When Does Chile Celebrate Christmas

One of the basic features in which human beings differ from the rest of the animal world is language. It is one of the forms with which we express ourselves. All humans have the innate capacity to learn each other's language, taught through repetition. The main objective and benefit which originates from language is communication. Moreover it contributes to view an insight into the human development. It therefore elucidates the child's development in general. The first step a child takes toward speech is through listening. It is curious to note that the slowest sense a child develops is hearing. This means that it may be that this strong hearing mechanism only responds and acts to sounds of a particular kind: those of speech. During the first months of life...  [Read more]

As a parent and an educator I have learned much about child development and am learning more everyday. When I was pregnant with my first child I discovered child development begins in the womb. My husband and I read to our child everyday and played music through a large set of head phones. As the months passed the baby began to respond through movement or rest. It also depended on what we were doing. If we played music, the baby was active with up beat children’s songs, but calm and relaxed with soft or classical music. I remember singing in the church choir oh my! The baby was bouncing all over the place. When we brought our son home from the hospital for the first time after he was born we played the music that we played while he was in the womb. He responded by...  [Read more]

Child development is a varied and complex subject. In this article, I will review the cognitive developmental stages formulated by Jean Piaget, a developmental biologist. These stages of cognitive development can help teachers understand the developmental stage of the students in their English classes and can help to make their teaching methods more effective. The first stage of cognitive development as defined by Piaget is the sensory motor period. This period happens between birth and twenty- four months. There are several sub stages, but most of them focus on motor skill development and reflexive response development. These skills and responses are the primary tools used to obtain and process information about the surrounding world.The preoperational period comes next and...  [Read more]

In this essay I review some issues related to child development which are useful for ESL teachers to be aware of as they may enhance or constrain language acquisition.Stages of Language Acquisition: Much evidence suggests that basic sounds, vocabulary, negating phrases, forming questions, using relative clauses, etc., are developed in stages. This appears to be independent from the learning situation (in the classroom or on the street) and is generally applicable across a spectrum of learners from different language backgrounds. It is analogous to the learning stages that babies go through when acquiring language: babbling (bababa), vocabulary (milk then later milk drink), negation (no play), question forming (where she go) and so on. Interestingly, error correction does not...  [Read more]

Child Development is a topic a teacher will come across daily. As a teacher it is your job to assess students on their ability to grasp both abstract and concrete thoughts. Understanding the development stages will help to identify the course structure. When you type in cognitive development stages of children in any search engine you will surely come across Jean Piaget. He is considered by many to be the 'Father of Developmental Psychology.' His key concepts are assimilation, accommodation, equilibration, and schemata.Assimilation occurs when the brain uses existing structures to deal with the new event. Adults and children alike use this in daily activities. When a new piece of information is given to us. Accommodation is when the internal reality has to adjust to fit the ...  [Read more]

As a parent and an educator I have learned much about child development and am learning more everyday. When I was pregnant with my first child I discovered child development begins in the womb. My husband and I read to our child everyday and played music through a large set of head phones. As the months passed the baby began to respond through movement or rest. It also depended on what we were doing. If we played music, the baby was active with up beat children?s songs, but calm and relaxed with soft or classical music. I remember singing in the church choir oh my! The baby was bouncing all over the place. When we brought our son home from the hospital for the first time after he was born we played the music that we played while he was in the womb. He...  [Read more]

Chile has long been one of the most popular countries in Latin America for teaching English abroad. The capital city of Santiago has a thriving demand for ESL teachers year-round and is subsequently the most popular location for foreign teachers. If you prefer to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city you will also find a smaller number of options in other towns and cities across the country. Although not an official requirement in Chile, it is recommended that you complete a TEFL/TESOL certification of at least 120 hours duration before looking for work as it will increase your job prospects significantly. There are many things to consider when calculating your expected salary for teaching English in Chile, such as your level of experience, qualifications, location, type...  [Read more]

As Chile is one of the most stable and prosperous countries in Latin America, it has long been a popular destination for ESL teachers. Jobs can be found in advance via online job boards or by interviewing in person from within the country. Alternatively, you can take advantage of the popular English Opens Doors Program (EODP) that places foreign teachers into schools across Chile on a volunteer basis. Participants on the scheme work as teaching assistants with the aim of improving the English language skills of children ranging from 10 to 18 years old. The EODP is a highly respected program that is sponsored by the Chilean Ministry of Education and the United Nations Development Program. The program is open to native or near-native English speakers between the ages of 21 and 35...  [Read more]

Game can be generally defined that something played for fun an activity that people participate in, together or on their own, for fun. As well as in teaching because of the evolution of teaching the generation changes so the needs in teaching also changes and this is how the games recognized and included in most of lesson plans and activities inside the teaching portfolio. ?Games have been shown to have advantages and effectiveness in learning vocabulary in various ways. First, games bring in relaxation and fun for students, thus help them learn and retain new words more easily. Second, games usually involve friendly competition and they keep learners interested. These create the motivation for learners of English to get involved and...  [Read more]

My article is based on personal experiences as I teach a French Kindergarten class on a voluntary basis. One September afternoon my sons? new teacher asked if I would be interested in teaching English to her Kindergarten class. Standing in front of the class for the first time I realized how dreadful it could be. I didn?t have any real experience, only teaching my children at home. Armed with a few songs, an alphabet chart, and a mini lesson plan, I found myself defenseless in front of a class whose concentration span was short. They just wanted to play. It didn?t help that their teacher was there and kept telling them to be quiet in French. I finally managed to speak to all the children and ask them their names. It was difficult and I had to revert to asking questions...  [Read more]

Motivation is the psychological feature that arouses an individual to action toward a desired goal. Motivation can also be the reason for an individual's action or that which gives purpose and direction to behaviour. In other words, motivation is an incentive that generates goal-directed behaviour.Being able to achieve something that you may have thought impossible and making it a reality. If you are learning a new language because your parents want you to might be difficult for you to motivate yourself however if there is a reward at the end of it you may still try hard to succeed. Therefore motivation can come in different forms and when in a classroom students will be motivated by different things. Finding what motivates each individual can make teaching easier, rewarding,...  [Read more]

Many TEFL qualified teachers head to Latin America as it is a region that promises endless opportunities for adventure. Teaching jobs are abundant in many areas and there are rarely any restrictions on who is eligible to apply. Whether you are a native English speaker or not, and whether you hold a degree are often irrelevant in many countries. Several countries also have clear structures in place for obtaining an official work permit, while salaries are typically high enough to afford a comfortable lifestyle. Unlike some other popular regions for foreign teachers, there is generally no requirement for teachers in Latin America to possess a college degree or to have extensive experience in the classroom. However, most employers will expect their teachers to have completed a reputable...  [Read more]

The demand for a second or third language at an early age has increased over the last years. Many parents decide to raise their children bi- or multilingual and therefore more and more kindergarten and preschools offer English as a second language. There are many advantages in teaching English as a foreign language at such an early stage in a child's life. Learning a language for a child is a lot easier than for adults. They listen and learn without analyzing sentence structure, grammar, stress or intonations such as adult learners. The child will simply grow up having two first languages. English is generally taught as the first foreign language in school. A child having been exposed to English in kindergarten will have head start in school and even later when he or she wants...  [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]

Game can be generally defined that something played for fun an activity that people participate in, together or on their own, for fun.As well as in teaching because of the evolution of teaching the generation changes so the needs in teaching also changes and this is how the games recognized and included in most of lesson plans and activities inside the teaching portfolio.´Games have been shown to have advantages and effectiveness in learning vocabulary in various ways. First, games bring in relaxation and fun for students, thus help them learn and retain new words more easily. Second, games usually involve friendly competition and they keep learners interested. These create the motivation for learners of English to get involved and ...  [Read more]

It would be nice to think that an ESL teacher could enter the classroom with a friendly smile, the appropriate warmer and a well- planned lesson, and the result would be a room full of students progressing continually in their language skills. However, with a task as great as learning English as a second language, the experience is rarely that easy. Learning English has its’ own unique difficulties, and it profits the ESL teacher most if these challenges are explored and prepared for before entering the classroom. One such challenge is students with learning disabilities; when it is believed that a student has a learning disability, teachers must consider diagnosis and appropriate teaching methods.It can be hard to make the decision to evaluate students for a learning...  [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 has a ton of information on theories, methods and techniques. What I got out of this course is a teacher is a person of many hats. There are many different methods and approaches for teaching students. I think one of the most valuable things I learned in this essay is the difference between mistakes and errors. Also, that praising a child is just as important as correcting a child (if not more). This...  [Read more]

Discipline in the classroom is many faceted. In this article, I will focus on being proactive with discipline. I have been a teacher for over twenty-five years and have always worked to create a positive, caring and supportive classroom for my students. In a classroom, there must be rules, positive consequences and negative consequences. That is part of creating a positive discipline plan. If teacher is proactive, she will have much less difficulty with discipline. The goal i s to be able to teach the curriculum in a comfortable classroom atmosphere-for you as a teacher and for your student. The single best resource I have found for discipline is a book entitled The First Days of School by Harry Wong. Harry says, ?What you do on the first days of school will...  [Read more]

It is certainly possible to travel overseas and work as an English language teacher if you have children. However, there are several things to consider before deciding whether it is the right option for you and your family. Wherever you are in the world raising children can be an expensive proposition, so before you head off to teach English abroad you need to be sure that it is financially viable. As pay levels vary greatly from one region to the next, where you plan to teach is one of the most important decisions you will have to make. Europe and Latin America are both very popular destinations for ESL teachers, but it is not easy to earn enough to support more than one person in these regions. In contrast, across Asia there are several countries such as China, South Korea, Taiwan...  [Read more]

In terms of supporting and sustaining successful and high achieving students, parents play a significant role. Parents provide guidance, role modeling, and make decisions about every aspect of their child's educational experience. In fact, there is an abundance of research and evidence that point towards the key role parents play in a child's success in school (NYIM, 2004). Research has found that regardless of family background, students who have parents that are active in their education are more likely to have; higher grades, better school attendance, good social skills, and go on to postsecondary education (Barton, 2006). While there is no one single definition of parental involvement, generally it is defined as, 'when parents actively, critically, resourcefully and ...  [Read more]

There are many benefits to be enjoyed while working overseas as an English language teacher, including the unique opportunity to be surrounded by a new language on a daily basis. If your dream is to perfect your Spanish language skills by living and working in a Spanish speaking environment, then you have several great options to choose from. There are over twenty countries with a combined population of nearly half a billion people where Spanish is the main language. Many of these also have a large demand for English language teachers. If you are looking to immerse yourself in Spanish culture and language, where better to do it than in Spain itself. Famous for its stunning architecture, beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine, and laidback attitude, Spain has plenty to offer foreign...  [Read more]

Although the benefits of learning foreign languages are undisputable, the implementation varies around the globe. When should we introduce it' Should we go for a bilingual education, foreign language classes or immersion schools ' Immersion elementary schools started to appear in Canada in the early sixties (CRAWFORD, 1989). In Europe, after a long tradition of a second language learning in secondary and high schools, the European Centre for Modern Languages conducted, in 2002-2003, a project called 'Janua Linguarum - the Gateway to Languages' in ten European countries to promote the introduction of language awakening at the end of primary schools. There are a number of arguments in favor of early language learning. Noam Chomsky, a 20th century linguist, referred to a...  [Read more]

Teaching English has become a major industry worldwide, with countless adult and child students enrolled in courses worldwide. Teaching children and teaching adults are different tasks. There are natural differences in the abilities and predispositions of adults and children that makes the methods effective in teaching them different. One of the advantages of teaching any new language to any child is that they are closer to the state in which they learned their first language. There is debate as to how exactly an initial language is learned, and whether it is more through nature or throw nurture that children are able to undergo this process, but it seems to be universally agreed that children are at an advantage when it comes to learning languages ...  [Read more]

Language acquisition is the process by which language ability develops in humans. There are two types of language acquisitions- firs language acquisition and second language acquisition. While the former deals with early childhood language development, the latter has a nurture aspect to learning in adults. Humans have long debated whether language can be developed in the absence of speech and various experiments by Psammeticus, King James V and Akbar support the hypothesis that language in the absence of speech is not possible. First language acquisition or the native tongue of a person is the language a child has heard from birth. The speed with which the language is acquired is indeed remarkable. All children go through certain stages in language development even if...  [Read more]

Language acquisition is the process by which language ability develops in humans. There are two types of language acquisitions- firs language acquisition and second language acquisition. While the former deals with early childhood language development, the latter has a nurture aspect to learning in adults. Humans have long debated whether language can be developed in the absence of speech and various experiments by Psammeticus, King James V and Akbar support the hypothesis that language in the absence of speech is not possible.First language acquisition or the native tongue of a person is the language a child has heard from birth. The speed with which the language is acquired is indeed remarkable. All children go through certain stages in language development even if the rate...  [Read more]

In the past when someone had a diploma from a school like Harvard or Yale it automatically means that they'll find a good job in the future. This myth has been proven wrong in the work place. Students with great diplomas are now finding it harder to find jobs that will accept them. Why' The students are leaving schools with knowledge that is unapplied and unused making them, in a sense, robots. This phenomenon reminds us of a famous quote, 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' So, how does one solve this dilemma' Very simply put, application, and what better way to do it than through games.One of the hardest things to do is getting the students to use and apply the knowledge that was taught, this could be done easily with game. Games don't only help motivate the students...  [Read more]

With world-class surfing and diving, a large number of cultural, historical, and archaeological attractions, and an enormous range of accommodations, Bali is one of the world’s most popular island destinations and one which consistently wins travel awards. Get TEFL Accredited in Bali, the famed Island of the Gods, with its varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces, and barren volcanic hillsides all providing a picturesque backdrop to its colorful, deeply spiritual, and unique culture stakes a serious claim to be paradise on earth. Bali is known for tourist hotspots that cater to surfer dudes, budget-backpackers as well as high end luxury travellers. But there is a side to Bali that many do not experience- and the road less travelled...  [Read more]

Teaching English has become a major industry worldwide, with countless adult and child students enrolled in courses worldwide. Teaching children and teaching adults are different tasks. There are natural differences in the abilities and predispositions of adults and children that makes the methods effective in teaching them different.One of the advantages of teaching any new language to any child is that they are closer to the state in which they learned their first language. There is debate as to how exactly an initial language is learned, and whether it is more through nature or throw nurture that children are able to undergo this process, but it seems to be universally agreed that children are at an advantage when it comes to learning languages ...  [Read more]

  Jennilyn from the Philippines completed the 120-hour online TEFL course with ITTT. In this TEFL review, Jennilyn tells us that she enjoyed the course and found it to be well structured with clear instructions. Jennilyn is sure that all the information that she has learned throughout the course will be useful in her future teaching career and she is looking forward to taking more courses with ITTT. 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. Unit 9,...  [Read more]