Cambly Teaching Style Example

  So let's take an example of what those drills might involve. So here is an example of a repetition drill. I will model the language and then my class will repeat after me. So "This is a cup." "Spoon" ? "This is a spoon." "Knife" - "his is a knife." Thank you. The reason that it's called or also called the army method is that it was the method adopted by the United States military who had personnel stationed around the world at the end of Second World War and they realized that they needed those personnel to pick up the language very quickly and one of the positive things about this particular methodology is that you do very quickly learn vocabulary. Another positive thing about it is that you quickly learn the correct pronunciation of that vocabulary. However, there are some...  [Read more]

Adapting your TEFL teaching style to different cultures is crucial for creating an inclusive and effective learning environment. Here are some key strategies to help you navigate cultural differences and tailor your approach accordingly. Before diving into specific teaching techniques, it's essential to educate yourself about the cultural norms, values, communication styles, and educational expectations of the country or region where you will be teaching. This cultural awareness will help you avoid misunderstandings and adapt your teaching style appropriately. Flexibility is key when teaching English as a foreign language in diverse cultural settings. Be open to new ways of learning and communicating, and be willing to adjust your lesson plans and teaching methods based on the needs and...  [Read more]

Choosing a TEFL course that fits your teaching style and preferences is crucial for your professional development and success as an English language teacher. With the plethora of options available, it can be overwhelming to make the right choice. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a TEFL course that aligns with your teaching style and preferences. First and foremost, consider the course format. TEFL courses are offered in various formats, including online, in-person, or a combination of both. If you prefer flexibility and convenience, an online course may be the best option for you. On the other hand, if you thrive in a traditional classroom setting with face-to-face interactions, an in-person course might be more suitable. Next, think about the course duration and...  [Read more]

When choosing a TEFL course that fits your teaching style and career goals, there are several factors to consider. The first step is to assess your teaching style and preferences. Are you more comfortable with a traditional classroom setting or do you prefer a more interactive and communicative approach? Do you enjoy working with specific age groups or do you have a preference for teaching certain skills such as grammar or conversation? Once you have a clear understanding of your teaching style, you can start researching TEFL courses that align with your preferences. Look for courses that offer specialized training in areas that interest you, such as teaching young learners, business English, or exam preparation. Consider the course format as well - some courses are offered online, while...  [Read more]

Face-to-face TEFL training refers to traditional in-person classes where trainees attend physical sessions with an instructor and fellow students. This format allows for immediate interaction, real-time feedback, and hands-on practice. Virtual TEFL training, on the other hand, is conducted online through platforms like Zoom or Skype, enabling participants to learn remotely from anywhere in the world. While both formats aim to equip trainees with essential teaching skills, there are key differences worth considering. One significant difference is the level of interaction. Face-to-face training offers more opportunities for trainees to engage with classmates and instructors in person. They can participate in group activities, practice teaching in front of a live audience, and receive...  [Read more]

To prepare for teaching English in a military setting, there are several key steps you can take to ensure you are ready for this unique and challenging environment. First and foremost, it is important to familiarize yourself with the specific language needs and requirements of military personnel. This may include understanding military terminology, ranks, and protocols, as well as the communication skills needed for effective military communication. Additionally, it can be beneficial to research the cultural norms and expectations within the military community. Understanding the values and traditions of the military can help you better connect with your students and create a more supportive learning environment. In terms of lesson planning, consider incorporating military-themed materials...  [Read more]

  The next example of a game that we can adapt very easily for classroom use is the game of Jeopardy and in this particular game, what we can do is to have a set of levels for our questions, I'd say one through five, where one is going to be the easiest example and five is going to be the most difficult and then, in each of these sets of boxes, we can have various grammar points, such as tenses, perhaps modals, vocabulary and maybe even conditionals. So what the students can do is they can pick a particular topic first of all and within that topic, they can pick the level of the question that they want and then we can have a set of cards that have been created to fit into these slots and we can ask them that question at that level. So, a very simple adaptation of the game jeopardy...  [Read more]

  Okay, so we're going to use this pro-forma as our lesson plan and we're going to fill one out as though we were planning for an actual lesson. So, we start off with some basic information about the class. So, the name of the teacher, date and time and the class level. In this particular case, our class is going to be an elementary class and the room will be room 3. Having looked through the registers we see that the expected number of students for this particular class is going to be 10. This will help us in creating our worksheet copies. The context of the lesson for this class is going to be present continuous tense and it may well be the first time that this particular level of class has been introduced to this tense. So, our focus is going to be fairly general and it's going...  [Read more]

In-person TEFL courses and online TEFL courses each have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. In-person courses are traditionally held in a physical classroom setting, where students attend classes in person with a teacher and other classmates. On the other hand, online TEFL courses are conducted entirely over the internet, allowing students to complete the coursework at their own pace and from the comfort of their own home. One of the main differences between in-person and online TEFL courses is the level of interaction and engagement. In-person courses offer more opportunities for face-to-face interaction with the instructor and other students, which can be beneficial for those who thrive in a social learning environment. Students in in-person courses can participate in group...  [Read more]

  So, let's take a common game that's been played over the years, which is called Noughts and Crosses or Tic-Tac-Toe. What we're going to do is to adapt this game for classroom use. So, we've taken the normal Tic-Tac-Toe or Noughts and Crosses grid and we've just numbered out each of the particular squares. What we can then do is to form teams and those teams can then be asked a series of questions and they get to choose which question they want from 1 to 9. So, let's say, for example, they choose question 1. That could be on anything that they have studied ,the grammar or vocabulary. If they get that question correct and say they are the Noughts or the zeros then they get to put their mark here. What the next group will probably do is to try to block them in some way by choosing...  [Read more]

  The first part of my study phase is going to be the board work and I'm going to use the information that I generated in the elicitation part of my engage phase to move on to the actual board work. What I'm going to do is to show the structure of this particular tense. So, the phase study I'm expecting to take about ten minutes on this particular part and, again, the interaction will mainly be the students talking to me. So, how am I going to achieve that with this information? Well, we could ask the students to have a look at the sentences themselves and to tell us what they can see. If we look at each of the first words in here, then at this level, I should hopefully be able to elicit from my students what each of these words have in common and they may well give an answer that...  [Read more]

  So, having elicited this particular structure, what I'm now able to do is to move on to the actual study activities. Typically, they will be in the form of worksheets to check that the students actually understand this information. So, I might prepare three activities. They may not do them all but, for example, I could prepare these three study activities. So, the first one is going to be a fairly straightforward matching activity, where perhaps they match the subject to its correct verb "to be" in that part of the sentence. The second one is going to be a gap fill. For example, I might use this verb here and ask them to complete a sentence using that verb, so that I can check that any spelling changes that take place are correct and the final one is going to be an unscramble,...  [Read more]

Teaching English in a low-income area can be a rewarding yet challenging experience. To prepare for this unique teaching environment, there are several key steps you can take to ensure you are ready to make a positive impact on your students' lives. First and foremost, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the specific needs and challenges faced by students in low-income areas. These students may come from disadvantaged backgrounds and have limited access to resources, so it is important to approach teaching with empathy, understanding, and patience. One important aspect of preparing to teach in a low-income area is to adapt your teaching style and materials to suit the needs of your students. This may involve simplifying lesson plans, using real-life examples that are relevant to...  [Read more]

To make your TEFL classes more engaging for diverse learners, it is essential to incorporate a variety of teaching strategies and techniques that cater to different learning styles and preferences. Here are some tips to help you create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment for all your students: 1. **Use a variety of teaching methods**: Incorporate a mix of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities to cater to different learning styles. For visual learners, use visual aids such as images, videos, and diagrams. For auditory learners, include listening activities and verbal instructions. For kinesthetic learners, incorporate hands-on activities and movement-based tasks. 2. **Provide opportunities for interaction**: Encourage collaboration and peer-to-peer interaction in your...  [Read more]

  This presentation is going to have a look at the idea of receptive skills and how we can go about teaching receptive skills lessons. There are two receptive skills and they are reading and listening. If we think about first of all, why do we read or listen, then there are probably two main answers to that. Firstly, it could either be for entertainment or it could be for a specific purpose. Within the reading and listening areas there are a number of sub-skills that we can teach our students. Firstly, what we can do is to show different examples of reading. So, let's say, for example, that we have just bought ourselves a new video camera and along with that video camera came a whole book of instructions. In order to find out how to get that camera working, then we would need to...  [Read more]

  This video breaks down the difference between "among" and "between". The word "between" is used to refer to two or more things that are distinct. A great example would be: "Choose between the red and the green socks". Here, we use "between" as the socks are clearly different and separated. "Among", on the other hand, is used to refer to things that are part of a group or mass, such as in this example: "Choose among all your socks" here we use ?among? because we are talking about all of the socks. Let's take a look at two more examples to make the difference even clearer. "I am walking between Baker Street and 5th Avenue." Here, we are talking about two separate streets and use 'between'. "I am walking among my friends." In this example, we're talking about more than two people...  [Read more]

  The three words lightening, lightning and lighting are easily confused by English learners and even native speakers. Let's take a look at the differences. Lightening is the present participle of the verb to lighten describing the action of making something less heavy. A good example would be "I was lightening the load on my horse because it was exhausted." Lightning refers to a streak of static electricity through the sky usually accompanied by thunder, as here "I was struck by lightning while playing golf in a storm." Lighting is the arrangement of light especially in photography. A suitable example for this would be "The photo was dull because the lighting wasn't good enough". Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL...  [Read more]

To make your TEFL classes more hands-on and engaging for your students, there are several strategies and activities you can incorporate into your lesson plans. By incorporating interactive and practical activities, you can create a dynamic learning environment that caters to different learning styles and keeps your students motivated and actively participating in the class. One effective way to make your TEFL classes more hands-on is to incorporate group work and pair work activities. These activities encourage collaboration and communication among students, allowing them to practice their English language skills in a more interactive setting. Group discussions, role-plays, debates, and problem-solving tasks are all examples of activities that can be used to promote hands-on learning in...  [Read more]

  This video covers the difference between 'overdo' and 'overdue'. As these two words have a similar pronunciation and spelling, their usage is often confused. 'Overdue' describes something that is past a due date or past a scheduled time, for example: I need to pay all my overdue bills to avoid a late fee. 'Overdo', on the other hand, is used when speaking about doing something to an excessive degree, for example: Don't overdo the salt in this recipe or it will taste bad. 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...  [Read more]

There are numerous companies that hire TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teachers to work online. These companies provide opportunities for educators to teach English to students around the world, offering flexibility and the chance to work from home. Here are some of the top companies that frequently hire TEFL teachers for online positions: 1. **VIPKID**: VIPKID is a well-known online English education platform that connects North American teachers with students in China. They offer one-on-one lessons to children aged 4-12 and provide a flexible schedule for teachers. 2. **Qkids**: Qkids is another popular platform that hires teachers to teach English to Chinese students. They focus on interactive lessons for children aged 4-12 and provide all the teaching materials needed. 3....  [Read more]

  Jennilyn from the Philippines completed the 120-hour online TEFL course with ITTT. In this TEFL review, Jennilyn tells us that she enjoyed the course and found it to be well structured with clear instructions. Jennilyn is sure that all the information that she has learned throughout the course will be useful in her future teaching career and she is looking forward to taking more courses 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. This lesson...  [Read more]

  This video focuses on the difference between "born" and "borne". Because of their similar spelling, the two words are often confused in the English language. The word "born" is an adjective and means "having started life". Let's take a look at an example sentence. "I was born in Germany but my sister was born in France". The word ?borne?, on the other hand, is the past participle of " to bear", meaning "carried", "transported" or "take responsibility for". A good example for the word is: "All costs shall be borne by the buyer". This should clear up any confusion. 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...  [Read more]

  Let's begin our examination of parts of speech with nouns. Nouns are our naming words. They name a person or people, such as Jack, Jill, brother, Prime Minister. We have a place or places such as kitchen, Tokyo. Things or the things around us: pen, light, camera. We have our concepts and ideas: beauty, democracy. These people, things, places and concepts fall into two basic subcategories. Those subcategories are countable and uncountable. As their name suggests, the differentiation here is whether or not we can count our nouns or if we cannot count them. We have our countable nouns: dogs, pens, are two examples. The very nature of the words means that we can count these nouns one dog or 5, 10. Then, we have our uncountable nouns. The nouns that cannot be separated: music, bread....  [Read more]

  This video is the first of two that looks at the structure of the Present Perfect tense. Positive: subject +auxiliary verb have/has + past participle I have played. / She has played. Negative: subject + auxiliary verb have/has + not + past participle I have not played. / She has not played. Question: auxiliary verb have/has + subject + past participle Have I played? / Has she played? This verb tense requires the use of the past participle. With regular verbs the past participle is the verb plus ed, for example work - worked. However there are many irregular verbs that do not follow this pattern and have to be learnt from memory. For example, eat- eaten, drink-drunk, teach-taught. Most good grammar books will provide you with lists of irregular verbs. The tense system is just one...  [Read more]

  This TESOL review is from Aleksandr. He recently took our TEFL/TESOL course as he wants to take advantage of the high demand in qualified English language teachers all over the world. He chose our online course option and he greatly enjoyed the flexibility of it as it allowed him to work from anywhere in the world and at his own pace. He especially enjoyed the units on teaching methodologies as he now improved his own teaching style and is following a more interactive way of teaching. He recommends this course to anyone who wants to travel the world teaching English. 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...  [Read more]

  The next idea we're going to consider is the use of visual aids and visual aids can include some examples such as real, objects, which we call realia, the use of pictures and photographs and also the use of models. So let's consider some of the ideas surrounding the use of visual aids. Well, why are they useful? Well, first of all the use of a visual aid can reduce teacher talk time. It's very much more simple just to show a real object than to try to describe it so that we could just ask the students ?what is this,? and they would say ?this is a pen,? rather than trying to actually describe it. Again if we were trying to show examples of fruit and vegetables rather than to try and describe them why not use an actual model and this is going to be much more visually stimulating...  [Read more]

  People often confuse "its" and "it's". "Its" can be a possessive pronoun or possessive adjective indicating ownership. "It's" is the contraction of "it is". In the example "It's great to see the dog play with its toys", "it's" at the beginning is a contraction while "its" at the end is a possessive adjective used to express ownership of the toys. 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 covered different activities to utilize in order to...  [Read more]

  In this TEFL review video, Nikki from South Africa talks about she is constantly travelling so an important criterion for her when choosing a TEFL course was that it should allow her to study while on the move. ITTT?s online courses provide the flexibility to study online wherever and whenever you want. Nikki was impressed by the range of courses and prices that ITTT has to offer and has now completed the main TEFL certificate course and an additional Certificate in Teaching Business English course. 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...  [Read more]

The market for ESL teaching books is very large and all the major publishers have some form of involvement in the production and selling of these resources. There are many different types of books and resources that are used in ESL teaching and we will consider three main categories. 1) Book series 2) General teaching theory books 3) Activity resources There are a number of well known book series. These are specifically written for the ESL teaching market and are generally set at the five levels most often taught. These levels are Starter or Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate. A typical book series at each level will contain three books. These are the teacher book, student book and resources book (or similar names). The teacher book gives an...  [Read more]

  There is no simple answer to this question as it depends entirely on which type of TEFL course you choose to study. At ITTT we have a range of courses that are designed to suit the various needs of our trainees, each with its own time scale for completion. Please see below for a breakdown of our various course options. Online courses are often the quickest route towards TEFL certification. If you are in a real hurry a course such as our 60-hour introduction to TEFL may be a good choice as you can conceivably complete it in as little as five days. Even those who prefer to study at a slower rate should find they can complete the course within one month. However, it is worth remembering that the majority of employers worldwide insist on job applicants having a TEFL certificate of...  [Read more]