Does Substitute Teaching Count As Teaching Experience

It is possible and even routine for TEFL course graduates to start a new career teaching English online without any previous classroom experience. Due to a huge demand for online English language teachers that is set to grow year-on-year, it is perfectly normal to set foot into a virtual classroom as a teacher despite having never worked in any kind of teaching role before. As an online English teacher, students from all over the world will want to connect with you and knowing their native language is in no way necessary. As with most English language classrooms, online teachers teach their students using a method known as total immersion. This teaching methodology simply implies that no other language other than English is used between the teacher and the student for the duration of...  [Read more]

Yes, you can start a new career teaching English abroad without any form of teaching experience. Due to a huge demand for English language teachers in countries all over the world, tens of thousands of English speakers head overseas every year to work in a variety of different classrooms. Of this number, approximately 90% will have never worked in any kind of teaching role before. Wherever you find yourself living and working as an English language teacher, you will most likely teach your students using a method known as total immersion, whereby no other language is used in the classroom besides English. As most learners are not in a position to move to an English speaking country in order to be surrounded by the language, it is the teacher's job to bring this immersion to the student...  [Read more]

If you are looking for the best possible preparation for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), then look no further than our 4-week, in-class certification course. The course is internationally recognized and available in over 40 exciting destinations worldwide. The In-class course focuses on practical classroom training as well as the theoretical knowledge you need to become an effective teacher. During the course you will learn how to teach English using the international standard communicative approach, meaning only English is used in the classroom. Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Our TEFL certification courses are certainly demanding; however, we do everything within our power to encourage...  [Read more]

At ITTT we provide internationally recognized TEFL certificate courses in a wide variety of exotic and interesting locations. Our intensive 4-week courses meet all international standards and due to the external validation and moderation of all courses, you can be assured of the highest standards and quality wherever and whenever you take our course. Taking a course with ITTT provides the best possible TEFL training and access to our full range of support services regardless of your age, nationality, or educational background. Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Please click on the links below for further information about our course locations. Sign up for one of our 4-week classroom based residential courses by the end of this month and receive an additional...  [Read more]

No matter which of our international in-class training centers you choose to attend, you are guaranteed to receive the support and guidance of experienced teacher trainers. All our trainers are practicing language teachers who have been involved in EFL teaching and teacher training for many years. This high level of experience ensures they are fully aware of all the issues that new trainees face in the classroom, and are therefore able to offer invaluable advice and assistance throughout your stay. At ittt we are happy to accept course applications from anyone who is keen to gain their TEFL certification, regardless of age or nationality. Over the years we have successfully trained thousands of teachers from all corners of the world, from as young as 18 years to 65 years and up. Our only...  [Read more]

When I was growing up in school, I experienced many different teaching styles that for the most part did not work for me. Not that I lacked the intelligence, it was because the teaching style did not suit me. After a few years out of school I realized I was better off and figuring it out as I went along. At work if an engineer was trying to explain something I’d have to look at the job and I’d usually figure it out myself. It would go in one ear and out the other when it was being explained to me. This method might not work for everyone. I’m not sure but I think it would be similar to internet learning and doing the work yourself.My experience of learning languages is mixed. When I was learning German, I had a drill-sergeant type teacher in fact he was...  [Read more]

I'd like to write about my experience in volunteer teaching with an ALT, Assistant Language Teacher, at the local elementary school.Through this experience, the following important points that were covered by the TEFL course have been re-confirmed.1. Planning and preparation before lessons.2. Usage of the whiteboard/blackboard, flash cards, and the CD player.4. Facilities: classroom or gym'3. Body language: gestures and eye contact4. Voice control: volume, pronunciation, and accent5. DisciplineChiba prefecture, north east of Tokyo, where I live has been employing ALTs from all over the world for a number of years. Most of them are just out of college. Some of them have lived in Japan as exchange students in the past. ALT stands for assistant language teacher and therefore they...  [Read more]

  In this TESOL review, Ben from South Africa talks about his experience of taking an online TESOL course with ITTT and how he is looking forward to starting his teaching career overseas now he is a qualified English teacher. Earning a TESOL qualification with ITTT gives you the opportunity to see the world while also earning a living. 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. This unit was about four tenses: past simple, past continuous, past perfect,...  [Read more]

If you have never taught English to complete novices before, the prospect of spending an entire lesson speaking with students who don't comprehend a single word you say may seem frightening. Teaching absolute beginners differs from teaching other courses, as any ESL teacher will tell you. It can be difficult, but it may also be one of the most enjoyable and gratifying language levels to teach. Every new word your students learn is important at this level, and the greatest approach to teaching it is to be as creative and funny as possible. Generally, teaching the letters and numbers should be one of your first priorities. You will lay a solid foundation for everything else your students will learn by teaching them the letters and numbers at the start of the course. Ascertain that your...  [Read more]

Every year, thousands of new and experienced teachers head to Europe looking for adventure while working as an English language teacher. A large number of these will arrive in the usual hotspots across Italy and Spain where the competition for jobs can be very high. If you are looking for something a little different that is slightly off the beaten path, then the Central European Teaching Program (CETP) may be worth a look. The CETP is a long running program that places applicants into schools in Hungary to work as English language teachers. The CETP is open to native English speakers from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., or any other EU country. As the scheme has no official upper age limit it is a particularly good option for older teachers who might find it difficult to secure jobs in...  [Read more]

Among the tens of thousands of ESL teachers working overseas, it is relatively common to find friends or couples who set off to teach English abroad together. Although it is common practice, there are still a few things to think about before you both pack your bags and head to the airport. If you plan to set off abroad with a friend or partner, it is vital that you choose a destination where you both have a good chance of finding employment. Although you might dream of working in a tropical beach resort with swaying palm trees and a laidback lifestyle, this may not be realistic as the limited number of jobs and a high level of competition could make things difficult. In contrast, most major cities across Europe, Asia and Latin America have a high demand for teachers, making employment...  [Read more]

While no teaching job is ever likely to be seen as easy, teaching English as a foreign language promises a rich life full of travel, excitement, and job satisfaction. However, if you want everything to go as smoothly as possible, there are a few things you need to think about before jumping on a plane to distant shores. If you want to start your teaching career in a positive fashion it is important to understand the TEFL job market and to head to where the demand is especially high. As a newly-qualified teacher you are unlikely to have the luxury of picking and choosing exactly where you want to live and work as many of the most sought after jobs in the most popular teaching locations will often be taken by teachers with previous classroom experience. Many first-time teachers look...  [Read more]

One of the worst teaching experience is having a class come to an abrupt halt while someone searches a dictionary for a specific word, one usually not found in the end anyway. The problem of using dictionaries as a crutch could be rectified by not allowing the use of them in a lesson at all. The great art of circumlocution could be used instead, albeit kicking and screaming. Those experiences of being derailed by frantic dictionary searches would make any ESL teacher shudder and swear off dictionaries entirely. Should native language to English language dictionaries be banned altogether' Some would argue that using dictionaries is a good technique to use in the classroom. One that actually helps to create a more independent learner ( www.tefl.net/teacher_training). The...  [Read more]

  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. Course development is one of the most important issues in a teacher's career. It's essential to make a complete procedure to start working with business students. The first step is to ask typical questions concerning interests, previous experiences and preferences. The second step is to do the Placement test. The next step is to do needs analysis. The final step is to make a course plan and to describe the...  [Read more]

  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. Technology can be a huge resource for teachers within World Language classrooms. However, in order for the applications to be useful, it is necessary that teachers understand how to use the various technological devices, setup the devices ahead of time, and have a backup plan should technology fail (it is both a blessing and a curse!). During this unit, the benefits and drawbacks of various methods of...  [Read more]

  Regardless of which type of beginners you are teaching here are our top 10 tips for the teaching of beginner classes. 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. The content of this unit focused on the productive skills of writing and speaking for communicative purposes. The unit provided a brief overview of the equal importance of writing and speaking in the classroom, of which writing is often pushed to the wayside as language production (via...  [Read more]

  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. In this lesson, I learned about the many methods of teaching English as an L2 language. Of the teaching methods, I find that the ESA- Engage, Study, Activate- method is most interesting and thorough because of the versatility and flexibility it gives a teacher. As a teacher using ESA, I can gauge the understanding and interest of my students and add more study and activate materials to better suit their...  [Read more]

  This teaching idea is very similar to the activity we can use for the future continuous. We pair up our students, give them diaries and have them find the day on which both of them are free to meet. This video shows you exactly how to execute this activity in the classroom. 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. Pronunciation is extremely difficult area, especially in languages far removed linguistically from English. A German most certainly has an...  [Read more]

Asia and Latin America are two of the most popular regions for teaching English abroad. Both have a strong demand for English language instruction, and there are always plenty of employers ready to take on experienced and newly qualified teachers in a wide variety of countries. If you are undecided on which destination would suit you best, take a look at the following points as they might help you to make an informed choice. In general, most people who head to Latin America will find that they can live comfortably on their earnings, but are unlikely to save much (if anything at all) of their monthly salary. Paying rent and other bills, socializing, and exploring the region should be affordable for most, but if you have debts to pay off or need to save to fund further travel, it may not...  [Read more]

  The zero conditional is the most basic form of the conditionals in the English language. This is a teaching idea for the zero conditional that can also be adjusted for any other types of conditionals. 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. This lesson provided information on learning theory, and the most appropriate methods for each set of learner age groups. It discussed each of the four theories (and mentioned a fifth), and how they are applied...  [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]

  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. While it is the most basic form of verbs usage, the present tense did pose some problems to me. Not in the way that I would use them, but in the way that I actually have to name the proper tense to my students when teaching. Very informative on that point since all of those matters are very far in my memory. However, what I found most useful are the commonly made mistakes which I would not have foreseen,...  [Read more]

Situated just north of the Equator, Malaysia is a tropical destination that has plenty to offer TEFL qualified teachers. The country’s rapid development, diverse culture, and great food are all major attractions. The government is also keen to recruit more English teachers in the coming years, ensuring plenty of opportunities for international teachers. As there are a large number of local English language teachers, competition for jobs is relatively strong, but they are available for those who want them. Salaries in Malaysia are not in the same league as some other Asian countries such as China, Japan, or South Korea, with an average wage being around $1, 000 USD per month. However, the cost of living is relatively low so this figure can go a long way if you live a normal lifestyle....  [Read more]

Volunteer English teaching has been an important part of the TEFL world for many years, with countless schemes operating in many parts of the world. Most of these opportunities are located in developing countries where access to affordable language lessons is not widespread and where people often see improving their English as a clear path towards better jobs and a better future for them and their families. However, while these schemes provide a very valuable service, there are now increasing numbers of online volunteer based teaching platforms that are able to provide help to even more people worldwide. There are many individual reasons for wanting to offer your services as an online volunteer English teacher. For many people the reward of helping someone in need and seeing them make...  [Read more]

After spending the last year in Korea I feel sharing my experiences there will be of great assistance to any ESL teachers who are considering or have accepted a position in the country. Firstly, I would like to outline the basic conditions of employment in the country The average salary is around 2,000,000 Won per month, which is equal to around $2,200, this amount is fairly standard whether working at a government school, university or the most common place of employment the all prevalent language school or “Hagwon” in Korean. Furthermore, your employer will provide free accommodation, round trip air fare and will make a contribution to both the government run health insurance program and pension fund.Additionally upon completion of your contract you will receive...  [Read more]

Our unique instructional videos provide an invaluable addition to the TEFL training experience. These extracts from our 120-hour course with tutor support cover many aspects of teaching such as English grammar and lesson planning.  [Read more]

Teaching English Online is a rapidly expanding area of the TEFL/TESOL market. Estimates show that beyond 2020 there may be more people learning English online worldwide than face-to-face. No previous experience or training in education is required to complete this course. The course is designed for anyone who is currently working, or intends to work within the field of Teaching English Online. On completion of the course, you should have gained a basic knowledge of teachers and their roles, students and their needs, how to manage a classroom and the all-important skill of creating your own lessons, all with specific reference to teaching English online. Further topics of study include the practical requirements of hardware and software needed and how to use this. The course concludes with...  [Read more]

English is taught as a second language all over the globe. Due to the volume of qualified teachers needed there are many great opportunities with attractive salaries just waiting to be filled in countries worldwide. TEFL teachers are usually required to have teaching qualifications and are therefore considered to be skilled workers in most areas. As a skilled foreign worker, the base salary enjoyed by a full-time ESL teacher is usually considerably higher than the country’s median wage. Experienced teachers and those with advanced-level teaching qualifications can often further enhance their claims for a higher salary. Factoring in lifestyle and living costs, countries in Southeast Asia continue to be extremely popular with our TEFL course graduates. An average teaching salary in this...  [Read more]

If you perform an internet search for TEFL courses in Thailand you will find several pages of different providers offering a variety of courses across the country, but how do you know which is the best for you? At ITTT we are confident that our in-class courses are the best on offer in Thailand as we have developed them over a number of years. The key to the success of our in-class TEFL courses is the quality of the instruction provided. At all of our centers we only employ trainers who possess a high level of teaching qualifications and several years of experience teaching in an international classroom environment. All our teacher trainers are dedicated to helping each and every trainee to reach their full potential. With their guidance and encouragement, most trainees successfully...  [Read more]

  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. This unit went over what you should focus on when you are planning a lesson. It really made a point to emphasize that you should always remain flexible. Always be open to change because sometimes activities don't go as planned or they might go quicker or slower than planned. Timing was another thing that was stressed in this lesson. You should try to estimate the time of each activity. I think it would be...  [Read more]