Efl Teaching Resources

If you conduct some simple online research about teaching English abroad you might well come across teachers talking about bad experiences they have had with employers. Although the vast majority of schools worldwide treat their teachers well, there are always going to be a few badly run establishments that you will want to avoid. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure you ask the right questions during your job interview. So what are the right questions to ask the employer during an interview? Every school has its own expectations when it comes to the amount of extra work that is required outside of normal classroom hours. You might have to write regular reports on your students, attend staff meetings, meet with parents to discuss progress, present lesson plans to management...  [Read more]

Anyone who has spent time as a teacher in any capacity will know that having a pre-written lesson plan is an important part of the job, as without one things can go off track very quickly. Once you have gained some experience the amount of effort you need to put into your plans will be reduced, but in the early stages of your teaching career it can sometimes be the difference between an efficient and successful lesson and a complete and utter disaster. A proper lesson plan allows you to lay out your targets for the lesson, organize your timings efficiently, ensure you have all the necessary materials and equipment, and identify any expected problems and how to deal with them. With a solid plan in place you should be able to move through every stage of the lesson on time, without...  [Read more]

Asia and Latin America both have a strong demand for English language teachers and you will always find a wide range of opportunities whether you are an experienced teacher or looking for your first classroom job. To help you decide which is the better option for you, you should take a look at the following points. Although you should be able to earn enough to live comfortably, most teachers in Latin America will find it hard to save much (if anything at all) of their monthly income. The average salary should take care of your rent and utilities, and leave enough to enjoy a good social life and even to cover some travel in the region. However, if you are looking to pay off debts or you want to save up for a travel fund, this might not be the region for you. Unlike much of Latin...  [Read more]

  Let's just consider next, when using these resource books, the student book, the workbook and the teachers resource book, what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using those types of materials? Well, firstly, the main advantage perhaps of using these types of material is that it's quicker than actually creating your own. Secondly, the course books that you will get will be graded for a particular level. So there'll be a set of books for the starter level, a set of books for the elementary level and so on and so forth. So you know that the activities and materials in there will have been graded for level. The use of the book can also offer continuity so that the syllabuses have been covered in a particular way by the book itself and are presented in a logical order....  [Read more]

  The ITTT Facebook page is a great place for our trainees, course graduates, and working ESL teachers to find information on the TESOL world and to share stories and advice on anything connected to teaching English online or overseas. The popularity of our group is largely down to its diversity as it is made up of people from a wide array of countries and backgrounds, so essentially it offers something for everyone. Anyone with an interest in English language teaching is welcome to join our online community and take advantage of the wealth of content that it offers. You can also add your own ideas, recommendations, and course reviews to help other members find the answers they need to ensure their own ESL journey is as rewarding as possible. We also use our Facebook page as a...  [Read more]

Becoming an ESL teacher provides a one-of-a-kind multi-cultural experience. International travel opportunities, multi-cultural training, and job satisfaction are all job benefits. One of the most significant benefits of obtaining a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification is the opportunity to work abroad in an exciting new country and culture. However, there are also some things you should consider before making the move. ESL is a term that is commonly used to refer to teaching English as a second language. It can also refer to the training required to teach English as a second language. Teachers with such credentials are in high demand all over the world. In today's world, English is one of the most widely spoken languages. It has the third-highest...  [Read more]

TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. As well as the actual act of teaching English, the acronym TESOL is also used to refer to the courses that teachers take and the certification they receive upon completion of their training. In order to be eligible for most sought after teaching jobs, teachers with or without previous experience generally require a TESOL certificate. In this sense, a TESOL is most certainly a teaching certificate. There are generally three standard ways to obtain a TESOL certification: In-class courses, online courses, and combined (hybrid) courses. Any of these options will result in a TESOL qualification that is widely recognized by employers around the world, provided it is supplied by a reputable course provider such as ITTT....  [Read more]

  The next item that we're going to consider is the use of resource books. There are many different types of resource books available and within those books there tends to be a general pattern and typically the resource book pack will come in a three book series and typically that three book series will be in the form of the student book, a workbook and a teacher's resource book. So for example here are those three books for this particular series called ?Total English? and in the student book the type of information that we can gain from here is the actual background to the teaching points themselves plus some additional information in terms of short worksheets and so on and so forth and tape transcripts at the end for listening activities, which these days often come on a CD...  [Read more]

There is a very large market for ESL teaching books and all the major publishers have some amount of involvement in their production. These books fall into a number of different categories and here we will look at the three main categories. Every teacher will have come across a few different book series that have been specifically written for the ESL teaching market. This type of resource generally comes in five different levels: starter/beginner, elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate, and upper-intermediate. Each series will also contain three types of book: the teacher book, the student book, and the resource book (or something similar). The teacher book is key as it outlines the syllabus covered and it also breaks each subject up into individual lessons. Each of the lessons...  [Read more]

Acronyms associated with English language learners include ESL, EFL and ESOL. They all essentially mean the same thing in that these are learners of English, whose first or native language is not English. The teaching of these learners produces a new set of acronyms which have ‘Teaching’ at the start. Hence we have TESL, TEFL and TESOL for the teaching acronyms. Most employers around the world require some form of teaching certification for you to be employed as a teacher. This is true of both government based schools, private language centers and many online teaching companies. There are three general routes to this type of certification, which are; These are taken at some location in the world, typically in a country where English is not the native language. They often require...  [Read more]

We will take a roughly historical perspective as we look through the different methodologies for teaching English, from ancient past to current day. Named after the method used to teach the “classical languages” of ancient Greek and Latin and is often called grammar translation. There is a heavy focus on grammar such as verb conjugations and language rules. Also called the “natural approach” which is intended to copy the way we learn our native language naturally. As such, only the target language is used and the emphasis is on speaking and listening. As the name implies the two major components of this methodology are; audio (listen) and lingual (speak), so the method makes use of different types of drills to reinforce language structures. The focus is on using the target...  [Read more]

In many areas jobs are available throughout the year due to the high demand for foreign teachers. However, in some regions and individual countries there are specific hiring seasons when the bulk of the jobs are filled. If you are set on teaching in a particular country it is vital that you know the best time to start the job hunting process. In general, private language centers across much of Asia will hire teachers at anytime of the year. This applies to all of the most popular destinations in the region such as China, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Taiwan. The situation in public schools is often a different story. In South Korea, the EPIK Program recruits thousands of native-English speakers each year to work in state run schools. The interview process for this scheme...  [Read more]

Before we address the main question it is best to first give a brief outline of the different types of class levels that English language classrooms adopt around the world. Although there will be different names used for the different levels taught in some countries, the five standard teaching levels indicated by the main resources books available (Reward, New Headway, etc) are: Now that we have established the general language levels of our students, we can now look at the four skills of the English language. As an ESL language teacher it is vital that we are aware of the four skills required by any student who wishes to become fluent. Reading and listening (receptive skills) and writing and speaking (productive skills) are all as important as each other when it comes to learning a...  [Read more]

The TAPIF Program stands for Teaching Assistant Program in France. It is a government run initiative that places foreign applicants into state schools to work in the classroom as teaching assistants. Considering that France is often a difficult country for non-EU citizens to get a work visa for, this program is a good option for many people. If you are able to meet the requirements of the program, it could be the perfect way to live your dream of living and working in France. The age range for applicants on this program is between 20 and 35. If accepted, you will work 12 hours per week in up to three different elementary or secondary schools between October 1st and April 30th. You can state your preferences on where you would like to teach on the application form, but there is no...  [Read more]

If you plan to head overseas to teach English, one important factor to consider is the amount of cash you will need to cover your initial start-up costs. Depending on where you end up teaching, your are certain to have some unavoidable expenses that might include the cost of a TESOL certification course, travel to your chosen destination, and funds to support yourself until you get your first paycheck. The cost of your initial TESOL training will depend on which type of course you choose to take. At ITTT our popular online courses start at less than $200, while an intensive in-class TESOL course costs in the region of $1500 to $2000, without flights, accommodation, and other daily expenses. However, your choice of course should not be based entirely on its cost as there are several...  [Read more]

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) has been run in conjunction with the Japanese government for over 30 years. Up to 5,000 foreign nationals join the scheme each year with the intention of raising the language skills of young people across the country. This program is a little different to many other programs of its kind as it also has a strong focus on cultural exchange between program members and the local community where they are placed. The scheme is very popular as it includes a good salary and a range of extra benefits. Although the program is officially open to college graduates up to the age of 40, its purpose as a youth culture exchange means that preference is often given to more recent graduates. The minimum requirements are a bachelor's degree or a three year...  [Read more]

If you want to join the tens of thousands of people who are teaching ESL in China right now, the first decision to make is which location would suit you best. The largest markets for foreign teachers are in the two big cities of Beijing and Shanghai. However, there are another 150 other cities with a population of over one million people, where ESL jobs can also be found. Shanghai is a truly vast city with a population of over 20 million people. Across the city there are countless potential employers, particularly in the field of business related English. As jobs are so widespread and the salaries are generally very competitive, Shanghai is one of the most popular teaching destinations anywhere in Asia. The city?s population is swelled by a huge number of expats from all over the...  [Read more]

The NET (Native-speaking English Teachers) Scheme is a long running program that recruits foriegn teachers and is operated by the Hong Kong Education Bureau. Through the program qualified teachers from across the world are placed into state run schools to work as English language teachers. Every year, hundreds of teachers are recruited via the scheme to work in primary or secondary level schools. The mission statement of the program is to share and promote innovation in teaching practice, and to provide an authentic classroom environment for local students. Successful applicants receive a generous salary, several extra benefits, and the opportunity to live and work in one of Asia?s most vibrant destinations. Applicants need to be native or near native English speakers. If accepted by...  [Read more]

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere it is likely that you have endured many years of cold, dark winters. If you would like the opportunity to experience living in a climate that is warm all year round, why not complete a TESOL certification course and start a new life living and working as an English teacher in the exotic tropical zone? Thousands of people every year take advantage of this opportunity and very few end up regretting their decision. All you need to do is decide which tropical country is right for you. Costa Rica is small in size, but it has a very large market for TESOL qualified teachers. Most teaching jobs are found in private language centers that are located in most of the larger towns and cities. Private tutoring of English students is also a popular way to...  [Read more]

EPIK stands for the English Program in Korea. This government run scheme places foreign teachers into schools across South Korea where they work as English language instructors. EPIK is probably the most popular program of its kind anywhere in the world as it includes a good salary, several extra benefits, and the once in a lifetime chance to live and work in a unique cultural environment. If you are accepted by the program you will join the thousand or so others who head to South Korea each year via this route. If this is something you might be interested in, we recommend you contact our TESOL recruitment partner Reach To Teach. Reach To Teach is an official partner of the EPIK program and works with the Korean Ministry of Education during the recruitment process. Applicants for the...  [Read more]