Diploma courses

Does this sound right? Making the most of pronunciation

It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Right? In which case, it often makes me wonder why teaching pronunciation doesn’t take more of the focus in English language lessons.  That’s not to say that teachers don’t do it – indeed, it’s a compulsory component of most teacher training programmes. However, these often focus largely on… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses

5 ways to motivate your students

For many of us, our time at school is amongst the most memorable experiences we have of growing up. And for many of us, it’s not just going to school, but the teachers we had that impact us most strongly. And more often than not, it’s the memories of the teachers who motivated us to learn and engage with the lesson that stay with us. As teachers… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses

How to Teach Grammar Creatively: moving beyond the basics

A few weeks ago we introduced you to the basic principles of how to teach grammar. The key idea behind the basics of teaching grammar relies setting a clear context, introducing the target form and then providing practice and production opportunities for your students.  This week we look at some alternative ways to deliver grammar… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, Teaching skills

TEFL work in Hong Kong: finding your first job

Oftentimes, coming off a TEFL course can be jarring. The intensity of the course is finally over, leaving you feeling discombobulated and out of sorts. You know you have to look for a job, but just feel overwhelmed by the idea of job-hunting. What to do? Where to begin? This post looks at different entry routes in the TESOL industry… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses

What is it like to take the DipTESOL?

This week we interview a recent DipTESOL trainee, who completed his Trinity DipTESOL in Hong Kong in 2014.  After 4 years post-certificate, he was an experienced teacher looking to develop his teaching skills, knowledge of language teaching and his career when he decided to take the DipTESOL. 1) Why did you decide to take the… All categories, Diploma courses, TESOL Masters, Certificate courses

English pronunciation: variation or error?

Following on from last week's post on using the IPA with your classes, this week we ask: does your accent matter? Teachers often get asked who speaks better English; the British, Irish, Australians, New Zealanders or North Americans?  Actually, the question itself is meaningless as currently, English has many variations (grammatically… All categories, Certificate courses, Teaching skills, Diploma courses

What’s it like to work in EFL in Hong Kong?

I often get asked what it’s like to work in TEFL in Hong Kong and having had over 10 years working in a variety of TEFL academic contexts here, including one-to-one tuition, as a NET teacher in local schools, kindergartens, learning centres and reputable (and disreputable!) language training organisations, it’s probably safe to say I’ve… All categories, Careers in TESOL, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, TESOL Masters

Tips from our trainees: How to pass the CertTESOL

Last week our teacher trainers shared their top tips for succeeding on the CertTESOL course. Although, even with many years of experience, they are not the ultimate experts on what it's like to get through the CertTESOL course. In this series of articles, we interview some of our previous graduates, and ask them what it was like, first hand… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses

Career pathways in TESOL: What’s next for me after my CELTA/CertTESOL

So, you’re finally tired of teaching adults general English; one too many present perfect lessons? Well, it might be time to make a change, but to what or where?  As TEFL is a pretty diverse industry there are plenty of opportunities to transition into other roles. With the right qualifications and a little direction there is a… All categories, Careers in TESOL, Certificate courses, Diploma courses

I finished my CELTA/CertTESOL - Should I take a Diploma or MA in TESOL?

Given the range of options available to teachers who want to develop their experience in TESOL, it can be difficult to decide which pathway to follow after you’ve obtained your initial TESOL certificate. The most common next steps for teachers with a couple of years of experience are to go on to do either a Trinity DipTESOL or… All categories, TESOL Masters, Careers in TESOL, Certificate courses, Diploma courses