Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices Examples

During the in-class TEFL/TESOL training course in Beijing, every trainee has the opportunity to complete up to 10 teaching hours with local EFL learners of different ages. Together with a teacher trainer, all trainees come up with a lesson plan and fun activities for their class. Besides group classes, the trainees also create student profiles during one-on-one sessions with EFL learners. That way, every trainee will have taught a variety of different students and class sizes before they complete the training. By the end of the training course, the trainees are ready and confident to succeed in EFL classrooms worldwide.  [Read more]

Teaching English in a culturally diverse setting can be a rewarding experience, but it also requires careful preparation to ensure effective communication and understanding among students from different backgrounds. Here are some tips to help you prepare for teaching English in a culturally diverse setting. First and foremost, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the cultural backgrounds of your students. Take the time to learn about their customs, traditions, and beliefs to better understand their perspectives and avoid unintentional misunderstandings. This cultural awareness will help you adapt your teaching approach to be more inclusive and respectful of the diversity in your classroom. In addition to understanding your students' cultures, it is important to create a welcoming...  [Read more]

  The in-class TEFL course has many benefits and the most important is probably the real life teaching practice that is a large part of the overall course schedule. During the in-class course you will have many opportunities to practice the skills that you are taught in the input sessions by teaching actual lessons of your own with individual students or groups of genuine English language learners. There is no better preparation for a teaching career than having multiple practice sessions in a real classroom under the guidance of a professional teacher trainer. Before you set foot in the classroom for your practice lessons you will undertake extensive lesson planning with the help of your trainer. Once the lesson is complete you will also receive a thorough debrief where the trainer...  [Read more]

  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]

  Once a trainee has completed the 120 hour online course we recommend for the sake of continuity that they attend one of our international training centers to complete their teaching practice within six months of completing the online component. The teaching practice gives trainees the opportunity to gain practical classroom experience teaching English to local students in a supervised environment. Our qualified and experienced trainers provide trainees with assistance in planning lessons and they observe all lessons taught and provide constructive feedback after each lesson. 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...  [Read more]

To prepare for teaching English in a multicultural classroom, there are several key factors to consider. First and foremost, it's essential to have a strong understanding of the diverse backgrounds and cultures of your students. This will help you tailor your teaching approach to meet the needs and preferences of each individual learner. One important aspect of preparing for a multicultural classroom is to familiarize yourself with the various learning styles and preferences that may be present among your students. Some learners may respond well to visual aids, while others may prefer auditory or kinesthetic learning activities. By incorporating a variety of teaching methods into your lessons, you can ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed. Additionally, it's crucial to...  [Read more]

If you are considering enrolling in a TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) course, it's important to know what to expect in terms of curriculum, teaching practice, job placement assistance, and certification validity. The curriculum of a TEFL course typically covers various aspects of teaching English to non-native speakers, including language skills, classroom management, lesson planning, and assessment techniques. You can expect to learn about different teaching methodologies and approaches, as well as how to create engaging and effective lesson plans for diverse learners. One key component of many TEFL courses is the opportunity to gain practical teaching experience through teaching practice sessions. These sessions allow you to apply the knowledge and skills you have learned in a...  [Read more]

When selecting the right TEFL course for you, there are several factors to consider to ensure you make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and needs. Here are some key points to keep in mind: Firstly, consider the accreditation of the TEFL course. Accreditation ensures that the course meets certain quality standards and is recognized internationally. Look for courses accredited by reputable organizations such as the British Council, Cambridge English, or the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Next, think about the course format that best suits your learning style and schedule. TEFL courses are offered in various formats, including online, in-person, and hybrid options. Online courses offer flexibility and convenience, while in-person courses...  [Read more]

  Mary from the US took the 120-hour TEFL course with tutor support and videos after being recommended the course by her friends who are already teaching. In this TEFL review video, Mary discusses her experience of taking the course. Mary found the course videos to be helpful in presenting the course materials in a more visual way, which helped her to better absorb the information. She also found the tutors to be very responsive to her questions often replying within 24 hours. One of the main benefits of the course was that Mary was able to study in her own time enabling her to fit study around her job. 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...  [Read more]

When it comes to choosing the best TEFL certification for career progression, it is essential to consider several factors that can impact your teaching opportunities and professional development. The quality of the certification program, accreditation, teaching practice components, and additional specialized courses are all crucial aspects to evaluate. First and foremost, the quality of the TEFL certification program is paramount. Look for programs that provide comprehensive training in all aspects of English language teaching, including lesson planning, classroom management, language skills development, and assessment techniques. A well-rounded program will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in a variety of teaching contexts. Accreditation is another key...  [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]

When it comes to teaching English as a foreign language in multicultural classrooms, it's essential to choose a TEFL course that equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively engage with a diverse range of students. The best TEFL course for teaching in multicultural classrooms is one that offers a comprehensive curriculum focused on cultural sensitivity, inclusive teaching practices, and strategies for catering to the individual needs of students from different cultural backgrounds. A good starting point is to look for a TEFL course that includes modules or workshops specifically addressing cultural awareness and diversity in the classroom. These components should provide you with insights into various cultural norms, values, and communication styles to help you better...  [Read more]

When it comes to choosing the best TEFL certification program, there are several factors to consider to ensure you receive quality training that will help you succeed in your teaching career. Here are some key points to keep in mind when selecting a TEFL certification provider: 1. Accreditation: Look for programs that are accredited by recognized bodies in the field of English language teaching, such as the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) or the British Council. Accreditation ensures that the program meets certain standards of quality and is recognized internationally. 2. Curriculum: The best TEFL certification programs offer a comprehensive curriculum that covers essential topics such as lesson planning, classroom management, language skills development,...  [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]

  This video is part of our video series on "Evaluation and Testing of Students". In this video, we look at practice and external proficiency tests. Practice tests are usually used for revision purpose before internal and external exams to prepare the students. There are three types of external proficiency tests that English learners can take. Find out which ones in this video. 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 really like this unit. I can...  [Read more]

  In some countries it is common practice to hire teachers before they arrive in the country. In these situations the job often comes with other benefits besides the standard salary, including return airfares. By securing one of these positions you can seriously reduce your start up costs for teaching abroad.  [Read more]

The combined TEFL course provides a convenient option for anyone who wants the benefit of in-person training from a highly qualified teacher trainer, but who doesn’t have the time to commit to a full in-class course. The course starts with an online section that covers all the theory topics. You then attend one of our training centers to complete your observed teaching practice classes. Yes. The combined course covers all the same content as the full in-class course. However, if you are not comfortable with the idea of distance learning or would prefer more interaction with your tutors and other trainees, then the in-class TEFL course might be the better option. Yes. If you complete the combined course you will be issued with the exact same certificate as those who complete the...  [Read more]

To create an effective TEFL teaching framework, you should consider including the following components: 1. **Language Skills Development**: Start by outlining how you will address the four language skills – reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Include strategies for each skill, such as interactive activities, group discussions, and language practice exercises. 2. **Grammar and Vocabulary**: Detail how you will introduce and reinforce grammar rules and vocabulary. This can involve using games, exercises, and real-life examples to make learning more engaging and practical for students. 3. **Cultural Awareness**: Incorporate lessons or discussions on cultural aspects of the English language, such as idioms, slang, and social norms. This helps students understand the language in...  [Read more]

When looking for the best TEFL course for teaching in inclusive classrooms, it is essential to consider various factors to ensure that you are well-equipped to meet the needs of diverse learners. Inclusive classrooms typically consist of students with varying abilities, backgrounds, and learning styles, so having the right training is crucial for creating a supportive and effective learning environment for all students. One of the key aspects to look for in a TEFL course is content related to differentiating instruction. This includes strategies for modifying teaching methods, materials, and assessments to meet the needs of students with diverse learning profiles. A good TEFL course for inclusive classrooms should provide practical guidance on how to adapt lesson plans and activities to...  [Read more]

  If you choose an in-class TEFL course you will spend around four weeks at one of our centers where you will receive a high standard of teacher training and benefit from extensive teaching practice in an authentic classroom environment. The type of accommodation you will have during your stay will depend on the course location and your own preferences.  [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]

Preparing for a TEFL job interview is crucial for success in securing a teaching position. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your TEFL job interview: 1. Research the School or Institution: Before your interview, take the time to research the school or institution where you are applying to teach. Understand their teaching philosophy, student demographics, and any specific programs or initiatives they offer. 2. Review TEFL Teaching Methods: Familiarize yourself with different TEFL teaching methods and approaches, such as the communicative approach, task-based learning, and the lexical approach. Be prepared to discuss how you would implement these methods in the classroom. 3. Practice Common Interview Questions: Prepare responses to common TEFL interview questions, such as why you...  [Read more]

To make your TEFL lessons more engaging, there are several strategies you can implement to keep your students motivated and interested in learning English. Firstly, incorporating a variety of teaching methods and activities can help cater to different learning styles and keep your lessons dynamic. For example, you can include group work, pair work, role plays, games, and multimedia resources to engage students and make the learning process more interactive. Another important aspect to consider is the relevance of the content you are teaching. Try to select topics and materials that are interesting and culturally relevant to your students, as this can increase their motivation to learn and participate in class activities. Furthermore, creating a positive and inclusive learning environment...  [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]

To make your TEFL classes more inclusive for all learners, there are several strategies you can implement to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles. First and foremost, it's essential to foster a sense of community and mutual respect among your students. Encourage open communication and collaboration, and create opportunities for students to share their unique perspectives and experiences with each other. This can help create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment where all students feel valued and respected. In terms of teaching strategies, it's important to provide multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement to cater to the diverse learning needs of your students. This can include...  [Read more]

A TEFL certificate can be a valuable asset for teaching English to bilingual students. While bilingual students already have a foundation in English, a TEFL certificate provides you with the skills and knowledge to effectively teach English as a foreign language. Here are some ways in which a TEFL certificate can benefit you when teaching bilingual students: 1. **Understanding Language Acquisition**: A TEFL course covers theories of language acquisition and teaching methodologies that can help you better understand how bilingual students learn English. This knowledge can inform your lesson planning and teaching strategies to cater to the specific needs of bilingual learners. 2. **Effective Lesson Planning**: With a TEFL certificate, you will learn how to create engaging and interactive...  [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]