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Checking Meaning & Eliciting

~~What are Concept Check Questions (CCQs)?  What are Concept Check Questions? A question to lead learners to understand or demonstrate their understanding of the meaning of a new item (vocab or structure).  Why Use Them? They involve learners in the process of clarifying meaning and the teac

10 Tips To Ensure Staff Observations Improve Teaching, Learning and As

I have been considering the decision of Ofsted to stop grading individual lessons during inspections. The reason is understandable - they did not want to give the impression that the impact of teaching, learning and assessment can be condensed into a snapshot of one lesson. This has triggered many p

The Bell Curve and Standardized Tests

I have long been a proponent of finding alternatives to standardized tests, including the use of portfolio assessment and other authentic assessments that measure

Language Games for Adults

~~Whatsit: "Whatsit" uses verbs or nouns. Have one learner sit with their back to the board and another learner writes or draws a mystery word they all know on the board (word cards can be used to prompt where necessary). The guesser must then ask questions to guess the word using “whatsit”

Communicative Activities for Children

~~Communicative activities are tasks or activities that involve the learners using the target language to communicate with each other. The point is for learners to be using the language themselves to try to mimic realistic exchanges they could have in the real world. Communicative activities should

Structuring Your TESOL / TEFL Grammar Lesson Plan

Planning a grammar lesson for a TESOL / TEFL class is something that many new teachers find very difficult and this article is designed to offer some advice. Here we are foc

TESOL - Teaching English as a Second Language

So, how do you become a TESOL teacher? The answers are many and various and range from strapping on a backpack and buying a plane ticket to an exotic destination, or choosing a TESOL Training course to better prepare, all the way through to taking a Master's degree.

Regardless of your route, you will learn that TESOL teaching is a practical skill that is continually improved as you teach. As such, you will find that no matter how in-depth your TESOL training was, you will feel pretty overwhelmed when you encounter your first real learners. Don't panic, you'll quickly get better with teaching practice. And don’t get discouraged because even these most experienced TESOL teachers have bad days.

The key to effective TESOL teaching is to develop an awareness of how a TESOL lesson is being received. Is the topic too easy or too difficult? Are the students interested or bored? You should have some sort of plan for every TESOL lesson. In other words, have a plan as to what you want to achieve and what you want your students to take away from their TESOL lesson. However, if a lesson isn't working, don't be afraid to improvise according to the needs of the moment. It is always a good idea to have a backup plan in case things don’t go as expected!

TESOL Teacher Training

I can't over-emphasize that TESOL teaching is something you learn by doing. However, TESOL teacher training courses are useful, as they will introduce you to a range of techniques that you can employ to help your English language learners succeed. A good TESOL course will also teach you about the more technical aspects of language such as rules of grammar, phonetics etc. In other words, all the things we do as native English speakers without thinking, but can't necessarily explain why its done that way. If you've completed a recognized TESOL Training Course it will make you much more marketable to potential employers and private students, simply by showing you're serious about TESOL teaching. There are many TESOL training options out there, both online and face-to-face. Pick the teacher training option that is best for you. TESOL courses which include actual teaching practice with real TESOL students is a benefit. This is helpful because when you graduate you are not only qualified but experienced too.

Finding a TESOL Job

TESOL teachers have several TESOL employment options. They can be employed by a school, teach privately or - as many do - combine the two.

There are different kinds of TESOL schools. These include private English schools, schools and colleges in mainstream education. When applying for TESOL jobs, try to sell yourself as much as possible with your resume. Don't only state your TESOL qualifications and experience, but include absolutely anything that may be relevant, such as previous training experience, private tutoring, or teaching assistant. Be prepared to do some sample teaching, or even give a free, observed, trial lesson when you attend a TESOL school for interview.

Teaching English should be fun. As an English teacher you have the opportunity to travel anywhere, giving back to the people you meet. You will meet many interesting and wonderful people (and a few difficult ones too). Language is learned best when the learners are having fun, and learners are most likely to have fun when the teacher is enjoying what they do. Enjoy yourself and your TESOL Planet adventure!