Tesol Encyclopedia Of English Language Teaching

  This training video from one of ITTT's Teaching English as a Foreign Language courses reviews the usage of the future perfect tense. This is used to talk about actions that will be completed by a point in the future. "I will have finished my TEFL course by the end of the year" If you are interested in Teaching English as a Foreign Language the first thing you should think about is getting qualified. Many EFL employers require their teachers to have some form of teaching qualification and a 120-hour TEFL certificate meets that requirement. Follow the link above to browse the selection of TEFL courses that ITTT has to offer. 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...  [Read more]

  This video from one of ITTT's teach English as a foreign language courses covers three teaching ideas for the future perfect tense. The future perfect is used to talk about things that will have been completed by a certain date in the future. The first idea involves asking students the following question "What will you have done by ...?" with an appropriate time in the future. For example: "What will you have done by the time you are 25?" "I will have become an English teacher". The second idea involves giving students monthly calendars to complete and asking them to say what they will have done by the end of the month. The last idea involves asking questions about a famous person and what they will have achieved in the future. "How many awards will she have won by 2025?"...  [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]

Yes, obtaining a TEFL certification is often required when teaching English in private language schools, especially in countries where English is not the native language. While it is possible to find teaching opportunities without a TEFL certification, having one can significantly increase your chances of securing a job and may lead to better employment prospects. Private language schools typically look for teachers who have received proper training in teaching English as a foreign language, and a TEFL certification demonstrates that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively teach English to non-native speakers. Additionally, many schools prefer to hire teachers with a TEFL certification as it is a mark of professionalism and dedication to the field of English language...  [Read more]

TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) and CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) are both certifications that qualify individuals to teach English as a foreign language. However, there are some key differences between the two that prospective teachers should be aware of before choosing which certification to pursue. One of the main differences between TEFL and CELTA is the level of recognition and accreditation. CELTA is a specific type of TEFL certification offered by Cambridge English, which is globally recognized and highly respected in the field of English language teaching. CELTA courses are standardized and follow a rigorous curriculum set by Cambridge English, ensuring a high level of quality and consistency. On the other hand, generic TEFL certifications...  [Read more]

TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) and CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) are both certifications that qualify individuals to teach English as a foreign language. However, there are some key differences between the two that potential teachers should be aware of before choosing which certification to pursue. One of the main differences between TEFL and CELTA is the level of recognition and prestige associated with each certification. CELTA is widely considered to be the gold standard in TEFL certifications and is highly regarded by employers around the world. On the other hand, TEFL certifications can vary widely in quality and may not always be recognized by employers to the same extent as CELTA. Another important difference between TEFL and CELTA is the...  [Read more]

Yes. One of the many benefits of teaching English abroad is that it can provide a great environment for learning a foreign language. It is no secret that being fully immersed in a different culture, where you are constantly surrounded by a new language, is the most effective way to quickly develop your understanding. Throughout your time living and working as an English teacher abroad, you will inevitably have endless opportunities to practice your language skills. As well as using the language as you go about your daily life, there is also a good chance that you will have access to local language courses that are far cheaper than those available in your home country. Another possibility is the network of friends that you will likely make among the local citizens. Often people are more...  [Read more]

  In this video for a teaching English second language teaching idea the students are given a sheet of paper with a series of pictures and each picture has a prompt with complicated verb structure as well as irregular verbs. The students will have to look at the prompts and order the pictures so as to make a story in the past simple tense. For higher level students you could remove the prompts and leave it up to them to create their own story. Teaching English as a second language is an increasingly popular career move. Not only do get the opportunity to help a variety of people around the world achieve their language learning goals but you also get to experience what it is like to live in another culture, often quite different to your own, which is always a rewarding experience....  [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]

TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) and CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) are both widely recognized certifications that qualify individuals to teach English as a foreign language. While both certifications are valuable and can lead to job opportunities worldwide, there are some key differences between the two programs. One of the main differences between TEFL and CELTA certification programs is the level of recognition and accreditation. CELTA is a specific brand of TEFL certification that is administered by Cambridge English Language Assessment, a division of the University of Cambridge. CELTA is highly regarded in the industry and is often seen as the gold standard for TEFL certification. On the other hand, TEFL certifications can be obtained from a...  [Read more]

  This presentation is going to focus on the section of classroom management. We could start with a definition of classroom management as being the skill of organizing the class individual students within that class and what takes place within the class. Perhaps one of the most important resources for achieving these things is you and in terms of you there are a number of things that you can use to help with the classroom management and they include though they're not limited to the use of your eyes the use of your voice and the use of gesture. So let's take each of these in turn and see how they can be used to help with their management of the classroom. So starting with our eyes. First of all the eyes can be used in a number of ways and they can certainly be used to hold...  [Read more]

  The structure of the question form of the Present Simple tense is the topic for this ITTT video. The positive and negative forms are discussed in other videos. Question Form: auxiliary verb 'do/does' + subject + base form of the verb Do I/you/we/they teach? Does he/she/it teach? Teaching English as a second language is an exciting and rewarding experience. The major qualifications necessary to gain a position teaching English as a second language are an internationally recognized TEFL or TESOL Certificate. ITTT has a range of courses that will provide you with the skills to begin your career teaching English as a second language. If you are interested in gaining your qualification follow the link above. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section...  [Read more]

When it comes to teaching English in language immersion programs, the requirements can vary depending on the program and country. While a TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) certification is not always mandatory, having one can be highly beneficial for both the teacher and the students. One of the main advantages of obtaining a TEFL certification is that it equips teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively teach English as a foreign language. This includes lesson planning, classroom management, and understanding language acquisition principles. These skills can greatly enhance the quality of instruction provided in language immersion programs. Additionally, many language immersion programs prefer or require teachers to have a TEFL certification as it...  [Read more]

  Our next consideration is going to be how we actually group our students. There are perhaps three types of grouping arrangements that we can consider and within those we'll have a look at the potential positive and negatives of those particular arrangements. So firstly, what arrangements can we use? We could arrange our group as a whole class so all of their activities will be done as a whole class. They could be working as individuals and the final grouping arrangement we'll consider is that of small groups or indeed the use of pair work. So for each of these types of arrangements what are the potential positive and negatives with that type of arrangement? For the whole class certainly one of the main positive features is that it gives that class a sense of belonging. Secondly...  [Read more]

  Our next consideration is going to be building and maintaining rapport. The importance of rapport is that within our communicative activities, we're asking the students to talk to each other. If they feel comfortable with each other and with us, then that interaction is much more likely to be useful. So how do we actually build and maintain rapport? Well, it's easiest if we consider two stages of the course itself. What we can do at the start of the course and what we can do throughout the course to help build and maintain that rapport. So at the start of the course, it's very useful if we ask the students to create a name card and to make that name card visible to everyone. Secondly we need to try to do some ice breaking activities that will allow the students to interact with...  [Read more]

  So now we'll consider the actual classroom arrangements themselves in terms of the physical desk layout. There are possibly three main types of arrangements that are used within classrooms and we're going to indicate the desks here as being boxes and the arrangements of the students within those desks will be blue crosses. So here we have the desks ranged in rows and the students sitting within those rows. The second arrangement could be the use of horseshoes or semi circles and finally the use of individual desks. So for each of these arrangements what are the potential advantages and disadvantages of arranging our seating in this way? Let's take the rows first of all. One of the potential advantages is that it does give the teacher the opportunity, if it's arranged correctly,...  [Read more]

  Our next consideration is that of giving instructions to our students. In order for those students to effectively carry out an activity, we need to make sure we have given clear and unambiguous instructions. It's also very important to check that the students understand the activity before you start. If you've done that work correctly then the teacher shouldn't need to say anything once an activity has started because the students are very clear about what they're supposed to be doing. So some ideas when giving instructions. As we've mentioned use simple language. Secondly, rather than trying to explain an activity, then do a demonstration which is visual. Thirdly, try to use wherever possible common words that come up within every activity. These would be things like ?look?,...  [Read more]

  There are some other classroom management issues that we need to consider and they may include issues such as writing on the board, giving students individual attention, the use of teacher talk time, the way in which we should give instructions to our students, the building and maintaining of rapport with our students, and finally the one that perhaps most new teachers particularly spend a lot of time worrying and thinking about, is the issue of classroom discipline. So what we'd like to do is to take each of these in turn and look at some of the major issues surrounding these classroom management issues. 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...  [Read more]

  The dynamics of classroom interaction is often dictated by the arrangement of the classroom itself and the way in which the classroom is arranged could depend upon a number of factors and they might include things such as the age of the students, so for example we're unlikely to have the same arrangement for adult learners as we would have for young learners. It could also depend upon the actual physical space available. The physical space may determine how we have to arrange our classroom to maximize the opportunity for interaction and so forth. It will also depend on what material is available and by material in this case we're talking about the actual desks and chairs and so on and so forth. Perhaps the final thing we might put here is that it could also depend upon the...  [Read more]

  ITTT has been at the forefront of providing high quality teacher training programs since 1993. In that time we have produced thousands of graduates every year through our extensive range of online, in-class and combined training courses. As a market leader in the TEFL industry, we are continuously striving to improve our products and services to ensure that we maintain our position as one of the largest and most highly regarded providers of TEFL training worldwide. Check out what our grads have to say about us in this testimonial video!  [Read more]

For some teachers, the main reason for becoming TEFL qualified is to open the door to adventures living and working overseas. However, there are many circumstances where teaching over the internet could also be a great option. For recently qualified teachers it can be a convenient way to gain experience while earning money to fund a trip abroad. It can also be a good way to supplement your income from another job. Whether you are in your home country or already living and working abroad, teaching English as a foreign language online might be worth considering. Setting yourself up as an online language teacher can be surprisingly straightforward and inexpensive. Your biggest expense is likely to be completing a TEFL/TESOL qualification. While completing an internationally recognized...  [Read more]

From Mediterranean beach resorts in the north to the Cape of Good Hope in the south, the extraordinary continent of Africa has plenty of great opportunities for ESL teachers who are willing to seek them out. However, teaching positions in this part of the world are not as numerous or as widespread as in many other regions, so you might need to be flexible regarding your expectations and patience will almost certainly be required. The largest numbers of ESL teaching positions in Africa that pay a reasonable salary are generally found in North African countries such as Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. In these countries you will find a strong demand for teachers in a range of schools, although the bulk of demand is from private language academies. Private tutoring is also a good option in...  [Read more]

When considering the best TEFL course for teaching in language schools, there are several factors to take into account to ensure you are well-prepared for the classroom environment. The quality of the course, accreditation, content, and practical teaching experience are key elements to consider. First and foremost, it is essential to choose a TEFL course that is reputable and recognized by language schools worldwide. Accreditation by recognized bodies such as the British Council, ACCET, or Cambridge English Language Assessment ensures that the course meets high standards of quality and that your certification will be accepted by employers. The content of the TEFL course is also crucial in preparing you for teaching in language schools. Look for a course that covers essential topics such as...  [Read more]

  It is very important that whenever we?re doing an activity that we use the students names wherever possible when we're asking for feedback and so on and so forth. There are a number of benefits to using the students? names and they can include helping to actually organize the class itself, certainly to acknowledge when a student has given the correct answer and so forth, to indicate who should respond, rather than just asking a general question to the whole class. By using the names we can ask an individual to respond to that particular question. One point to note here is that if you are going to ask an individual student it is very useful if you put their name at the end of the question. This is useful because if you start with their name then all of the other students know that...  [Read more]

  Our next main issue is going to be that of giving students individual attention. Here many classroom management and leaving potential discipline problems can be avoided by applying some simple rules to giving your students attention. The first one is to think about the way in which you ask questions. Don't ask questions in a predictable order. If you just go around the class asking questions from one person to the next then the person at the end of the class will know that it's going to be some time before you actually get to them. So try to mix up the way in which you're asking questions. In terms of answers to questions don't allow individual students to dominate all of the answers. One of the things that we can do to help this particular issue is to use the students names as...  [Read more]

  Learning a foreign language is high on the to-do list of many teachers working abroad. Being able to practice the language on a day to day basis will not only help you to learn it quickly, but will also help you to feel more at home in your new surroundings.  [Read more]

TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) and CELT-S (Certificate in English Language Teaching - Speaking) are both certifications that demonstrate a level of expertise in teaching English as a foreign language. However, they have distinct differences in terms of focus, content, and target audience. TEFL certification is a more general certification that covers various aspects of teaching English to non-native speakers. It typically includes modules on lesson planning, classroom management, language skills development, and assessment techniques. TEFL courses are designed to provide a broad foundation for teaching English in a variety of contexts, such as schools, language institutes, or online platforms. On the other hand, CELT-S certification specifically focuses on teaching speaking...  [Read more]

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) are both fields within the broader category of English language teaching, but they differ in the context in which English is being taught. TEFL is typically used when English is being taught in a non-English speaking country where English is not the primary language of communication. In these settings, students are learning English as a foreign language to communicate with speakers of other languages. TEFL teachers often work in language schools, universities, or private companies in countries where English is not the dominant language. On the other hand, TESL is used when English is being taught in an English-speaking country to non-native speakers who are integrating into that English-speaking...  [Read more]

Our 170-hour Teaching English as a Foreign Language with Online Specialization has been designed for those who would like to gain a qualification to enter the TEFL/TESOL employment market and wish to maximize their options. Through this course we will give you the knowledge and skills needed to teach English in both classroom and online settings. The course is taken in two parts: First, our 120-hour certification is completed. This is followed by a further 50-hours of study looking at the particular skills needed to teach English online. One added benefit of the course is that on completion you will gain access to a unique graduate network, connecting you to ITTT alumni currently employed by many of the major employers in online teaching. The 120-hour TEFL course must be taken and...  [Read more]

  TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. These descriptions are generally used interchangeably, however, TESOL is more common in the USA and TEFL is more common in the UK.  [Read more]