Do Not Go In Spanish

All of my life I've been told that English is one of the most difficult languages on Earth to learn, and I should thank my lucky stars that it was my first language and I would never have to go through the agony of learning it later in life. Of course, I thought this was B.S. when I first heard it; after all, I learned English when I was like three years old. How hard could it be'It wasn't until I began to learn another language, Spanish, that it began to dawn on me just how convoluted and peculiar some parts of our language are. In Spanish, if you can say a word, you can spell it. That's it. Sound it out and you've got it. But English is chock full of all these funky, weird rules for spelling like I before E except after C. Okay, you got that' Now you can spell anything, right'...  [Read more]

In a world full of languages how does one place the English language' Most languages have a full history going back thousands of years. Can this really be said of English' No, but we can say that the history is full, one full of war and violence as well as compromise and inclusion. We might start in the year 449 AD in the island of Britain. At this time the Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain as the Romans left to defend their homeland. The local Celtic people quickly adapted the ways of the German tribe and we saw the beginning of English, it is said that the majority of its words can be traced to this. As the next thousand years progressed we saw the invasion of the Danes, French Normans as well as the influence of the Church. This leads us up to the time when this...  [Read more]

As Spain is a member of the EU, language schools generally prefer to hire teachers from fellow EU countries as they do not need to go through the hassle of applying for a work visa. However, this doesn't stop thousands of non-EU citizens from coming to Spain each year to work as English language teachers. Many of these simply enter on a tourist visa and technically work illegally. While this is common practice and rarely has any negative consequences, there is an alternative for those who want to live and work in Spain. By enrolling on a study course (typically a Spanish language course), teachers can apply for a student visa that also allows them to legally work a certain number of hours per week. To start the process you should visit your nearest Spanish Consulate at least three...  [Read more]

Spain is one of the most popular TEFL destinations in Europe and it attracts thousands of teachers from all over the world every year. However, before you jump on the plane to sunny Spain, you might want to consider what Latin America has to offer. When armed with all the facts, many teachers decide that a country in this region is actually better suited to them. One of the many benefits of teaching English abroad is it provides a perfect opportunity to learn another language during your stay. Many people choose Spain as their teaching destination as they assume it is the best environment for learning the Spanish language. However, the reality is that the Spanish spoken in Spain uses an accent and slang that is very different to anywhere else, to the point that Spanish speakers from other...  [Read more]

Yes. One of the many benefits of teaching English abroad is that it can provide a great environment for learning a foreign language. It is no secret that being fully immersed in a different culture, where you are constantly surrounded by a new language, is the most effective way to quickly develop your understanding. Throughout your time living and working as an English teacher abroad, you will inevitably have endless opportunities to practice your language skills. As well as using the language as you go about your daily life, there is also a good chance that you will have access to local language courses that are far cheaper than those available in your home country. Another possibility is the network of friends that you will likely make among the local citizens. Often people are more...  [Read more]

As a result of government restrictions and official requirements for visa applications, there are a variety of countries where it is hard for teachers to find a job without having a 4-year university degree on their CV/resume. However, if you are able to be flexible and are willing to look for employment in areas where the demand is high and restrictions are less rigorous, TEFL qualified teachers without a degree can still have several great destinations to choose from. To increase your chances of landing a position in the country of your choice, it is highly recommended that you first complete an internationally accredited TEFL certification course. Those who are TEFL qualified will find they have a big advantage over non-qualified teachers in most countries worldwide. Cambodia is...  [Read more]

Check out Tesolcourse.com about TEFL - Canadian Based Online TEFL Courses and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: A.B . - Scotland said: Knowledge and understanding of grammar has improved Expanded ideas of how to make lessons fun and interesting while developing students? abilities Think the 2 week practical course will help put these into practice and help work towards being a good TEFL teacher A.D ? USA I can't even put into words how much I feel like I have accomplished in participating in this program. I started with this program to get a taste of what it may be like to teach...  [Read more]

There are many different methodologies for teaching a foreign language. Here at TEFL international, we are exposed to the ESA (engage-study-activate) method, put to use in the classroom in a total emersion context, which is quite effective, yet very different from the way that many of us have been exposed to learning a second language in our native countries. Second language study in school in the United States was always done with the ?Grammar translation? method, usually in a bilingual classroom, a different yet somewhat effective way to learn some languages. These are contrasting methods yet they seek the same result, to increase communication skills in a tongue you are not familiar with, and until you are exposed to the both of them it?s hard to say which is...  [Read more]

There are many different methodologies for teaching a foreign language. Here at TEFL international, we are exposed to the ESA (engage-study-activate) method, put to use in the classroom in a total emersion context, which is quite effective, yet very different from the way that many of us have been exposed to learning a second language in our native countries. Second language study in school in the United States was always done with the 'Grammar translation' method, usually in a bilingual classroom, a different yet somewhat effective way to learn some languages. These are contrasting methods yet they seek the same result, to increase communication skills in a tongue you are not familiar with, and until you are exposed to the both of them it's hard to say which is more...  [Read more]

It is very hard to exaggerate Barcelona. With a population of nearly 2 million, it is big enough to offer the widest range of choices in arts, culture and entertainment but small enough to find your way around. Catalonia's capital sparkles with vibrant colours and intense energy. At tefl international in Barcelona we will do everything possible to make sure you have an enjoyable time in this fantastic region. We are a small and friendly team offering you the warmest welcome and a range of social activities and excursions to suit everyone. Tapas evenings, café crawls, sailing trips, skiing, windsurfing, wine tasting, beautiful beaches we can arrange just about anything! A welcome dinner at the start of the course helps ensure you get to know your fellow trainees at an early stage. Yes, the...  [Read more]

It is very hard to exaggerate barcelona. With a population of nearly 2 million, it is big enough to offer the widest range of choices in arts, culture and entertainment but small enough to find your way around. Catalonia's capital sparkles with vibrant colours and intense energy. At tefl international in Barcelona we will do everything possible to make sure you have an enjoyable time in this fantastic region. We are a small and friendly team offering you the warmest welcome and a range of social activities and excursions to suit everyone. Tapas evenings, café crawls, sailing trips, skiing, windsurfing, wine tasting, beautiful beaches we can arrange just about anything! A welcome dinner at the start of the course helps ensure you get to know your fellow trainees at an early stage. Yes, the...  [Read more]

Join our TEFL course in Peru and experience life at the nexus of prehistory and modern culture. Cusco is undoubtedly one of the best locations to take your TEFL course in South America. As if that isn't enough, once your course is finished, we will provide you with lifetime assistance finding employment. Teaching English in Peru is a great experience and our TEFL course in Cusco has proved to be increasingly popular. Considered the gateway to Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Cusco is a wonderful city to visit and explore. Though many people think of it as a small village, Cusco is actually a bustling city of 400,000 people. There is a plethora of museums, markets, cultural and historical sites within the city limits that are easily accessible and visited....  [Read more]

With communication technology and global economics making the world an increasingly smaller place, the need for a universal language is becoming increasingly important. Is it English? As a mono-language, more people on the planet probably speak Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, and maybe Spanish, but as a second language more people are learning English than any other language. Within the very near future, there will most likely be more speakers of English as a second language than native English speakers. Science and technology, and most business industries around the world are conducted with English as a common medium, reinforcing its own momentum. More people are traveling leisurely and professionally than ever before. Without at least a minimal grasp of English, if you...  [Read more]

With communication technology and global economics making the world an increasingly smaller place, the need for a universal language is becoming increasingly important. Is it English' As a mono-language, more people on the planet probably speak Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, and maybe Spanish, but as a second language more people are learning English than any other language. Within the very near future, there will most likely be more speakers of English as a second language than native English speakers. Science and technology, and most business industries around the world are conducted with English as a common medium, reinforcing its own momentum. More people are traveling leisurely and professionally than ever before. Without at least a minimal grasp of English, if you travel...  [Read more]

Seville is the capital and largest city of the region of Andalusia, in the South of spain. It is quite possibly one of europe's most beautiful and exuberant cities, and has captivated visitors for centuries with its rich history and folkloric tradition that continues to permeate daily Sevillano life. Legend has it that Seville was founded by the famous Hercules, and this city also gave life to the legendary figure of Don Juan, offered a nearby port from which columbus sailed to discover the New World, and produced such notable characters as Carmen and Figaro. Seville's biggest holiday, Holy Week (La Semana Santa), is during the March/April course, as is Seville's week long party, the Feria. From April 30 to May 4, everyone in Seville spends as much time as possible at the fairgrounds,...  [Read more]

Before you head to the airport to start your TEFL journey it is important that you are aware of the paperwork required by the country you are planning to work in. The specific type of visa you need to gain entry to your destination country and how you gain the right to work legally there can vary enormously from one place to the next. To ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible, you should visit the relevant embassy website and do a bit of online research well before you plan to leave. Typically, anyone traveling to a foreign country requires a passport that is valid for at least six months. In some situations your passport must be valid for a full year, so the best advice is to ensure your passport has two years or more remaining to allow for an extended teaching contract or...  [Read more]

I am a ?Purist? at heart. For me the only acceptable, the only correct, the only ?propah? way to speak (and spell) English is as illustrated in the Encyclopedia Britannica ? the British English, so to speak. I have always been a staunch champion of Dr. Doolittle and all the other guardians of the English language. However, being a teacher of the English language, I can no longer turn a blind eye to the ?globalization? of English, which is - ?now a mish-mash of words incorporated from over 350 languages, and is still undergoing constant change, with hundreds of words/phrases coming into existence every year, some fading away, but many finding their way into dictionaries and thesauruses! One can pronounce words in many different ways and still be understood!! The...  [Read more]

I am a 'Purist' at heart. For me the only acceptable, the only correct, the only 'propah' way to speak (and spell) English is as illustrated in the Encyclopedia Britannica ' the British English, so to speak. I have always been a staunch champion of Dr. Doolittle and all the other guardians of the English language.However, being a teacher of the English language, I can no longer turn a blind eye to the 'globalization' of English, which is - 'now a mish-mash of words incorporated from over 350 languages, and is still undergoing constant change, with hundreds of words/phrases coming into existence every year, some fading away, but many finding their way into dictionaries and thesauruses! One can pronounce words in many different ways and still be understood!! The emergence of so ...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word caparison. This word refers to decking something out in rich decorative coverings, usually used for horses. This word found its way into the English language through the French word caparasson who took it from the Spanish caparazón meaining ‘saddlecloth'. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. I remember how much trouble understanding past perfect had caused me before I finally got it. It...  [Read more]

Over the years, many debates have arisen in regards to second language instruction (L2), giving prominence to two main models: English Only versus Bilingual Education. English Only uses solely English as the medium for instruction, whereas Bilingual Education, as its name implies, uses both English and the student's native language. While there are several aspects to the debate, this paper will briefly cover a certain few: cultural sensitivity, accuracy, and segregation. Proponents of the English Only model claim that the use of a student's native language creates a 'cycle of native language dependency,' meaning that the student, to some extent, gets 'tethered' to his native tongue. Using solely English in the classroom, advocates say, frees students to think and...  [Read more]

Over the years, many debates have arisen in regards to second language instruction (L2), giving prominence to two main models: English Only versus Bilingual Education. English Only uses solely English as the medium for instruction, whereas Bilingual Education, as its name implies, uses both English and the student?s native language. While there are several aspects to the debate, this paper will briefly cover a certain few: cultural sensitivity, accuracy, and segregation. Proponents of the English Only model claim that the use of a student?s native language creates a ?cycle of native language dependency,? meaning that the student, to some extent, gets ?tethered? to his native tongue. Using solely English in the classroom, advocates say, frees students to...  [Read more]

'English' Who needs that' I'm never going to England.'-Homer Simpson from The Simpsons Homer Simpson's brief yet brilliant delve into an analysis of the English language might go unrecognized by some, but I feel it succinctly introduces some of the language's most current, hot- debated questions. The first question sounds like a simple one but has in fact recently proven itself a slippery monster. What is English' The dawn of ultra-globalization begs for the answer to this question as more and more people all around the world attempt to understand each other better using the new lingua franca. As mega conglomerates deal and governments negotiate (this just being the most obvious end of the spectrum) we must also ask can there be any room for misunderstanding' But English is...  [Read more]

The tefl international course on the Mediterranean coast of southern spain is in the famous city of Malaga, capital of the Costa del Sol in Southern spain, where the sun shines 300+ days a year. Malaga is also renowned for its culture, preparing to be elected as the european City of Culture by 2016. Malaga is exceptional. Art, nature, culture, beaches, fiestas/festivals, real Spanish traditions, enchanting neighbouring towns and villages and an abundance of sunshine; these are just a few of the reasons why you should choose Malaga as the city to earn your TEFL International Certificate. You’ll enjoy a Spanish cultural environment; real, motivated people wanting to learn English from you, and a flagship course proven to produce TEFL Teachers that can really teach. Malaga is a strong...  [Read more]

At our TEFL training centre in the Canary Islands you will have the chance to explore the world as you work towards your TEFL certification on the beautiful island of Gran Canaria, also known as The Little Continent! You will be forgiven for believing you are in the Sahara Desert when you explore Gran Canaria’s sand dunes by camel or in a dune buggy. You’ll also be forgiven for believing you are in Peru, as you hike through the island’s rainforests. Such is the diversity of Gran Canaria’s landscape that it has become known as the Little Continent. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of the island in the city of Las Palmas; the largest city on the island and one of the few in the world with its own beaches. You can enjoy scuba diving at the hundreds of dive sites where...  [Read more]

Our TEFL training course in Peru gives you the opportunity to earn an accredited and internationally recognized TEFL certification in a country with a rich and diverse history. You’ll experience the traditions and lifestyle of one of the most fascinating places in South America and on successfully completing the course, you may decide to stay on and teach English here. Peru is a land of many fascinating and awe inspiring sights and sounds, from the large waves of the Pacific coast to the heights of the Andes and the tropical rainforest of the Amazon, there is always something new to see and discover. You can explore the history of the Inca civilization among the many ruins that abound in the country the most famous of which is the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Peru is a great place for...  [Read more]

La Antigua is the most popular destination in the country for both tourists and Guatemalans alike, and is famous for its well preserved colonial architecture and spectacular ruins—so much so that the entire city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guatemala is a portal to another world – timeless architecture, cobblestone streets, archaeological ruins, and volcanoes looming overhead. Located in the central highlands of Guatemala 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level, La Antigua is the perfect launching point for trips to the Pacific coast, Lake Atitlan, Tikal and the jungle, all of which are just a few hours away. As if that isn't enough, once your course is finished, we will provide you with lifetime assistance finding employment. Our TEFL course in La Antigua offers...  [Read more]

Our TEFL training course in Peru gives you the opportunity to earn an accredited and internationally recognized TEFL certification in a country with a rich and diverse history. You’ll experience the traditions and lifestyle of one of the most fascinating places in South America and on successfully completing the course, you may decide to stay on and teach English here. Peru is a land of many fascinating and awe inspiring sights and sounds, from the large waves of the Pacific coast to the heights of the Andes and the tropical rainforest of the Amazon, there is always something new to see and discover. You can explore the history of the Inca civilization among the many ruins that abound in the country the most famous of which is the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Peru is a great place for...  [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]

IntroductionConsidering 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 as the...  [Read more]

If the addition of the 'one-millionth word' to the English language is any indication of its ever growing popularity and immense power, then it's safe to say that this language has indeed come a long way from its modest inception to the burgeoning behemoth that it currently manifests itself in worldwide. The research article I chose to write is based on the two hotly contested arguments (for and against) the English becoming the undisputed world wide language. I read the following articles:(1) http://www.languagemonitor.com/Global_English.html by Neil Reynolds, The Globe and Mail, March 24, 2006(2) http://www.langedizioni.com/varie/aggiornadid/bettinelli_bc06/globish .ppt#1 power point presentation by Dr. Barbara Bettinelli to generate the following results:The world according to...  [Read more]