Student Centred Teaching

I have always viewed education as an experience that is required. Society has implemented education as one of the key factors for individual development, and evolution as a whole, a necessity. It is an exchange of information that takes place on a greater scale, and generates development that allows humankind to move forward. This is further demonstrated by our need to create a system that understands our psychology as a whole. Our ability to understand the learning process and teaching methodologies have allowed people to try to ameliorate the system of education and maximise its potential. Without education, we would be unable to move forward, and I feel it is crucial to realize this importance of communication involved in the learning process . An...  [Read more]

ITTT has recently opened a TEFL & TESOL training center in Bundoran, a popular seaside resort in County Donegal, Ireland. If you wish to be TEFL/TESOL-certified and would love to take a course in Ireland, this is an opportunity you cannot miss. Check out course details and fees for ITTT's Bundoran TEFL/TESOL center here! Limerick, home of our TEFL training centre in ireland, is nestled in the heart of Munster, in Ireland's sunny south-west region. Limerick is a city boasting a rich history, dating from at least the Viking settlement in 812. Limerick is home to some of Ireland's most famous historical attractions: King Johns Castle, Bunratty Castle, the Hunt Museum (located in the city centre) and St. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick's oldest...  [Read more]

Inspiring a high level of motivation among students of all ages and maintaining it, is an ongoing challenge for even the most experienced and skilled teachers. One thing is certain, the motivation of a student has no connection to the matter being taught, but can instead always be reliably linked to the reasons why the student is learning the matter and how (Barrakeet, 2005, p 73- 74). Knowledge of human learning, and the factors influencing human learning, has increased dramatically over the past 100 years. From early thoughts by Psychiatrists Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung between 1900 and 1920, arguing that we are born with a wealth of knowledge through a connection to a collective unconscious (Jung,1962), and that our motivation is based entirely around ...  [Read more]

Inspiring a high level of motivation among students of all ages and maintaining it, is an ongoing challenge for even the most experienced and skilled teachers. One thing is certain, the motivation of a student has no connection to the matter being taught, but can instead always be reliably linked to the reasons why the student is learning the matter and how (Barrakeet, 2005, p 73- 74).Knowledge of human learning, and the factors influencing human learning, has increased dramatically over the past 100 years. From early thoughts by Psychiatrists Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung between 1900 and 1920, arguing that we are born with a wealth of knowledge through a connection to a collective unconscious (Jung,1962), and that our motivation is based entirely around instincts (Freud,...  [Read more]

We offer a wide choice of TEFL certificate courses that vary in duration, study method and price but all of our courses are based around the same principle, which is to provide high quality, practical training. Our courses all use the same core materials. Our online TEFL courses are studied 100% by distance learning and come with online tutor support throughout. As these are online TEFL courses there is no classroom time and no teaching practice component. However, you will have the opportunity to complete some optional teaching practice at no extra cost. Our online courses are primarily designed for trainees who wish to study an internationally recognized TEFL course but have time and/or budget constraints which don't allow them to attend one of our training centers. There are many...  [Read more]

By joining our TEFL course in Peru you are choosing to study in one of the most fascinating cities in South America. Cusco is the historic capital of the Incan Empire and a gateway to exploring the history of the wider region. Many people find teaching English in Peru to be a truly rewarding experience and our TEFL course in Cusco is increasingly popular. Once you have graduated, we will provide you with lifetime job placement guidance helping you to find work in Peru or wherever else you choose to move onto. The city of Cusco is Peru’s premier tourist destination and has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It serves as a jumping off point for those wishing to visit Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and other historical sites in the region. There...  [Read more]

Our course takes place in the city of La Antigua, a thriving former capital popular with both tourist and locals alike. La Antigua is famous for its well preserved Spanish colonial buildings and fascinating ruins and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is situated 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) above sea level in the central highlands of guatemala. This location makes La Antigua the perfect place for exploring the wider area, with the Pacific coast, Tikal and Lake Atitlan just a few hours away. During your course you will receive high quality instruction from our experienced teacher trainers following rigorous academic standards. On graduation you will receive an internationally recognised TEFL certificate and our lifetime employment assistance. La Antigua has an...  [Read more]

You only have to spend a short time in Bangkok to see why it was named as one of the world’s Top Ten Cities by Travel + Leisure and the number one visited city by Global Destination Cities Index. The city is home to a wide variety of quality restaurants, frantic non-stop shopping, pristine temples and thailand’s best museums. It is a unique blend of modern and traditional life with sleek city malls and floating markets. If you’re in to night life, Bangkok, or the City of Angles as it I also known, is second to none. Bangkok is arguably the best city in thailand for Thai food whether you’re eating on the street or at five star restaurants. You can find a taste of each part of the country here as well fantastic international dishes. ittt’s training centre in Bangkok is a working...  [Read more]

The tefl international TEFL course in Granada is in the ideal location to discover the past and enjoy the present. History is everywhere in the area. Granada’s architecture and rich cultural history is passionately kept alive; the delicious cuisine; the resounding sound of Flamenco music played into the night; the blending of Islam and Christianity. Granada is totally unique. Historically, Granada hosts one the last fortifications of the Moorish Kingdom in Western europe. The internationally famous Alhambra and the Generalifé are samples of the splendour of this fascinating civilisation. It was in Granada in 1492 that Christopher columbus received the support he needed and a charter from the then Queen to seek a new route to india, which ultimately resulted in the discovery of the...  [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]

The tefl international course in france is in Plelauff, a scenic French village bordering the renowned Nantes-Brest Canal in the Côtes-d'Armor. It lies in central Brittany not far from the region's rugged coastline, steep cliffs and numerous delightful, medieval towns. Plelauff is an ideal spot simply because it is so central to everything. A charming, peaceful little village designed to truly help you get away from it all, it nonetheless offers a significant number of attractions. Nearby villages include Gouarec and Plougernevel while the closest towns are Rostrenen (a 10-minute drive), historic Pontivy (20 minutes) and the slightly more distant St Brieuc (40 minutes) which stages the popular Breton rock festival in summer, and is the nearest main line train station. The village of...  [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]

Teaching grammar can be one of the most frustrating aspects of an English teacher’s job description. Teaching grammar can be divided into two categories, declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge. Declarative knowledge can be summed up as knowledge about a thing such as the rules of grammar whereas procedural knowledge is being able to apply the knowledge to communicate effectively. To illustrate the difference declarative knowledge would be being able to understand the instruction manual on how to assemble a bicycle where as procedural knowledge would be what you demonstrate when you actually put the bicycle together. Being good at one does not necessarily make one good at the other. Many of us native English speakers can use our native tongue correctly but...  [Read more]

Teaching grammar can be one of the most frustrating aspects of an English teacher?s job description. Teaching grammar can be divided into two categories, declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge. Declarative knowledge can be summed up as knowledge about a thing such as the rules of grammar whereas procedural knowledge is being able to apply the knowledge to communicate effectively. To illustrate the difference declarative knowledge would be being able to understand the instruction manual on how to assemble a bicycle where as procedural knowledge would be what you demonstrate when you actually put the bicycle together. Being good at one does not necessarily make one good at the other. Many of us native English speakers can use our native tongue correctly but...  [Read more]

Just as students may vary from class to class, so are teachers and their teaching style. This paper focuses on the four basic teaching styles which are formal authority, demonstrator or personal model, facilitator and delegator. Which style is more effective' Do you want the students to focus on you or do you want to focus on the students' Which is your style'Lessons taught using the formal authority teaching style tends to be teacher centered. The most obvious example of this style is when a teacher is lecturing. In the class when the teacher is using the formal authority teaching style, the teacher is in control of the lesson and all of the attention and energy of the student is focused on the teacher. The formal authority teaching style is effective because it is...  [Read more]

  This video covers the differences teachers encounter when teaching monolingual and multilingual classes. Monolingual students all have the same native language. Multilingual students have different first languages. Watch this video to find out how to deal with these types of classes as a teacher. 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 Unit 5 'Managing Classes', we dealt with topics related to the balancing act of organizing the classroom. This...  [Read more]

Cambodia is one of the most exciting countries in Asia and it is not hard to see why. The country is blessed with rich culture, natural beauty, and ancient structures. One of the most-visited sites in the country is the temple complex of Angkor Wat. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, Angkor Wat attracts over 2 million tourists annually. Gateway for the temples of Angkor, Siem Reap was always destined for great things. Visitors come here to see the temples, of course, but there is plenty to do in and around the city when you are templed out. Siem Reap has reinvented itself as the epicentre of chic Cambodia, with everything from backpacker party pads to hip hotels, world-class wining, and dining across a range of cuisines, sumptuous spas, great shopping, local tours to suit both...  [Read more]

The role of the teacher has significantly changed for past few years due to advent of new technology. Although the same qualities of a good teacher are still required from the educators, the style of teaching has fundamentally changed and transformed from teacher- centered method of teaching into student-centered teaching pattern. Nowadays teacher?s personality is still considered an important factor in a process of teaching. Thomas Peacock in his article ?Native Students Speak What makes a good teacher?? states that a teacher should possess two kinds of characteristics: teaching and personal. As Peacock indicates ?teaching characteristics include having cultural knowledge, being interested in students, listening and understanding to their problems and using...  [Read more]

The term Active Learning means ''student interaction with content, with materials and with peers in a multi-disciplinary, multi-sensory and multi-graded approach' (Meyers, 1993 pg 39). Active learning helps the teacher handle the diversity of student levels in the classroom.In an Active Learning classroom the student is provided with the time, the materials, and the organized classroom routines and expectations they need in order to allow them interaction with their learning. It is important for educators to realize that Active Learning supports not only English-speaking students but second- language learners as well.If we think that students are learning English so that they can use it in their everyday lives to better themselves and their opportunities, we must realize that...  [Read more]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word dross. This word describes something that is seen as junk or rubbish. Some synonyms for dross are trash or garbage. This word comes from the Old English 'dr?s' and is also related to Dutch droesem and German Drusen meaning dregs. 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 is centered around Teaching Receptive Skills. There are different basic skills in language, that is reading, listening...  [Read more]

The role of the teacher has significantly changed for past few years due to advent of new technology. Although the same qualities of a good teacher are still required from the educators, the style of teaching has fundamentally changed and transformed from teacher- centered method of teaching into student-centered teaching pattern. Nowadays teacher’s personality is still considered an important factor in a process of teaching. Thomas Peacock in his article “Native Students Speak What makes a good teacher'” states that a teacher should possess two kinds of characteristics: teaching and personal. As Peacock indicates “teaching characteristics include having cultural knowledge, being interested in students, listening and understanding to their problems...  [Read more]

  "They're", "their" and "there" are three words that are often used incorrectly. "They're" is simply the contracted form of "they are". "Their" is a possessive and indicates ownership of something. "There" indicates a place. Due to the Internet and instant messaging, the three words have been icreasingly used incorrectly. However, if you'd like to use them correctly, you should keep their meanings in mind. When trying to decide which word to use remember that "they're" = they are, "their" = ownership and "there" = place. 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...  [Read more]

As it is the exciting capital of Greece, Athens is a great destination to complete your CELTA training course. This dynamic city offers plenty of magnificent sites to explore and you are only a short trip away from some of the best coastal resorts in the region. Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy and is home to the mighty Acropolis, one of the most famous landmarks in the whole of Europe. For a quick look at what Athens has to offer, click here for a virtual tour of the city. Athens has a well earned reputation as one of the friendliest and safest cities in Europe and it has been welcoming visitors with its warm climate and rich culture for many years. Wherever you go in the city you will find authentic outdoor cafes, restaurants and taverns where you can sample the very best...  [Read more]

As it is the exciting capital of Greece, Athens is a great destination to complete your CELTA training course. This dynamic city offers plenty of magnificent sites to explore and you are only a short trip away from some of the best coastal resorts in the region. Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy and is home to the mighty Acropolis, one of the most famous landmarks in the whole of Europe. For a quick look at what Athens has to offer, click here for a virtual tour of the city. Athens has a well earned reputation as one of the friendliest and safest cities in Europe and it has been welcoming visitors with its warm climate and rich culture for many years. Wherever you go in the city you will find authentic outdoor cafes, restaurants and taverns where you can sample the very best...  [Read more]

Our training centre in Phuket provides what might well be the most popular TEFL course in Thailand. We average over 12 trainees per course and have proven ourselves to be one of the best course locations worldwide. In the classroom you will receive unsurpassed training, while after the course you will receive an internationally recognized certificate to teach English as a foreign language, as well as lifetime assistance finding employment worldwide. Outside of the classroom, Phuket never fails to provide trainees with breath-taking scenery and a variety of experiences not to be forgotten. Phuket is Thailand’s largest and most popular island destination, however, despite rapid growth along its west coast, Phuket still has plenty of lush jungles, picturesque mountain vistas, peaceful...  [Read more]

The TEFL International course in northern Thailand is held in Chiang Mai, which was once the capital city of the Lanna Kingdom and is now the capital of North Thailand. Chiang Mai was founded more than 700 years ago, and is one of the oldest cities in Thailand; it’s recognized as having an independent cultural personality of its own. The Thai people love their beloved northern capital; a quaint, walled and moated city surrounded by a beautiful landscape nestled in a valley surrounded by national parks consisting of mountains, rivers, forests, waterfalls, meadows and rice fields. As a location, Chiang Mai offers a unique experience for TEFL International TEFL Courses in Thailand. Many feel that Chiang Mai is an essential part of any visit to Thailand. Located more than 700km northwest of...  [Read more]

Perhaps the most important aspect of successful teaching is the ability to motivate. Motivating students can be especially difficult if the students are not attending class willingly or if the subject matter is dry. Unfortunately, there is no single magical formula for motivating students. Many factors affect a given student´s motivation to work and to learn (Bligh, 1971; Sass, 1989): interest in the subject matter, perception of its usefulness, general desire to achieve, self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as patience and persistence. Yet regardless of the challenges, every teacher needs to find effective methods for inspiring pupils to learn. Though teaching techniques vary, I believe there are three critical practices that one will find in any class of motivated ...  [Read more]

Our training centre in Phuket provides what might well be the most popular TEFL course in thailand. We average over 12 trainees per course and have proven ourselves to be one of the best course locations worldwide. In the classroom you will receive unsurpassed training, while after the course you will receive an internationally recognized certificate to teach English as a foreign language, as well as lifetime assistance finding employment worldwide. Outside of the classroom, Phuket never fails to provide trainees with breath-taking scenery and a variety of experiences not to be forgotten. Phuket is Thailand’s largest and most popular island destination, however, despite rapid growth along its west coast, Phuket still has plenty of lush jungles, picturesque mountain vistas, peaceful...  [Read more]

'Motivation can be induced artificially, but its effects then are temporary' (2). It is important for teachers to learn skills to motivate their class in ways that will move away from a 'temporary', to a lifelong or long term 'want' to learn. The International TEFL course as well as several others, suggest different ideas and methods of how best to use motivation in the classroom. Though there are different methods, the goal remains the same.The International TEFL course teaches using the ESA method, (Engage, Study and Activate). This teaching method allows the students to quickly become accustomed to the teaching structure. Students know that out of each lesson they should expect a well organized, clear teaching point with plenty of engagement and activation with their peers....  [Read more]

Motivation can be induced artificially, but its effects then are temporary? (2). It is important for teachers to learn skills to motivate their class in ways that will move away from a ?temporary?, to a lifelong or long term ?want? to learn. The International TEFL course as well as several others, suggest different ideas and methods of how best to use motivation in the classroom. Though there are different methods, the goal remains the same. The International TEFL course teaches using the ESA method, (Engage, Study and Activate). This teaching method allows the students to quickly become accustomed to the teaching structure. Students know that out of each lesson they should expect a well organized, clear teaching point with plenty of engagement and activation with...  [Read more]