How To...

It all begins with context: getting your lesson off to a positive start

Set context, and carry on This ought to be the mantra for all teachers, yet it is often one of the most challenging components of any language lesson: set it well, and the meaning and range of language students can use appropriately becomes suddenly more accessible; set it poorly, and you’ll have the students (and possibly yourself too!)… All categories, Five ways to, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, ESL activities, How to...

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, ESL activities, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, How to...

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, ESL activities, Diploma courses, How to...

Classroom Management: How to take control of noisy students

My class is so loud! It’s Friday afternoon and your class of young learners (or adults!) are bouncing off the walls, not paying attention and talking away amongst themselves. What do you do? Raise your voice and try to shout over them? Many of us can attest to the fact that raising your voice never gets you anywhere, ESPECIALLY on a Friday… All categories, How to..., ESL activities, Certificate courses

Is TEFL Worth it?

A few months ago, we shared some top tips for taking the CertTESOL from a former trainee on the course. In fact, even before deciding to take a certificate course in TESOL, many people spend a long time simply trying to figure out the difference between TESOL, TEFL, ESL and ELT courses and choosing the best one for them.… All categories, How to..., Certificate courses, Careers in TESOL

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, How to..., Five ways to, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, Teaching skills

Teaching jobs in Hong Kong: so you think you want to teach in a local HK school...?

Many of you will be gearing up for the new academic year, or looking for your first English teaching job in Hong Kong.  Aaron joined the CertTESOL at English for Asia course in 2016 after working extensively in various teaching contexts throughout the city. Here he gives us his honest insight into the ups and downs of working in the… All categories, Certificate courses, How to..., ESL activities, Careers in TESOL

Teaching Listening: How to make the most of your lessons

Teaching listening comprehension is challenging for ESL learners, especially in the East Asian context. This is due to a range of factors: firstly, reading and writing skills are typically given greater importance in language learning at school as compared to oral/aural skills. In addition, Chinese, Japanese and Korean learners are typically more… All categories, Teaching skills, How to..., Certificate courses, ESL activities

How to teach grammar clearly: an introduction to the basics

*Final revision by Bryan Holmes, James Pengelley and Tom Garside Hear from some new teachers talking about their CertTESOL experience. Often new teachers are filled with anxiety when teaching grammar. Here we outline the basic approach to clearly staged grammar lessons with a communicative, student-focused outcome. This approach is… All categories, Certificate courses, How to..., Teaching skills, ESL activities

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, How to...

5 Ways to take feedback and correct mistakes

Post-task feedback is the stage of an ESOL class where much of the real learning happens; it is during feedback that students reflect on their ideas, correct their mistakes and apply the language that we teach in a restricted, experimental and discursive setting. However, feedback stages are all too often focused on the product of the task (the… All categories, Five ways to, Certificate courses, Teaching skills, How to..., ESL activities

ICT: Using technology in the classroom

Whether you like it or not, the use of IT, technology, edTech, ICT….whatever you want to call it….in the classroom is here to stay.  Many schools nowadays actively expect teachers to incorporate elements of technology in their classes on a regular basis.  Many institutions such as the British Council even assess their current… All categories, How to..., Certificate courses, TESOL Masters, Five ways to

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