Culture Teacher

Put simply, language is a verbal expression of culture which means that culture clearly has to be seen as an important part of language learning. Although it is important to learn the vocabulary and grammar of English during lessons, to truly grasp what the language means to native speakers it is vital that EFL students learn as much as possible about the culture of English speaking nations. The good news is that students generally love learning about cultural issues, whether it is music, films, books, and TV, or other things such as food or fashion. So, how can we incorporate culture into our EFL lessons to make them interesting and productive? Authentic materials can be anything that native English speakers might use that can be adapted for use in an EFL classroom. This type of material...  [Read more]

The simple answer is no, you do not need to have any knowledge or experience of languages other than English to take a TEFL course or to become an EFL teacher. The ability to speak other languages is not required as the vast majority of TEFL classrooms around the world rely on the communicative approach to English teaching that specifies that English is the only language used in the classroom. In multilingual classrooms where the students could have a dozen or more different first languages, being able to communicate in one or two of them would obviously be of no particular advantage. In monolingual classrooms you may also find that students are more inclined to revert to their mother tongue during the lesson if they are aware that the teacher can understand what is being said....  [Read more]

The requirements for teaching English in China have changed frequently in recent years. They are also frequently misunderstood and the situation has become even more complicated due to COVID-19. So let's dive into it. The main requirement for teaching in China is a valid Z-Visa in your passport. This is the only type of visa that allows you to work in the country legally. This means that those who want to teach English in China must meet the Z visa requirements. To obtain a Z visa you must meet certain requirements, which range from nationality and age to qualifications and a few other crucial details. It is critical to understand that many of the rules outlined below have exceptions. The following are the primary Z Visa requirements: You must be a citizen of one of the seven approved...  [Read more]

Although the average salary for EFL teachers in Southeast Asia is significantly less than that of some other countries across the continent, the region still draws a large number of teachers to countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. While you might struggle to save a great deal of your earnings during your stay, you should still be able to live comfortably in your country of choice. Although the country's famously laid-back lifestyle attracts large numbers of foreign teachers, the average salary is generally less attractive when compared to other countries in the region. Teachers without experience can expect to earn around $1,000 per month, which should be enough to cover general living expenses, but is unlikely to leave much in the way of savings. Teachers with a high...  [Read more]

Across Europe there are several countries that attract a large number of EFL teachers every year. Some make it hard for foreign teachers to work legally, while others are much more open. By doing a bit of simple research you should be able to find the countries that offer the best prospects for your personal circumstances. Spain has long been one of the top destinations in Europe for teaching English abroad. Thousands of teachers from all over the world head to Spain every year, drawn by the promise of a relaxed lifestyle, a beautiful coastline dotted with sandy beaches, and the opportunity to learn Spanish while living in a modern, international city such as Madrid or Barcelona. If you are serious about living and working as an ESL teacher in Spain, the first thing you will need to do...  [Read more]

Foreign teachers have been living and working in large numbers across Japan for decades. However, a significantly increased cost of living in recent years has led to a reduction in the amount that teachers are typically able to save from their salary every month. Having said that, there are still plenty of great opportunities across the country that offer attractive salaries and other benefits, particularly in cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama. Although it is no longer the top destination for saving large amounts of money, Japan still has plenty to offer both new and experienced teachers. As with any destination, the salaries on offer vary considerably depending on experience, qualifications, location, and type of employment. As a guide you should expect to earn somewhere...  [Read more]

Bulgaria is one of several countries in the Central and Eastern European region that have developed their infrastructure substantially since joining the EU in recent years. The market for English language teachers has also grown to cater for the high demand for English language skills that are essential for many local people who want to climb the career ladder in a wide variety of professions. Among the country’s many attractions are its famous Black Sea coastline, very affordable ski resorts, and its stunning natural scenery. No one would suggest that Bulgaria is a good destination for saving money or living a lavish lifestyle on a language teacher’s salary. However, that doesn’t stop people coming to explore the country’s culture, history and natural surroundings, while also...  [Read more]

ESSAY ORGAN'ZAT'ON: In this essay I want to discuss cultural sensitiivty in the classroom. In order to speak intelligently about the topic we first need to to know what we are talking about. Let us begin by defining our terms, beginning with culture. After doing that we can then apply these terms to classroom experience.WHAT IS CULTURE' Anthropologists most commonly use the term 'culture' to refer tot he universal human capacity to classify, codify and communicate their experiences symbolically. This capacity is long been taken as a defining feature of the genus Homo. However, primatologists such as Jane Goodall have identified aspects of culture among our closest relatives 'n the animal k'ngdom. In order to resolve this we can say that symbolic experiences while not exclusive...  [Read more]

When considering the importance of the role of a teacher, what then is the importance of how they teach when faced with different and diverse cultures? First, we must look to the definition of culture itself: ?A culture may be conceived as a network of beliefs and purposes in which any string in the net pulls and is pulled by the others, thus perpetually changing the configuration of the whole.? (Jacques Barzun, quoted on site: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural- services/articles/culturel) So if culture is indeed a highly upheld structure that supports each individual, then we must carefully take into consideration how we incorporate the culture in the classroom to create a sense of unity. In teaching to a different culture, one must first reflect on their ...  [Read more]

Reach To Teach is ESL Teacher Placement Agency placing thousands of happy native English teachers into schools around the world. Whether you are looking for a government teaching program or want to work at a private language school, the professional recruiters from Reach To Teach can help you make the right decision and find a suitable teaching position in your desired location! Reach To Teach places teachers into the following regions. If you want to teach English in China and immerse yourself in Chinese culture and learn Mandarin Chinese, teaching with Reach To Teach is the perfect opportunity for you. Reach To Teach currently works with many exciting young learner, adult, and online schools for teachers that want to teach in China. Your salary as an English teacher in China will be...  [Read more]

Teaching is the highest form of understanding. (Aristotle) A culture is a grouping within which values, norms, beliefs, patterns of behavior, rituals, customs and traditions are shared. To best serve their students, teachers at any level need to be especially sensitive to differences between their own culture and that of their students. This may begin with a careful look at their own worldview. Unintentional biases should never be promoted and are very easily overlooked, especially by the western mind. Changing family composition, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and religion are all areas teachers need to pay special attention to. There is often an inclination among Americans, especially those who have not lived outside their own culture, to be overly...  [Read more]

Teaching is the highest form of understanding. (Aristotle) A culture is a grouping within which values, norms, beliefs, patterns of behavior, rituals, customs and traditions are shared. To best serve their students, teachers at any level need to be especially sensitive to differences between their own culture and that of their students. This may begin with a careful look at their own worldview. Unintentional biases should never be promoted and are very easily overlooked, especially by the western mind. Changing family composition, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and religion are all areas teachers need to pay special attention to. There is often an inclination among Americans, especially those who have not lived outside their own culture, to be...  [Read more]

As an ESL teacher one of the biggest challenges I have had to face is cultural sensitivity. Not only on my part as a teacher but on the part of my students as well. My first experience on this subject dealt with stereotypes. Not only those held by my students but those that I carried as well. The second issue was how to bridge the gaps between our two cultures. Therefore, the issue becomes how do we increase our level of cultural sensitivity. There have been many studies done on this issue. Most focus on the things the teacher should do to bridge the gap. I believe that it takes effort on the part of both the student and the teacher to resolve this issue. As ESL teachers most of us have left our countries and begun teaching in other countries. In his book The Developmental Model...  [Read more]

Savvidou - Understanding Chinese Names: Cross-Cultural Awareness ...Diversity and cultural sensitivity are important considerations in an EFL classroom. English is an international language and the numbers of English speakers are growing rapidly. It's important to understand how English translates in each culture and language. There is a growing body of literature addressing cultural differences and the importance of awareness. Our challenge is to meet the demand of student in a manner that incorporates linguistic and cultural competence. Language is primarily a communication tool. As language teachers it is paramount to help students take 'ownership' of the new language they are learning. H. G. Widdowson,, suggests taking 'ownership' of English as a way of shifting attitudes....  [Read more]

Navigating Through a Foreign-Language-Classroom:Non-Verbal VocalicsTeaching in a foreign country and to students that do not understand English poses as a tedious endeavor. Innately we as humans tend to gravitate towards people like ourselves, thus when a TEFL teacher enters a classroom full of students from a different culture the work that is entailed to teach is abundant. Not only must the teacher propose a lesson, they must also embark on communicating with their students. Nevertheless that communication is of utmost difficulty; not only are the students from a different culture, they also speak a different language. Therefore, a sense of understanding must arise between the student and the teacher' lack of language. Consequently the communication that goes on between the two...  [Read more]

As an ESL teacher one of the biggest challenges I have had to face is cultural sensitivity. Not only on my part as a teacher but on the part of my students as well.My first experience on this subject dealt with stereotypes. Not only those held by my students but those that I carried as well. The second issue was how to bridge the gapsbetween our two cultures. Therefore, the issue becomes how do we increase our levelof cultural sensitivity. There have been many studies done on this issue. Most focus on the things the teachershould do to bridge the gap. I believe that it takes effort on the part of both the student and the teacher to resolve this issue. As ESL teachers most of us have left our countries and begun teaching in other countries. In his book The Developmental...  [Read more]

Isn't it funny how our preconceptions are often way off course' Certain things we're preconditioned to think, be it because of cultural influences, peer/family influence or experiences, and, more often than not, we don't question these; Tesco and Wal-Mart are Mecca's; McDonald's food tastes amazing; being quiet makes you a good student. I ran away from this conditioning and ended up on a TEFL course in sunny Phuket, the 'Pearl of the South' : an excuse to escape the real world for a while and maybe earn a qualification with which I could escape for a wee while longer. Many things Western culture had tried to precondition me to believe I'd already balked at- Wal- mart´s and suchlike are more demonic corporations to be run away form rather than Mecca's to be embraced and...  [Read more]

Navigating Through a Foreign-Language-Classroom: Non-Verbal Vocalics Teaching in a foreign country and to students that do not understand English poses as a tedious endeavor. Innately we as humans tend to gravitate towards people like ourselves, thus when a TEFL teacher enters a classroom full of students from a different culture the work that is entailed to teach is abundant. Not only must the teacher propose a lesson, they must also embark on communicating with their students. Nevertheless that communication is of utmost difficulty; not only are the students from a different culture, they also speak a different language. Therefore, a sense of understanding must arise between the student and the teacher? lack of language. Consequently the communication that goes on...  [Read more]

sn?t it funny how our preconceptions are often way off course? Certain things we?re preconditioned to think, be it because of cultural influences, peer/family influence or experiences, and, more often than not, we don?t question these; Tesco and Wal-Mart are Mecca?s; McDonald?s food tastes amazing; being quiet makes you a good student. I ran away from this conditioning and ended up on a TEFL course in sunny Phuket, the ?Pearl of the South? : an excuse to escape the real world for a while and maybe earn a qualification with which I could escape for a wee while longer. Many things Western culture had tried to precondition me to believe I?d already balked at- Wal- mart´s and suchlike are more demonic corporations to be run away form rather than Mecca?s...  [Read more]

Music is an amazing phenomenon; it holds the power to sway emotions, recall memories, and invoke understanding. Music has often been used as an effective learning tool in many classroom environments. In the EFL classrooms, music and songs can provide invaluable depth and knowledge for students.Music and songs can create a non-threatening environment for students. Students often feel intimidated when they are asked to speak aloud in a classroom setting (Lo and Li, ' 1). When asked to speak, students are terrified of making mistakes; therefore, they will be too nervous to answer, or they may give an incorrect answer, causing them to look foolish before their classmates. Songs give students an opportunity to practice their spoken English in a way that is familiar and...  [Read more]

The Cambridge online dictionary defines culture as ‘the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time’. Education, and thus teaching, are widely believed to one of the most fundamental and essential elements in human life. Therefore cultural awareness in the education environment is of paramount importance. To effectively communicate in any classroom, the students must feel both at ease with, and a sense of respect for, their teacher. To achieve this, the teacher must be aware of the norms, customs and beliefs which have nurtured the minds and personalities of those he or she intends to educate. Any offence or disrespect caused would be of detriment to the crucial rapport building and mutual respect. As ...  [Read more]

The Cambridge online dictionary defines culture as ?the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time?. Education, and thus teaching, are widely believed to one of the most fundamental and essential elements in human life. Therefore cultural awareness in the education environment is of paramount importance. To effectively communicate in any classroom, the students must feel both at ease with, and a sense of respect for, their teacher. To achieve this, the teacher must be aware of the norms, customs and beliefs which have nurtured the minds and personalities of those he or she intends to educate. Any offence or disrespect caused would be of detriment to the crucial rapport building and mutual respect. As ...  [Read more]

In the TEFL classroom, it is important to recognize that cultural differences exist both between teacher and students, and between different students in a multilingual classroom. These differences have the potential to create problems, such as misunderstanding or uncomfortable situations. This article will discuss these issues and suggest ways they can be dealt with or prevented. Lisa Delpit discusses challenges of teaching in a multicultural society. Although she is referring to multicultural students in the United States, the issues she discusses are very relevant to teaching English as a foreign language abroad or in an English-speaking country. Some of these issues are: failure to recognize cultural differences and problems that might arise because of these differences,...  [Read more]

Understanding diversity in the classroom is of high importance for teachers. In society, educational institutions represent a rare opportunity for developing friendly relations among the worlds many ethnic groups. The open exchange in classrooms can contribute to a type of exchange found nowhere else in society. So teachers must not ignore multiethnic relations. The potential challenges a teacher faces for acknowledging the differences in students will be well rewarded if done with respect. Unfortunately, no matter the age or background, ethnicity perceptions are commonly found in individuals. Children are no exception. A study of Dutch and Turkish children conducted in the Netherlands showed that biases about ethnicity are widespread. Boys showed more ethnic bias...  [Read more]

Understanding diversity in the classroom is of high importance for teachers. In society, educational institutions represent a rare opportunity for developing friendly relations among the worlds many ethnic groups. The open exchange in classrooms can contribute to a type of exchange found nowhere else in society. So teachers must not ignore multiethnic relations. The potential challenges a teacher faces for acknowledging the differences in students will be well rewarded if done with respect. Unfortunately, no matter the age or background, ethnicity perceptions are commonly found in individuals. Children are no exception. A study of Dutch and Turkish children conducted in the Netherlands showed that biases about ethnicity are widespread. Boys showed more ethnic bias than girls,...  [Read more]

Teaching English to Japanese students can be very difficult because of cultural and lingual differences. Japanese students are very different from American and European students. An advantage is their tendency to be more reserved and well behaved. However, they do not like to speak in class because they do not want to appear arrogant (Ikeda). This is a cultural custom and it will take extra encouragement to coax the students to talk. Also, students do not like to make eye contact and will become very embarrassed if they do not know an answer (Ikeda). Teachers must be sensitive to these manners in order to conduct a comfortable class for the students. A gradual progression toward a more English style class will be the most productive approach to classroom differences...  [Read more]

Introduction Considering the difficulties that learners from different backgrounds are faced with is appropriate because I will soon embark on a teaching career which will bring me in contact with many people from different backgrounds and the challenges they face in mastering the English language. Having learnt English myself at some point in life, has made me aware of some of the difficulties my students are faced with. My experience in having overcome these difficulties could be a great help to my students, if these are used in the proper way. The danger is that one might compare others to oneself. This is useless because it?s extremely difficult to say that people with a certain background only face one set of problems. The difficulties are as many and as varied...  [Read more]

Enrol on an ITTT TEFL course in Uzbekistan and explore a fascinating culture in an underrated travel destination. Our TEFL courses in Uzbekistan give you the opportunity to live at the intersection of East and West and explore this incredible and often undiscovered Central Asian gem. Uzbekistan is rich in history and culture and forms the South-Central Asian Union with the other “Stan” states of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Uzbekistan’s economy has been steadily increasing. The country has also been boosting its tourism industry and counts more and more foreign visitors every year. The ancient city of Smarkand, known for its mosques, mausoleums and connection to the Silk Road, and Bukhara,...  [Read more]

There are two broad categories of situations in which non-native English speakers may learn English. Multi-lingual classes are with students from various nationalities normally in a country where English is the native language. This may be considered as teaching 'English as a Second Language (ESL). Monolingual classes are usually in the students' home country and this context is 'English as a Foreign Language' (EFL). In multi-lingual classes the students are living in an English speaking country and are exposed to the language, either for a limited period of time or permanently. In class they must use English to communicate even if there are some other students with the same native language (L1). The teacher will probably ask them to sit separately, and even if he/she...  [Read more]

In the same way that people look different, people are also intelligent in different ways. In 1983, Professor Howard Gardner came up with the concept that we all have multiple intelligence (MI). In the following I will briefly explain this concept further; highlighting how it can be incorporated into lesson plans when teaching English as a second language (ESL); how it can help students build on their strengths, while limiting their weaknesses in their grasp of the English language; and how it is useful when considering different cultures in the classroom. I will also discuss how MI explains that students all learn differently, according to which form of intelligence they are stronger in.Gardner (1983) has categorised intelligence into 8 key areas: 'Linguistic Intelligence:...  [Read more]