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Why the English Language Teaching industry needs a #MeToo campaign

Not long ago, I stumbled across a game that went viral on Facebook, which most language teachers will know as ‘Two truths and a lie’. For anyone who doesn’t know this game, you tell 2 truths about yourself and make up one lie. The person that you are playing with needs to decide which ones are the truths and which one is the lie, for example you might say: I once went Skydiving. When I was 16 I spent a year in Russia. I am fluent in 6 languages. Your partner will ask you questions which you… All categories, TESOL Masters, Five ways to, Careers in TESOL

Using authentic materials in the ESL classroom

Using authentic materials in an ESL classroom provides many benefits for learners. Exploiting them in class can give learners a sense of achievement, show language in a realistic context, and offers opportunity for real communication. Unfortunately, many learners assume that they are incapable of coping with authentic texts or materials as these are technically made for native speakers. For example, newspapers, magazine articles, and books use a variety of complex grammatical structures,… All categories, ESL activities, TESOL Masters, How to...

All I want for Christmas is a Christmas tree: ESL Christmas activities in Asia

Teaching in Asia is full of surprises. One of the most surprising things is how many students write “Christmas tree” at the top of their Christmas wish list. This helped me understand just how different our cultures are from East to West. Even though Christmas may not be celebrated at home in many parts of Asia, young learners still have a huge amount of curiosity. I found great satisfaction in watching my students go home on the last day of school before the Christmas break singing their… All categories, How to..., Careers in TESOL, ESL activities

TEFL Masterclass: creating meaningful classroom interaction

The language that we use with our students, and the language that they use with each other at different points of a lesson, is fundamental to English language education. This article aims to outline some of the features of the interaction which happens in language classrooms in order to find ways that we can maximise the quality of communication that happens between teachers and students. When we are planning to teach a certain language point, we typically focus on the types of word, sentence… All categories, Teaching skills, How to..., ESL activities

Breaking the myths around communicative language teaching

Nowadays, English is an international language and used throughout the world. The ever increasing need to develop one’s communicative competence is often something learners struggle to do. Outdated methods and a focus on grammatical proficiency tend to inhibit improvement. Though grammar is a significant aspect of language learning it shouldn’t be the primary aim of an ESL teacher. A common belief among students is that learning grammar will automatically improve fluency, accuracy,… All categories, Careers in TESOL, ESL activities, Teaching skills

Inclusive education (part 3): practical SEN support strategies for an inclusive classroom

How can teachers best support learners with SEN? In reality, this is a very big question. Every child is different and learners have different personalities, as well as different additional learning needs. As we explored last week, if you are a teacher who has learners with SENs in your classroom, the most important thing that you need to do in order to support them is to find out exactly what those needs are. In addition, it can be helpful to know what some of the indicators are for… All categories, Teaching skills, How to...

Inclusive education (part 2): supporting learners with special educational needs

“I don’t feel that I’m experienced enough at working with learners with SEN, I’ll only end up letting them down.’’ ‘’Having learners with SENs in the classroom takes a lot of extra planning time’’. ‘’How can I spend all of my class time supporting one or two learners when the other students need my time too?’’ Do these thoughts sound familiar? Often, teachers perceive special educational needs (SEN) students as being more work. This attitude is all the more prevalent amongst new teachers who… All categories, Teaching skills, How to...

Inclusive education: something we all need to talk about (part 1)

Inclusive education refers to the capacity of ordinary local schools to respond to the needs of all learners, including those requiring extra support due to learning or physical disability, social disadvantage, behavioural challenges, cultural difference or other barriers to learning. Inclusive education recognises that all children can learn and that all pupils, including many considered to be non-disabled, need some form of support in learning during their time at school.  For… All categories, Diploma courses, TESOL Masters, Careers in TESOL

Those who can, teach. Those who can't, sprout meaningless idioms

Perhaps you’ve said it yourself, perhaps you’ve had it said to you. For me it was my introduction to the idea of becoming a teacher - a family friend who benevolently suggested I try teaching English said, with a smile on his face…those who can do, those who can’t, teach.  Note to self, never try to encourage someone to become a teacher by referencing this inane saying They say teachers make more than 1,500 decisions in a day: that’s an average of 425 decisions per 60… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, TESOL Masters

5 Halloween activities for young learners

Halloween is just around the corner and is the perfect time to do some festive-inspired activities with your young learner classes. As holidays go, Halloween is one of the most fun, paying homage to all things weird and wonderful, such as ghosts, ghouls and goblins. Here are five of my favourite activities to have a wail of a time with your classes. 1) Halloween toilet roll monsters Pinterest is always a great resource for all things crafty, and it really hits the nail on the head with these… All categories, Theme based learning, ESL activities, Teaching skills

Mistakes to avoid with your career: 5 things I wish I'd known when I started teaching

When I decided to do a Trinity Cert TESOL my main reason for doing so was escapism. I wanted to run away from my life in the USA, travel around the world and meet people from all walks of life. I had lived in London and Paris as a student in my early 20s and the experience was incredible. I developed life-long friendships and was exposed to a new way life that didn’t mirror my US existence. Mind you, I was quite young and very naïve so when I first arrived in London, I… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, TESOL Masters

Taking feedback: making the most of professional development

Some of the most beneficial feedback I’ve received in my career has been the most challenging to listen to. This is because they all share the common denominator in revealing a blind spot in my development that was known to others but not to me. Although constructive feedback of this type can be challenging to hear, it is essential in helping us identify new areas for our development. In addition to its usefulness, feedback is a common practice across professions that can range from… All categories, Careers in TESOL, Diploma courses, Certificate courses, How to...