Efl Law

In The Water is Wide, novelist Pat Conroy tells the story of his year (1969 - 70) teaching elementary school in the poor, isolated black community on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina (called Yamacraw Island in the book). At first glance, it wouldn't seem to have much relevance to teaching ESL to adults. But as I read it, I realized Conroy faced some of the same challenges an ESL teacher does - and that we could learn from the way he overcame them. I'm not just talking about the fact that, at the beginning of the year, he and his students could barely understand each other, though they were all speaking English. The only cure for that is time and better acquaintance. (Conroy does not[..]

There is no doubt about it; English is the internationally recognized language of business. Nearly all of the world's international business is done in English and the main goal of virtually every business out there is to become international and sell their product or service all over the globe. So to truly be as successful as you possibly can in the business world - learning English as a second language is an absolute must. There are literally millions and millions of resources available for those that want to get an extra edge on the competition when it comes to performance in business - tons of magazines and books and the incredible amount of information available on the internet[..]

When you make an ESL activity what are the vital components? I was reflecting on this the other day, and came up with a list of four for my activities. As I start to think about a new activity, I want to make sure that it addresses the social interaction in the classroom, since language is fundamentally a social interaction. I have noticed that when students move about the room, they show a great sense of engagement in the lesson. I also see more smiles. For this reason, I include movement on my list of vital components in an activity. This is not to even mention the 'head fake' effect (students are concentrating on something other than the main point, which allows a bit of unconscious[..]

This is a standard topic to teach in ESL/EFL classes. Beginner teachers do not do a good job of it and I have seen students get mixed up or confused in Korea and Kuwait. In essense, a teacher's job is to classify and explain two lists of words... COUNTABLESapplescookiesbananasloavespeoplecubescupspacketsboxesbagscanscartonssteaks/chopsslicesspoonsbowlskg/km/g NON-COUNTABLESricesugarsaltsandflour/powder/dustjellyoilwaterjuicechopped vegiesstewspaghettimeatmilkgassoupbuttersoil After teacher reviews the two lists with the class the students get the hang of it. Then ask the the class to classify the words into groups by circling them in coloured pen. They will need help. Basically,[..]

You have decided on teaching abroad so you are off on the job hunt. Aside from the obvious considerations such as what country to work in and what training/qualifications to obtain; there are other things a teachers should consider when looking at potential job offers. There are many factors a teacher considers which will affect whether they accept a position. The most obvious factor would be the content of the position. What is the school asking of you as a teacher? You must ask yourself if the job is interesting and fits into your career plans as a teacher. The person you will be working for is also an important consideration so you must take the time to talk to them either via email[..]

In a linguistic context, different authors define the term “needs” diversely, and thus different meanings are implied. If needs are ‘understood as specific requirements for the foreign language, then the vast majority of learners do not have any. They are deemed to require what the syllabus offers them, and the syllabus is likely to be closely related to the examination, which is a highly realistic “need” for the majority of learners’ (Dickinson 1991:88). Needs analysis has figured notably in the literature of language teaching for long years, and focused on learners’ communicative needs. On the whole, needs analysis is a complex process which is usually followed by[..]

If you've thought about teaching English privately to adults who speak English as a second language, you may not be aware that it is actually easy to organise the first lesson. It is a lot harder to get the second. If you don't do a good job in the first lesson it is unlikely students will come back for the second! So, before you even have the first lesson it is best to be prepared. Make sure you ask a number of questions of your potential student when you first schedule the lesson so that you are able to take along the appropriate exercises or conversation topics that the student wants. Obviously every tutor will want to prepare for their student but there are other qualities you need,[..]

Letters to the Author According to many of the letters to the author that I regularly receive, there are more than a few misconceptions about what life is or is not supposed to be like when living abroad. In keeping with the increasing trend towards people moving abroad to retire, change their lifestyle, experience new cultures, get closer to their "roots", and in general to improve their overall living conditions. As mentioned previously, such a move, while having a number of benefits, can be the proverbial double-edged sword. These are more of a few "Caveat Emptors" to be reckoned with. 5. Don't Expect a Perfect World Abroad Don't expect a perfect world abroad because we don't live in[..]

Which is More Beneficial? Which is more beneficial for improving English or foreign language proficiency: more hours or more classes? At first it would seem that they are the same thing. They are most definitely not. Let me explain. Academic and Private English Language Institutes Many academic and private English and foreign language institutes are increasingly demonstrating an alarming tendency towards fewer and fewer actual contact hours and increasing the number of "self study" hours - which you pay them for, by the way. The preference is to lump learners into one long weekly class in leiu of several shorter ones during the week. Although this might seem top aid the institute's[..]

English and Foreign Language Learner Benefits of Listening to Music How can you effectively use music in your English or foreign language learning class room? Listening to certain types of music has quite a number of additional benefits which go far beyond teaching and learning as we examined in a previous article. The impact of music and songs in ELT is well-documented. Now let's continue our brief overview with five additional benefits of listening to music. Additional Benefits of Listening to Musico Reduces Errors With the improved integration and function of the brain and its two hemispheres, comes improved concentration and thinking ability. This immediately impacts our normal[..]

Don't you dare get stuck in an English language teaching rut. Here are some practical tips and ideas for using a TV guide in your English language teaching. They've all worked for me at one time or another, I'm sure you'll get a boost out of some of them too. The TV Guide Whenever there's an overview guide of what's on the "telly", you can work with using numbers and other high-frequency language functions in a cornucopia of ways such as:o Telling the timeo Pronouncing years in Englisho Movie / TV program typeso Discussion of actors and actresseso Movie / TV program settings and plotso Learner preferences - and why Cinema / Movie guides are also a good basis for "complete the chart" and[..]

The allure of teaching English in a foreign country brings tens of thousands of starry eyed people to the ranks of ELT (English Language Teaching) teachers each year. Yes, it's true; it is a fabulous opportunity and an experience that lasts a lifetime. Unfortunately, the same cannot always be said of the teacher and his/her job. Once the initial buzz of landing in a strange and wonderfully different land wears off many teachers begin to find that most of the day to day issues of living are the same 'here' as 'back home'. Bills need to paid, salaries may not stretch, and it may be difficult to make ends meet. Alas, too often there are the cowboy outfits that feed on the gullible and[..]

The Situation Think about your learners for a moment. After school, what do they do? What occupies them evenings, weekends and holidays? Where do they go? What activities do they enjoy? How? Are they in a traditional classroom or receiving home schooling? How about movies? Do your learners like and watch movies with any regularity? In most of the developing world that's another big time YES. While the kinds of movies different learners may watch and like can vary widely, surely they'll have preferences that stir their emotions and get their "juices" flowing. Then there's the telephone. Can you even imagine how much time your daily charges spend yakking away about this or that to their[..]

CANCUN JOBS: Here are two MORE job possibilities ... In the last article we talked about language schools and institutes. This article features Bi-lingual schools, Pre-Schools, Primary, Secondary and university-prep schools which heavily accent English in their programs and are earnestly seeking native-speaking English teachers for English and other classes. There are a considerable number of them due to the influence of tourism as the principal area industry. So, polish up your resume, apostil your diplomas and dive right in. Colegio J. Lancaster Avenida Palenque No. 20 S.M. 27 Cancún 884 - 7558 A kindergarten - primary school that features English, they are always looking for[..]

The Far East was once a mystery to foreigners. Many countries had closed their borders for fear the "Western influence" would corrupt the value system of its citizens. That ideal is changing and countries are opening their doors to Western influence. Japan is one of those countries. They welcome native English speakers who desire to teach English in their country. Many people in Asia realize that in order to function well and be successful in international business relations, their businessmen and women need to be able to speak English. Conversational English lets them interact with foreign business contacts more easily than their native tongue. Teachers, with and without formal training[..]

p>Are you having a hard time learning English? Well, it might be because there is a mismatch between your learning style and the teaching methods being used in your ESL class. Research has found that people learn in different ways, which are called "learning styles." Some people learn by doing things (kinesthetic learners). If you are a kinesthetic learner, you want a teacher who uses the Total Physical Response teaching method (TPR) or a similar method in her class (maybe active learning through drama). In this kind of class, you would learn English by doing. You would perform actions and learn how to talk about those actions at the same time. Some people learn by seeing (visual[..]

In today’s times, there's only one reason non-native English speaking countries want to learn the English Language. It is due to increased globalization and competition in competition. Since English as a language is being widely used in business communication today, this also used in casual conversation among people of different nationality. The World Wide Web or the internet is an example of place where English language is used. In fact, most of the websites of a non-native speaking country has English translation, not only to be understood by the internet community but also to market their businesses all over the world. Under globalization and business competition, familiarity of the[..]

English is a difficult language. It does not sound the way it looks. Learners are often frustrated trying to understand what others are saying and too self-conscious about their accents to speak. The good news for ESL students is that one tiny piece of information takes the mystery out of the spoken language: English is a stress-based language. What that means and how that impacts students is easy and fun to explore. Learners are tragically misinformed about the significance of individual sounds in conversation. It is important to know that native speakers find accents charming and communication does not break down because of them. The seat of miscommunication in English is not in[..]

The structure of a sentence is very important to communication because words in different sequences can mean different things, although the words are the same. That is why it is important to place each part of the sentence in the correct place so that what you are trying to say is not perceived to be something else. If you have ever received instructions from someone and followed them just as they said them and then they come back to you later and tell you that you did not follow their directions, this can be quite confusing. And no matter what you tell that person, they are not going to believe that they were not clear because they knew what it was they were trying to tell you. It is[..]

It is not easy to plan a fresh and new class for your English students every week. Even though your teacher book gives you some great ideas not all of them are practical enough for your classroom. You often have to come up with a few exercises and ideas of your own to fill in as needed. You may try to get away and find some quite places that can help you focus and concentrate on your planning. Do not forget to take a notepad and some pens. That is about all you will need for now. First, take a moment to clear your mind of all other distractions and prepare yourself mentally for the task at hand. Okay! Are you ready? Good! Now think about the first group of students you need to plan for.[..]

type="text/javascript"> Teaching practices for ESL students Many ESL students had limited educations and, even in their local languages, have limited literacy talents. For many [**] the tenet of alphabetical order is not known. Even though alphabetical order is a basic organizing system of our society, and one that everyone who lives in the society needs to master. It's used by us to organize names in the yellow pages, to organize files in file systems, to organize inventory in our companies, to manage parts in our fix shops. How will we prepare them to perform such tasks when they leave our classrooms? Alphabetical order must be convergedin steps, something like this : Step one[..]

There are three principles involved in teaching and learning vocabulary in context: practice, understand, and infer (going beyond the text). ESL vocabulary activities, read alouds and games are all art of this vocabulary learning As a general rule of thumb, vocabulary can be taught inductively (through some process of discovery) or deductively (example: providing a picture - 'this is a _________' ) For young ESL learners, this is pretty hard to do, but when vocabulary is taught routinely and creatively, it can be a fun and enriching experience. Another general rule of thumb is that the discovery process has a general appeal to learners especially when the words have been previously[..]

Test anxiety is a common reality for all students. However, ESL students have to deal with the anxiety of taking a test while under the duress of learning a second language. Teaching test-taking tips will boost their confidence and help them deal more effectively with language-learning skills. You can help your ESL students overcome test anxiety using reflection techniques and practice sessions so they will be prepared by the time the real test comes. 1. Teach test-taking skills as part of good reading skills. Such test-taking tips include reading instructions carefully, skimming and scanning for specific information. 2. Teach good organizational skills. These are essential to success[..]

This article is about teaching business English. From a personal point of view, this has always been my favourite form of teaching English. My experience is in Madrid, Spain but this advice covers most countries with teaching Business English. I was lucky to have a strong business background in law and HR so it felt like a natural route for me to take. However many of my graduates get very nervous about teaching business English, especially if they are new graduates with limited experience in the business world What are you teaching? The first thing to remember is that you are teaching English in a business context, not teaching business in English. Many of the directors I have taught[..]

Ask Yourself First While there are many aspects which come into play during the teaching of an English language class, there are some which directly impact the value and success of any lesson both on the part of the English teacher and the language learner. In order to effectively promote those qualities which form an effective language learner, TEFL teachers first need to understand what those qualities are. To do this, language teachers should ask themselves, "Am I a good language learner?" So, let's briefly examine what constitutes a good language learner. According to studies by Rubin (1975) some identifiable qualities of a good language learner include the following: - Is a willing[..]

Welcome to Expertise Education! Teaching English in China with Expertise Education is an unforgettable experience. We bring you the experience of living and working in a foreign country without all the inconveniences. We provide good teaching positions at good Chinese Schools and Foreign Schools. Teachers enjoy many benefits provided by Expertise Education that most teachers in China do not receive. Teach English in China isn't the same without Expertise Education. Expertise offers its English Teachers with competitive monthly teaching salaries. Expertise's multiple contract options come with varying degrees of benefits and salaries to provide English Teachers in China with flexibility,[..]

-- End Ad Box ---> One of the questions ESL and TEFL teachers are asking on forums the world over is: how can you teach grammar through games? If you don’t want your class to glaze over with dictation, writing exercises and “Jimmy, would you please read paragraph 1,” then take heart! You’ll find you can teach everything you want with games, and the children remember it better to boot. Here is a disarmingly simple game, which can be used for many purposes. Please note this particular game is for small groups of up to 20 children or so, and you need floor space. If you have more than 20 children, or no floor space then please see the bottom of the article for games suited[..]

Today, it seems like all the English speaking countries are racing and digging the internet gold mines, such as United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, or Singapore. You might heard about how teenagers can make thousands or even hundred of thousands USD each year from the Internet. Now, English is your second language, and you are not confidence to build an English website where all the market is. Now, there are some myths that you need to straighten out before you are giving up the future internet gold mines. You can make money online too, but before hence; you need to know these myths. Myth#1: There are a lot of people are already making money in the internet, and there is[..]

To Narrow The Field To Areas Where You Are Interested In Teaching: There are several English teaching jobs in the country. You can be relevant for one from side to side various methods. Although applying personally is essential, you can also do it over the Internet. This is achievable when you visit a certain English school website and register online, so that you will be able to apply. On the other hand, you can also send your application letter and resume through e-mail. When you are able to prove that you are determined with the contemplation of teaching English, you will be able to begin accurate away. Among the cities of the country, which is hiring foreign teachers? This is where[..]

Hello, Their are many things to think about before teaching in another country here are 5 things I would consider.. 1. You need to understand that teaching languages is a great way to expand your knowledge of different cultures. Also to pass on your own culture and way of thinking. This will leave a big mark on your students lives. It will also affect the way they feel about you and your home land. 2. Are you ready to communicate with a whole new cultures and ways of thinking. Many of the students you may teach will have 0 English. It can be frustrating and stressful trying to communicate with these students. Also to not put them off wanting to learn. Can you stay calm in these[..]

With travel becoming cheaper and the world getting smaller, it might be tempting to think that there are no new experiences to be had. Well, we have news for you: this definitely isn't the case in Asia! It's one part of the world that has managed to keep the flame of its ancient traditions burning brightly, despite its gleaming, modern side. Its history, diversity and great respect for tradition are amongst the things that Asia is famous for. There's also an abundance of sights worth seeing: the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Sunkakuwan Bay, the Tubbataha Reef, Mt.Kinabalu and the industrial hubbub of Tokyo are just the tip of the iceberg! Though it is a veritable feast for the[..]

I would like to share with you my impressions on the just concluded THT ( Teachers Helping Teachers ) Second Seminar Series last February 21-22, 2009. Sharing knowledge, expertise and the like are noble things to do as teachers of the world. We, teachers from the City of San Jose del Monte are so lucky for having given this rare opportunity to learn. We are even luckier because we have met and exchanged ideas with the knowledgeable, competent and understanding THT volunteers. Our dear THT volunteers ( Sir Steve Wolfe, Sir Brent Jones, Sir Steven Snyder, Sir Michael Furmanovsky, Ma'am Marian Wang, Ma'am Shirley Ando, Ma'am Libby Brown-Osuga and Sir George Mano ) Thank you for allowing[..]

A powerful vocabulary usually takes time and experience to build. While that holds true for most folks, it doesn't mean you can't help accelerate the process a bit along the way. These practical tips should help you develop a robust vocabulary store faster than your average English learner. 1. Derive relationships Words based on a common theme or concept are easier to memorize than those with no concept to tie them together. Most vocabulary lessons found on language learning software are structured this way for a reason - they work exceptionally well. 2. Write it down Writing, for some reason, has a way of imprinting words into your consciousness. Instead of just reading words off a[..]