Mixed Feelings About Moving

It is possible to combine a third conditional clause with a second conditional clause to form the mixed conditional. Probably the most common example of this would be in this structure: If past perfect (3rd cond), would + base form (2nd cond). An example sentence may then be ‘If I had listened to him, I would be in serious trouble now’. (Luckily I didn’t and so I am not)  [Read more]

 [Read more]

Classes of Mixed Ability You walk into your first class in a new school. You begin with introductions and to your dismay you find a great disparity in the students’ English skills. There are students who have spent time abroad and others who are struggling with Basic English sentence structure. The focus of this article will be to weigh the advantages of 2 teaching strategies for classes of mixed ability introduced in the International TESOL Teacher Training (ITTT) course: grouping similar ability levels and pairing strong with weak students. The first strategy is to separate students within the class so that they have similar levels as the students they do activities with. The main advantages of this strategy are the ability to separate material and to focus on needs separately....  [Read more]

It could be argued that every class is mixed ability in some sense. For EFL teaching the general situation is that learners are placed into levels, having completed a standard level test before they start learning. It is possible that you will have to teach real mixed ability classes, for example where a group of workers from a particular company department all come at the one time of day for their lessons. The main approach to teaching such classes is to use differentiated activities.  [Read more]

When moving abroad to teach English, it is crucial to pack all essential documents and certificates. This includes your passport, visa, teaching certification (such as TEFL or TESOL), academic transcripts, and any relevant work permits. These documents are not only necessary for legal purposes but may also be required when applying for jobs or opening a bank account in your new country. It is advisable to make copies of these documents and keep them in a separate, secure location in case the originals are lost or stolen during your travels. As an English teacher abroad, you will need to pack a variety of teaching materials and resources to effectively deliver lessons to your students. This may include textbooks, workbooks, flashcards, games, and other supplementary materials to make your...  [Read more]

  The mixed conditional deals with the present results of imaginary situations in the past. This video is specifically aimed at teaching the mixed conditional in an ESL setting. 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 learned how to lead a classroom management skills from this unit. and eye contact, gesture and the voice and other types of positions helped a lot. I learned how to avoid TTT(teacher talking time)and STT(student taking time)skill to...  [Read more]

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ [ {"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh0","name": "What exactly does "ESL" mean?","url": "https://www.tesolcourse.com/tesol-faqs/tefl-tesol/what-is-the-difference-between-esl-and-ell/#nameh0"},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "SiteNavigationElement","@id": "#nameh1","name": "What does "ELL" stand for?","url": "https://www.tesolcourse.com/tesol-faqs/tefl-tesol/what-is-the-difference-between-esl-and-ell/#nameh1"} ] ] } ESL (English as a Second Language) and ELL (English Language Learner) are common terms in English language education but serve different roles. ESL refers to an educational approach focused on teaching English to students...  [Read more]

  Moving further down our list of the parts of speech, we have our prepositions. Prepositions show a relationship between a noun or a pronoun and the rest of the sentence. We have three main categories: time, place, movement as well as a miscellaneous category that doesn't fit the other three. Here, we can have prepositions of time: before, during, in, at or on. If I said, "I work at eight o'clock," I'm sharing a relationship between the time "eight o'clock" to the rest of the sentence. We have our prepositions of place: in, at, on, under, in between. If I said, "The book is under the table," I'm showing a relationship between the table and the rest of the sentence. Then, we have our prepositions of movement. These show movement: towards, from, to or through. I could say, "He...  [Read more]

  Moving further down our list of parts of speech, we have our adjectives. Adjectives modify or describe nouns. Basically, they give more information about the noun. Here, we've used a noun such as chair. It could be any old chair. It's only the noun. If we want to describe the noun, we need to use an adjective before it. So, I could say "I have an old black leather chair". Here, we have to be concerned about the adjective order. In this instance, I started with age, as age typically goes before color and then I use the color to go before the material. This is a certain pattern. Depending on the adjectives you want to use, you always have to use certain patterns to which you'll need to be aware of when teaching your class. Another way to describe a noun is by showing possession. We...  [Read more]

  Moving down our list of parts of speech, we have our verbs. The first big difference between verbs that we need to look at is whether it's an action verb or a state verb. Our action verbs, as the name suggests, mean that we typically can see these things in action. We can see people working and we certainly see people going to various places. Now, we have our state verbs. These are basically indicating a state of being. Two examples would be "seem" and "have" or "own". We have a sentence such as "He seems angry." and "I own my house." You can't actually see the action happening, even though those words are used as verbs. A very big differentiation between the two here as well is, state verbs typically don't take the progressive or continuous form. That form is the verb "+ing". As...  [Read more]

  The idiom "itchy feet" refers to the need to leave or a feeling of a need to travel, for example: Watching an airplane pass by is giving me itchy feet. 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 is another short unit that gets to the point. I do have some questions about the unit. I assumed teacher's taught out of a book and the lesson plans were already made so the students could pass an upcoming test. I feel like I would be lost making a...  [Read more]

When teaching English in a foreign country, it is common to experience homesickness and culture shock. Homesickness is the feeling of longing for familiar surroundings, friends, and family, while culture shock is the disorientation when adapting to a new culture. These feelings can be overwhelming and affect your well-being and teaching performance. It is important to recognize that these are normal reactions to being in a new environment and that with time and support, they can be managed effectively. To cope with homesickness and culture shock while teaching abroad, it is essential to stay connected with loved ones back home through regular communication. Keeping a journal to document your experiences and emotions can also help in processing these feelings. Engaging in activities that...  [Read more]

Homesickness and culture shock are common challenges that many TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teachers face when moving to a new country. Homesickness is the feeling of longing for home and familiar surroundings, while culture shock is the disorientation and discomfort experienced when immersed in a new culture. These feelings can be overwhelming and impact a teacher's well-being and ability to perform effectively in the classroom. To help TEFL teachers cope with homesickness and culture shock, various support systems are in place both within and outside of their schools. Schools often provide orientation programs to help teachers acclimate to the new environment, including language classes, cultural workshops, and guidance on practical matters such as housing and...  [Read more]

Homesickness is a common feeling experienced by many individuals who move to a new country, especially when it involves a significant cultural shift. It is a natural reaction to being separated from familiar surroundings, routines, and loved ones. When teaching English overseas, you may find yourself missing the comforts of home, such as family, friends, familiar foods, and cultural norms. Recognizing homesickness as a normal part of the adjustment process can help you develop strategies to cope with these feelings. There are several strategies you can employ to manage homesickness while teaching English abroad. Firstly, maintaining a routine can provide a sense of stability and normalcy in your new environment. Engaging in activities you enjoy, such as exercising, exploring the local...  [Read more]

  This video focuses on the difference between "bored" and "boring". Using those two words incorrectly is a very common mistake, especially for English learners around the world. The word "bored" is an adjective describing the feeling when there is nothing to do or when a person is not interested, for example, "she was so bored that she fell asleep". "Boring" is also an adjective but this word refers to the cause of the bored feeling rather than the feeling itself. For example, "the class was so boring that she fell asleep". Here the class is the reason for the feeling. The same concept can be applied to similar word pairs such as 'interested - interesting' or 'tired - tiring'. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL...  [Read more]

Homesickness is a common feeling experienced by many people, especially when they are far away from their familiar surroundings, family, and friends. It is a natural response to being in a new and unfamiliar environment. When teaching abroad with a TEFL certificate, it is important to recognize that homesickness is a normal part of the adjustment process. Acknowledging these feelings and understanding that they are temporary can help you cope better with homesickness. There are several strategies you can use to cope with homesickness while teaching abroad. Keeping in touch with family and friends through video calls, messages, or letters can help you feel connected to your loved ones. Engaging in activities that you enjoy, such as hobbies or exercise, can also help take your mind off...  [Read more]

Homesickness is a common feeling experienced by many individuals, especially when they are away from their familiar environment, such as when teaching abroad. It can manifest in various ways, including feelings of sadness, loneliness, and longing for home. Recognizing and acknowledging these emotions is the first step in dealing with homesickness. It is essential to understand that homesickness is a natural reaction to being in a new and unfamiliar setting. There are several strategies you can employ to cope with homesickness while teaching abroad. One effective method is to stay connected with your loved ones back home through regular communication via phone calls, video chats, or messaging apps. Sharing your experiences and feelings with them can provide emotional support and help...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word mirage. This word refers to an optical illusion such as the appearance of water in a desert. This word comes from the French 'se mirer' meaning ‘be reflected'. 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 taught me different ways to assess a student's language level and progress. Specifically, practice test should be given in the format and structure of the external examination that the...  [Read more]

  http://www.teflcourse.net In this Online TESOL Course video we will look at a useful teaching idea for the past perfect tense. Students are given statements written in the past simple and will have to complete the statement with sentences in the past perfect. Each statement would have been cut out before the class and distributed to pairs or small groups. The student will turn over their card, read out the statement then complete it with their own past perfect sentence. For example: I didn't do my homework ... because I hadn't brought my book home. Teaching ideas such as this become an important part of an English Teacher's resources, enabling them to create interesting plans when required. To learn more about this tense and others consider taking one of ITTT's online TESOL...  [Read more]

  A TEFL Qualification allows you to teach English almost anywhere in the world, some countries are more popular than others for differing reasons. Some are popular because of the salary and benefits offered to teachers, others are popular because they offer a better quality of life and others are popular because they provide teachers with plenty of opportunities. The top most popular countries are all in Asia as the demand for English is so much higher here than elsewhere in the world. Are you ready to live and teach abroad? Check out the infographic here: https://www.teflcourse.net/tefl-infographics/top-ten-tefl-destinations/?cu=YTDESCRIPTION Are you ready to live and teach abroad? Click here and get started today: https://www.teflcourse.net/?cu=YTDESCRIPTION Below you can...  [Read more]