Samantha Siciliano

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Zhaodian Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Zibo Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. In his chapter of The Cambridge Guide to Second Language Assessment, Neil J. Anderson (2012) proposes a “classroom culture of collaboration and evaluation” (hereafter CCE) aimed at enhancing each student’s abilities in self-assessment (p. 194). I believe that this is the best conceptualization of “peer learning:” a classroom in which students mindfully and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Creating a positive, healthy relationship with students might not be first on the list in people’s minds when they thinking of “Teaching 101.” However, establishing rapport with students is crucial for achieving learning success in the classroom. Students who are learning the English language may be apprehensive to try (and sometimes fail) to speak in front of their peers or to express their ideas in new ways. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Samantha A. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The importance of practicing grammatical structures and fluency to be able to communicate with people in English is a large part of why students hope to improve in their...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Class management is an important component of the classroom. A well-managed class, free of distraction, will not only keep the students focused on learning, but will provide them with an environment that is safe, comfortable, and stable for their education. Also, this will enable the students to be at ease in sharing their ideas and create excitement for learning in the classroom. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Samantha P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Setting class guidelines for the class is a great way to keep the learning environment safe, comfortable, and stable. Students are more likely to speak and be involved in class discussions if they know they are...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Whether you are a seasoned professional starting a new year at a school you’ve taught at for years, or you’re teaching your very first ESL class, the first-day teaching can be very intimidating. Teaching English as a second language, whether in your home country or a non-English speaking country, can be especially difficult due to the language barrier faced by both the students and the teacher. Because of the language barrier in ESL classes, it is vital to build rapport with your students to create a productive and comfortable learning environment. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Samantha S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Building rapport, or a trusting and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Some form of Slang language is universally used all around the world. Almost all countries have words and phrases that could be identified as ‘slang and so, when is it appropriate to use this type of language? Is it a good idea to let students be exposed to slang language whilst they are studying English at a formal level and as a non-native English speaker? There are many instances where some slang form of English should and should not be used, here are a few examples with discussion. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Samantha Jane K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In one’s place of work, there will be those to whom speaking formally would be more appropriate,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas "Parents are the ultimate role models for children. Every word movement and action affects…" this opinion expressed by Bob Keeshan is supported by many people worldwide. Is this true? What are some of the roles they model? How do these roles impact their child's education? Henceforth let us take a look at some of the parents' education in the education of their children, then briefly look at some of the impact observed in students' attitude in an English class? Parents play many roles in education, and that role begins on the day of the child's birth (Although there are many studies out there that argue that it starts in utero). Studies have shown that children who were cuddled and given the right amount of attention...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Next year, Japan will host the thirty-second Olympiad in the capital city of Tokyo. To correspond with the timing of the 2020 Olympics, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (hereafter MEXT) has laid out a plan for the reform of English education to meet the future needs of Japanese students in a globalized world. However, this plan presents several challenges for current and future learners of English in the Japanese educational system. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Philippa K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The thrust of MEXT’s plan is to roll back English education in Japan so that students in the public education...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas “Teachers must learn how to teach… they need only to be taught more effective ways of teaching”, (B. F. Skinner 1972). Understanding how these theories of learning suggested by philosophers can bring or has brought about a change in teaching helps teachers to be very effective in the classroom as they aid in shaping the lives of young men and women for the future. Two great theories of learning that have impacted teaching are Behaviorism and Cognitive development theory. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Samantha D. Using behavioral theory in the classroom can be rewarding for both students and teachers. Behavioral change occurs for a reason, students work for things that bring them positive feelings, and...  [Read more]