice 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 convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. I enjoyed the discussion on Grammar. I appreciate that this is a very problematic area,...  [Read more]

1. Significance of Classroom Control in TEFL 2. Approaches for Successful Classroom Governance in TEFL 3. Responsibilities of Educators in Classroom Control 4. Management of Difficult Behaviors in TEFL The management of a classroom holds paramount importance in the realm of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). By implementing effective classroom control, educators can cultivate a positive learning atmosphere, enhance student involvement, and optimize educational achievements. This encompasses the establishment of routines, setting precise expectations, and upholding discipline to ensure a seamless and fruitful learning journey for both instructors and learners. In TEFL programs, educators are often introduced to a myriad of tactics for successful classroom governance. These...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic of modal verbs. They are used to express ability, possibility, permission or obligation. Richard checks the understanding of his students by doing a worksheet exercise discussing various statements including modal verbs. ITTT's Observed Teaching Practice courses (OTP) are ideal for teachers wanting to improve their teaching skills remotely from anywhere in the world." 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...  [Read more]

  Salah completed his TEFL course at the training centre in Egypt and then completed his Certificate in Teaching Business English online. In this TEFL review, he explains how working as an English language instructor has made him really appreciate the materials and knowledge he received while studying with ITTT. 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. Preparation is key to planning a lesson. By documenting a lesson plan, it keeps a record of what the...  [Read more]

  This video is the first video of our series on conditionals and reported speech. The conditionals are commonly referred to as "if" sentence structure speaking about if this happens then that happens. 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. There is 3 different ESA approaches. The straight arrow ESA approach which is mostly used for vocabulary or grammar. Then there is the boomerang and patchwork ESA approach which is used for functions-based...  [Read more]

  In this ITTT TEFL review video Ben shares his experiences of the second week of his TEFL/TESOL course. The second week brings more work for the students and Ben has had to cut back on some of his social activities. 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 involved learning about equipment and teaching aids. I have always had an interactive white board in my classrooms, so I will have to adjust to not having one at times. I like the idea of...  [Read more]

  In this TEFL/TESOL review, trainee Pam describes her experience with ITTT's four week in-class course in Phuket, Thailand. She outlines the program of the first week of the course. Pam talks about why she chose to do the course in Phuket and she gives a brief synopsis of the week's program. 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. A very difficult unit - I may need to check for more information from resources regarding learning phrasal verbs and...  [Read more]

  In her TESOL review, Zeneb shares her experience about our in-class course in Zhuhai. Zeneb took the four-week in-class training course in Zhuhai, China, and had a very positive experience. She learned a lot about lesson planning and how to keep her students engaged. She also loves China and wants to stay and pursue a career in teaching English as a foreign language. 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 lesson was about course development....  [Read more]

  John is currently teaching in Seoul, South Korea in a local school and at his home. John completed the TESOL course with ITTT. In this TESOL review video, John tells us what he gained from taking the course. The knowledge he gained from the course has already helped to improve his lessons and he is getting positive feedback from his students. John runs all of his own classes and is responsible for creating and choosing the materials for his classes as well as planning the lessons. Having completed this TESOL course, John is now considering taking further courses including a TESOL diploma and possibly a master?s in TESOL. 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]

  Both the 120 hour TEFL/TESOL online course and the four week TEFL/TESOL in-class course cover the same academic content, i.e. grammar, phonology, teaching theories and methodologies. The difference between the two courses is the actual teaching practice component in the in- class course. During the in-class course trainees are given the opportunity to complete a number of observed teaching practice sessions. By having this practical teaching experience you are improving your job prospects. 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...  [Read more]

  In this video we look at the last of three teaching ideas for the past simple. This is a two part exercise that involves students initially guessing the answer to a given question before taking a poll on what the real answers is. This is idea is one of many that can be learned on one of ITTT's online TEFL courses. There are number of options available to study from short 60-hour introductory courses to longer 120-hour TEFL courses. It is also possible to take ITTT's TEFL courses in-class at one of many locations around the world. Please visit the link above for more information about the courses ITTT provides to help you become an English teacher. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our...  [Read more]

  This video covers the difference between 'figuratively' and 'literally'. Even native speakers commonly confuse these two words. The word 'figuratively' is used when talking about something metaphorically. 'Literally', on the other hand is used for things that are real or really happen. Watch the video for detailed examples on the two words. 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. In this unit I learned about each specific type of the parts of speech....  [Read more]

  In this TEFL training video we look at the usages for the present continuous tense. Teaching points such as this one will come up often in a TEFL teacher's career so they must be knowledgeable about rules for English grammar. Our courses cover this grammar point and many more in our online and in-class TEFL training programs. 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 presented theories on learning and development and touched on classroom...  [Read more]

  We've seen the present tenses in isolation. Now, let's look at them together. Our first example is 'I play football every week.' This is the present simple tense and it has the structure 'subject I' + verb 'play'. This is quite a simple tense for students to form. However, they have to be aware of the third person singular form 'he', 'she' or 'it', which usually adds an '-s' or an '-es' to the end of the base form of the verb. 'I play football,' but 'He plays football.' Also, the question of negative forms using the auxiliary verb 'do' or 'does' 'Do you play football?' 'I don't play football.' 'Does she play football?' 'She doesn't play football.' The present simple tense is used to talk about habits, routines, facts and general truths and as such it's probably the most commonly...  [Read more]

  This video is part of our video series on "Evaluation and Testing of Students". In this video, we look at the diagnostic and progress test. A diagnostic test gives the teacher information about the students' current strengths and weaknesses, while a progress test is usually held multiple times during a course covering all the material taught up until that point to check understanding. 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 a difficult...  [Read more]

  Our next methodology is called the silent way and it's accredited to Caleb Gattegno and was developed in or around the 1970s. This particular methodology moved on from the behaviorist stimulus response to what's called a theory of constructivism and this constructivist approach was very very different, very radical to anything that had been tried before. The background to this particular methodology was that there was a French mathematics teacher who found that his students were finding it very difficult to understand particular concepts. What he realized was that what they needed was a more visual representation of the information. So he came up with a series of colored rods to help with those concepts in mathematics. He gave his name to those rods and they're called Cuisenaire...  [Read more]

  Chantelle is taking a 120-hour online TEFL course with tutor support and videos with ITTT. This is the first of her video diary entries outlining her experience taking the course. Chantelle took the online course because it was better for her to study online than to commit to attending an onsite course. In this video she talks about the first unit of the course. Unit 1 deals with teachers and learners discussing what makes good teachers and learners as well as the types of roles teachers perform in class, motivation levels of different types of learners and the different language levels. 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...  [Read more]

--- One of the most common challenges faced by TEFL teachers abroad is classroom management. This includes dealing with large class sizes, students with varying levels of English proficiency, and maintaining discipline in culturally diverse classrooms. Effective classroom management strategies are essential for creating a conducive learning environment and ensuring that students are engaged and motivated to learn. Another significant challenge for TEFL teachers abroad is the language barrier. Many teachers find it difficult to communicate with students who have limited English skills, especially in countries where English is not widely spoken. Overcoming this barrier requires patience, creativity, and the use of visual aids, gestures, and other non-verbal communication techniques to...  [Read more]

  Now here's a teaching idea for the present perfect continuous tense. If you remember we use this tense to talk about actions that had been continuing up until the present moment or very recently. In this activity, you'll be giving a student a card. That card will include the past activity as well as some results. This card says 'You've been driving in the rain on your motorbike. You're all wet and your clothes are too.' The results are 'you're all wet and your clothes are too.' You'll present that information to the rest of the class and, therefore, it's up to the class to guess the action that was occurring up until the certain point in time. What will happen in this activity is, the student at the front of the room will express the present results 'clothes being wet; I'm all...  [Read more]

  In this online TESOL course video we will look at a useful teaching idea for the past perfect tense. Students are given statements written in the past simple and will have to complete the statement with sentences in the past perfect. Each statement would have been cut out before the class and distributed to pairs or small groups. The student will turn over their card, read out the statement then complete it with their own past perfect sentence. For example: I didn't do my homework ... because I hadn't brought my book home. Teaching ideas such as this become an important part of an English teacher's resources, enabling them to create interesting plans when required. To learn more about this tense and others consider taking one of ITTT's online TESOL courses. Follow the link above...  [Read more]

  This video from one of ITTT's online TEFL courses looks at the structure of the future perfect tense. Positive: Subject + will + have + past participle I will have finished... Negative: Subject + will + not + have + past participle I will not (won't) have finished ... Question: Will + subject + have + past participle? Will you have finished ...? More and more people see teaching English abroad as great way to learn new skills and gain valuable experience in an international setting before returning home and embarking on their career. Alternatively, others see teaching English as an opportunity to change direction in their career and to try something new. Either way, anyone looking to start teaching English abroad will need to be appropriately qualified. Have a look at the link...  [Read more]

  Shanice from Jamaica talks about her experience taking the 120-hour online course with ITTT in this TESOL review video. Shanice thought the course was amazing with each unit building on the last and caused her to really consider what she was learning and how it would be implemented in the classroom. Shanice recommends the course to anyone thinking of teaching English as a foreign language abroad. 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. I have learnt...  [Read more]

  This TEFL review is from Will from the United States. After doing a lot of research, he decided that he wanted to follow a new career path in teaching English as a foreign language. Since a TEFL/TESOL course is one of the most common requirements for EFL employers worldwide, he decided to take our 120-hour online TEFL/TESOL certification course and enjoyed it a lot. Will chose the tutored version of the course and was able to ask a professional ITTT tutor any questions he might have during the course. After completing the course, he was also offered an additional 50-hour course for free and received excellent post-course services such as resume and interview preparation and access to job offers worldwide. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of...  [Read more]

  When considering Teacher Talk Time, we can perhaps look at the major advantage and disadvantage of the teacher actually talking. The major advantage is that you as the teacher are usually the only real model for the language, the source of correct English. So at some stages, your talking time is very important to the students. So when you?re modeling language, that use of Teacher Talk Time can be very advantageous. There are major disadvantages to overusing Teacher Talk Time, however, and perhaps the major one is that whenever the teacher is talking, the students are listening and if the students are listening, then they themselves cannot be talking. So, Teacher Talk Time reduces the opportunity for Student Talk Time. So, we should try to minimize the use of Teacher Talk Time...  [Read more]

  One of the major ideas here when writing on the board, is that we need to be aware that whenever we're using the board to write down information, we should not be talking and whenever we are talking we should not be writing on the board. This will inevitably lead to what's known as dead time when nothing is being said as we're putting information on the board. This dead time is not a problem but we can actually minimize it by using a number of techniques. We could use pre-prepared material. So we put information onto large pieces of paper and then instead of writing on the board, we actually stick those materials onto the board as we go through the class. Another idea is to actually ask students to write on the board for you. Another thing is that we could actually put work up...  [Read more]