Could I Be A Teacher

If you're a TEFL teacher who loves ancient history, there are several countries that could be a perfect fit for you. These countries not only offer exciting opportunities to teach English as a foreign language but also boast rich histories that date back centuries. One top destination for TEFL teachers with a passion for ancient history is Egypt. With its iconic pyramids, temples, and hieroglyphics, Egypt offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the world's oldest civilizations while teaching English to eager students. The country's rich historical sites provide a fascinating backdrop for your teaching adventures. Another excellent option is Greece, known for its ancient ruins, including the Acropolis in Athens and the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. Teaching English in...  [Read more]

The bottom line is that teaching English abroad is just a job like any other. If you are unhappy with your employer or things simply aren't going as you had hoped, you are free to quit and return home or look for another job at any time. Of the tens of thousands of ESL teachers working in countries all over the world, the vast majority do see out the length of their contract. However, there are always going to be some teachers who decide that the best course of action is to terminate their contract early. Whether it's due to an emergency at home, problems with work colleagues or poor working conditions, if you feel you have to leave you are perfectly at liberty to do so. For teachers who are employed on an hourly contract there should be few consequences to worry about. This would...  [Read more]

Career progression opportunities in TEFL are plentiful and diverse, offering educators the chance to grow personally and professionally. One common path for TEFL teachers is to start as an entry-level teacher, gain experience, and then move on to more advanced teaching positions. This could involve teaching more specialized English courses, such as business English or exam preparation classes. Another option for career progression is to take on leadership roles within a language school or educational institution. This could mean becoming a head teacher, academic coordinator, or even a director of studies. These roles involve more responsibility and may also come with higher pay. TEFL teachers also have the opportunity to move into teacher training and management positions. This could...  [Read more]

  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]

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]

  This is a TESOL review from Steffie from the Netherlands who decided to take her 120-hour online TEFL/TESOL course to pursue a teaching career in China. Her husband is currently working at a university in China and Steffie also wanted to start working as a teacher there. The course gave her a lot of joy and she learned all the skills and techniques she needs to succeed as a teacher. 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 showed the...  [Read more]

  In this TEFL review video, ITTT graduate Fausat completed the 120-hour TEFL course. Fausat found the course units to be clear and well organised in a way that anyone can understand. She recommends the course to anyone wanting to teach English abroad or to improve their teaching skills. 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. Question 8 was very broad, A student may be using their native language for a variety of reasons. It was a very open ended...  [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]

When we look back on our own learning experiences, most of us will have strong memories of certain teachers, and in some cases this can be for all the wrong reasons. Some teachers might be remembered for being harsh disciplinarians, having a boring monotone delivery, failing to listen to the class, or any number of other negative traits. Thankfully, many of us will also have memories of the teachers who had a positive impact on our education, and this could be for a variety of reasons. If you are planning to teach English online or in a traditional classroom, there are several qualities that we think combine to make a great teacher. If you can develop your teaching strategy to include all these traits you are sure to be remembered by many of your students as a great EFL teacher. Although...  [Read more]

  The purpose of grammar translation then is to basically translate between L1 and L2 and vice versa. So, we could take a simple example. Let's imagine that our native language was English and our target language was French and let's assume that we want to translate a document from French into English. Let's take a simple sentence. Here's a sentence in French "Ouvre la fenêtre" and we'll add "s'il vous plaît" at the end. What we want to do is to take this L2 and translate it back into English. Now, if we have a reasonable knowledge of French then we may well know that this particular verb "ouvre" "to open" translates directly and this female form of the and finally the fenêtre "Open the window" and this polite form of "please". This is all very well if the two structures that...  [Read more]

  In this episode of Chantelle?s TEFL diary she takes us through her experiences with the second unit of her online TEFL course. Unit 2 of ITTT?s 120-hour TEFL course focuses on parts of speech; nouns, verbs, adjectives etc. As Chantelle points out in her video, having a basic understanding of the rules behind parts of speech is an important part of being an English teacher and is something that many native speakers of English take for granted. Although, as native speakers, we may instinctively know when and where to use the different parts of speech; understanding how to explain the rules to an English learner is a very different matter. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is...  [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]

Negotiating your salary as a TEFL teacher is an important step in ensuring that you are fairly compensated for your skills and experience. Here are some tips to help you navigate this process effectively: First and foremost, it is important to research the typical salary range for TEFL teachers in the region where you will be working. This will give you a baseline from which to negotiate and ensure that you are not asking for an unrealistic amount. When negotiating your salary, it is important to highlight any relevant experience or qualifications that you have that make you a strong candidate for the position. This could include prior teaching experience, specialized training in teaching English as a foreign language, or fluency in multiple languages. Additionally, be prepared to discuss...  [Read more]

  This video is part of our ESA Methodology series. The ESA methodology consists of three stages. In this series, we look at the individual purposes of each stage and typical activities for each stage. This second video introduces the study phase of ESA. The purpose of this phase is to cover the actual teaching of the lesson and to check the understanding of that material.The second stage or phase of the lesson is known as the study phase and really the purpose of this phase is to cover the actual teaching of the lesson and to check understanding of that material. Typically in an ESA lesson, the study phase will have two parts. The first phase of the study is to cover the actual teaching component in what's known as the board work and what we try to do in the board work phase is to...  [Read more]

  In this TEFL review video a group of international TEFL students share their experiences during the four week TESOL/TEFL course in Corinth, Greece. ITTT's four week in-class courses are intensive but you will still have sufficient time to explore the local area, meet lots of new people and experience the local culture. 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 covers the different types of classes you could teach as an ESL Teacher. There are...  [Read more]

  In this video Linda breaks down the difference between "in time" and "on time". Due to the fact that both expressions revolve around time, they can be quite difficult to distinguish. However, this video provides helpful examples and explanations that will help EFL teachers and students alike to grasp the difference. 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 actually fun because it was different, therefore interesting. I like the idea of...  [Read more]

TEFL teachers can certainly work in non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations often have language learning programs to support their causes, such as helping immigrants integrate into a new community, assisting refugees in learning the local language, or providing educational opportunities to underprivileged populations. TEFL teachers play a vital role in these programs by teaching English language skills to individuals who may not have access to traditional language education. Working as a TEFL teacher in a non-profit organization can be a rewarding experience. It allows you to make a positive impact on the lives of others while also gaining valuable teaching experience. Non-profit organizations may offer opportunities to work with a diverse range of students, including children,...  [Read more]

  In this video Linda breaks down the difference between "everyday" and "every day". Due to their spelling, it can be quite hard for non-native English learners to understand the difference between the two. This video explains exactly how to differenciate between both expressions. 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 think this unit was full of useful advice. There is some brand new equipment for teaching which I haven't worked before. For...  [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]

Some people who go abroad to teach English fall in love with their new life overseas and never return to their home country. The majority, however, will return home at some point, whether after a single year or much longer. It can be a difficult experience for some because you are no longer the person you were when you first left home. Everything, from the everyday language to the time zone, the climate to the cuisine, can feel different. Reverse culture shock can be frightening. For many teachers the obvious next step is to continue working as an English language tutor. If you live in or near a relatively large city you are likely to come across language schools and community colleges that provide English lessons to international students, immigrants, and refugees, among others. With...  [Read more]

While it is true that the vast majority of newly qualified EFL teachers start out by working in a mainstream job, either online or in a traditional classroom abroad, there are other options out there for those who are looking for something a little different. Some of these options require a certain level of experience, while others are open to anyone regardless of their work history. Teaching English in your own country: Your TEFL certificate is valid worldwide, so you can also teach English as a second language in your own country. If there are a lot of non-native speakers, for example, immigrants in your area then this can be a good teaching opportunity. Volunteer English language teaching: Some volunteering jobs are available which pay a stipend and offer food and accommodation...  [Read more]

  This video covers the difference between 'assent' and 'ascent'. As these two words have a similar pronunciation and spelling, their usage is often confused. Let's take a look at the two words individually. 'Assent' is a noun and describes an agreement or an approval of something. He nodded his assent and she continued. As you can see in the example, 'assent' indicates that he is agreeing. We could also say 'He nodded in agreement and she continued.' While the word 'ascent' is also used as a noun, it has a very different meaning. It refers to the action of rising or climbing up, for example: My legs were tired after I took the ascent to the cabin on the ridge. We could also say 'My legs were tired from the climb to the cabin on the ridge'. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT...  [Read more]

  Andra is from Indonesia and is studying for his master?s degree at a university in Malaysia. In this TEFL review, Andra tells us how he has been teaching English to primary and secondary school students for more than two years. Andra points out that students? parents will have more confidence in their child?s teacher if he or she has a recognized teaching qualification and this is one of the reasons he decided to take the 120-hour online TEFL course 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...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic of quantifiers to his students in Florida. He elicits information on large and small quantifiers and writes it on the board for his students to see. 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 the next. Unit 1 explains the role of the teacher and the...  [Read more]

Having a criminal record can potentially impact your ability to teach English abroad with a TEFL certificate. Each country has its own laws and regulations regarding who is allowed to work as a teacher, and some countries may conduct background checks as part of the visa application process for foreign workers. It is important to research the specific requirements of the country you are interested in teaching in to determine if having a criminal record will disqualify you from obtaining a work visa. In some cases, having a criminal record may not automatically disqualify you from teaching English abroad. For example, if your offense is not related to child abuse or violence, some countries may still consider your application. However, it is essential to be honest about your criminal record...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word anemone. This word is used as a noun and refers to brightly colored flowers of the buttercup family. The word comes from the Greek word anem?n? meaining 'windflower'. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. Unit five explained how to manage a classroom. It focused on the way the teacher acts, the students act, and the way the room is setup. All of these factors help in the process of keeping...  [Read more]

The simple answer is no, you do not need to have any knowledge or experience of languages other than English to take a TEFL course or to become an EFL teacher. The ability to speak other languages is not required as the vast majority of TEFL classrooms around the world rely on the communicative approach to English teaching that specifies that English is the only language used in the classroom. In multilingual classrooms where the students could have a dozen or more different first languages, being able to communicate in one or two of them would obviously be of no particular advantage. In monolingual classrooms you may also find that students are more inclined to revert to their mother tongue during the lesson if they are aware that the teacher can understand what is being said....  [Read more]

Some people who head overseas to teach English grow to love the lifestyle so much that they never return to work in their home country. However, for the majority, the move back home will come at some stage, whether after a single year or much longer. For some it can be a difficult experience as you are no longer the person you were when you first left home. Everything can feel different, from the everyday language to the time zone, from the climate to the cuisine. Reverse culture shock can be genuinely unsettling. One way you can combat this, and continue the international focus of your new found way of life, is to find a job that allows you to use the new skills and knowledge that your time abroad has given you. One obvious step for many teachers is to simply continue working as an...  [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]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard holds his demonstration lesson about the second conditional. In his activate phase, he does a worksheet exercise with his students to check the understanding from the study phase. 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 the next. Over the course of this unit, I refreshed...  [Read more]