English Teacher Blog

  The ITTT Blog is a one-stop shop for all your TESOL related news, reviews, and information. The blog has hundreds of articles to browse through, all written by our own TESOL experts and some of our many course graduates who are now working as English language teachers all over the world. Among the many posts, you will find sections on visas and work permits, salaries and budgets, and a vast amount of teaching ideas. One of the most popular sections focuses on teaching destinations. Within this section you will find a wealth of information regarding the most popular teaching spots and some that you might never have heard of. Our TESOL course graduates play a big role in keeping the blog full of up to date and interesting information. Browse through their posts and you will...  [Read more]

English is one of the most commonly used second languages across much of the world and it is currently being studied by tens of millions of people from all backgrounds and cultures. How and where they choose to study can vary considerably, but one thing that most English language students have in common is that their studies are led by a tutor known as a TESOL teacher (or something similar such as ESL teacher, TEFL teacher, etc). The role of a TESOL teacher is to slowly build up their student's abilities in the four language skills; reading, writing, speaking, and listening, to enable them to reach their individual study goals, which could be for work, study, travel, or a variety of other reasons. Please note: the acronym TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. ...  [Read more]

TEFL Lemon began in 2014 as an ESL blog on the WeChat platform in China, quickly becoming the biggest ESL blog on WeChat. TEFL Lemon provided English teachers with ELT articles to read and share, as well as free ESL lesson ideas, ESL games and fun speaking activities which TEFL teachers could use in their classes. English teachers in China could also download free ESL flashcards on a variety of themes. Following their success on the WeChat platform, in 2018, TEFL Lemon decided to build their own website to offer their ESL Flashcard Games for Kids, ESL Warmers, ESL games and speaking activities for teens and adults for free to TEFL teachers around the world. You can visit their website here. Not only do TEFL Lemon offer teachers brilliant ESL games and teaching ideas, but they also have...  [Read more]

A quick online search will reveal a large number of course providers offering a wide range of TESOL certification. At ITTT we think we stand out from this crowd for many different reasons. Take a look at these key points and see if you agree that we provide the very best TESOL course options available. At ITTT we have been providing high-quality courses since 1998 which makes us one of the longest running and most respected providers in the TESOL world; To ensure you receive the very best service we only employ staff members who have experience of living and teaching abroad; If you are fluent in English you are welcome to take any of our TESOL training courses, no matter where you are from; A good knowledge of English is all that is required to join our courses. Your age, academic...  [Read more]

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Linda is a passionate traveler and English teacher exploring the world one country at a time. After studying Mandarin Chinese, she moved to Guangzhou, China, to pursue an internship at a German online marketing company. She loved it so much that she decided to move back to China after finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Management in California. After working in online marketing for a while, she got into English teaching. Teaching English overseas has enabled her to experience life in different countries and fund her passion for travel. She taught English in China for a year and also during my her year in South Korea. She’s been living in South Korea since 2015 and returned to working in online marketing and teaching online in 2016 remotely. On her Website, she shares her tips and...  [Read more]

Hungary is a country many choose to visit repeatedly. Its fine wines, dynamic and exciting cities, hot spas, and friendly people all combine to draw tourists and those job seekers alike. Much has changed in Hungary since disintegration of the Eastern Bloc in 1989, and much to its credit Hungary has adapted well to these changes, and put programs in place to better integrate everything from the economy to the education system into a world that has a broader context. One of the benefits of this rigorous programme of adaptation is a stable and even strengthening currency. Hungary joined the EU in 2004; however, reciprocal transitional controls have yet to expire, so there are still visa issues that must be dealt with. The population of a shade over ten millions fits into a landmass of...  [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]

South Korea is a small but incredibly beautiful country, and during the 4 week TEFL you will have fantastic opportunities to experience the rich culture and history. Not only will you have the chance for local excursions, but based in Incheon, you will be less than an hour away from the lively city of Seoul on the express train. The first week of your program includes in-depth cultural orientations, ensuring you deeply understand the Korean way of life and culture. This includes a welcome dinner, tour of the local neighbourhood and the “Grand” Palace (Gyeongbok Palace), taekwondo class and learning South Korean cookery and language. Incheon is home to Korea’s only official Chinatown, where you can try jajangmyun (noodles with black bean sauce) at the Gongwachun restaurant and for...  [Read more]

Computer Aided Language Learning With the advent of the internet and its increasing importance in the classroom, Computer Aided Language Learning, or CALL, has become a viable and useful source for both teachers and students. CALL first became prevalent in US classrooms in the late 1070’s. Since its introduction it has gone from a primitive, structured Q&A program, to full-fledged language programs such as Rosetta stone. Although programs like Rosetta Stone have experienced success, many experts believe that CALL should be used to augment rather than replace face-to-face learning environments. This was one of the big questions facing ESL teachers in the late 90s, how to integrate CALL and its resulting technological concerns successfully into the classroom. Such things as whether an...  [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]

Times, and names, may change but this country remains all things to all people. If the hustle and bustle of beautiful and sophisticated Prague, wears you out a little, then not far away there are the mountains with their hot spas where you can relax a little. Peace and quite is also to be had in the little villages and hamlets. The population of ten millions has plenty of space in the landmass of thirty-thousand square miles. Of population twenty three percent profess the Roman Catholic faith, two percent Protestantism, with the rest unspecified. Since 1989 the transition to a market economy in what was the old Soviet Bloc has led to huge demand for English language skills. Everything from tourism to commerce, to membership of the EU depends heavily on English, and natives who want to...  [Read more]

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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]

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The Orange Revolution which saw free and fair elections finally bought to the Ukraine in 2004/5 has led to a great enthusiasm for change, and brought about a great sense of freedom. This is reflected in bold fashions and enthusiasm for partying and living the good life, where possible. The population of forty-eight millions fits snugly into a landmass of two hundred and thirty square miles. Ukrainian is the official language, but also Russian, Romanian, Polish and Hungarian are spoken. Religions observed include Ukrainian Orthodox, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic, Islam, Judaism and Protestantism. In other words, quite a mix. Since 1989 the transition to a market economy in what was the old Soviet Bloc has led to huge demand for English language skills. Everything...  [Read more]

The downfall of Ceausescu in 1989 provided the catalyst for great change in this former communist state. However, the pace of change has not been nearly as fast as some of its neighbours and the western visitor cannot help but be stricken by how ‘different’ things are in this country. Nevertheless, the cost of living is very cheap, there are many medieval castles and villages to visit, excellent quality skiing and hiking are available, and the contrast between horse-drawn vehicles vying for space on the roads with yuppies talking on mobile phones whilst they drive flash cars is quite amusing. In addition to this some of the mountainous landscapes are haunting, breathtakingly beautiful, and right out of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. A population of twenty-two millions fits into ninety one...  [Read more]

Bulgaria is a country striving to adapt to the new economic order that prevails in the country. Much has changed for many people, and what were formally regarded as ‘peasants’ now have satellite television, if not a great deal else! Bulgaria has remained remarkably immune to the political turmoil of the recent decades. This has brought with it stability rather than the boom and bust that has characterised some countries in the region. Hence, the currency is fairly stable, and working conditions are predictable. The population is about seven and a half millions and this fits into a landmass of forty-three thousand square miles. Languages spoken include Bulgarian and French, and the religious orientation is eighty five percent Bulgarian Orthodox, with thirteen percent Muslim. Since 1989...  [Read more]