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These days English as a Foreign Language teachers regularly use authentic materials from popular culture in the EFL classroom. Movies, songs, magazines, novels and newspapers can all be found in the EFL classroom, but one of the most well-liked creations is often ignored: sitcoms.  How about using sitcoms in the EFL cl...[Read More]

If you’re a TEFL teacher, your focus is mostly on teaching English. You will immerse yourself in theories of teaching and learning and you will become familiar with the ins and outs of the English language. You will prepare and plan engaging lessons in the hopes that your learners will walk out of your classroom … Cont...[Read More]

Teaching skills in the English as a Foreign Language classroom can be tricky. Teaching vocabulary and grammar, in contrast, is pretty straightforward if somewhat challenging at times, but teaching listening, reading, speaking and writing is a whole other ball game. Shadowing is one technique which can be used in the EF...[Read More]

There aren’t many jobs that provide you with an assistant to help you do your job, but being an English as a Foreign Language teacher is one of them. Not all TEFL positions will provide you with a teaching assistant but if you are teaching English in a non-English speaking country then you very well … Continue reading ...[Read More]

When most people think of a classroom setting, they envision a teacher standing at the front of the class with a textbook and a whiteboard behind them, lecturing to the students. The TEFL classroom is quite different as learning a language requires a more communicative and interactive method of teaching where the stude...[Read More]

While the thought of teaching a class full of students who are hungry to learn the English language may excite you, don’t forget you’ll need to secure yourself a job first. Interviews can be nerve-wracking for some, but if you do your research and know what to expect, you’ll be prepared for the array of … Continue read...[Read More]

There’s a distinct feeling everyone gets when they pull their suitcase out of the cupboard and open it up on their bed to pack for an overseas trip. It may be a feeling of dread of not knowing where to begin, or excitement about the upcoming trip, but it’s important to be sure you’ve packed … Continue reading “FO...[Read More]

Teaching English as a Foreign Language can be a tiring job when you’re teaching the same lessons five times a day. It can often feel like you’re stuck in a “rinse and repeat” cycle. Getting out of any rut takes a bit of creativity and innovation and the same can be said for teaching. If … Continue reading “FIVE W...[Read More]

Many people daydream about the exotic locations their career as an English teacher will take them. Faraway places where gentle waves lap white, sandy beaches and palm trees sway in a tropical breeze. For some reason, most people’s idea of paradise is intrinsically linked to some far-flung island destination. Read on fo...[Read More]

Tests may be the bane of our students’ lives but they are a necessary part of language learning. They are necessary in order for our students to be able to assess their knowledge and comprehension of a particular topic. They are necessary for teachers to identify which aspects of their courses need more attention. They...[Read More]

One of the goals for an effective English as a Foreign Language classroom is interactivity. An interactive classroom is one in which the students have as much input into the lessons as the teacher does. In other words, the lessons are planned in such a way that the students engage with the materials, the lesson … Conti...[Read More]

As teachers of English as a Foreign Language, we need to know grammar rules inside out and upside down. With English being the changeable language that it is, this can actually be quite difficult. What’s prescribed one year is abandoned the next. This is confusing for us so you can imagine how baffling it must … Contin...[Read More]

Teaching adult learners of English can be both a blessing and a curse. Adults are able to engage with the language on an intellectual level and are happy to focus on the theory in order to put it into practice later. In other words, they don’t mind doing the boring stuff because they understand the … Continue reading &...[Read More]

There’s no denying that the classroom is changing, especially the English as a Foreign Language classroom. Gone are the days of the traditional teacher standing at the blackboard, explaining concepts at length to EFL students who listen politely and take down copious notes (or not!). This is most definitely a good thin...[Read More]

Embarking on a career as a TEFL teacher can be daunting yet incredibly rewarding, but many new entrants are unsure about it and would rather dip their toe in the proverbial pool before taking the plunge.  Perhaps they’re unsure of their ability to teach, or terrified at the thought of standing in front of a … Continue ...[Read More]

Being a teacher involves not just teaching but taking on a number of roles in the classroom. Think about any teacher who stands out in your memory and it’s either because they were awful at their job, or they made learning really fun. If you’re embarking on a career as a TEFL teacher, be prepared … Continue reading ...[Read More]

The difference between teaching and teaching well can often boil down to something as simple as personalising your EFL lessons. This is a key factor in getting to know your students and their interests in order to tailor their learning experience and materials to suit their interests and needs. There is nothing worse t...[Read More]

When teaching English as a foreign language, it’s a given that you’re going to land up teaching abroad so maintaining basic cultural awareness is important. TEFL Teachers teaching English to foreign students in their own country can  easily forget to be culturally considerate. While your students will need to be aware ...[Read More]

In our previous post we looked at six commonly confused words for both English teachers and learners. Hopefully you learnt a few things! There are loads more examples, but we’ve chosen another six for you. Do you get confused with any of these words? More commonly confused words for English Teachers and Learners Desert...[Read More]