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Teaching English as a Foreign Language is an umbrella term which can actually manifest itself in a number of different forms. EFL teachers can teach different ages, different lessons, different levels and, of course, different nationalities. Though the majority of EFL jobs are teaching young learners in a monolingual c...[Read More]

The majority of our English as a Foreign Language lessons revolve around a text. Sure we teach a grammatical item, a vocabulary set or a skill, but we always teach in context and that context usually comes from  texts. There is nothing wrong with this and, in fact, a lot right with this. The problem … Continue reading ...[Read More]

If you asked your students why they are learning English, some will say “to study”, some will say “for my job”, others will say “to travel”, but at the crux of all of these answers is communication. Our students want to learn English in order to be able to communicate with English-speakers in their particular … Continu...[Read More]

Teaching English as a Foreign Language is not a one-size-fits-all job. If you are an EFL teacher, there are many different hats you can be expected to wear, depending on what classes you are given to teach. Yes, they will all involve teaching English as a Foreign Language, but no, they won’t involve the same … Continue...[Read More]

Whether we want to admit it or not, every English as a Foreign Language teacher has their favourite class – be it kindergarten, teen exam classes, one-to-ones or adults. This is not a bad thing, it’s natural to prefer teaching a certain age, a particular class or a specific level. The thing is, each class … Continue re...[Read More]

The field of English language teaching may be as old as the hills, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not changing. Teaching methods and techniques are continuously being developed, and our teaching styles change accordingly. One factor which will always have an impact on our teaching is innovation. Innovation in differen...[Read More]

On 30th March, from 8.30 to 9.30 pm local time, people around the world will be celebrating Earth Hour. What started out as a lights out event in Sydney in 2007 has become the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. Every year, millions of people around the world celebrate Earth Hour by switching off …...[Read More]

Considering that they spend their time and money to be in our classrooms to learn English, you would think our students would want to allocate much of  their time to speak English. But when you’re actually in the classroom you might be surprised by how often you hear your students speak their home language. Don’t … Con...[Read More]

You may not realise it, but listening is a skill. Even in our native language it can be difficult to understand what someone is saying if they have a cold, speak quickly or if there is background noise. Listening to people speak in a foreign language is much tougher. It can be difficult to differentiate … Continue read...[Read More]

Most of us have whiteboards in the classroom. They’re usually big and take up the majority of a wall. We use them to write down vocabulary, explain language or even play games. If we’re lucky our whiteboards are interactive and you can use them to show videos, Google images on-the-spot and play interactive games. White...[Read More]

Applying for a job is not an easy process, regardless of whether you’re a waitress or a CFO. For a job teaching English as a Foreign Language, the process can be a long one. You need to sift through thousands of jobs advertised to find one that a) is a match for your skills b) … Continue reading “5 QUESTIONS TO A...[Read More]

It’s no secret that many of our English words are in fact not English at all. English has been around for thousands of years, but there are many languages that are older than English. As English-speaking nations came into contact with other countries they adopted certain words into English. These words were used to suc...[Read More]

Teaching Unplugged is just one of the many teaching techniques that you can see being used in English as a Foreign Language classrooms all around the world. It is quite different from traditional teaching methods and it certainly deserves some attention. What is Teaching Unplugged? Teaching Unplugged is a teaching meth...[Read More]

The English as a Foreign Language classroom is a very special space. It is often the only place our English language learners will be exposed to the language. Sure we can encourage them to watch movies and read books (or even do homework!) at home, but there is no guarantee that they are taking our … Continue reading &...[Read More]

We get it, you’re busy. As an English as a Foreign Language teacher (actually any kind of teacher!) you don’t really have a lot of time to spare. When you’re not in the classroom you’re lesson planning, marking essays or tests, or writing reports. When you do finally get a minute to yourself you probably … Continue rea...[Read More]

We know how easy it is to make mistakes when speaking English and to use the wrong word.  Many of these mistakes are mistakes our learners make even though they know they are mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes become fossilised and are difficult to correct. However, there are some mistakes that our learners make becaus...[Read More]

Not all of us are wired for routine. While some people thrive off doing the same thing every day, many of us find it boring and monotonous. Variety is the spice of life, so they say, and this may even be the reason you chose to pursue a TEFL job, but structure and routine in … Continue reading “THINGS TO INCORPOR...[Read More]

Writing is an essential skill in a foreign language. Without being able to write, a learner cannot claim to be fluent in a language. At the same time, writing is not the easiest of language skills to master. Our language learners can struggle with writing in English. It is up to us to help them … Continue reading ̶...[Read More]

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights” – Gloria Steinem. Friday 8 March is International Women’s Day. It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements ...[Read More]

Homework isn’t fun for anyone. It’s not fun for the students who need to do the actual homework assigned to them, and it’s not fun for the teachers who not only have to set it, but also find the time to mark the homework assignments and give the students feedback. That said, homework is an … Continue reading “TIP...[Read More]

Everyone loves movies and we all have our favourites. From cult classics like the Big Lebowski or The Usual Suspects to blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Independence Day, movies are a favourite pastime for people across the globe* and have become part of everyday culture. Taking movies into the classroom and using t...[Read More]