If you’ve been working with The TEFL Lab’s ready-to-teach lessons for any amount of time, you’ve probably seen a series of PDFs that are included in each module. What are they there for? We’ve included these handy PDF support materials as a way for you to have a deliverable to the learner that helps them […]
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While it’s true that group class dynamics can require some special attention from a teacher, it’s equally true that a 1-on-1 class requires a strategic approach from the teacher. How are 1-on-1 classes different from group classes? Most group classes have a range of abilities, personalities, needs, and background knowledge. That makes for an interesting […]
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There’s a common misconception that teaching conversation classes or conducting speaking activities with intermediate to advanced level learners requires less effort than teaching, say, grammar to a beginner student. While we’d agree that working with a student who has a strong foundation of English can feel a bit more comfortable, conducting speaking activities with them […]
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Adult learners often have very specific ideas about how they’ll use English as their foreign language and why they need it. That, in turn, leads to sometimes specific requests. Sometimes they’re REALLY specific– intellectual property legal terms? Salmon farming vocabulary? Digital marketing terminology? Other times, they might have less of a specific topic they want […]
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A lot can happen in a group class, and they can be a lot to manage at times– even if you’re teaching adults. While the rich interactions, questions, insights, and challenges that arise in group classes can be amazing, they still require some management strategies here and there. Let’s look at some different ways you […]
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If you’re anything like us, you’re hyped to hear that the B1 curriculum is ready to go straight into the classroom with you (right after you’ve checked the teacher notes, of course)! But if you’ve already taught with our A1 and A2 level materials, you’ll notice some differences in the B1 content. Here’s the rundown: […]
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Language learning as an adult is a huge challenge to undertake. It doesn’t help that there is tons of marketing out there, from institutes to apps and everything in between, that says there is a proven, painless method. For those of us that work in language education, and especially those who are multilingual, we know […]
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How was your weekend? Ah, that old tried and true question you ask at the beginning of class. It doesn’t matter if it’s Monday morning or Wednesday afternoon, if you’re meeting with your student for the first time since the weekend, it’s a natural question to ask. But week after week of the same intro […]
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If you’ve been in the classroom for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard from other teachers, your own teacher training, or other places that authentic material is a must for English language classes. But what actually counts as authentic material, and how can you use it effectively in the classroom? We’ve got you covered […]
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When you’re preparing to teach a new student, it’s important to consider the learner’s intended use of the language. If a learner is studying a foreign language for fun or travel, they’ll likely be looking for vocabulary within the context of meeting new people, entertainment, locations and establishments, directions, food, etc. If, however, they are […]
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Whether you’re teaching adult learners as your first assignment or are transitioning from teaching kids, we’ve rounded up 9 important things that adult learners want in the language classroom. Check out the list below to get a better idea of how to meet the needs and expectations of adult EFL learners! 1) They want to […]
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You just finished the last activity in your lesson plan and you’re feeling great about both your students’ performance in class as well as your own. The lesson flowed well, your students were engaged and were quick to learn the target language and now you’re ready to wrap up the lesson. Then you notice, there’s […]
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Imagine this scenario: You’ve started a brand new lesson (from our toolkit or elsewhere), and you teach it throughout the entire class, but it takes longer than expected, and you now need to finish this lesson in the next class. How are you going to do that? What happens if you don’t make it to […]
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Trying to implement new changes in the EFL classroom can be a tricky task– how do you do it, analyze if it’s been successful, and decide what’s next? It can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! This week on the blog, we’re highlighting a few changes you can implement that will be high-impact […]
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A big part of being a great teacher is learning. Teachers who learn how to perfect their skills, understand their students’ learning styles, and appreciate the learning process better ultimately have the most engaged students and deliver the best quality lessons. Getting to that point takes time though, and often, the process is filled with […]
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Most adults have a limited amount of time they can dedicate to studying English in a given week, and many of them take that time and try their best to spend it in synchronous classes with a teacher who can guide and correct them as needed. Once they’re out of class, however, life takes back […]
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English grammar is quite a beast and knowing all the ins and outs of every grammar point is not something that is expected of you as an EFL teacher. However, it’s important to come to class prepared so that you can clearly express to your learners how the lesson’s target language works and how to […]
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If you’ve decided to pursue EFL teaching but are unsure where to start when it comes to obtaining a teaching certificate, let us guide you with some tips we feel are missing in the sea of TEFL certificate advice out there. The thing we tell everyone entering this field: It’s important to first start thinking […]
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Whether you’re brand new to the EFL career path or have been around for a while, there’s no denying the confusion that exists around the countless acronyms that plaster the lesson plans, job postings, certification courses, staff meetings, and social media posts that we encounter every day. Why do I need to learn what all […]
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Teaching low-level English learners is a challenge that some teachers shy away from, while others dive right in. The truth is that, while it can be intimidating to teach a new beginner (especially if you don’t speak their L1), it doesn’t have to be scary or frustrating! Many seasoned teachers will tell you that, after […]
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Most learners today have specific needs and, regardless of their level, want to feel that those needs are addressed in their English courses. That can sound daunting to a new EFL teacher, but have no fear! You can do quite a bit of customization for a learners needs even while working with our set curriculum. […]
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Part of having a great first class with a student is knowing where to start. Being able to teach students effectively and build rapport along the way lies in your ability to quickly discover what they already know and what they need to learn through your facilitation. When working with a school or institute, it’s […]
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Warming up at the beginning of an English class is an essential step, but have you ever stopped and thought about all the things it really does? The humble warm-up at the start of a class does so many things! It helps your learners transition into class mode (or English-speaking mode) from whatever task they […]
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As many of us have learned from previous years, New Year’s resolutions tend to fall flat if there isn’t a firm plan in place to support them. No matter how motivated you may be on January 1st to achieve all of your 2022 goals, things may seem quite different by the end of the month. […]
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It’s no secret that teaching can be an incredibly fulfilling job, but creating a positive learning environment and delivering stellar lessons day after day requires a high level of effort, commitment, and heart. All of that hard work can wear us down and take a toll, so if you’re feeling worn out and lacking inspiration […]
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Whether your course feels like a quick sprint or a year-long marathon, it’s important to check in with your learners every so often to see what their perception is of the course so far and if there are any new needs or interests that have arisen in their English learning journey. Sometimes it may feel […]
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The world of TEFL is full of a huge combination of classroom configurations. Teachers go to social media groups and online forums all the time to seek advice, but the truth is that every teacher has a unique experience! Someone who only teaches 1-on-1 classes with children will have a fairly different experience in the […]
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We all make mistakes sometimes, especially when we’re learning new things. And for some reason, a lot of us have developed this idea that making mistakes is embarrassing, uncomfortable, and just plain bad. If you’ve ever received quality feedback or guidance on how to improve something, you know just how helpful error correction can be […]
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Let me tell you about a time I understood absolutely nothing. It was in my very first statistics class. I was nervous but excited to go in and take diligent notes. I went in and found a great seat, got my notebook out, and was ready to go when our professor walked in, briefly introduced […]
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Are you a newly certified EFL teacher ready to transform TEFL theory into practice? If so, congrats and welcome to the growing global workforce of EFL/ESL teachers! Now that you’re here, you might be ready for a teaching job, but maybe you’d like to wear your new EFL teacher title a little more modestly and […]
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Where do accents come from in a learner’s second language (L2)? Research shows that the accent someone uses in their L2 is related to their L1. Based on a learner’s L1, the challenges they face regarding pronunciation may vary. Teaching pronunciation and addressing the obstacles different student populations face is a challenge that, unfortunately, many […]
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You might have heard that it’s not necessary to speak your students’ L1 to be able to teach them, and while that’s certainly true, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn ANY language! Check out these 6 reasons you might want to learn another language as a teacher. 1. It’s going to give you a whole […]
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We put so much time and effort into preparing for our lessons but we can sometimes forget about an equally important part of teaching – reflection. But what is it? Self-reflection is the process of evaluating a lesson you just taught. When you practice self-reflection after a lesson, you think about everything that went into […]
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Part of being an effective teacher is being able to make a decision on the spot to extend an activity or increase the difficulty right then and there. Fortunately, this is a skill that you can hone with a little practice and the tips we’ve put together for you on this list. If you’ve just […]
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If you’ve gotten your start in the world of EFL for kids, pat yourself on the back. Teaching children is equal parts challenging and rewarding, and by now you’ve likely found several tips and tricks that you keep up your sleeve when planning lessons and teaching. But if you’ve been thinking about transitioning to teach […]
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Learning a new language, especially as an adult, is a unique experience. There aren’t too many other instances in life that can reduce your ability to communicate to that of an infant. The language learning process is, in reality, rife with anxiety, frustration, and never-ending opportunities to humble yourself. So how do we create a […]
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Have you ever had that cringe-worthy moment in front of your students where you gave instructions to an activity, expecting them to get started with it, and then right before your eyes, NOTHING HAPPENS?! There’s complete silence and your students are looking around for clues about what they should be doing. The problem, like most […]
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What type of encouragement works best in the EFL classroom? The truth is there’s no standard answer. In and of itself, encouragement is essential to the learning process, but there are tons of factors that go into choosing how, when, and why you cheer students on or praise them. Let’s look at some of the […]
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Pronunciation might not seem like a vital part of learning English, but to your students, it’ll be the thing that determines if they are understood by others when they’re using English outside the classroom. As teachers, we often focus on making sure our students are using proper sentence structure, verb forms, and the right vocabulary […]
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We’ve most likely all had a social experience where we felt the effects of the dreaded ‘awkward silence’. One minute you’re engaged in conversation and suddenly, you reach a dead end. AWKWARD! In social situations, these moments of silence may feel uncomfortable, or even painful, but in the classroom, they are anything but! The moments […]
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