Vocab Box

  And now we have our nasal sounds. There are three nasal sounds and basically the pattern of air that's moving out of our vocal tract has to do with two big instances and that is a closure in the vocal tract. Except aside from the plosives and affricates, what we have is air escaping through our nasal cavity. These sounds include ?m?, ?n? and ?ng?. We're moving from the front of the mouth to the back of the mouth. First with the M sound or the ?m?, we're closing both lips and the air is escaping through the nasal passage ?m?. Next we have our N sound or our ?n? sound. There, the closure is inside the mouth but our tongue is closing up near our alveolar ridge and the air is escaping through the nose. Again that's ?n?. Finally we have our NG sound and the closure there is happening...  [Read more]

  If you want to teach English as a foreign language, it is important to make sure you are as well prepared as you can possibly be before entering a classroom. It is equally important to have a good understanding of the country and culture you are hoping to make your home while you are teaching. Below we look at some important aspects of etiquette in different countries in Asia. The teacher holds a position of respect in many Asian countries and is expected to behave in a way that reflects that respect. Dress for teachers tends to be formal and women should avoid wearing anything too revealing. Although many locals understand a foreign teacher's lack of understanding about local customs, taking the time to learn and show interest can make a real difference to your experience. ...  [Read more]

  This video outlines the second of three teaching ideas for the Present Simple tense. The students each have a picture with the title "This is Nicola. Nicola is a student. This is her room." In the picture there are lots of items such as a television, a coffee pot, a guitar....In small groups the students list as many facts about Nicola as possible using the Present Simple. For example, She plays the guitar. She drinks coffee. She watches television. After a specified time the groups come together and share their answers with the class. ITTT provides a variety of TEFL online courses and certification options, all of which will give you the tools you need to begin your new career as a qualified English language teacher. Studying online is a convenient way to earn your teaching...  [Read more]

  Here's an idea for teaching the present perfect continuous tense. However in this activity what the students will be doing, is comparing and contrasting this tense with the present perfect tense. This is something that a teacher will want to do after they've explored both tenses and because both tenses are quite confusing, we'll ask the students to compare and contrast the two, making sure that they can tell the difference. In this activity, the teacher will have cut out each individual card. The teacher will distribute the cards to the students and after a minute has gone by, the teacher will then ask the students to fold their cards over and get into a pair. One student in the pair will then present a certain result and ask the student to form the question. Here, with the...  [Read more]

  When it comes to manner of articulation, we have six different ways in which our breath is produced in order to make our sounds. We have our plosives, our affricates, fricatives, the nasal sounds, our lateral sound and the approximants. Let's take a look at each individually and see how they differ from one another. First we have our plosive sounds. As the word might indicate we have basically a little explosion of sound with our breath. The plosive sounds are made through a three-step process. First there's a closure somewhere in the vocal tract. Second there's a buildup of air and finally there's a sudden release of that air like a little explosion. If we look at some of the sounds that are made this way we might better understand why they are called plosives. Examples are the...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word quiescent. This word refers to a state of inactivity. Synonyms for quiescent include inactive, idle, at rest, and quiet. 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 really took me back to being in high school choir for many years, as well as taking professional vocal lessons. That's where I learned about word stress, the IPA, and how shifting vowels can change meaning and sound. It was a great...  [Read more]

Language creativity and expression are crucial aspects of language learning that go beyond basic vocabulary and grammar. It involves the ability to use language in inventive and imaginative ways to convey meaning effectively. Developing language creativity helps students become more fluent, confident, and versatile in their language use. It encourages them to think outside the box and express themselves more authentically. 1. Encourage Reading and Listening: Exposing students to a variety of texts, such as literature, poetry, and songs, can inspire them to experiment with language. Listening to podcasts, watching movies, and engaging with different forms of media can also help broaden their language skills and creativity. 2. Incorporate Creative Writing: Assigning creative writing tasks,...  [Read more]

  The next thing we should look at is how our consonants are arranged for the top two rows we have P and F at the left side of our chart and G and J at the right side of our chart. They're arranged this way because if we analyze the way we speak we're using the front of our mouth to use these sounds as in ?p? and ?f? and I'm using my lips and my teeth to produce those sounds and as we move to the right on the chart slowly but surely we're making those sounds it towards the back of our mouth. We can use the examples of ?g?. The sound ?g? is produced further back in our mouth than ?p?. The next thing we'll notice about our chart is that some of our symbols are shaded. Notice that none of the symbols in the vowel sections are shaded but only a few are in the consonant section. The...  [Read more]

Fostering creativity and innovation in a TEFL classroom is essential for engaging students, enhancing language acquisition, and preparing them for real-world communication. By creating a supportive environment, incorporating creative activities, and encouraging critical thinking, teachers can inspire students to think outside the box and develop their language skills in a meaningful way. To foster creativity and innovation, it is crucial to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and expressing their ideas. Teachers can achieve this by promoting a growth mindset, providing positive reinforcement, and encouraging collaboration among students. By acknowledging and valuing diverse perspectives, teachers can inspire creativity and help students feel...  [Read more]

  Now we'll have a look at the present perfect tense. The form for the present perfect tense is again our subject here, our auxiliary verb, or helping verb, in this case it's 'have'. For subjects 'I,' 'you,' 'we,' 'they', we leave the auxiliary verb as 'have'. For 'he,' 'she' and 'it', our auxiliary verb needs to be conjugated or changed into 'has'. Following these helping verbs, we have our main verb in the past participle form. Here we have the verb 'to play'. 'To play' is a regular verb. So for regular verbs we simply add '-ed'. The result is sentences such as 'I have played football today,' or 'He has played snooker today'. 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...  [Read more]

  We can see that this particular usage of the unfinished past can be used for both the present perfect and the present perfect continuous. Where we've got action verbs, we usually prefer to use the present perfect continuous. However, there are state verbs which don't usually go into the continuous form, such as 'know'. We would say 'I have known her for 10 years,' not 'I have been knowing her for 10 years.' So when we have these state verbs, such as 'know', 'be', 'seem' and 'appear', we would usually put these in the present perfect but with the action verbs, such as 'play', 'cook', 'work', we will use these in the present perfect continuous. Normally, we also use the present perfect continuous fairly frequently with words, such as just or recently to express a recently completed...  [Read more]

  Alveolar sounds get their name from the fact that the alveolar ridge is being used. Again, that ridge is just behind the front top row of teeth. Here the tongue is on or very very near the alveolar ridge. It's typically the tip of the tongue or what's just behind the tip of the tongue, called the blade of the tongue. Here, we're talking about sounds such as ?t? and ?d?. If you say them at home, you can tell the tip of your tongue is on that alveolar ridge. Again, that's ?t? and ?d?, as well as sounds such as ?s? and ?z?. Again, the blade of the tongue is just near that alveolar ridge but it is very near nonetheless. The two other sounds that make it into this category is the ?l? sound, where the tip of the tongue is very clearly touching that alveolar ridge, as well as ?r? or the...  [Read more]

  Place of articulation deals with the placement of the vocal organs when producing a sound. Before we can cover the particulars of places of articulation, we'll need to take a look at the various vocal organs and their locations. Moving from the front to the back we'd begin with our lips. We can use both lips in order to create a sound or we can use one of our lips with one of our rows of teeth, usually the top, in order to produce another sound. We also have other sounds, which use both of the rows of teeth. Further back we have what's called the alveolar ridge. That's the bit of the mouth that may get burnt when we're eating a pizza that's a bit too hot and the cheese burns just behind there our top two teeth. That again is the hard bit just behind our top teeth, called the...  [Read more]

  This video covers the structure and usage of the past continuous tense. This structure of this tense is: Positive: Subject + was/were + present participle. She was working last night. Negative: Subject + was/were + not + present participle. He was not teaching yesterday. Question: Was/were + subject + present participle Was she driving yesterday? The past continuous is used to talk about actions that were in progress at a time in the past. For example: I was watching television last night. One option that may not occur to most TEFL graduates is that of teaching English online. Not only can you earn your certificate online, but you can also earn your wages by teaching English online. ITTT has many different courses available suited to your needs. Whether you are...  [Read more]

  The next item we're going to consider is the use of dictionaries and here perhaps the first thing we should do is to make a distinction between the two main types of dictionary and that distinction is between the monolingual and the bilingual dictionary. In a monolingual dictionary you have a word and its associated meaning and those two are both described for example in English so the word and the description of that word are both given in English. Whereas in a bilingual dictionary that word meaning could often be for example the word given in English and the explanation given in Thai and vice versa. So what can we use a dictionary for? Well, within the dictionary itself obviously we can get things like how words are spelled or the spelling of the word. We can also get the...  [Read more]

Unlock Your Potential with Innovative Teaching Methods for Educators 1. Introduction 2. Benefits of Innovative Teaching Methods 3. Implementing Innovative Teaching Strategies 4. Conclusion Are you an educator looking to enhance your teaching skills and engage your students more effectively? Look no further! ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training) offers a range of innovative teaching methods that will help you unlock your full potential in the classroom. In today's fast-paced world, traditional teaching methods may no longer be sufficient to meet the needs of all learners. By incorporating innovative teaching techniques into your lessons, you can create a more dynamic and interactive learning environment that caters to different learning styles. These methods can help increase student...  [Read more]

--- Pair and group work in a TEFL classroom provide students with ample opportunities to practice and improve their communication skills. By interacting with their peers in various activities, such as discussions, debates, role-plays, and collaborative projects, students can enhance their speaking and listening abilities. Engaging in meaningful conversations with classmates helps learners become more confident in expressing their thoughts and ideas in English. Moreover, working together in pairs or groups encourages students to use the language in a more authentic and natural way, leading to better fluency and accuracy in their speech. --- Utilizing pair and group work in TEFL classes can significantly boost students' motivation and engagement with the learning process. Collaborative...  [Read more]

1. The Significance of Defining Mission and Values 2. How Mission and Values Shape Organizational Culture 3. Implementing Mission and Values in Daily Operations 4. Conclusion: The Impact of a Clear Mission and Values In today's rapidly changing business landscape, defining a clear mission and values for an organization is crucial for long-term success. A mission statement outlines the purpose of the organization, its goals, and the principles guiding its actions. Values, on the other hand, represent the core beliefs and ethics that shape the organization's culture and decision-making processes. By establishing a strong foundation through a well-defined mission and values, companies can align their efforts, inspire employees, and differentiate themselves in the market. A well-defined...  [Read more]

Teaching English in an underfunded school can present unique challenges, but with proper preparation and a positive attitude, you can still make a significant impact on your students' language learning journey. Here are some tips to help you prepare for teaching English in an underfunded school: 1. **Understand the Challenges**: Before you begin, take the time to understand the specific challenges that come with teaching in an underfunded school. This may include limited resources, large class sizes, and students with varying levels of proficiency. 2. **Create a Plan**: Develop a flexible lesson plan that takes into account the limitations of the school's resources. Focus on activities that require minimal materials and can be adapted to different learning levels. 3. **Utilize...  [Read more]

Enhance your conference experience with immersive and interactive sessions provided by ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training). Our dynamic workshops and activities are designed to engage participants, promote collaboration, and spark creativity. Whether you are organizing a small seminar or a large-scale conference, our interactive sessions will leave a lasting impact on your attendees. Discover how our innovative approach can elevate your event to the next level. 1. Engage Your Audience 2. Foster Collaboration 3. Spark Creativity 4. Elevate Your Event At ITTT, we understand the importance of keeping your audience engaged throughout your conference. Our interactive sessions are tailored to captivate participants and encourage active participation. From group discussions and team...  [Read more]

As a TEFL teacher, staying motivated is essential to ensure a successful and fulfilling teaching experience. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated in your TEFL journey: 1. **Set clear goals**: Start by setting achievable short-term and long-term goals for yourself as a teacher. This could include improving your teaching techniques, enhancing your students' language skills, or even furthering your own education in the field of TEFL. 2. **Celebrate small victories**: Teaching can be challenging, so it's important to celebrate even the smallest victories. Whether it's a student mastering a difficult grammar point or receiving positive feedback from a class observation, take the time to acknowledge and celebrate these achievements. 3. **Continuous professional development**: Stay...  [Read more]

In the field of TEFL, fostering critical thinking and creativity is crucial for the holistic development of language learners. When students engage in critical thinking, they go beyond rote memorization and actively analyze, evaluate, and apply the language concepts they have learned. This not only enhances their language skills but also equips them with valuable problem-solving abilities that are essential in real-life communication. Similarly, promoting creativity in TEFL encourages students to think outside the box, experiment with language, and express themselves in unique ways. This not only makes the learning process more engaging and enjoyable but also helps students develop a deeper connection with the language. There are several strategies that teachers can employ to promote...  [Read more]

--- Project-based assessments are a valuable tool in TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) curriculum as they provide students with opportunities to apply language skills in real-world contexts. By engaging in projects, students can enhance their language proficiency while also developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. These assessments go beyond traditional tests and quizzes, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding of English in a more authentic and meaningful way. There are numerous benefits to incorporating project-based assessments into your TEFL curriculum. Firstly, projects promote student engagement and motivation by offering a more interactive and hands-on approach to learning. This can lead to increased participation and interest in...  [Read more]

  Setting the Stage for Success Fostering a Supportive Community Encouraging Active Participation Embracing Cultural Diversity Promoting Effective Communication Providing Constructive Feedback Incorporating Technology in Learning Cultivating Critical Thinking Skills Nurturing Creativity and Innovation Ensuring Long-Term Success Creating a positive learning environment is crucial for the success of both students and teachers. It involves setting clear expectations, establishing a sense of safety and trust, and promoting a growth mindset. ITTT is a leading provider of TEFL and TESOL courses that emphasize the importance of a positive learning environment in ESL teaching. Creating a positive learning environment is crucial for the success of both students and teachers. It involves...  [Read more]

Unlocking the Power of Innovative Problem-Solving 1. The Importance of Innovative Problem-Solving 2. Strategies for Implementing Innovative Problem-Solving 3. Benefits of Embracing Innovation in Problem-Solving 4. Conclusion In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving world, the ability to think innovatively and solve complex problems efficiently is a highly valuable skill. Innovative problem-solving goes beyond traditional methods and encourages individuals to think outside the box, explore new perspectives, and come up with creative solutions to challenges. At ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training), we recognize the significance of fostering innovative problem-solving skills in our students to prepare them for success in a dynamic global landscape. Innovative problem-solving plays a...  [Read more]

In a TEFL setting, it's crucial to understand that students may come from different cultural backgrounds and have varying levels of English proficiency. This diversity can influence their behavior in the classroom. Some students may be more reserved and hesitant to participate, while others may be more vocal and energetic. It's essential to recognize these differences and adapt your teaching approach to accommodate various learning styles and personalities. By understanding the underlying reasons for certain behaviors, such as shyness or lack of confidence, teachers can better address and manage classroom dynamics. Effective classroom management starts with establishing clear expectations and rules from the beginning. Creating a positive and inclusive learning environment where students...  [Read more]

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to young learners can be a rewarding experience. Young children are like sponges, eager to soak up new knowledge and skills. However, teaching English to young learners comes with its own set of challenges and requires specific teaching resources and strategies to keep them engaged and motivated throughout the learning process. When it comes to teaching English to young learners, having the right teaching resources is essential. Here are some of the top resources that TEFL teachers can use to make their lessons engaging and effective: 1. Picture Books and Flashcards: Visual aids are crucial when teaching young learners. Picture books and flashcards can help introduce new vocabulary in a fun and interactive way. 2. Games and Activities:...  [Read more]

--- In the field of TEFL, fostering creativity and imagination in students is paramount for their language acquisition and overall development. When students are encouraged to think creatively and use their imagination, they are more likely to engage with the language on a deeper level, leading to improved retention and fluency. Creative activities can make language learning more enjoyable and meaningful for students, motivating them to actively participate in the learning process. Moreover, nurturing creativity and imagination can help students develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural awareness, which are essential for effective communication in a globalized world. There are various strategies that TEFL teachers can employ to foster creativity and...  [Read more]

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is a rewarding profession that opens up a world of opportunities for educators. Private language institutes are one of the most popular settings for TEFL teachers to practice their craft. These institutes cater to students of all ages and backgrounds, providing a dynamic environment for both teachers and learners. In this article, we will explore the advantages of teaching TEFL in a private language institute. 1. Small Class Sizes: Private language institutes often boast smaller class sizes compared to public schools, allowing for more personalized attention to each student. This intimate setting enables teachers to tailor their lessons to meet the individual needs and learning styles of their students. As a result, teachers can cultivate a...  [Read more]

Using drama in a TEFL classroom can have numerous benefits for language learners. Firstly, it helps to make the learning process more engaging and enjoyable for students. By incorporating dramatic elements into lessons, teachers can capture students' attention and make the language learning experience more interactive and dynamic. This can lead to increased motivation and enthusiasm for learning English. Furthermore, drama can provide students with valuable opportunities to practice their language skills in a realistic and meaningful context. Through role-playing scenarios, students can improve their speaking and listening skills, as well as develop their vocabulary and grammar in a more authentic setting. This can help students feel more confident using English in real-life situations,...  [Read more]