Smart Objectives Examples For Teachers

To prepare effective lesson plans, TEFL teachers need to follow a structured approach that includes several key components. First, it's essential to start by clearly defining the learning objectives of the lesson. These objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). By outlining what students should be able to do by the end of the lesson, teachers can ensure that their planning is focused and aligned with desired outcomes. Next, teachers should consider the students' current level of English proficiency, interests, and learning styles. This information will help them tailor the lesson to meet the needs of their students and ensure that it is engaging and accessible to all learners. Once the objectives and student needs are identified, teachers can...  [Read more]

When creating your TEFL teaching objectives, it is important to consider various aspects that will ensure a comprehensive and effective teaching approach. Your objectives should be clear, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Here are some key components to include in your TEFL teaching objectives: 1. **Language Skills**: Start by outlining the specific language skills you aim to develop in your students, such as speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Tailor your objectives to focus on one or more of these skills based on your students' needs and proficiency levels. 2. **Grammar and Vocabulary**: Include objectives related to improving grammar accuracy and expanding vocabulary. Consider the language structures and word sets that are essential for your students to...  [Read more]

Spain is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for teaching English abroad for many different reasons, including the buoyant job market, laid-back culture, great climate, and fabulous cuisine. Jobs are available year-round in most major towns and cities, but are you eligible to join the many thousands of people teaching English across Spain right now? This is one of the most common questions asked by those who dream of living and working in Spain, and the answer is NO, you do not need a university degree to teach English in Spain. There is no legal requirement for English teachers to have a degree and demand is so high that most employers are also unconcerned about your degree status. Most employers in Spain prefer to hire native English speakers as this is what local students are...  [Read more]

  "Your" and "you're" often get confused, not only by English learners around the world but also by many native English speakers. Let's break it down. "Your" is a possessive adjective that indicates ownership, while "you're" is simply the contraction of "you are". Let's take a look at this example sentence: Your grades are great this semester. In this case, we use 'your' as we use it to indicate ownership. You're the best student in the entire school! This example require us to use 'you're' because it is the short form for 'you are'. Should you not be sure which one to use, think about if you want to express ownership or of you want to say "you are". Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online...  [Read more]

  Both the 120 hour TEFL/TESOL online course and the four week TEFL/TESOL in-class course cover the same academic content, i.e. grammar, phonology, teaching theories and methodologies. The difference between the two courses is the actual teaching practice component in the in- class course. During the in-class course trainees are given the opportunity to complete a number of observed teaching practice sessions. By having this practical teaching experience you are improving your job prospects. 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...  [Read more]

  The idiom "golden opportunity" refers to a chance that is likely to be rewarding and successful, for example: The low price for the house is a golden opportunity we must not waste. The price for the house is very cheap at the moment, so we should buy it before the price increases again. 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 conditionals and reported speech. There are five main conditionals; zero, first, second, third and mixed....  [Read more]

  Jaakko from Finland took the 120-hour online TEFL course with tutor support with videos from ITTT. In this TEFL review video, Jaakko talks about his experience on the course and the things he learned. Jaakko found the course to be well structured and overall very good. Initially he felt that it focused too much on the basics but after completing the course and reflecting on his teaching he realized the importance of studying these basics to the way he approached teaching English. The great thing about ITTT?s online TEFL course is that it caters for both inexperienced and experienced teachers alike. Whether you are completely new to teaching or have already been teaching for some time, you will benefit from taking a course with ITTT. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT...  [Read more]

  Then, we have a set of objectives and aims. Here, the learner objectives relate to what we're hoping the students are going to be able to do by the end of your lesson and quite often, that can be a useful way of writing out what the objectives are. So, we would start the sentence "By the end of the lesson, students should be able to?" and then a list of two, three or four items that we're expecting the students to be able to do by completing this lesson. The learner objectives are different to the teacher aims the teacher aims are what you are expecting from that lesson itself. Now, when you first start teaching, quite a normal aim might be to complete the lesson successfully, to get through the whole thing without having any problems. As time goes on and you become more...  [Read more]

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

Assessing students in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is a crucial aspect of the teaching and learning process. Effective assessment practices not only help teachers gauge students' progress and understanding but also provide valuable feedback for both students and teachers to enhance the learning experience. Here are some best practices for assessing TEFL students: 1. **Use a Variety of Assessment Methods**: It's essential to employ a mix of assessment methods to cater to different learning styles and preferences. These can include traditional tests, quizzes, projects, presentations, role-plays, and group activities. By diversifying assessment techniques, teachers can obtain a more comprehensive understanding of students' language proficiency. 2. **Align Assessments with...  [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 idiom "green thumb" refers to the ability to grow plants well, for example: Whenever I buy a plant, it always dies shortly after. I really don't have a green thumb. Because my plants always die, I don't have the ability to grow plants well, hence, I don't have a green thumb. 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´s content is about raising awarenes of the needs different aged students have and what it means to be a good teacher. Also...  [Read more]

  Leslie is a Canadian English teacher at a junior high school in the Japanese countryside. In this TESOL review, Leslie tells us she is looking to open her own English language day care centre at her home and with this in mind she took the 120-hour certificate course with ITTT as well as the 50-hour young learners course to bring her qualifications up to date. Hopefully for Leslie this will be the first step on a rewarding career as the owner of a successful English language school in Japan. 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...  [Read more]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard conducts a classroom discussion with his students using modal verbs. 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'm exposed to real life classroom experience with 2 totally different demonstration. There are quite a few points to learn from the differences of the...  [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]

  "In this video, our OTP trainee Richard introduces the topic ""can"". It is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. He starts the lesson by getting the students thinking and talking in English by discussing things they can do with the other 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. ...  [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]

  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]

Creating a TEFL lesson plan for a mixed-ability class can be a challenging but rewarding task. By following some key principles and strategies, you can effectively meet the needs of all your students and create a positive and inclusive learning environment. When planning a lesson for a mixed-ability class, it is essential to first assess the varying levels of proficiency among your students. This can be done through diagnostic tests, informal assessments, or simply by observing their performance in class activities. Once you have a clear understanding of your students' abilities, you can tailor your lesson plan to accommodate their needs. One effective strategy for teaching a mixed-ability class is differentiation. This involves providing different tasks or activities that cater to the...  [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]

  Milica completed her 120-hour TEFL course with ITTT and is now teaching English to students in a summer camp in Italy. In this TEFL review video she gives an insight into the kind of activities her students enjoy while learning 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 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 unit I gained some good ideas for planning lessons and good ways to get students interested in learning about different aspects of language. It is interesting to note...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word "bellwether". This word is a noun and describes someone who takes the lead and sets trends. A long time ago, shepherds hung a bell around the neck of one sheep of its flock designating it the leader. Therefore, bellwether is a combination of the words "bell" and "wether", a male sheep that has been castrated. 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 framework for a business English class...  [Read more]

  Anna took ITTT’s 120-hour TESOL course and our Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners course. In this TESOL review video, Anna tells that during these courses Anna learnt a great deal about lesson planning and other aspects of teaching such as how to approach teaching students of different ages and abilities. Anna hopes to be able to put the knowledge she gained through studying with ITTT to use in a job working as an English 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...  [Read more]

  As there is no standard content or fixed length required for a TEFL certification course, individual providers are free to design their own courses and set whatever fees they see fit. The best advice is not to choose a course simply because it is the cheapest one available. Yes, you can find TEFL courses on discount websites for as little US$ 49 but will they be accepted by employers in the region that you want to work in? And will they properly prepare you for life in a real classroom? If you want to ensure that the answer to these questions is YES then you should look a little deeper than just the price. In-class TEFL courses usually involve 4-weeks of intensive training that comprehensively covers the most important aspects of English language teaching. During the course you...  [Read more]

  Neda took the 120-hour online TEFL course with tutor support and videos from ITTT. Neda tells us in this TEFL review video that she really enjoyed the course and found the units to be well organized. She thought the videos were very useful especially when completing the tests and tasks throughout the course but she would have liked to make more use of the tutor support. 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. A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping)...  [Read more]

  This ITTT video outlines the structure of the Present Perfect Continuous tense, the tense that is used for events which started in the past and are still continuing, or which have stopped, but whose effects are still ongoing. This one of two videos -- this one focuses on the structure of the positive and negative forms. Positive form: subject + auxiliary verb 'have'/'has' + been + present participle I have been working for ten years. Negative form: subject + auxiliary verb 'have'/'has' + not +been + present participle She has not been working here for some time. It is essential for any TESOL course to provide teachers with a sound knowledge of the English language tense system and to give teachers the confidence to present productive, meaningful and correct information to...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word pundit. This word is a noun and refers to an expert in a particular field who is often consulted by others. Suitable synonyms for pundit include expert or specialist. The word has found itself into the English language from the Sanskrit word 'pa??ita' meaning ?learned man'. 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 compares reading and listening skills and discusses the difference...  [Read more]

  In this video we'll be looking at the international phonemic alphabet and how it's used in the classroom. There are other phonemic alphabets but this is the most popular and the system, which is most widely used. You may have seen some of these symbols before as any good dictionary will supplement standard English spellings with the phonemic spellings to aid in pronunciation practice. Here we have a situation where we have what are called phonemes and each phoneme represents a sound within the English language. How is this helpful? Well, what it does is help students understand how to say words rather than simply relying on the often archaic English spellings. To illustrate this point let's for a moment put ourselves in the shoes of our students when trying to understand how to...  [Read more]

  The next category we are looking at in our series on teaching special groups in ESL are individuals. Teaching individuals, or one-to-one, forms a large part of the ESL market. Find out the positives, negatives and tips 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. After reading Introductory Unit I found out how the whole course will be structured, what are the objectives of the course. It was useful to find out the general terminology used...  [Read more]

When it comes to choosing the best TEFL certification for experienced teachers, there are several factors to consider. One of the most important considerations is the reputation of the institution offering the certification. Look for programs that are accredited by recognized bodies such as the British Council, Cambridge English, or the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Additionally, consider the course content and structure. Experienced teachers may benefit from programs that offer specialized modules on advanced teaching methodologies, classroom management techniques, and curriculum development. Look for courses that provide practical teaching experience, such as observed teaching practice with feedback from experienced trainers. Another important factor...  [Read more]