All About Tesol

Although there was a time when it was not uncommon for people to teach the English language without any relevant training or qualifications, it is now largely a thing of the past as most employers realize that being able to speak a language fluently is not the same thing as being able to teach it effectively. This move towards suitable training has led to the development of TESOL certification courses that have been designed to provide native and non-native English speakers with the skills and knowledge required by anyone who wants to earn a good living in the classroom. Here we take a look at what a TESOL course actually teaches you? For many people the thought of understanding and trying to explain the different areas of English grammar is somewhat daunting. The average native...  [Read more]

Every teacher makes mistakes in the classroom, particularly at the start of their career. As we learn to identify these mistakes we actually become better at our job, unless we fail to recognize these mistakes at all of course. Here we look at some of the most common errors made by new teachers and how to avoid them as we gain experience. Talking too much during lessons is probably the most common mistake made by inexperienced ESL teachers. The bottom line is that ESL students need to take every opportunity possible to speak the language as this is how they make real progress. However, if the teacher dominates the conversation any progress will be cut considerably. Only say what you need to keep the lesson moving forward and avoid chat that is not connected to the point of the...  [Read more]

There is no single answer to this question as it can refer to different areas of the English teaching world. However, below we try to answer the most likely questions regarding the purpose of TESOL. The simple fact is that the vast majority of ESL employers around the world expect their teachers to have the minimum qualification of a 120-hour TESOL or TEFL certificate. There are three main reasons for this: Teaching is a profession and as with all professionals, we can expect that they have at least had the minimum required training to do what they do. The main purpose of a TESOL certificate course is to give you an introduction to language awareness (English grammar and so on) and some basic teaching skills. Under these two headings a typical 120-hour course will include: There...  [Read more]

If you are TESOL certified and have worked as an English language teacher for sometime, you might be thinking about branching out into another area of the ESL teaching profession. One possible option is to become a TESOL trainer who is responsible for guiding the next generation of teachers through their certification courses. This can be a very rewarding job that is often well paid, and it can even be a route into higher management positions or even a step on the way to setting up your own language school. First and foremost you will need to have completed a TESOL certification course as this will give you an insight into what the job involves. You will also need all the skills and knowledge that the course covers in order to pass that on to your future trainees. While successful...  [Read more]

Many people find ESL jobs around the world with an online TESOL certification. The truth is, it is possible to find teaching jobs with no qualifications at all. The question you really need to ask is, can I get a job that pays well and offers good working conditions? Although the answer is still yes, you need to make sure that the course you choose is of the highest quality you can find. The unavoidable drawback of taking a TESOL course online is the obvious lack of any teaching practice. If your budget can stretch to a month-long in-class training course you will have many hours to practice the theory you have learned with real language learners in an authentic classroom environment. This type of course will open up a wider range of opportunities in many countries around the world....  [Read more]

If you want to start your ESL teaching career with an advanced-level qualification under your belt, our online Diploma in TESOL could be the ideal option. By adding this qualification to your CV/resume you can demonstrate to employers that you are a serious candidate who has the skills and knowledge to thrive in higher level teaching jobs. The advanced nature of the Diploma in TESOL course means it has been specifically designed to build on the subjects that you study in a standard TESOL certification course, meaning that an initial TESOL qualification is generally required. However, as the diploma course also includes our 120-hour online TESOL certification course, this is typically no problem. Simply sign up for the 370-hour Diploma in TESOL course and you will start your training...  [Read more]

Teaching English online generally requires all the same skills and knowledge as in-class teaching, although you will also need to be confident with the technology involved. Some online teaching platforms operate their lessons via their own software, while others operate using general communication programs such as Google Classroom or Zoom. If you choose to go down the online teaching route you will find that there are just as many different potential scenarios as there are in traditional classroom teaching. You might find yourself teaching only kindergarten children or only adults, or any other mix in between. Your lessons might be strictly one-to-one or you might have groups of various sizes. Specialized courses such as business English are also a common option. As online teaching...  [Read more]

Anyone who wants to teach English to non-native speakers at home, online, or abroad will typically need a TESOL certification in order to meet the job criteria. If you want to move up the ladder and apply for higher positions, you will often be expected to possess an advanced-level TESOL qualification such as a Diploma in TESOL. However, if your ambitions are to reach the very top of the ESL teaching profession, whether in the classroom, in management, or in other high-end roles, you might want to consider completing a Bachelor's Degree in TESOL. Although we do not provide our own Bachelor’s Degree in TESOL, we are happy to recommend a course through our own website. The Bachelor of Education in TESOL (B.Ed TESOL) from the Paris College of International Education is a very...  [Read more]

ESL stands for English as a Second Language and refers to non-native English speakers who live in countries where English is not widely spoken. It refers to people who study English as a second language in addition to their native tongue. From Japan to Spain, students all over the world study English as a second language. Teachers from English-speaking countries frequently head abroad to teach English. Popular destinations for ESL teachers include Vietnam, Spain, China, South Korea, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates - but pretty much anywhere around the world is an option! Many schools offer ESL as a subject to students who speak a language other than English. ESL teachers will assist students with their speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. ESL teachers can be native...  [Read more]

If you do a Google search for ESL teaching jobs, many that come up will include a TESOL certification of at least 100 hours among the criteria expected by the employer. This level of qualification is typically enough for first-time teachers to get on the job ladder in most countries around the world. If you then add a higher level qualification such as a Diploma in TESOL to your portfolio you will have even more options to choose from, including many management level positions. However, if you then go on to complete a Master’s in TESOL, there are very few jobs that will be off limits, including the highest paid jobs in the most sought after locations. At ITTT the highest level of qualification we currently provide is the Diploma in TESOL. However, we are more than happy to...  [Read more]

  The two most common usages for the present continuous tense as it relates to speaking about things in the present. We have actions in progress at the time of speaking, specifically right when it's being said. So I can say ?I am teaching right now.? However, we also have actions in progress around the time of speaking. ?I'm reading a good book.? Now, of course I'm not reading a book just now but I started reading a book in the past I am reading it perhaps today sometime and I'll finish reading the book at some point in the future. Again, I'm not doing it just now but around the time of speaking. 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...  [Read more]

This is one of the most common questions asked by our TESOL course trainees and the answer is quite simple. Yes, you can teach ESL without a bachelor’s degree. Anyone who is TESOL qualified will have a wide array of destinations to choose from all over the world, regardless of their previous educational record. If you have a degree in any subject you will certainly have a few more options, but non-degree holders are in no way excluded from ESL teaching in many parts of the world. In recent years some countries have made it compulsory for foreign teachers to have a degree if they want to obtain a work visa that allows them to work legally as an ESL teacher. This is most noticeable in Asia where some of the biggest markets for teachers such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan...  [Read more]

In the world of English language teaching you will come across a number of abbreviations, some of which are very similar and easily confused. One common confusion is between the terms ESL and ELL. The simple answer is that ESL is an abbreviation for English as a Second Language, and ELL is an abbreviation for English Language Learner. The term ESL refers to the course or class, whereas ELL refers to the English student. ESL stands for "English as a Second Language." This term refers to programs designed specifically for ELL students. For example, many schools have an ESL class for ELL students. These classes frequently make use of ESL-specific programs and curricula. ESL is a broad term that refers to the tools and methods used to teach ELL students. ELL stands for "English Language...  [Read more]

  Here's a teaching idea that focuses on two very specific aspects of the present simple tense, one of which will be making statements about a habit and a routine. The other will be conjugating the verb into the 'he', 'she' or 'it' form. Here we'll present students with a picture. They will see various objects in the picture. Based upon the presence of these objects in someone's room, the students will have to make an observation such as 'She drinks coffee,' 'She plays the guitar,' 'She watches television,' 'She doesn't smoke.' Again, it's very specific used for the 'he', 'she' or 'it' form and habits and routines. At the end of the activity, the teacher will have the pairs or the small groups report back their various findings. Another idea for the present simple tense will be the...  [Read more]

If you have spent any time looking into the world of English language teaching (ELT) you will probably have noticed that the industry has a fondness for acronyms. Terms such as TEFL, TESOL, ESOL, EFL, ESL, among others, are all regularly used when talking about teaching and studying English, as well as when referring to teaching qualifications. Here we will look at ESL and the first thing to make clear is that ESL stands for English as a Second Language. ESL, and any of the other acronyms mentioned above, are routinely used interchangeably when discussing scenarios where the English language is being taught to or studied by non-native English speakers. As previously mentioned, ESL and EFL are commonly used interchangeably within the English language teaching world. However, there is...  [Read more]

TESOL stands for: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, which is also commonly referred to as TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). Whilst these two terms have slight technical differences they are generally used interchangeably within the industry to say the same thing. The first distinction in certification types comes about from the differences between an in-class course, an online course, and a combined (or hybrid) course. In-class courses are undertaken at a physical location, somewhere in the world. These locations are typically in countries where English is not the first language, but many people are learning it. This means there are plenty of English language learners (ELL’s) available for real teaching lessons, which is a very useful addition to these...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified in China? Are you interested in teaching English in China? Check out our opportunities in this beautiful US state, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English in your community or abroad! Teflonline.net offers a wide variety of Online TESOL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. Check out which city/town you may be more interested in and start your journey| During this unit - The same lesson, taught twice, it was interesting to see the difference in the videos and how prepared teachers are for the class will guide the participation of the students. Duri During this unit I learned about teaching receptive skills. It made me...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Are you interested in teaching English in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Check out our opportunities in this beautiful US state, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English in your community or abroad! Teflonline.net offers a wide variety of Online TESOL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. Check out which city/town you may be more interested in and start your journey| Unit 11 was about the basic skills in language - receptive and listening skills. The other two skills are productive skills - speaking and writing. They are all equally important. The big take away fo This unit was about speaking and writing. I...  [Read more]

When it comes to choosing the best online TESOL certification course you need to consider all the main options, what you want the qualification for, and what you hope to achieve with it once certified. First we will look at all the main online course options. The different types of online courses are easily separated by the average number of hours they require to complete them. Weekend courses: These are often marketed as “taster courses” and are done mainly at weekends to give those who are already employed a chance to see what TESOL is about. Due to time constraints (they usually last about 10 hours in total) there is limited material covered in terms of teaching and learning, but they can be useful to help you decide if doing a full course would be worthwhile for you. Short...  [Read more]

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