Mixed Feelings About Moving

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]

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]

  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]

  There is often much confusion surrounding these acronyms but essentially they mean the same thing. TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages The above are generally used interchangeably, however, TEFL is most commonly used within the UK and TESOL is usually preferred in Australia and the USA. Although some countries may favor one acronym over the other, it is important to remember that a TEFL certification and a TESOL certification are exactly the same thing as the training involved is identical. Although TEFL and TESOL training courses are identical and the acronyms are generally used interchangeably, there is a technical difference between the two. The general perception is that speakers of English as a foreign...  [Read more]

  There is often much confusion surrounding these acronyms but essentially they mean the same thing. TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages The above are generally used interchangeably, however, TEFL is most commonly used within the UK and TESOL is usually preferred in Australia and the USA. Although some countries may favor one acronym over the other, it is important to remember that a TEFL certification and a TESOL certification are exactly the same thing as the training involved is identical. Although TEFL and TESOL training courses are identical and the acronyms are generally used interchangeably, there is a technical difference between the two. The general perception is that speakers of English as a foreign...  [Read more]

  This video is a review of the conditionals in the English language. We take a look at the zero conditional, first conditional, second conditional, third conditional and mixed conditional. This video is specifically aimed at teaching the conditionals 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. When teaching FL, teachers should build a rapport with students and establish rapport between students, find out about students,find out...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word "phreaker". This word is a noun and refers to someone who one who gains illegal access to the telephone system. The word become widely popular in the mid-1980s and is likely a combination of the words "phone" and "freak". Modern phreakers are very specialized hackers breaking into the phone system of large companies and corporations. 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 I...  [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]

  This video focuses on modal auxiliary verbs. The words "might", "could" and "must" are modal auxiliary verbs. These verbs express the speaker's feeling or attitude towards the particular verb following the modal. 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 have learned about breaking down a sentence and identifying each part of it. I find this very valuable moving forward as a teacher because i will need to be explaining the structure of a...  [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]

  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]

Teacher Career Development Wikipedia® states that the study of career development looks at how individuals manage their careers within and between organizations and how the organizations structure the career progress of their members. This is alluding to the fact that professionals and organizations are in a partnership. This definition fails to mention the importance and influence of colleagues throughout the lifetime of a career. It is the freedom and support that is given to the teacher by her employer and colleagues throughout the lifetime of her career that can create the feelings of happiness, satisfaction and fulfillment, to not have this can lead to a career that is discarded only to search for something that may not be as rewarding. So what happens to teachers when the...  [Read more]

  http://www.teflcourse.net ITTT's online TEFL/TESOL courses are designed to help anyone thinking of teaching English overseas. On them you will learn teaching methodologies, important parts of English grammar and ideas of how to teach this grammar to your students. This video looks at one idea for the future continuous tense. For this activity students are each given a planner filled with different activities on different dates. The planners are rigged so that there is only one day when the students are both free. They have to interview each other to find out which day they are both free. To find out more about how you can become qualified and suitably prepared for teaching English overseas click the link above. Are you ready to live and teach abroad? Click here and get...  [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]

  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 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]

  Now, let's move on to our adverbs. Rather than describing nouns, our adverbs describe our verbs. There are four types of adverbs when describing verbs. They are manner. These describe how things are done. Two examples are: quickly, cleverly. We have adverbs of place, describing where the action happened. Two examples are: here or there. We also have adverbs of time, describing when the action happened, two examples being now or recently. Finally, we have our adverbs of frequency telling us how often the action happens, two examples being often or never. There's also another type of adverb but here, we're going to describe adjectives or other adverbs instead of verbs themselves. These are called adverbs of degree. If we were to take the adjective "intelligent", we could easily say...  [Read more]

Before moving abroad as a TESOL teacher, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the culture and language of the country you will be teaching in. Understanding cultural norms, traditions, and etiquette will help you navigate social interactions more effectively. Additionally, learning the local language, even if just basic phrases, can greatly enhance your experience and communication with locals. Consider taking cultural sensitivity training or language classes to prepare yourself for the new environment. Effective classroom management is essential for a successful teaching experience abroad. Familiarize yourself with different teaching strategies and methods that are suitable for English language learners. Understand the importance of creating a positive and inclusive learning...  [Read more]

Studying abroad is an exciting and life-changing experience that offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture, learn a new language, and gain valuable skills. However, along with the many benefits of studying abroad come challenges that students must navigate. From adjusting to a new environment to dealing with homesickness, financial constraints, and academic pressure, studying abroad can be a daunting task. In this article, we will explore some of the common challenges that students face while studying abroad and offer tips on how to overcome them. One of the biggest challenges of studying abroad is adjusting to a new culture. From different customs and traditions to unfamiliar social norms, students may find themselves feeling overwhelmed and out of place. It...  [Read more]

  This video covers the difference between 'interested' and 'interesting'. As these two words have a similar pronunciation and spelling, their usage is often confused. 'Interesting' describes the people or things that cause the feeling of interest to someone, for example: Today's lesson about world history is very interesting. 'Interested', on the other hand, describes how someone feels, such as here: I am very interested in learning another language. 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...  [Read more]