Bridge Linguatec

Zone of proximal development (see Vygotsky) relates to the earlier concept of scaffolding, where learning takes place within the ZPD, i.e. don’t try to go too far too soon. Vygotsky believed there were three elements that would help the learner cross the Zone of development. These three aspects were having 1. Social interactions with people at a higher competence level than the learner 2. Structures available to help the learner bridge the gap and 3. A more knowledgeable other (MKO) to work with. This need not be a teacher.  [Read more]

  This video covers the difference between 'advice' and 'advise'. As these two words have a similar pronunciation and spelling, their usage is often confused. In fact, the two words are both are from the same word stem but 'advice' is the noun and 'advise' is the verb. Therefore, their usages are not the same. 'Advice' refers to a proposal for an appropriate course of action. Please give us some advice about planning a trip to France. In this example, we use 'advice' because it is the noun. When we want to describe the action of giving advice or offering a suggestion, we use the verb, or 'advise' spelled with an 's'. A good example would be: I advised them to visit the Pyramids of Giza when they are in Egypt. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section...  [Read more]

San Francisco is a city that needs no introduction, its use in a huge number of Hollywood movies means that much of this Californian city is instantly recognizable to people from all over the world. Whether it’s the iconic Golden Gate Bridge or the infamous Alcatraz Island, nearly everyone has an image of this city in their mind. San Francisco has a long history of ethnic diversity and this can be seen in its inclusive atmosphere and the many distinct neighborhoods that make up the city. San Francisco’s unique and iconic attractions, blended with its easygoing atmosphere, make it a great place to earn your TEFL/TESOL certificate. Despite being first settled by the spanish in the 18th century, San Francisco did not start to really grow until the famous Californian Gold Rush in the...  [Read more]

Located in the north west of the South American continent, Ecuador straddles the Andes with low coastal areas on the west and rainforest in the Amazon Basin to the west. It is the smallest of the Andean nations and is bordered by Colombia to the north and Peru to the east and south. To the west is the mighty Pacific Ocean. The country is home to a rich and diverse ecology with thousands of species of plants and animals and is most notable for the Galápagos Islands where Charles Darwin first started to consider his theory of evolution. The country’s capital is Quito which rests on the eastern slopes of an active volcano. Quito was one of the first cities in the world to be named a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site along with Kraków in Poland and has one of the largest and best...  [Read more]

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  Located in the north west of the South American continent, ecuador straddles the Andes with low coastal areas on the west and rainforest in the Amazon Basin to the west. It is the smallest of the Andean nations and is bordered by Colombia to the north and Peru to the east and south. To the west is the mighty Pacific Ocean. The country is home to a rich and diverse ecology with thousands of species of plants and animals and is most notable for the Galápagos Islands where Charles Darwin first started to consider his theory of evolution. The country’s capital is Quito which rests on the eastern slopes of an active volcano. Quito was one of the first cities in the world to be named a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site along with Kraków in Poland and has one of the largest and best...  [Read more]

Multiculturalism In The Classroom In light of the increasing number of diverse people groups moving to the United States the complexion and complexity of our society is changing. Approximately 32 million people speak a language other than English at home (Nieto, 2000). The impact of this growing cultural and linguistic diversity is nowhere more visible than in our schools. More than 3 million or 7.4% of students in all public and private schools are limited in their English proficiency (Macias, 1998) and is a reality not just in the urban schools, but suburban and rural as well are experiencing this tremendous diversity. Based on the philosophy of Paulo Freire (1998) “to study is not to consume ideas, but to create and recreate them” (p.4). Educators and leaders of our society must...  [Read more]

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  California is one of the most famous and most visited states in the USA and it is not hard to see why. ‘The Golden State’ offers great weather year-round, splendid beaches and breathtaking natural scenery. California received its nickname from the boom period of the Gold Rush years when it saw major changes due to the millions of migrants flocking to the area in search of their fortune. Still today, California is the most populated and one of the most ethnically diverse states in the country. In the north you will find some of the best wine regions, as well as the famous city of San Francisco. Here you can rent a bike and ride across the famous Golden Gate Bridge, and then check out the galleries and museums at Golden Gate Park. Fisherman’s Wharf is a great place to try fresh...  [Read more]

business English The study of business English relates specifically to learning and improving English ability for use in international trade. It is studied by non-native speakers who wish to communicate with companies in English speaking countries. In addition, it is used between non-native speaking companies who communicate using English as a shared second language. In principle, the same structures are used to teach business English as other areas of TESOL teaching. However, the contexts and vocabulary will differ. Areas of vocabulary will vary depending on the needs of the student but will generally fall into the region of general business vocabulary, trade, finance and international relations. Besides specific vocabulary, there is often a focus on communications skills...  [Read more]

If ostentation wasn’t regarded by the Dutch as undignified, the Netherlands would loudly boast a strong liberal culture, combined with a great art history. It is a small, flat country, and bike is the only way to travel. For some a strong draw will be the museums and art galleries. For others the flower-filled fields, windmills and canals paint a pretty enough picture all by themselves. The principal language is Dutch, with Frisian also spoken in some areas. The population is a little over 16 million and the climate is temperate. There is a high degree of English competence in the cities. So much so that it was once mooted that English become the official language of Dutch universities. This proved a bridge too far for Dutch liberalism, and the idea was thrown out. With such a high...  [Read more]

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Take your TESOL Course in London, England and experience the excitement, culture and history of England's capital and most famous city. London is an ancient city whose history greets you at every turn. To gain a sense of its continuity, stand on Waterloo Bridge at sunset. To the east, the great globe of St. Paul's Cathedral glows golden in the fading sunlight as it has since the 17th century, still majestic amid the modern towers of glass and steel that hem it in. To the west stand the mock-medieval ramparts of Westminster, home to the "Mother of Parliaments," which has met here or hereabouts since the 1250s. Past them both snakes the swift, dark Thames, following the same course as when it flowed past the Roman settlement of Londinium nearly 2,000 years ago. If the city contained only its...  [Read more]

New York City is justifiably one of the most famous and popular cities in the world and is the perfect location for taking a TESOL course. Spend just five minutes in New York and you will understand why it’s like nowhere else in the world. Only in New York City will you see everything that is the spirit of the USA in one city. The diversity, the culture, and the style of the USA are all here in one fascinating place. There are so many things for the visitor to see and do. See the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Bronx Zoo, Staten Island Ferry, Brooklyn Bridge as well as many other well known attractions. There is also a wide variety of restaurants, shows, museums and sporting events to visit. New York in reality is a city...  [Read more]

ESA: A Teaching Methodology For many years Teachers of English have used the PPP model of Presentation, Practice and Production for the preferred model of teaching. It has worked well. The PPP model falls short however, in that it does not work well when teaching more complex language problems beyond the sentence level or when teaching communicative skills. Jeremy Harmer in How to Teach English (Longman Publishing 1998) proposed an alternative to PPP called ESA: Engage, Study, and Activate. In an article written in The Guardian Weekend, March 15 1997, Bridget Riley complained about the treatment she and her fellow students received at the Royal College of Art. “We were abandoned when what we needed and what we hoped for was help toward independence in teaching rather than having...  [Read more]

Slovakia is a good place to get off the beaten track and experience rural folk life, hill walking, and out-door pursuits. At the same time the cities are vibrant and their architecture is a testament to wave after wave of conquerors leaving their mark upon the population centres. Slovakia is also extremely inexpensive both as a place to live and a place to visit. The official language is Slovak; however, Hungarian, Czech and German are also spoken. The population is five and a half millions, and this fits into a fairly tiny nineteen thousand square miles. Of the population, sixty percent are Roman Catholic, ten percent are Protestant, and four percent Orthodox. Since 1989 the transition to a market economy in what was the old Soviet Bloc has led to huge demand for English language skills....  [Read more]

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are arguably the most westernised of the former Soviet Bloc states. Their proximity to their western neighbours has meant that they have developed relatively rapidly, and are all now full members of the EU. In Latvia you can enjoy costal resorts, medieval castles and scenic river valleys. In Lithuania you can trace back the cultural elements that once made this a super state with Poland, back in the days of the old Polish empire. In Estonia you can indulge in the potent local liquor, to wash down the famous blood sausage, along with bog walking, if that takes your fancy. In all three life is relatively inexpensive, and one can enjoy a tremendous cultural experience without putting too much of a dent in your wallet. Since 1989 the transition to a market...  [Read more]

There are a number of new republics - former members of the USSR - that are worthy of the TESOL teacher’s consideration. Kazakhstan, offers wide-open spaces, endless steppe, and world famous horse sausage. Azerbaijan, intriguingly, was once a major stop over on the great silk route, and sports medieval minarets and high-quality carpets. Uzbekistan has many architectural splendours and some of the oldest towns in the world, and again many stopovers on the silk route. Georgia, described variously as a part of Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East - depending upon whose geography you go with - obviously has an incredible array of cultures, and a striking contrast between the old and the new - not to mention fantastic food. Belarus is for the nature lover, and those who enjoy the great...  [Read more]

Take your TESOL Course in London, england and experience the excitement, culture and history of England's capital and most famous city. London is an ancient city whose history greets you at every turn. To gain a sense of its continuity, stand on Waterloo Bridge at sunset. To the east, the great globe of St. Paul's Cathedral glows golden in the fading sunlight as it has since the 17th century, still majestic amid the modern towers of glass and steel that hem it in. To the west stand the mock-medieval ramparts of Westminster, home to the "Mother of Parliaments," which has met here or hereabouts since the 1250s. Past them both snakes the swift, dark Thames, following the same course as when it flowed past the Roman settlement of Londinium nearly 2,000 years ago. If the city contained only its...  [Read more]