Games For Teaching

  What are ESL games? ESL games are games that can be used in the classroom to practice certain language points and encourage active and creative communication between your students. There are many different games created specifically for use in the English language classroom that can be found online or in any number of resource books. But we are not limited only to those games designed for the class. The majority of games that we played as children or still play as adults can be adapted and used in lessons. Whether games are co-operative or competitive, they provide students with a goal and in the English classroom this goal can only be reached by using the English they have learnt. Common Misconceptions about games in the classroom. "Games are fun but are not suitable for the...  [Read more]

  Throughout section on the teaching of productive skills and the teaching of receptive skills our activate activities will usually involve some form of game and our final consideration here will be the use of games in the classroom. We can start with a definition of what we actually mean by a game and it basically has three components. A game is an activity that has rules it should have for its purpose in the classroom a teaching point and by nature to the fact that it's a game it should also include an element of fun. So that will be our working definition for a game that we're going to use in the classroom. There are many different types of games and they range between the competitive and those will require cooperation and there are all sorts of games that involve both of these...  [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]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic of quantifiers to his students in Florida. After talking about quantifiers, Richard is playing another game with his students. The students need to come up with 2 fruits each that are a) too sweet, b) too sour and c) too salty. 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...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic of quantifiers to his students in Florida. After talking about quantifiers he uses an online game platform to start the activate phase with his students. 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. This unit when over the productive skills:...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic of quantifiers to his students in Florida. After talking about quantifiers he uses an online game platform to start the activate phase with his students. 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. The job of the teacher is to gives the student...  [Read more]

  In this video the teacher trainer looks at the usage of the past perfect continuous. The past perfect continuous is used to talk about a past action that was continuing up until another point in the past. For example: Before moving to Korea, I had been teaching in Thailand for three years. ITTT's TEFL Courses provide you with the opportunity to find teaching jobs all over the world. Whether you want to work amongst the long history of Europe or spend your free time living the beach life in Southeast Asia, teach professionals business English in a thriving metropolis or teach kids out in the sticks, earning yourself a TEFL certificate with ITTT will make the right type of teaching jobs available to you. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of...  [Read more]

  This video is a sample EFL lesson in a real-life classroom setting abroad. In the activate phase of the lesson, the teacher starts a class activity with his students. The class is split into two teams and a member of each team is competing against the other team to build a correct sentence about modal verbs. This phase of the lesson is important for the students to actively use the newly learned grammar or vocabulary. 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. ...  [Read more]

To make your TEFL lessons more dynamic, there are several strategies you can implement. First, incorporating a variety of teaching methods can help keep your students engaged and motivated. This can include using a combination of visual aids, hands-on activities, group work, and technology to cater to different learning styles. Additionally, integrating real-life examples and practical exercises can make the content more relevant and interesting for your students. Another way to add dynamism to your TEFL lessons is to create a positive and interactive classroom environment. Encouraging participation, fostering open communication, and providing constructive feedback can help create a supportive atmosphere where students feel comfortable expressing themselves and taking risks in their...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic of quantifiers to his students in Florida. After talking about quantifiers he uses an online game platform to start the activate phase with his students. 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. This unit has explained the productive skills of...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard does a fun board game activity with his students on the second conditional tense. 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. In this lesson we learned about the potential problems that may arise when teaching english. This can include students at different levels,...  [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]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic of quantifiers to his students in Florida. After talking about quantifiers he uses an online game platform to start the activate phase with his students. 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. IRRITATITING UNIT! PLease be more simple with...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic of quantifiers to his students in Florida. After talking about quantifiers he uses an online game platform to start the activate phase with his students. 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. I have learned what makes a teacher to be a good...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic of quantifiers to his students in Florida. After talking about quantifiers, Richard is playing another game with his students. The students need to come up with 2 foods each that are a) too sweet, b) too sour and c) too salty. 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...  [Read more]

  There's another activity for comparing and contrasting the tenses focusing here in this activity on the present perfect and the present perfect continuous. So in the activity, students will start at the start and roll a die. Perhaps they can roll a 5. They will read 'something you've been learning for a long time'. The appropriate sentence may be 'I've been learning English for a long time.' The next student may go and roll 4. They read 'a beautiful place you've visited.' Then, rather than the present perfect continuous, they would use the present perfect tense: 'I visited Paris.' You can encourage students to even ask follow-up questions, which would also include other tenses: 'What was so beautiful about Paris?' Now, this activity will be particularly good for your more...  [Read more]

  Now here's a teaching idea for the present perfect continuous tense. If you remember we use this tense to talk about actions that had been continuing up until the present moment or very recently. In this activity, you'll be giving a student a card. That card will include the past activity as well as some results. This card says 'You've been driving in the rain on your motorbike. You're all wet and your clothes are too.' The results are 'you're all wet and your clothes are too.' You'll present that information to the rest of the class and, therefore, it's up to the class to guess the action that was occurring up until the certain point in time. What will happen in this activity is, the student at the front of the room will express the present results 'clothes being wet; I'm all...  [Read more]

  Would you like to live and work abroad? With a TEFL or TESOL certificate you can work and live abroad, Teaching English as a Foreign Language or Teaching English as a Second Language. Check out ITTT's courses and start a new life with a TEFL or TESOL certification! 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 8 covers all seven types of future tenses wherein types 5 & 7 are most commonly used in English and 3 & 4 are often times mistaken for...  [Read more]

  In this lesson Iban covers the uses of ?wish?. Iban starts the lesson with an activity to warm the students up before covering the lesson point. He ends the lesson with activities to give the students practice using the language point he has taught. 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 is focused on teaching special group. in teaching a multilingual class,The students have no common language other than English and that is a very big...  [Read more]

  In this TEFL review, Boh discusses his experience on the 120-hour online TEFL course without tutor support from ITTT. He found that the course exceeded his expectations with plenty of information covering both grammatical features of the English language and strategies for dealing with different students. 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 learnt ways to identify differences in constructing verb tenses. Like in present continuous how to make...  [Read more]

To make your TEFL classes more engaging for children, there are several strategies you can implement. First and foremost, it's essential to create a positive and welcoming learning environment. Children thrive in environments where they feel safe, supported, and encouraged to participate. Start each class with a warm-up activity to set the tone for the lesson and get students excited about learning. Incorporating games and interactive activities is another effective way to keep children engaged. Games not only make learning fun but also help reinforce language concepts in a dynamic and memorable way. Consider using flashcards, board games, role-playing activities, or online resources to add variety to your lessons and cater to different learning styles. Furthermore, integrating music,...  [Read more]

  Willy from the U.S.A. is currently living in Japan and took the 120-hour online TESOL course with tutor support and videos from ITTT. In this TESOL review video, Willy tells us that he has been living in Japan for the last 7 years and working as an assistant language teacher. He really enjoyed the course which brought him a number of new perspectives and ideas and helped him to improve his 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. ...  [Read more]

To make your TEFL classes more interactive and fun, there are several strategies and activities you can incorporate into your teaching approach. Firstly, consider incorporating games into your lessons. Games are a great way to engage students and make learning enjoyable. You can use popular games like Jeopardy, Pictionary, or Bingo to review vocabulary, grammar, or other language concepts. Games not only make learning more fun but also encourage friendly competition and collaboration among students. Another effective way to make your TEFL classes more interactive is through group work and pair work activities. These activities allow students to practice speaking and listening skills in a more dynamic and engaging way. You can assign group projects, role plays, debates, or discussions on...  [Read more]

When it comes to teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), having access to quality resources can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of your lessons. There is a wide range of resources available, both online and offline, that can help TEFL teachers to engage their students and enhance their learning experience. One of the most popular online resources for TEFL teachers is the British Council's LearnEnglish website. This site offers a wealth of free resources, including lesson plans, activities, games, and worksheets for teaching English to learners of all levels. The site also provides tips and advice for TEFL teachers, as well as links to other useful resources. Another valuable online resource for TEFL teachers is the website of the International Association of...  [Read more]

When it comes to TEFL teaching methods, there are several key components that you should include to create a successful and engaging learning experience for your students. These components are essential for ensuring that your students are able to effectively learn and practice the English language. Here are some important elements to consider including in your TEFL teaching methods: 1. **Communicative Approach**: The communicative approach focuses on real-life communication and interaction in the target language. Encourage your students to engage in meaningful conversations, role-plays, and language activities that simulate authentic language use. 2. **Task-Based Learning**: Incorporate tasks and activities that require students to use English in a practical way to achieve a goal. This...  [Read more]

Teaching English vocabulary effectively is crucial in helping students become proficient in the language. There are various strategies and techniques that can be employed to enhance vocabulary learning. Here are some of the best ways to teach English vocabulary: 1. **Contextual Learning**: One of the most effective ways to teach vocabulary is through contextual learning. This involves introducing new words in meaningful contexts such as sentences, paragraphs, or dialogues. By providing context, students can better understand the meaning and usage of the new words. 2. **Word Associations**: Encouraging students to create associations between new words and their meanings can aid in vocabulary retention. This can be done through mind maps, word webs, or semantic mapping exercises where...  [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]

Integrating multimedia into your TEFL lessons can greatly enhance the learning experience for your students by making the lessons more engaging, interactive, and effective. There are several ways you can incorporate multimedia into your teaching, including using videos, audio clips, online resources, and interactive activities. Here are some tips on how to effectively integrate multimedia into your TEFL lessons: 1. **Use videos:** Videos are a powerful tool for teaching English as a foreign language. You can use videos to introduce new vocabulary, demonstrate grammar rules, or spark discussions. Choose videos that are relevant to your lesson objectives and appropriate for your students' language level. Pause the video at key points to ask comprehension questions or discuss the content. 2....  [Read more]

To make your TEFL classes more interactive and engaging for your students, there are several strategies you can implement. Interactive activities not only make learning more enjoyable but also help students retain information better. Here are some tips to enhance interactivity in your TEFL classes: 1. **Incorporate Group Work:** Divide your students into small groups to work on tasks or projects together. This encourages collaboration, communication, and teamwork. Group work also provides students with the opportunity to practice their English in a supportive environment. 2. **Use Technology:** Integrate technology such as interactive whiteboards, educational apps, or online resources into your lessons. Technology can make learning more interactive and appealing to students, especially...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word canoodle. This word is used as a verb and describes the action of kissing and cuddling amorously. The origin of the word is widely unknown. 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. As a native English speaker it is easy to forget a lot of grammar rules, since we base off grammar on what \"sounds right\". It is important for TEFL to not only have a firm understanding on grammar, but also be aware...  [Read more]