What Do You Need To Be A Teacher In California

This paper is concerned with teaching the productive skill of writing for students of non-native English speaking countries. This is an area that has all but been ignored in the past and somewhat over looked in the field of TESOL, as administrators, teachers and students seem to be more concerned and more focused on the speaking side of the productive skills. As more and more ESL students are seeking writing help at the college and university levels, the need becomes clear for better writing instruction in the ESL classroom. The ability to write well is not a naturally acquired skill, nor is it a linear process easily fit into some pre-taught format. Writing must be taught as a set of practices in a formal instructional setting and must be practiced. Good writing ...  [Read more]

This paper is concerned with teaching the productive skill of writing for students of non-native English speaking countries. This is an area that has all but been ignored in the past and somewhat over looked in the field of TESOL, as administrators, teachers and students seem to be more concerned and more focused on the speaking side of the productive skills.As more and more ESL students are seeking writing help at the college and university levels, the need becomes clear for better writing instruction in the ESL classroom. The ability to write well is not a naturally acquired skill, nor is it a linear process easily fit into some pre-taught format. Writing must be taught as a set of practices in a formal instructional setting and must be practiced. Good writing involves composing...  [Read more]

Imagine you are an ESL student who has studied quite hard. You have followed your courses; you have been actively participating in class activities and discussions; you have completed all assignments; you have read your texts. In fact, you feel quite prepared to travel to the English speaking world and use your English skills quite confidently. Your assumption is a logical one. You have had no indication that the proper English you have been taught is missing a large piece of the language: idioms and slang. When you arrive in the new country, you understand most of the conversations but have quite a hard time understanding seemingly nonsensical phrases and words. This is not a situation that should occur. Teachers of English that are native speakers have all the...  [Read more]

In each class, there are many different students. Each of these students has a different way of learning. A teacher in an ESL classroom will need to respect the many ways students learn and develop lessons with a wide range of activities and exercises that address these different intelligences. Howard Gardner''s theory of multiple intelligences emphasizes 8 different styles of learning that encompass most people. As the teacher begins to understand the students in his/her class, they will begin to develop a sense of how each student learns and be able to tailor lessons to suit.Word SmartStudents who are word smart learn best through verbal activities. Verbal activities are listening, reading, or speaking. To target these learners, a teacher may include discussions, worksheets,...  [Read more]

Having been used as the setting for many famous movies and TV shows, the skyline and major landmarks of San Francisco are instantly recognizable to millions of people all over the world. Iconic structures such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island need no introduction, whilst other favorites including Fisherman’s Wharf, the hairpin turns of Lombard Street and the famous cable car system are equally famous. The city is also well known for its diversity and inclusive attitude that can still be felt today across many of its unique neighborhoods. With a fascinating list of attractions to explore, and a warm and welcoming population, San Francisco could well be the perfect venue for completing your TEFL/TESOL training course. San Francisco’s rise began with the onset of the infamous...  [Read more]

One of the biggest issues facing the United States is the number of immigrants coming to the US from Mexico and Central America. With the large number of immigrants flowing across the border, the problem of language has arisen. Throughout the US? history, the issue of what language should be spoken has been real. My father grew up in a Polish community. While he was in elementary school, he would be punished if he spoke any Polish. Today, across America, we are seeing this same sort of problem with Spanish speakers. Many people believe that schools should be ?English-only,? and that immigrants and their children should only speak English if they decide to come to this country. Arizona and California have both passed laws banning bilingual education,...  [Read more]

One of the biggest issues facing the United States is the number of immigrants coming to the US from Mexico and Central America. With the large number of immigrants flowing across the border, the problem of language has arisen. Throughout the US’ history, the issue of what language should be spoken has been real. My father grew up in a Polish community. While he was in elementary school, he would be punished if he spoke any Polish. Today, across America, we are seeing this same sort of problem with Spanish speakers. Many people believe that schools should be “English-only,” and that immigrants and their children should only speak English if they decide to come to this country. Arizona and California have both passed laws banning bilingual education,...  [Read more]

The notion that English is a global language rests on fairly substantial ground since it is used officially and unofficially throughout the world. Linguist David Graddol estimates in a report to the British Council that '500 million to one billion speak English now as either a first or second language,' and 'there could be two billion new (my italics) speakers of English within a decade.' Jacques L'vy, a native speaker of French who studies globalism at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, states 'It's a lost cause to try to fight against the tide. It could have been another [global] language; it was Greek, then Latin, French, now it is English.' In the United States today a heated debate over Mexican immigration has triggered a move toward making English its...  [Read more]