Top 5 Most Difficult Languages To Learn

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Learning is always hard especially learning something new such as English learning. English is a different new language compared with Chinese, so when we are learning, definitely we will meet all kinds of difficulties in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate XIAO J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Due to the lack of vocabulary, beginners can not get the main idea of a story. They usually expect to know every single word and if they miss some words, they will become extremely nervous so that they lose their confidence at all. The best way to avoid it is to pre-teach some potentially difficult vocabularies. And listening to English...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas The ESA methodology of teaching is one of the most used modern teaching methodologies today. When taking a TEFL course, you will encounter this method and learn how to incorporate it into your lesson planning. Marie Hernandez Visa and Legal TEFL Information Job interviews are among the most daunting tasks for anyone. Here are our 5 steps to help prepare yourself for your TEFL interview. Linda Dunsmore Destinations If you are looking for a unique place to move to, check out our list of the top 5 TEFL destinations for adrenaline junkies and adventure seekers! Mark Crocker TEFL Information Online training courses have many advantages and they are becoming increasingly popular with people looking to get TEFL certified. If you are new to...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas The ESA methodology of teaching is one of the most used modern teaching methodologies today. When taking a TEFL course, you will encounter this method and learn how to incorporate it into your lesson planning. Marie Hernandez Visa and Legal TEFL Information Job interviews are among the most daunting tasks for anyone. Here are our 5 steps to help prepare yourself for your TEFL interview. Linda Dunsmore Destinations If you are looking for a unique place to move to, check out our list of the top 5 TEFL destinations for adrenaline junkies and adventure seekers! Mark Crocker TEFL Information Online training courses have many advantages and they are becoming increasingly popular with people looking to get TEFL certified. If you are new to...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Second language acquisition in native English speakers from the United States is one aspect of American culture that is not widely discussed and seemingly overlooked in terms of its importance. Many factors contribute to the United States’ largely monolingual culture despite have a “melting pot” of sorts with a population comprised of multiple ethnicities and nationalities. This culture of English speakers points to strong geographic features of its continental location and debatably its position in the world’s economic index and political landscape. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Adam L. Comparatively, Europe is comprised of multiple countries with strong national identities and cultural influences; the separate states...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Xinji Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Hanzhong 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. Every person has the ability to learn, while not everyone can learn well. Students study long hours might end up with grade B, however, those lazy peers who seem never study after class get straight A. This is a common situation all over the world; top students are always capable of doing multiple tasks, rather than just sticking in the library reciting what the...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker TEFL Information Whether you choose an online format or an in-class option for your TEFL certification course, the overall goal is to provide you with all the skills and knowledge necessary to be an effective teacher in your post-course classroom. But what exactly are the skills and knowledge you will learn? While the exact content may vary from course to course, here we break down some of the general topics that you are likely to study. Also Read: Online or In-Class - Which TEFL Course Should You Take? What is the role of the teacher in a modern English language classroom? What are they there to achieve and how should they go about it? Should the teacher be a lecturer or a conversation facilitator? When should they correct errors during the class? Your TEFL certification...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Motivation is one of the most influential aspects of learning a new language. For all language learners motivation varies, but it is surely an essential part in achieving fluency within any given language. Motivation can be dependent upon age, language fluency (both first language and second language), affective filter (i.e. an individual’s comfort level within a particular setting), and many other factors. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nicole H. In learning a new language, motivation is often dependent upon age. Age can affect an individual’s desires and reasons for learning a new language and thus influence the motivation to learn and become fluent within the language. As children, it is often thought to be naturally...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Within the past 20 years we have seen great advancements in technology. Mobile phones and laptops that are thinner than a short novel, voice activated software systems, robotics, high speed internet etc. Much of the world is now technologically developed, but often the ESL classroom is less so. However, in many areas there has been a gradual introduction of newer, more educationally oriented forms of technology in the classroom. From the introduction of the overhead projector and cassette players to modern day equipment such as Smart Boards and laptops. So what has been the effect of this technology in language learning? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joshua P. With the inclusion of technology the limits of learning are released,...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Unlike learning a first language, learning a second language is a task that can sometimes seem frustrating and at times even impossible. There are many reasons for this as learning a second language is very different than learning your mother tongue. Firstly, there are biological factors involved and the fact that normally children tend to assimilate things more easily than adults. Secondly, it is often harder to get the same level of exposure to the language than it is when learning a native language where repetition from parents etc. is constant. That is why when you sign up for an English class, or any other language for that matter, teachers will try to replicate that scenario with endless repetitions and fun games, because the most crucial thing is...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The use of reading in the course of language acquisition is valuable and often underrated. Before undertaking a detailed explanation, I will first offer a general example to demonstrate the problem of teaching without it. Imagine you are teaching the word “ball” to an older student. You could ask them to say “ball, ball, ball” in a drilling manner. This can be inefficient and above all, boring for the student. But suppose that you do teach it enjoyably. How many words might they learn? This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Peter C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. For most teachers, they will give one or sometimes two classes per week. In terms of vocabulary that...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Rapport in this context is the relationship between the students and the teacher, and among the student group within a classroom environment. Why is having rapport within a classroom important? Because without a friendly connection among the participants there is a real danger of disruption to the learning process. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Juri N. “Respect is a two way road,” this statement says that without one side or the other of the Street of Respect, respect is not there. Meaning, if the teacher does not respect the students and show the students that respect, then the students will not respect the teacher in return. This scenario can very easily ruin the teaching of a specific subject as the students will not have...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas For this assignment, I decided to research problems experienced by Colombian students learning English. I will be teaching English in Colombia and thought this subject would benefit me. My findings more generally reflect the difficulties of Spanish-speaking learners. The paper outlines the top ten difficulties for Spanish-speakers learning English (vocabulary, spelling/pronunciation, subject-verb-agreement, verb tense, dialects, subject omission, pronunciation, stress, slang, and literal translations) based on CCJK (2019). Where possible I relate this information to my experiences/examples and units in the TEFL course. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate David B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information Teaching Ideas Teaching English abroad is an exciting career path that thousands of people embark on every year. The first step is usually a TEFL or TESOL certificate and then finding a job in a suitable location. Once you step into your own EFL classroom, you will then be able to use all the skills you learned during the course. However, every teacher makes mistakes every now and again, which is why we have summarized the top mistakes to avoid in the classroom while teaching English abroad to help you out! Yes, teaching English should be fun but if you lose control of your students and they don’t see you as a respectable teacher, there won’t be any learning. It’s a much better strategy to set your standards from the start so you can have fun with...  [Read more]

Ramon Perez Teaching Ideas Every day, we learn something new. It can happen on the street, at work, at school and even in our home. We can attain new skills and knowledge through our interactions with our surroundings. Utilizing our 5 senses and past experiences to make sense of what is going on, we can ascertain new concepts and make proper use of them in our daily lives. However, as a teacher, we are tasked with transmitting abstract concepts that become difficult to fully grasp through traditional methods. Consequently, some teachers rely on literal translations to bring the point across. Since the student’s exposure to the target language can be extremely limited outside of the classroom, it’s important to fully immerse the students in the language while in the classroom. The...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas According to David Crystal (1941), ‘Vocabulary is a matter of word-building as well as word-using.’ While this may be true and speaks to the fundamental usage of vocabulary in any language, vocabulary can also be seen as world-building. Vocabulary is ‘the body of words used in a particular language’ (Google, 2019). While the aforementioned clearly identify why it is important to teach vocabulary, this essay will try to explore it a bit further. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rayon B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Firstly, as stated in the introductory paragraph of this essay, vocabulary is the main aspect of any language. Without vocabulary, in essence,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The age range is a huge factor when it comes to teaching a classroom. The age of the students will determine your teaching methods, the activities you pick, the pacing of the classes, how you should act/treat your students, etc. Both age groups learn at different speeds. Contrary to what some people might think, children tend to catch on faster when it comes to learning a new language. They can grasp the concepts better since they are still learning and grasping the concepts of their own native language. They are more open-minded and receptive to new sounds and grammar. Adults, on the other hand, have already mastered their own language making it harder to adapt to a new one. They want to use their own language as a reference point and match the new...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas “Student motivation” is affected by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors” (Reeve, 1996). It is part of a teacher’s job to boost student’s interests for knowledge and understanding, knowing as intrinsic motivation. The real problem for the teachers is: how to keep students motivated in an everyday classroom? The recommendations are as follows. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Minxin Z. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The enthusiasm of the teacher is a vital factor in the motivation of the learners if a teacher gets bored or tired, so will the learners. An enthusiastic educator can often spice the classroom with excitement and anticipation which stimulating...  [Read more]

Gökhan Yilmaz Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas This topic is very dear to my heart as I have been an English teacher in Arab countries for a long time. Therefore, I am writing this article as someone who has experience in learning both Arabic and English. In my observation, most of these difficulties either have to do with the students' native language (Arabic) or their cultural backgrounds. Here are the 5 most common problems for Arab learners when studying English. As Arabic is written from right to left, English looks very strange to Arabic speakers, which can cause them to find course books or lessons overwhelming. Adult learners, in particular, have a hard time in the initial stages of studying English compared to learners whose first language uses the same alphabet as English....  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Lingkou Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Shangluo 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. Majority of the kids turning 5 years old attend the kindergarten for two years in preparation for the primary school. Some kids enter the kindergarten earlier at the age of four. This actually varies according to the state. In China, most kindergartens combine childcare with teaching so that the children will develop physically, morally, intellectually and...  [Read more]

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Xinpingbǎo Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Datong 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 a English lesson, all students are more interested in learning through activities given by their teacher. Using flashcards ( FCs) is one of the most necessary and effective activity that can use for both adult and teenager leaners. According to wikipedia.org , a flashcard or flash card is a card bearing information, as words or numbers, on either or both...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I, as an out of school English teacher, have been teaching English in China for about one year. My students are coming from elementary schools or middle schools. The teaching is one to one. The background and personality of my students are various. Some students are very interested in learning English and want to take extra courses to improve their English proficiency. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nan W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Some students feel having more challenges in grammar, vocabulary or speaking. Some students are not interested in learning English but have to learn it due to the pressure from school and their parents. In the beginning, I feel...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas It is important to establish rapport with students within a classroom for a variety of reasons, it builds trust between students and teacher, insights confidence in students and allows for a fun learning environment. All aspects of teaching require a teacher to have some sort of rapport with students. Students will retain more information and do better in classes when the teacher is engaged and shows love for their job as well as an interest in their students. Most students will not learn well from a teacher who comes to class, does not greet the students let alone knows their names and just reads through the lesson without showing any interest whatsoever. It is far more beneficial for a teacher to have a good rapport with his/her students as it will make...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences English is the language of the modern world. All people around the world know the importance of the English language in our life, because we need it in our work and sometimes when we meet other people from other cultures, maybe they are not from Britain or America but we almost think they are talking English. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Doaa E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. That doesn't mean our language isn't important. Sure all people love their language, but the first language now used as a global language in the world is English agree or disagree. As global communication expands throughout the world, so does the need for a global language. English has...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I would like to start by first explaining what means to teach, which by a vague definition is to cause the student to learn and acquire the knowledge that is taught in the classroom to meet all the objectives that are previously set by the institution and by the teacher. In other words, the process of teaching is formulated and organized in such a psychological and educational way for both the learner and the teacher to be able to attain some prearranged goals. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Alexandra R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Being a teacher is not a simple task, let alone an easy profession, as it bears an immense responsibility towards the students and...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The majority of children turning 5 years old attend kindergarten for two years in preparation for primary school. Some kids enter kindergarten earlier at the age of only four. This actually varies according from state to state and also from country to country. In China, most kindergartens combine childcare with teaching so that the children will develop physically, morally, and intellectually in a harmonious way to get ready for their formal school education. A good environment is assured for the kids to have a conducive place to learn actively. Teaching English in China can be overwhelming considering that English teachers are also assigned to teach kids as young as one year old or even younger. Chinese parents prioritize the education of their...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Many texts on this subject begin primarily by defining the term 'classroom management'. I equally think it is not out of place to begin a discussion on classroom management from the same perspective. Classroom management refers to the variety of skills employed by which teachers and schools to curtail disruptive behavior of learners so as to create a congenial environment for teaching and learning. It is the case from the definition that the classroom setting may not always be as well-ordered and peaceful for teaching and learning as it should be and may require certain organizational skills and the ability to create of a friendly and disciplined atmosphere in order for teaching and learning to be effective. In every class there are different kinds of...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A lesson plan is a teacher working document which serves as a step by step guide that provides a detailed description of a course or what the students are supposed to learn and how effectively it can be done during lesson time. Over time there have been lots of description as to what a lesson plan should look like or how a lesson could be planed. It is very important to plan a lesson because it is very difficult for inexperienced teachers to be flexible in a lesson without a teaching guide. However, planning a lesson should be carefully done so as to avoid making the teacher less flexible to meet up with the needs of the students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Mireille L. N. We cannot ride on directly to answer the question...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker TEFL Information For many people the TEFL adventure is a short-term plan that offers a convenient way out of a boring job, a means to travel to dream destinations, or simply the next step on life’s journey. Once they have completed their TEFL certification course many new teachers head off abroad to their chosen countries and use their teaching qualification as a way to earn a good living while they are away. After one or two years a large percentage of these teachers decide the time is right to head home to their families and careers. However, this scenario is not the case for every TEFL qualified teacher. The majority of people start out on their journey with a short-term plan, but for some the plan begins to change once they realize that teaching is something they are...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences I worked as an Emirates Airlines flight attendant for over 6 years. In order to be accepted you need to pass multiple group exercises, a written exam and a two person interview. There are always over a thousand applicants but they only accept a very small number. Two years ago I left the company and moved to Vietnam where I noticed a great interest in younger people wanting to become flight attendants, but many were fearful of the Open Day, a two day process of interviews and exercises because they were not sure if their level of English was good enough. It didn’t take long for me and two friends, who had also worked for the same airline, to decide to put together an 8 day course for people interested in becoming a flight attendant. This post was...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences As someone whose parents and grandparents are ethnically Chinese, but lived in Canada ever since I can remember, there has always been a disconnect in terms of the two cultures I am stuck between. I hope to use my background as an advantage to find TEFL jobs in China, and this task will be part of my research to learn about the problems learners and I may face while engaging in English lessons. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Joseph Kevin Y. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Speaking is a dominant skill in communication; even individuals who have never taken English lessons may know some words or phrases due to pop culture and songs. However, in Chinese, there are...  [Read more]