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1. Student Motivation, Teacher Roles and TEFL Methods
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
English as a global language
The learner
The teacher
TEFL methods
2. Classroom Management and Student Levels
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
The key areas of classroom management
How to give instructions
How to use the board
Seating arrangement
How to manage student behaviour
Student levels
3. An Introduction to English Grammar
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
English glossary of grammar terms
A comprehensive glossary of language terms. In addition to grammar terms per se, includes terminology related to language styles, pronunciation and vocabulary.
Grammar reference pages
A collection of reference pages with explanations, examples, charts, quizzes and other grammar-related resources.
English parts of speech
Exercises testing your knowledge of parts of speech: nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc. Note that determiners are not regarded as a separate part of speech here and are included with adjectives.
English Nouns
More about English nouns and noun types.
The English tense system
The main facts you need to know about the English tenses. (Note that future with ‘going to’ is not included on the tense list, however most grammarians agree that it is a tense and it is to be treated as such in this TEFL course.)
Verb tense tutorial
Click each tense name to open up a detailed explanation of the tense with timelines and examples. The collection of exercises comparing tenses is intended for learners of English but it would be helpful for you as a teacher to go through them and consider the challenges students face as they attempt to distinguish between different tenses.
English conditionals
Conditional forms explained and examples provided.
Active and passive voice
The two voices explained and a short quiz.
Irregular verbs
A complete list of irregular verbs in the English language.
4. How To Teach Vocabulary
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
The characteristics of a word
What is vocabulary?
A definition of vocabulary and an overview of different types of vocabulary.
Teaching new words
Teaching vocabulary
The article by Linda Diamond and Linda Gutlohn explores some key strategies and techniques of teaching vocabulary including a section on ways of teaching idioms.
Vocabulary-based Video Lessons
All your English vocabulary building exercises in one place in the form of ESL videos.
English vocabulary reference sheets
These cover a wide range of vocabulary - from basic required vocabulary such as the top 1000 words to advanced vocabulary topics such as core business English vocabulary sheets. A helpful resource for your lessons.
Vocabulary - a teacher's guide
Indispensable advice on teaching vocabulary from Dr Rob Waring at Notre Dame Seishin University, Japan.
10 techniques for teaching new vocabulary
More about miming, drawing and other techniques of teaching new words.
Ideas for vocabulary lessons
Dave’s ESL Café vocabulary cookbook
A wide range of vocabulary activities contributed by teachers from around the world.
Classroom activities for teaching vocabulary
An additional resource for a great number of games and activities.
5. How To Teach Pronunciation
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
The aims of teaching pronunciation and some key terms
Sounds of English
An essential resource to explore for someone who is going to teach English pronunciation, with features ranging from printable pronunciation cards and tips for lesson activities to links to websites with authentic listening material and pronunciation resources, such as an accents archive. (Note that not all links in the handouts section are related to pronunciation).
The online phonetic typewriter
You can use this free tool to type phonemic symbols to be inserted in a word processor. You can also use it to produce the code needed to insert phonemic symbols in a web page.
Phonemic chart with sound
Click on each phonetic symbol and hear it pronounced. Use this resource with your students to help them learn the sounds and symbols.
Pronunciation lesson plans
Some excellent ideas and resources for teaching pronunciation to learners of all levels, including tongue twisters, teaching stress and practising the phonetic script.
How To Teach Pronunciation in EFL
Effective strategies based on use of a 'respelling' system.
Ideas on teaching
Articles from experienced teachers and ELT professionals on a wide range of subjects related to teaching pronunciation.
Teaching phonemes (sounds)
10 tried and true steps to teaching vowels and consonants
Read the teacher’s advice and click the link at the bottom for a video illustration.
Teaching tips and definitions
Some ideas for teaching phonemes and definitions of key terms.
Songs for teaching sounds
Fun songs that teach the vowel sounds, plus links to other pronunciation-teaching songs.
Teaching stress
Adding "Stress" to your students' oral proficiency
An illustration of how changing the logical stress in a sentence can change its meaning and how to practise it with students in a role-play activity.
Intonation and stress - key to understanding and being understood
An explanation of why English is considered a stress-timed language and how to demonstrate it to your students. Plus, some helpful links on pronunciation under the article.
Teaching intonation
Teaching English intonation to EFL/ESL students
An article analysing various stress and intonation patterns with plenty of examples. Do not be confused by the author’s choice of basic intonation patters, which is not identical to the set of patterns in this course. Every researcher or teacher has their own view on which patterns are essential to teach, and different approaches are valid.
6. Mistake Correction and Feedback
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Classifying mistakes
What is a mistake?
The definitions of a mistake, an error and other related words.
Methods of correction
Teaching Tips
Why mistakes are good. How to make error correction painless and productive.
Find the Right Ways to Right the Wrongs
Guidance on effective and appropriate ways to deal with students' errors in class.
A well-balanced use of error correction
What are the possible signs that you are correcting too many students’ errors and what are the possible signs that you aren’t correcting enough student errors?
Suggestions for effective error correction and language improvement
When and how to correct: the author reflects on his experience of teaching one-to-one.
15 error correction games
Exciting student-centred activities that will help your students get rid of many errors.
Correcting Written Work
Practical advice for make correction of writing efficient and effective.
Correction slots: in principle and practice
How to keep an ongoing record of students' mistakes and use your notes to improve their language skills in delayed correction.
Assessment and feedback EFL
Teaching Advice: Grading
How should you grade assignments in a fair and equitable way?
Dynamic assessment as a teaching tool
Erica Garb, PhD, explores three kinds of assessment – summative, formative and dynamic. She focuses on dynamic assessment, which is a merger between testing and learning.
7. How To Teach Speaking and Writing
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Teaching writing
Teaching Writing: Study materials
Writing topics, links, textbooks, ideas and lesson plans for different levels of ESL/EFL learners.
Writing lesson plans for English learners at all levels
More writing lesson plans for you here.
Writing strategies and tasks
A brief look at two writing strategies - free writing and revised writing, how to correct writing, and types of writing tasks.
How to be an effective EFL writing teacher
This essay discusses learner frustrations when writing.
Teaching Speaking
Teaching Speaking: Study materials
Ideas, lesson plans, handouts, textbook recommendations, fun, and games for teaching English speaking and conversation in ESL/EFL classes. A vast resource!
Conversation lesson plans for English learners at all levels
If the previous site wasn’t enough, here’s another great selection of speaking lesson plans and activities for your attention.
Activities to promote speaking in a second language
An exhaustive list of speaking activity types and some helpful suggestions for teachers.
Teaching Conversation
Links to lesson plans and activities for developing students' fluency.
Discussions and debates
Debate and discussion activities for your classes, plus vocabulary and language for discussions/debates.
Using role-plays in class
Reasons why role-plays are helpful and some advice for using and managing role-plays.
Ideas for role-plays
A wide range of role-play scenarios and drama games for the EFL/ESL class.
Using poems to develop productive skills
Most of the tried and tested activities used regularly by language teachers can be adapted easily to bring poetry into the classroom. This article focusses on speaking and writing activities based on poetry, as well as some pronunciation activities.
8. How To Teach Listening and Reading
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Listening and reading: receptive skills
Getting the Most from Textbook Listening Activities
How to make listening activities in a coursebook effective and achievable.
Build a More Dynamic EFL Conversation Class
Ideas for bringing a speaking lesson to life.
Why don’t they understand?
Teaching Listening: Top Down or Bottom Up?
Two excellent articles by Sue Swift. Why do students find listening comprehension so difficult, even when the language is apparently within their grasp? What are the top-down and bottom-up approaches to teaching listening?
What Do We Test When We Test Reading Comprehension?
This short but informative essay describes the three levels of student comprehension of a text that teachers need to test – literal, interpretive and critical.
Planning a receptive skills lesson
How to plan a listening lesson
In this article Sue Swift gives advice for effective planning of a listening skills lesson.
Ideas for listening lessons
Teaching Listening: Study materials
An excellent resource with plenty of ideas, activities, recommendations and soundtracks for teaching listening to students of all levels.
English listening quizzes
Lots of listening tests and quizzes for your students with soundtracks.
Songs to help you teach
A fantastic collection of song handouts that you can use in your lessons – grouped by language point and topic. A variety of activities based on each song.
Dictation as a language learning device
This paper introduces dictation as a valuable language learning device and suggests ways for using it in an effective and interesting manner.
Ideas for reading lessons
Teaching Reading: Study materials
Strategies, exercises, ideas, quizzes and links for teaching reading to students of all levels.
Developing reading activities
How to select appropriate reading activities for your lessons.
A Fun Reading Quiz Game
A creative way to motivate students to read and sustain their interest in reading through a student-centred activity in the form or a quiz.
Skimming
Scanning
Tips, quizzes and worksheets for developing your students’ skimming and scanning skills. Play ‘Who killed Angela Spelling’, a scanning skills game.
9. Lesson Planning
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
The importance of lesson planning
Lesson planning for the EFL and ESL classroom
Why are lesson plans necessary and what are the generally agreed components of a lesson plan? After reading this article, click each of the four links beginning with ‘Lesson Plan Format’ in the ‘Expanded Concepts’ section for more information.
Lesson plans: tips for new teachers
What are the benefits and limitations of lesson plans? A teacher shares her experience.
Lesson planning advice
A few more tips to consider that will help you to teach with confidence.
Lesson planning from the heart
Duncan Ford, Director of Teacher Training at OxfordTEFL in Barcelona, Spain, suggests an alternative (flexible) approach to lesson planning.
A course syllabus
Intermediate course syllabus
See an example of a course syllabus for the intermediate level.
Syllabus design and templates
This site contains tips on how to put together a general syllabus for EFL/ESL study. Examples are provided through a comprehensive collection of detailed syllabuses for books in Pearson/Longman's New Parade series. Here you will also find downloadable templates that can be used or adapted to cater to a variety of timeframes.
Principles of effective planning
Breaking News Lesson Plans
Huge range of lesson plans based on events in the news.
Top lesson plans
A variety of excellent free lesson plans (you may need to create a username).
ESL/EFL lesson plans
A searchable database of lesson plans for all levels of learner.
BBC news archives for teachers
Download lesson plans based on BBC news articles.
10. Games in Classroom
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Why games can be helpful
Games in the ESL and EFL class
What are games? What are their advantages? How to decide which game to use and when? This article provides the answers.
Teaching children with games
Some guidelines for using games to teach young learners. The author gives reasons why grammar is best taught with games and tips for using grammar games in class successfully.
Examples of games
Free ESL games and quiz corner
An excellent resource for interactive games, ESL activities and games for the classroom, online quizzes and hundreds of printable quiz questions in graded sets. Excerpts from articles and books on using games in language learning plus links to many other ESL game and activity resources online.
Games and activities: A to Z
A great selection of game ideas for kids, arranged alphabetically.
100 games and activities
100 grammar and conversation games and activities written by professional TEFL writers and grouped by learner level.
Six games for the EFL/ESL classroom
A few popular games for developing a variety of language skills.
The best end-of-term revision games
Interesting ideas for revision games including some board games.
Online crossword puzzle maker
Design your own crossword puzzle. Type in topical vocabulary, and a revision activity for your students will be ready in seconds.
11. Cultural Awareness in the Classroom
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
A theory of culture
What is culture?
A definition of culture and why culture is like an iceberg.
Geert Hofstede’s website
Detailed information about Hofstede’s research and five Cultural Dimensions with Hofstede scores for more than 50 countries.
How to avoid making cultural mistakes
Intercultural competence
A definition or intercultural (cross-cultural) competence and some typical examples of cultural differences.
15 important cultural differences in the classroom
A list of some major cultural differences that can come up in class.
A list of faux pas
A teacher tells about the faux pas he made while working in Japan.
Essential culture guide
This excellent site contains a wealth of cultural information on almost 50 countries. Intended for business travellers, this can also be an invaluable resource for EFL teachers going abroad. It will give you an insight into local behaviour, dress code, levels of formality, and other characteristics of a culture. With links to other useful websites for each country.
Criteria for a Good Cultural Training Lesson
Key pointers for developing students' cross-cultural awareness.
15 Most Fun Cultural Training Topics
Engaging ideas for cultural awareness activities.
Understanding another culture
Practical techniques for teaching culture in the EFL classroom
Tips and techniques for teaching culture of English-speaking countries.
Role play in teaching culture
A step-by-step guide to making up a successful role play and preparing learners for intercultural communication.
12. Finding Work
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Applying for a teaching position
Resume and CV resources for job seekers
A collection of the best resume writing resources on the Web – for all types of job-seekers in all job-search situations.
Adapting your CV to apply for a TEFL job
No matter how excellent your original CV is, it may end up in the Director of Studies’ wastepaper basket if it is irrelevant to the TEFL job you are applying for. Find out how it can be rewritten to impress the DOS.
Tips on TEFL Teacher's Resume
Key considerations when writing a TEFL CV.
Writing a TEFL cover letter
Some do’s and don’ts of writing a successful letter of application to accompany your CV.
The Perfect CV and Cover Letter for a TEFL Teacher
Great advice, including key questions you should address to impress an employer.
They're not as scary as they seem! Essential pointers from i-to-i.
What are TEFL job interviews like?
Why TEFL interviews aren’t like interviews for any other type of job.
Job interview questions and answers
Many examples of questions asked by interviewers with suggestions for how to answer them in the best possible way. Click ‘Job interview tips’ at the top of the page for other job interview links.
Your questions to the interviewer
The ten most important questions to ask your future employer and the reasons why they are important.
TEFL career portal
The world’s most popular source of international English language teaching jobs. Post your resume online and view international jobs in real time. There are more than 500 registered employers, who post vacancies on a daily basis.
Teaching destinations
Teach English overseas: A stepping stone to international careers
Author of the bible on working abroad, The Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas Jean-Marc Hachey lists many of the major motivations for teaching English abroad.
What to expect, how to prepare
Myths and realities of teaching English abroad.
Bad English language schools can happen to good teachers
Why it is important to consider you teaching job offer carefully. Includes links to other related articles, school blacklists and ratings.
Teaching English in Western Europe
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in Western Europe, with links to articles on teaching in selected countries and cities.
Teaching English in Central and Eastern Europe
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in Central and Eastern Europe, with links to articles on teaching in selected countries and cities.
Teaching English in Asia
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in Asia, with links to articles on teaching in selected countries and cities.
Teaching English in Latin America
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in Latin America, with links to articles on teaching in selected countries and cities.
Teaching English in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. There are no links to specific countries from the webpage, but the existing links are as follows:
Teaching English in Africa
The practical information you need to get work in Africa.
BBC country profiles
Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of all the world’s countries and territories, and background on key institutions. They also include audio and video clips from BBC archives.
13. Teaching Business English
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Some business English FAQs
Teaching English for business: career advice
What are the advantages of becoming a Business English teacher? Who can become a successful Business English teacher? Why is your role in a Business English classroom different from that in a General English classroom? Brenda Townsend Hall, PhD answers these questions.
Student needs and motivations
Teaching approaches: needs analysis
An essay with lesson plans and worksheets to help you carry out needs analysis in your Business English class.
Techniques of teaching Business English
Business handouts
Some worksheets, activities and roleplay ideas for Business classes.
15 most fun Business English lessons
Ideas for how to liven up your business classes.
Using case studies in teaching Business English
The paper reflects on the types of case studies available to language learners and teachers and suggests how these case studies can be exploited to maximise student talking time in the language classroom.
Business vocabulary exercises
An excellent collection of business vocabulary and communication exercises.
Phrasal verbs
Lots of phrasal verbs to teach your students – with definitions, examples and exercises.
Business collocations
15 online exercises to practice collocations.
BBC World business news
Latest business news, which you can use as reading material in your classes. Video and audio news to help develop students’ listening skills, including one-minute world news video summaries updated 24 hours a day.
FT business news
Latest business news headlines from Financial Times.
Cross-cultural communication: business rules
Business English and cross-cultural problems
A teacher shares her experiences of dealing with cross-cultural issues in a business class.
Business lesson planning
Business English lessons
A collection of business lesson outlines for different levels of learner.
Lessons based on texts
Sequences for Business English classes based on a series of news articles – scores of warm-up activities, pre-reading/listening, while-reading/listening and post-reading/listening exercises, topics for discussion, essays and homework ideas. While you are unlikely to use all of these with a single class of students, this is a fantastic resource to draw upon. Includes simplified versions of authentic texts for lower levels.
Teaching specific skills
Business English speaking skills
A wide range or activities and approaches from the excellent esl.about.com site.
Business English podcasts
Podcasts on current issues in the business world along with activities to develop students' listening skills.
How to teach Business English using the Internet
Ideas for developing students' reading and writing skills.
Business English reading
Categorised links to Business English reading materials.
Business English letters
Useful formulaic language for writing letters and emails.
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
English as a global language
- The world's top languages
A list of the languages spoken the most worldwide and the countries where English is spoken as an official language.
- The English language
A wealth of information about the English language.
The learner
- Motivation and motivating in the foreign language classroom
An academic article by Dimitrios Thanasoulas focusing on key strategies of motivating EFL learners
- Needs of students I
General observations about needs analysis with some excellent links within the text.
- Needs of students II
A look at some alternative ways to analyse students’ needs in addition to the traditional questionnaire.
- Classifications of learners and learner styles
Don’t panic, you don’t have to remember them all! What matters is to recognize that learners are all different and should be treated as individuals. You can even come up with your own classification if you like!
The teacher
- The roles of a teacher
TEFL methods
- Language teaching methods I
An overview the different methods including those not found in this course.
- Language teaching methods II
Links to articles on a variety of teaching approaches.
2. Classroom Management and Student Levels
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
The key areas of classroom management
- Student and classroom management
Classroom management, management of student conduct, effective praise guidelines, and a few things to know about ESOL thrown in for good measure. - 12 Steps to Clearer Instructions
Practical tips for making activities work, from an experienced teacher and teacher trainer.
How to give instructions
- General guidelines
Sue Swift, a teacher with 30 years of experience, shows how you can make sure that your instructions are as clear and comprehensible as possible.
How to use the board
- 15 original ways to use the whiteboard
Some creative ideas for how to jazz up your lessons by using the whiteboard in your classroom.
- Mind-maps in learning a foreign language
Jon Lewis, a well-known author of online teaching materials, explores the role that mind-maps can play in learning a foreign language.
- How to draw a stick figure step by step
A blogger explains the "science" of coming up with funny stick figures.
Seating arrangement
- Important factors to take into account
The influence different seating arrangements can have on your lessons.
- The most popular arrangements
A look at the most commonly used seating arrangements with visual illustrations.
- The pros and cons of using seating charts
What's good and what isn't when using pre-determined student seating arrangements
How to manage student behaviour
- From behavioural observation to conflict resolution
The printables and articles here will help you manage classroom discipline. Read veteran teacher's tips and advice on establishing rules and incorporating effective behaviour techniques in your classroom. You'll find advice for handling disruptive behaviour and environmental interventions for minimizing its effect on other students.
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming
How to use its techniques to control the class. No worries, it's all legal!
Student levels
- The Common European Framework of language levels
An overview with level descriptions. Information about the ALTE levels and how they correspond to some language exam scores. You will find some useful links here too.
- English language exams according to the CEF levels
Scroll down to find a table that halps you compare exam scores to the levels.
3. An Introduction to English Grammar
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
English glossary of grammar terms
A comprehensive glossary of language terms. In addition to grammar terms per se, includes terminology related to language styles, pronunciation and vocabulary.
Grammar reference pages
A collection of reference pages with explanations, examples, charts, quizzes and other grammar-related resources.
English parts of speech
Exercises testing your knowledge of parts of speech: nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc. Note that determiners are not regarded as a separate part of speech here and are included with adjectives.
English Nouns
More about English nouns and noun types.
The English tense system
The main facts you need to know about the English tenses. (Note that future with ‘going to’ is not included on the tense list, however most grammarians agree that it is a tense and it is to be treated as such in this TEFL course.)
Verb tense tutorial
Click each tense name to open up a detailed explanation of the tense with timelines and examples. The collection of exercises comparing tenses is intended for learners of English but it would be helpful for you as a teacher to go through them and consider the challenges students face as they attempt to distinguish between different tenses.
English conditionals
Conditional forms explained and examples provided.
Active and passive voice
The two voices explained and a short quiz.
Irregular verbs
A complete list of irregular verbs in the English language.
4. How To Teach Vocabulary
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
The characteristics of a word
What is vocabulary?
A definition of vocabulary and an overview of different types of vocabulary.
Teaching new words
Teaching vocabulary
The article by Linda Diamond and Linda Gutlohn explores some key strategies and techniques of teaching vocabulary including a section on ways of teaching idioms.
Vocabulary-based Video Lessons
All your English vocabulary building exercises in one place in the form of ESL videos.
English vocabulary reference sheets
These cover a wide range of vocabulary - from basic required vocabulary such as the top 1000 words to advanced vocabulary topics such as core business English vocabulary sheets. A helpful resource for your lessons.
Vocabulary - a teacher's guide
Indispensable advice on teaching vocabulary from Dr Rob Waring at Notre Dame Seishin University, Japan.
10 techniques for teaching new vocabulary
More about miming, drawing and other techniques of teaching new words.
Ideas for vocabulary lessons
Dave’s ESL Café vocabulary cookbook
A wide range of vocabulary activities contributed by teachers from around the world.
Classroom activities for teaching vocabulary
An additional resource for a great number of games and activities.
5. How To Teach Pronunciation
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
The aims of teaching pronunciation and some key terms
Sounds of English
An essential resource to explore for someone who is going to teach English pronunciation, with features ranging from printable pronunciation cards and tips for lesson activities to links to websites with authentic listening material and pronunciation resources, such as an accents archive. (Note that not all links in the handouts section are related to pronunciation).
The online phonetic typewriter
You can use this free tool to type phonemic symbols to be inserted in a word processor. You can also use it to produce the code needed to insert phonemic symbols in a web page.
Phonemic chart with sound
Click on each phonetic symbol and hear it pronounced. Use this resource with your students to help them learn the sounds and symbols.
Pronunciation lesson plans
Some excellent ideas and resources for teaching pronunciation to learners of all levels, including tongue twisters, teaching stress and practising the phonetic script.
How To Teach Pronunciation in EFL
Effective strategies based on use of a 'respelling' system.
Ideas on teaching
Articles from experienced teachers and ELT professionals on a wide range of subjects related to teaching pronunciation.
Teaching phonemes (sounds)
10 tried and true steps to teaching vowels and consonants
Read the teacher’s advice and click the link at the bottom for a video illustration.
Teaching tips and definitions
Some ideas for teaching phonemes and definitions of key terms.
Songs for teaching sounds
Fun songs that teach the vowel sounds, plus links to other pronunciation-teaching songs.
Teaching stress
Adding "Stress" to your students' oral proficiency
An illustration of how changing the logical stress in a sentence can change its meaning and how to practise it with students in a role-play activity.
Intonation and stress - key to understanding and being understood
An explanation of why English is considered a stress-timed language and how to demonstrate it to your students. Plus, some helpful links on pronunciation under the article.
Teaching intonation
Teaching English intonation to EFL/ESL students
An article analysing various stress and intonation patterns with plenty of examples. Do not be confused by the author’s choice of basic intonation patters, which is not identical to the set of patterns in this course. Every researcher or teacher has their own view on which patterns are essential to teach, and different approaches are valid.
6. Mistake Correction and Feedback
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Classifying mistakes
What is a mistake?
The definitions of a mistake, an error and other related words.
Methods of correction
Teaching Tips
Why mistakes are good. How to make error correction painless and productive.
Find the Right Ways to Right the Wrongs
Guidance on effective and appropriate ways to deal with students' errors in class.
A well-balanced use of error correction
What are the possible signs that you are correcting too many students’ errors and what are the possible signs that you aren’t correcting enough student errors?
Suggestions for effective error correction and language improvement
When and how to correct: the author reflects on his experience of teaching one-to-one.
15 error correction games
Exciting student-centred activities that will help your students get rid of many errors.
Correcting Written Work
Practical advice for make correction of writing efficient and effective.
Correction slots: in principle and practice
How to keep an ongoing record of students' mistakes and use your notes to improve their language skills in delayed correction.
Assessment and feedback EFL
Teaching Advice: Grading
How should you grade assignments in a fair and equitable way?
Dynamic assessment as a teaching tool
Erica Garb, PhD, explores three kinds of assessment – summative, formative and dynamic. She focuses on dynamic assessment, which is a merger between testing and learning.
7. How To Teach Speaking and Writing
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Teaching writing
Teaching Writing: Study materials
Writing topics, links, textbooks, ideas and lesson plans for different levels of ESL/EFL learners.
Writing lesson plans for English learners at all levels
More writing lesson plans for you here.
Writing strategies and tasks
A brief look at two writing strategies - free writing and revised writing, how to correct writing, and types of writing tasks.
How to be an effective EFL writing teacher
This essay discusses learner frustrations when writing.
Teaching Speaking
Teaching Speaking: Study materials
Ideas, lesson plans, handouts, textbook recommendations, fun, and games for teaching English speaking and conversation in ESL/EFL classes. A vast resource!
Conversation lesson plans for English learners at all levels
If the previous site wasn’t enough, here’s another great selection of speaking lesson plans and activities for your attention.
Activities to promote speaking in a second language
An exhaustive list of speaking activity types and some helpful suggestions for teachers.
Teaching Conversation
Links to lesson plans and activities for developing students' fluency.
Discussions and debates
Debate and discussion activities for your classes, plus vocabulary and language for discussions/debates.
Using role-plays in class
Reasons why role-plays are helpful and some advice for using and managing role-plays.
Ideas for role-plays
A wide range of role-play scenarios and drama games for the EFL/ESL class.
Using poems to develop productive skills
Most of the tried and tested activities used regularly by language teachers can be adapted easily to bring poetry into the classroom. This article focusses on speaking and writing activities based on poetry, as well as some pronunciation activities.
8. How To Teach Listening and Reading
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Listening and reading: receptive skills
Getting the Most from Textbook Listening Activities
How to make listening activities in a coursebook effective and achievable.
Build a More Dynamic EFL Conversation Class
Ideas for bringing a speaking lesson to life.
Why don’t they understand?
Teaching Listening: Top Down or Bottom Up?
Two excellent articles by Sue Swift. Why do students find listening comprehension so difficult, even when the language is apparently within their grasp? What are the top-down and bottom-up approaches to teaching listening?
What Do We Test When We Test Reading Comprehension?
This short but informative essay describes the three levels of student comprehension of a text that teachers need to test – literal, interpretive and critical.
Planning a receptive skills lesson
How to plan a listening lesson
In this article Sue Swift gives advice for effective planning of a listening skills lesson.
Ideas for listening lessons
Teaching Listening: Study materials
An excellent resource with plenty of ideas, activities, recommendations and soundtracks for teaching listening to students of all levels.
English listening quizzes
Lots of listening tests and quizzes for your students with soundtracks.
Songs to help you teach
A fantastic collection of song handouts that you can use in your lessons – grouped by language point and topic. A variety of activities based on each song.
Dictation as a language learning device
This paper introduces dictation as a valuable language learning device and suggests ways for using it in an effective and interesting manner.
Ideas for reading lessons
Teaching Reading: Study materials
Strategies, exercises, ideas, quizzes and links for teaching reading to students of all levels.
Developing reading activities
How to select appropriate reading activities for your lessons.
A Fun Reading Quiz Game
A creative way to motivate students to read and sustain their interest in reading through a student-centred activity in the form or a quiz.
Skimming
Scanning
Tips, quizzes and worksheets for developing your students’ skimming and scanning skills. Play ‘Who killed Angela Spelling’, a scanning skills game.
9. Lesson Planning
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
The importance of lesson planning
Lesson planning for the EFL and ESL classroom
Why are lesson plans necessary and what are the generally agreed components of a lesson plan? After reading this article, click each of the four links beginning with ‘Lesson Plan Format’ in the ‘Expanded Concepts’ section for more information.
Lesson plans: tips for new teachers
What are the benefits and limitations of lesson plans? A teacher shares her experience.
Lesson planning advice
A few more tips to consider that will help you to teach with confidence.
Lesson planning from the heart
Duncan Ford, Director of Teacher Training at OxfordTEFL in Barcelona, Spain, suggests an alternative (flexible) approach to lesson planning.
A course syllabus
Intermediate course syllabus
See an example of a course syllabus for the intermediate level.
Syllabus design and templates
This site contains tips on how to put together a general syllabus for EFL/ESL study. Examples are provided through a comprehensive collection of detailed syllabuses for books in Pearson/Longman's New Parade series. Here you will also find downloadable templates that can be used or adapted to cater to a variety of timeframes.
Principles of effective planning
Breaking News Lesson Plans
Huge range of lesson plans based on events in the news.
Top lesson plans
A variety of excellent free lesson plans (you may need to create a username).
ESL/EFL lesson plans
A searchable database of lesson plans for all levels of learner.
BBC news archives for teachers
Download lesson plans based on BBC news articles.
10. Games in Classroom
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Why games can be helpful
Games in the ESL and EFL class
What are games? What are their advantages? How to decide which game to use and when? This article provides the answers.
Teaching children with games
Some guidelines for using games to teach young learners. The author gives reasons why grammar is best taught with games and tips for using grammar games in class successfully.
Examples of games
Free ESL games and quiz corner
An excellent resource for interactive games, ESL activities and games for the classroom, online quizzes and hundreds of printable quiz questions in graded sets. Excerpts from articles and books on using games in language learning plus links to many other ESL game and activity resources online.
Games and activities: A to Z
A great selection of game ideas for kids, arranged alphabetically.
100 games and activities
100 grammar and conversation games and activities written by professional TEFL writers and grouped by learner level.
Six games for the EFL/ESL classroom
A few popular games for developing a variety of language skills.
The best end-of-term revision games
Interesting ideas for revision games including some board games.
Online crossword puzzle maker
Design your own crossword puzzle. Type in topical vocabulary, and a revision activity for your students will be ready in seconds.
11. Cultural Awareness in the Classroom
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
A theory of culture
What is culture?
A definition of culture and why culture is like an iceberg.
Geert Hofstede’s website
Detailed information about Hofstede’s research and five Cultural Dimensions with Hofstede scores for more than 50 countries.
How to avoid making cultural mistakes
Intercultural competence
A definition or intercultural (cross-cultural) competence and some typical examples of cultural differences.
15 important cultural differences in the classroom
A list of some major cultural differences that can come up in class.
A list of faux pas
A teacher tells about the faux pas he made while working in Japan.
Essential culture guide
This excellent site contains a wealth of cultural information on almost 50 countries. Intended for business travellers, this can also be an invaluable resource for EFL teachers going abroad. It will give you an insight into local behaviour, dress code, levels of formality, and other characteristics of a culture. With links to other useful websites for each country.
Criteria for a Good Cultural Training Lesson
Key pointers for developing students' cross-cultural awareness.
15 Most Fun Cultural Training Topics
Engaging ideas for cultural awareness activities.
Understanding another culture
Practical techniques for teaching culture in the EFL classroom
Tips and techniques for teaching culture of English-speaking countries.
Role play in teaching culture
A step-by-step guide to making up a successful role play and preparing learners for intercultural communication.
12. Finding Work
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Applying for a teaching position
Resume and CV resources for job seekers
A collection of the best resume writing resources on the Web – for all types of job-seekers in all job-search situations.
Adapting your CV to apply for a TEFL job
No matter how excellent your original CV is, it may end up in the Director of Studies’ wastepaper basket if it is irrelevant to the TEFL job you are applying for. Find out how it can be rewritten to impress the DOS.
Tips on TEFL Teacher's Resume
Key considerations when writing a TEFL CV.
Writing a TEFL cover letter
Some do’s and don’ts of writing a successful letter of application to accompany your CV.
The Perfect CV and Cover Letter for a TEFL Teacher
Great advice, including key questions you should address to impress an employer.
They're not as scary as they seem! Essential pointers from i-to-i.
What are TEFL job interviews like?
Why TEFL interviews aren’t like interviews for any other type of job.
Job interview questions and answers
Many examples of questions asked by interviewers with suggestions for how to answer them in the best possible way. Click ‘Job interview tips’ at the top of the page for other job interview links.
Your questions to the interviewer
The ten most important questions to ask your future employer and the reasons why they are important.
TEFL career portal
The world’s most popular source of international English language teaching jobs. Post your resume online and view international jobs in real time. There are more than 500 registered employers, who post vacancies on a daily basis.
Teaching destinations
Teach English overseas: A stepping stone to international careers
Author of the bible on working abroad, The Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas Jean-Marc Hachey lists many of the major motivations for teaching English abroad.
What to expect, how to prepare
Myths and realities of teaching English abroad.
Bad English language schools can happen to good teachers
Why it is important to consider you teaching job offer carefully. Includes links to other related articles, school blacklists and ratings.
Teaching English in Western Europe
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in Western Europe, with links to articles on teaching in selected countries and cities.
Teaching English in Central and Eastern Europe
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in Central and Eastern Europe, with links to articles on teaching in selected countries and cities.
Teaching English in Asia
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in Asia, with links to articles on teaching in selected countries and cities.
Teaching English in Latin America
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in Latin America, with links to articles on teaching in selected countries and cities.
Teaching English in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean
An overview of job prospects for teaching English in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. There are no links to specific countries from the webpage, but the existing links are as follows:
Teaching English in Africa
The practical information you need to get work in Africa.
BBC country profiles
Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of all the world’s countries and territories, and background on key institutions. They also include audio and video clips from BBC archives.
13. Teaching Business English
Resources
The world wide web is a great place to add depth to your learning, and we believe that the best students will read around the topics to improve their understanding. To help you with this, we have scoured the web to give you a list of the best links out there for each module.
Some business English FAQs
Teaching English for business: career advice
What are the advantages of becoming a Business English teacher? Who can become a successful Business English teacher? Why is your role in a Business English classroom different from that in a General English classroom? Brenda Townsend Hall, PhD answers these questions.
Student needs and motivations
Teaching approaches: needs analysis
An essay with lesson plans and worksheets to help you carry out needs analysis in your Business English class.
Techniques of teaching Business English
Business handouts
Some worksheets, activities and roleplay ideas for Business classes.
15 most fun Business English lessons
Ideas for how to liven up your business classes.
Using case studies in teaching Business English
The paper reflects on the types of case studies available to language learners and teachers and suggests how these case studies can be exploited to maximise student talking time in the language classroom.
Business vocabulary exercises
An excellent collection of business vocabulary and communication exercises.
Phrasal verbs
Lots of phrasal verbs to teach your students – with definitions, examples and exercises.
Business collocations
15 online exercises to practice collocations.
BBC World business news
Latest business news, which you can use as reading material in your classes. Video and audio news to help develop students’ listening skills, including one-minute world news video summaries updated 24 hours a day.
FT business news
Latest business news headlines from Financial Times.
Cross-cultural communication: business rules
Business English and cross-cultural problems
A teacher shares her experiences of dealing with cross-cultural issues in a business class.
Business lesson planning
Business English lessons
A collection of business lesson outlines for different levels of learner.
Lessons based on texts
Sequences for Business English classes based on a series of news articles – scores of warm-up activities, pre-reading/listening, while-reading/listening and post-reading/listening exercises, topics for discussion, essays and homework ideas. While you are unlikely to use all of these with a single class of students, this is a fantastic resource to draw upon. Includes simplified versions of authentic texts for lower levels.
Teaching specific skills
Business English speaking skills
A wide range or activities and approaches from the excellent esl.about.com site.
Business English podcasts
Podcasts on current issues in the business world along with activities to develop students' listening skills.
How to teach Business English using the Internet
Ideas for developing students' reading and writing skills.
Business English reading
Categorised links to Business English reading materials.
Business English letters
Useful formulaic language for writing letters and emails.