Although tests and an exam are a necessary evil of classes, there are things that you can do to make them [...]]]>

November at the Times is dedicated to a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer of TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List.

Although tests and an exam are a necessary evil of classes, there are things that you can do to make them easier for both you and your students.

● Only test what you have taught. This includes the content and the structure of the exam. Content refers to the specific grammar or vocabulary points. And structure refers to the layout of the exam. For example, if you’ve only given them exercises where they’ve had to circle the correct answer, it wouldn’t be fair to give them fill in the blank/gap exercises.

● Buy an exam book. Often the teacher’s book will have a test section. You’ll make your life a lot easier if you use some of the exercises from the teacher’s book. I’m not saying to copy the whole thing, but you could use some and then supplement the rest with your own ideas.

● Be strict. As far as talking, borrowing pencils, erasers, etc, don’t allow it. Tell students ahead of time and be sure that your coordinator or director backs you up. If they need a pencil or eraser, make sure that you have some extras on hand.

● Check answers together. There are a couple benefits of checking exams together. First, it’s less work for you. Second, students get their results back faster. If you’re going to check the exam during class, make sure that the students only have a pen on their desk. Writing is the one exception, you’re going to have to check that by yourself. However, if you use rubrics, it’ll make checking writing a whole lot faster.

● Stagger your tests. If you teach different levels, have tests on different days so you don’t have to do all the grading at once. For example, test the intermediate students on Monday and the advanced students on Tuesday.

● Save your tests. While you probably can’t use them right away, you might be able to use the same exercises for different levels. This is especially true for grammar. And for reading, you could copy the text and simply write different questions.

● Proof-read. You’re bound to make a typo or two, so before you sent your exam to be printed, proof-read it. Or better yet, have someone else proof-read it.

● Do your tests ahead of time. It might not be fun, but sitting down one day and getting all your tests done for a class will save you from getting stressed later on.

● Make an answer key. This is especially necessary if other teachers are going to use your test. Or if you save your tests.

● Vary the exercises. Fill in the blank/gap, True/False, Fix the mistake, Matching, Multiple choice, are all possible exercises that can be used on exams.

● Make them easy to grade. Don’t overuse fill in the blank/gap exercises, they’re harder to grade and students might ask for partial credit if they have part of it correct.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.

Unlike places like the Middle East and some parts of Asia where you can save a lot, here in Latin America, [...]]]>

November at the Times is dedicated to a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer of TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List.

Unlike places like the Middle East and some parts of Asia where you can save a lot, here in Latin America, you might not be able to pay off your debts, but you can live like royalty with little money. By working 35 hours a week, you can have a laid-back lifestyle, afford a maid, dine out daily, and still have money left over to travel is what draws people to Latin America. You can find lists of schools at The LA Job List.

Where to work

There are many countries in Latin America, starting way up north in Mexico and moving down to Argentina, each country is different and has amazing things to offer. The first thing that you should do is do a bit of research and see which countries appeal to you. Then see if there are opportunities for English teachers. Costa Rica and Mexico are popular destinations and it’s easy to find work there. Places like Panama, due to visa issues and Belize, due to language issues are harder to get into. Here are some things to keep in mind upon arrival.

Many teachers end up at language schools/institutes. You may have to work split shifts as they cater to business people or students. If you have more experience, you should try to get into a bilingual or international school, where you’ll get a higher salary and paid vacations. If you have qualifications and experience, you might be able to teach at a school. There are bilingual and international schools. International schools are more competitive. They require QTS (Qualified Teaching Status) in your home country and usually two years teaching experience in a primary or secondary school. Universities might be another option as well, you’ll have to have at least a BA and a couple years teaching experience.

Although many places want to meet you before having you sign a contract, it is possible to set up interviews and sometimes even jobs before you arrive. The best thing to do is start contacting schools and let them know you are interested in working for them. Tell them when you will arrive and try to set up an interview. The majority of teachers are able to secure teaching positions within one or two weeks. Wear professional clothes (no shorts, jeans, tank tops, or sandals) and go to the schools you contacted with your CV in hand. After interviewing you may have to do a short demo lesson, but don’t worry, relax and smile. Keep in mind that timing is also important. Coming during holidays, such as Christmas and New Year’s is not advisable since many people go on vacations and teaching jobs are limited during these times.

Most institutes will want you stay for at least six months, though some will accept teachers for shorter terms, such as three months. Universities and primary or secondary schools will want you to sign a contract for 1-3 years. Remember the longer you stay, the better pay and more benefits you will receive. If you do decide to leave, remember to write a letter 30 days beforehand and have it signed and stamped by the school. Keep one copy of the letter for your record.

Many institutes and universities will have you work split shifts meaning that you’ll get a break in the middle of the day to eat lunch and relax for a few hours. Sometimes classes finish at 9pm, or even as late as 10pm. Although at first it seems difficult, you will get used to it and can use the time in the afternoon to take a nap or run errands. Remember that you will usually only be teaching 20-30 hours a week, and then the rest of the time is prep time. If you manage your time well, you will have plenty of time to teach private lessons.

Signing a Contract

Remember that each school is different. Some institutes hire only those with working visas. Others hire teaching on tourist visas. Some will require you sign a contract, some require a working visa, and some are more flexible and just have verbal agreements. If your school uses contracts, then after you’ve passed your interview and demo lesson, you will be asked to sign.

Typical contracts usually include the minimum number of guaranteed hours, amount and frequency of pay, length of service, hours the teachers must be available to teach, whether teachers can teach classes outside of the school, and how the contract can be broken. Make sure you read everything, including the fine print. Some places have “no compete” policies. This varies from school to school and can mean anything from not being able to teach at another school while you work for them, not being able to teach privates, or even not being able to teach in the same city for X months after you finish their contract. So make sure you ask questions about anything you don’t understand.

Visas

Countries seem to be changing their visa regulations all the time. For example, Ecuador just cracked down on their visa laws, eliminating border hopping and visa extensions and now it’s almost impossible to teach on a tourist visa. On the other hand, Peru just changed its 90 day visa to 183 visa, making it easier to stay.

Be sure to check about visa rules beforehand and know how long you can stay and if visa extensions are allowed, and if they are, how much more time you can get. Some countries have a limit on the total numbers of days you can stay in a year, some enforce this law and others are more flexible. Others give you 90 days, and then let you renew your visa for up to three months, and then have you leave the country. Others make you pay a fine if you overstay your visa.

It’s not uncommon for people to work on tourist visas, it’s not legal, but it’s still done. Just don’t tell the authorities that you are. If you are working on a tourist visa, you may have to border-hop every once in a while. You simply leave the country, stay in another one for a couple of days, and then re-enter and are given a new tourist visa that’s good for X amount of days. Or, if the country you are in fines people who overstay, you could just overstay your visa and pay the fine as you leave. It might be cheaper than border-hopping. I know a handful of people who have been on tourists visas here in Peru for two or three years. They just border hop every couple of months. If you’re looking for short-term work and don’t mind working under the table, you’ll probably have no problems finding a job, just realize you won’t get the best pay.

Primary and Secondary Schools are more likely to get you a work visa than other places, although universities will do so as well. Check with your employer about what you need to bring. Often you will need to get your original university degree Apostillised in your home country before. If you enter on a tourist visa and you’ll need to find out if you can convert the tourist visa to a work visa, or if you have to leave the country, or even go back to your home country. If you have a business or work visa, what you have to do to get your residency ID card. Ask who is going to cover the costs for this and how long it takes to get it. You’ll need to know about the requirements. Sometimes you may need a medical check up or a police background check in order to get residency. And find out if you’ll get help to do all this.

If you’ve married a local, then you should be entitled to residency and a work visa, be sure to ask immigrations for more information.

Qualifications

Having a BA is often a basic requirement when teaching in Latin America, although you maybe able to get around that if you have life experience or teach at a more laid-back institute. TEFL certification classes will help you know about your subject matter and giving you practical teaching tips and experience teaching students. If you aren’t able to do a TEFL cert now, then at least go to your local library and do some research, observe some classes, or talk to some teachers. Whatever you do, you should prepare yourself before arrival. If you have teaching experience, all the better. You’ll know what to expect and might have some resources as well.

Money Matters

Many teachers end up at language schools, and they typically pay about 6 to 15 dollars an hour, depending on what country you’re in, the city, the type of institute and your qualifications. Some schools may offer you room, board, and a small stipend in exchange for teaching. Others pay you a salary. You may find yourself working at more than one language institute to pick up enough hours. Getting jobs at other schools are fairly easy, just make sure that if you sign a contract, you’re allowed to work at other institutes or teach private classes. If you’d rather just work in one school, try to take on a couple of private students. Private students aren’t difficult to pick up and once people learn that you’re a good teacher, you’ll have a full schedule. Try advertising at schools, universities, or try putting an advert in the local paper. Teachers usually charge between $5 and 20 USD an hour.

Taxes depend on the country you’re in, your immigration status and how much you earn. Check with your school for more details about taxes.

As usual, when moving to a new place, you should bring money to tide you over before you get paid. 1000- 2000 USD should be more than enough. Cost of living here in Latin America is pretty low compared to other places such as North America and Europe. Most teachers can easily earn 800 USD a month by teaching 25 hours a week. Most teachers can live off of 500 USD a month provided that they don’t expect to live in the lap of luxury and learn tips from the locals. For example, learning how to navigate the bus system and cooking at home are great ways to save money, meaning that you’ll have more money to use to study Spanish or explore Latin America.

Most teachers will want health insurance. Teaching and living in Latin America is exciting, but also poses many unpredictable situations, such as injury or illness in a foreign country. This is why teachers should secure international health insurance before arriving. Be sure to ask if they cover medically supervised emergency evacuations, emergency reunions or repatriation. Some places will provide health insurance for their teachers. If your institute does, be sure to ask exact what is and is not covered.

Some places will provide housing or assistance in finding housing. If housing is provided, be sure to ask for details, such as is it furnished? single or shared? are utilities covered? Other places wil offer free housing, meals and language lessons in exchange for English classes, read this article to find out more. If you have your own housing, find out about costs, such as utilities.

Sound fun?

If you want information, try chat with teachers already in Latin America with this Skype network available from Teacher’s International. If all these things sounds appealing, then dust off your CV and start applying for jobs, in a couple of months you could find yourself basking in the glory of living in Latin America. Don’t forget adapt to the local customs. See Respectful Travel for more information.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.

I’m all for asking for reference letters when you’re about to finish your contract. Getting a reference letter now rather than [...]]]>

November at the Times is dedicated to a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer of TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List.

I’m all for asking for reference letters when you’re about to finish your contract. Getting a reference letter now rather than waiting until later has it’s benefits. First, your boss will be more likely to remember details about your position. Second, your boss is still there. If she/he moves on, you could easily lose contact. Third, you’re still working there and can remind your boss. Let’s face it, our employers are busy and might forget.

However, if you’ve left a job and didn’t get a recommendation letter, don’t worry, it’s not to late. You can still request one. You might have to remind your boss about details, such as when you worked there or what your responsibilities were.

Whether you’re still working at the institute that you’re requesting a reference letter or you have moved on, there are essential pieces of information that every reference letter should include. It might help you to give your boss the template below. Sometimes you may be asked to help your boss write your reference letter, this is especially common if English isn’t their first language. Just follow the template below.

Asking for a reference letter
Dear (Name)

My name is (name) and I worked at your institute (dates) as a (job title). I am currently applying for a position in/at (country or institute). In order to apply for this position I must submit reference letters and I would like to know if you would be able to write a reference letter for me. If possible, could you please include two copies- one for my application and one for my personal records. I understand that you are very busy and have included a template to help you. I greatly appreciate your help with my application. Thank you so much for your time to get this done quickly.

Sincerely,
(Your name)
(Your postal address so they can snail mail you the letter)

What a reference letter should contain

This is the basic information that a good reference letter should contain. You might want to give this information to your boss to make sure that they include everything.

● How you know the applicant.
● What the applicant did for you and when.
● What would make the applicant a good candidate for the position they are applying for.
● Any additional responsibilites: workshops, newsletters, level coordinator, student placement, etc.
● Letters should be on professional letterhead.
● Include your contact information (address, phone, email address).
● Include your position.
● Signature in ink on paper.
● Make sure it’s dated.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.

Although many teachers dread teaching mixed level classes, there are ways to make teaching these classes easier.

● Pair weaker students with stronger students. Both [...]]]>

June on the TEFL Times has been set aside for a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer for TEFL Tips.

Although many teachers dread teaching mixed level classes, there are ways to make teaching these classes easier.

● Pair weaker students with stronger students. Both students benefit in this situation. Stronger students solidify their knowledge of English because they have to explain things to the weaker students. And weaker students benefit because they get things explained to them in different ways.

● Call on everyone. Sure, the stronger students will be more likely to volunteer, but give the weakers students a chance to participate as well.

● Keep silent. By keeping silent after asking questions, you’ll give the weaker students a chance to put together their answer. The stronger students will also get a chance to double check theirs.

● Projects. Have students do a project or two where they have to work in groups. Not only will they get the chance to meet other people, but they will also learn valuable group working skills.

● Routines. They make students comfortable and will lessen the need for explanations. If students know that they do listening, followed by pair work, etc, they will automatically be prepared for what they have to do.

● Have sequential material. Have different questions according to the level so that all students can feel challenged. For example, after a reading, you could have three different sections of comprehension questions according to the levels in the class.

● Give students choices. Offer students a choice whether for homework or projects. By giving students choices, they take responsibility for their learning and can choose the activity that will challenge them the most.

● Use students to help. Students can pass out papers and even help explain exercises and grammar to their peers.

● Create activity corners. Think of a couple of activities that students can do on their own or with a small group. Put these activities in different places around the room. Students are free to move around as they finish an activity. You could have listening in one corner, a speaking exercise in the net, a problem solving one in another, or possibly a game at the front of the room and a song in the back. The options are limitless.

● Divide the class. When presenting a new topic, some students will have already seen it before. So after presenting it quickly, send those who know it to the back to work on exercises. And those who don’t know, you can give a more detailed presentation.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.

Teaching English is challenging enough, but when you have a large class, things get even more difficult. But there are some things that you can do to [...]]]>

June on the TEFL Times has been set aside for a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer for TEFL Tips.

Teaching English is challenging enough, but when you have a large class, things get even more difficult. But there are some things that you can do to make it easier for you as a teacher and help your students learn English.

● Write the rules with the students. When the students participate in making the rules, they will feel that they are more fair than those that the teacher makes. An added plus is that usually students make stricter rules than teachers.

● Give instructions clearly and check comprehension. Most students would rather just nod and say that they understand than ask for clarification, so if you do comp checks you can ensure that they really understand what was said.

● Dictations. Try playing a listening at twice its normal speed, than have students work together to piece the listening together.

● Write things on butcher paper or OH or PPP beforehand. Writing on the board is time consuming, so if you have everything written out beforehand, you’ll save much needed time.

● Use drawings. Drawings can make a class fun and are worth 1000 words, so why not use them in class? You don’t have to be an artist. There are lots of books out there on how to make stick drawings for class. And often the ugliest drawings get the best reactions from the class.

● Bring realia. By showing students real objects, they will make the connection between English and their lives.

● Use what students see. Direct to indirect, reported speech are just a few things that you can practice using your students’ own words.

● Activity notebook. Everyone works at different speeds, so some will finish sooner than others. Rather than just having them sit and do nothing, or worse, start distracting others, give them something to do. At the beginning of the term, you can give them worksheets that they can do when they finish or put a folder in the back of the room with things to do in it.

● Importance of learning a language. Discuss WHY learning English is important and help motivate your students to learn it.

● Move away from students. When a student speaks softly the biggest mistake that you can make is moving closer to them. Move away from them so that they have to project their voice.

● Adapt material. It’s hard to use everything from the book, so change some of the material so that it better suits your students. Change the vocabulary or topics so that your students will see how English relates to them.

● Have sequential material, low and high students. Have different questions according to the level so that all students can feel challenged.

● Use students to help. Students can pass out papers and even help explain exercises and grammar to their peers.

● Have them write goals. Make students work toward something. If they see what they’re working for, they will able to see progress..

● Routines. They make students comfortable and will lessen the need for explanations. If students know that they do listening, followed by pair work, etc, they will automatically be prepared for what they have to do.

● Teach them to be respectful. In large groups, respect is of utmost importance. They have to realize that they need to take turns speaking and listening to other ideas. Teach them this form the beginning and things will be easier.

● One paper per groups. Save trees and teach students to work in groups. By sharing papers, they will be forced to work together.

● Work on editing. By having students read each other’s work, they will be able to recognize mistakes and also be able to explain why they are wrong.

● Have assigned groups and change them weekly or monthly. IF students know who they are working with, then less time will be wasted creating groups. Change it up every once in a while so that people get the chance to work with other people.

● Group students. Creating smaller groups allows students the chance to speak and practise their English.

● Walk around. Don’t just stand in front of the class and lecture. Moving around and you can help students when needed.

● Create activity corners. Think of a couple of activities that students can do on their own or with a small group. Put these activities in different places around the room. Students are free to move around as they finish an activity. You could have listening in one corner, a speaking exercise in the net, a problem solving one in another, or possibly a game at the front of the room and a song in the back. The options are limitless.

● Try discussions. Everyone has an opinion, though not everyone may want to voice it in front of a large class. Break students up and give them a topic to discuss. You can either walk around and listen and correct what they have to say, or have them present their ideas in front of the class, or do both.

● Get to know the students. Yes, it’s difficult to memorise everyone’s names, but it makes things a lot easier and lets the students know that you take the time to get to know them. If names are hard for you, try a seating chart, or name tags.

● Make yourself available. Let your students know that they can meet you at certain times on certain days in order to ask you questions about what was taught in class.

● Ask for feedback. Surveys can do wonders for your teaching. Students have valuable suggestions on how you can make your class a better learning environment, so ask them.

● Make comments. Grading papers is hard enough, but when you have tons of students it can be a daunting task, nevertheless, you should write comments on each students’ paper, even if it’s just to say good job.

● Change things up. Do different activities during class. Movies, songs, drama, role plays, and debates are all great activities for large classes.

● Call on everyone. Don’t just call on the people in the front or those with their hands up. Call on those in the back as well, so that they know that they can’t hide from you.

● Projects. Have students do a project or two where they have to work in groups. Not only will they get the chance to meet other people, but they will also learn valuable group working skills.

● Provide an outline. Let students know what will be discussed in each class with a simple syllabus. Then for each class, write an outline on the board about what will be taught in class.

● Be fair. You’ll probably get to know some students more than others, but you still need to be fair. Make sure all your rules, about being late, missing assignments, etc, apply to everyone. Using rubrics, whether created by you or the students, work well and let students know how you are grading.

● Don’t shout. The students should listen to you while you’re giving instructions. If they don’t, make sure that there is a consequence for them. For example, if you have to wait more than ten seconds, they have to stay one minute after class.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.

Often something’s that both newbies and old hands struggle with is maintaining discipline in the classroom. Rowdy students can distrupt the lessons and making teaching difficult for [...]]]>

June on the TEFL Times has been set aside for a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer for TEFL Tips.

Often something’s that both newbies and old hands struggle with is maintaining discipline in the classroom. Rowdy students can distrupt the lessons and making teaching difficult for even experienced teachers. But if you keep a couple of tips in mind, you can make classes better for both you and the students.

● Be consistent. You have to be consistent in what you say and do both throughout the lesson and throughout the course. DOn’t change rewards or punishments.

● Positive Reinforcement. By punishing only the bad tings that happen, you’re only fighting half the battle. Rather than concentrating on the bad behaviour, look at the model students and praise them for their behaviour. And when you see a difficult student doing something well, be sure to praise them as well for their hard work.

● Start strict. Most teachers agree that it’s easier to get more lenient throughout the course than become more strict. So lay down the rules on the first day and stick to them.

● Play games at the end. Tell students that if they behave well, you’ll play a game at the end. It doesn’t have to be a long elaborate one, short games work as well. Anything from Simon Says, Hangman, Seven Up, or 20 Questions can work. Your students might be able to teach you some common games they play in their culture as well.

● Provide things to do. Not all students work at the same pace. And often students get out of hand because they have nothing to do. Keep a couple of extra exercises, worksheets, books, or games for them to do when they finish. If they’re busy, they’re less likely to make trouble.

● Don’t shout. First off, there’s probably no way that you can shout and be heard when many students are talking. Second, you’re not really fixing anything, you’re just adding to the noise. Try clapping your hands, or ringing a bell to get their attention.

● Follow through. If you say that you’ll play a game, do so. Likewise if you say that a student will be punished, you’ll have to follow through on that. And don’t make promises that you can’t keep.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.

Teaching young children can be challenging just because it’s difficult to get their attention and keep it for an extended period of time. However there are a [...]]]>

June on the TEFL Times has been set aside for a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer for TEFL Tips.

Teaching young children can be challenging just because it’s difficult to get their attention and keep it for an extended period of time. However there are a few things to keep in mind that will make teaching young students easier.

Change Activities Often
If you’re teaching children how to introduce themselves, plan a bunch of shorter activities instead of one long one. Each activity should last about five to fifteen minutes maximum. Young children simply can’t pay attention for a longer period of time and will start fidgeting.

Move Around
TPR, or Total Physical Response, is great for children. Think of Simon Says and Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Children love to be active and move around, so if you can add any movement to your class, kids will love it. Try giving rambunctious children leadership roles. Have them hand out papers, collect game pieces, etc. It will keep them busy, quite and make them feel important. And try games, such as Simon Says, or Do What I say, Not What I Do. in order to get their attention

Games Rule
Forget boring fill in the blank activities. Put those same questions on a game board and children will be mesmerised. Card games work well as well. Try Games Galore and Mark’s English for game ideas and templates.

Group Children Differently
Children lean just as much, if not more, from their peers as they do their teacher. High level students can learn from lower students and vice versa. By changing the grouping, children move around, but more importantly work with different people. They learn group work skills in addition to language skills. When you pair students up, they can sit side-by-side, face-to-face, back-to-back, or even have pairs on opposite sides of the room. Small groups work well around a table or sitting on the floor. Larger groups, or splitting the class in half work well for competition, whole-class games.

Rewards
Rather than punishing students for bad behaviour, try rewarding them for good behaviour. Stickers, stamps, and little gifts are wonderful ways to reward students that behave well. Even praise works wonders. Watch what happens when you compliment one student on sitting properly in his chair, all the others will quickly sit up straight because they want to be praised as well. Or tell the students that at the end of the class, you will give out rewards to the three best behaved children.

Discipline is Key
Discipline can be hard. So try Star Lotto. At the beginning of class, draw three stars on the board. When you want them to be quiet, start counting down from ten, if you reach zero, erase a star. At the end of class, you have a student draw a number. You’ll have to make the number beforehand and should laminate them as well. Numbers need to be from one to six. If a student gets a number that is equal to or less than the stars on the board, then the class gets a sticker on their Star Lotto chart. Once they get a certain number of stickers, they get a prize.

Use signals for silence. Have a signal, such as putting your hands on your head, then clapping three times and then sitting up straight. Students will be able to see you and know that you want them to be quiet even if they can’t hear you.
These are just a few tips, try talking with other teachers as well. By sharing your ideas, both you and your students will enjoy learning more.

Make sure students understand the rules. Demonstrate how to do something with a couple of students in front of the class. That way, if they don’t understand English, they can see what they have to do.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.

As teachers it can be frustrating to teach beginners, everything seems to go painstakingly slow. But think how difficult it would be for you to learn a [...]]]>

June on the TEFL Times has been set aside for a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer for TEFL Tips.

As teachers it can be frustrating to teach beginners, everything seems to go painstakingly slow. But think how difficult it would be for you to learn a completely different language. Below are some tips to help you out when teaching beginners.

● Explain things again and again. Most people aren’t going to grasp a concept on the first try. Be patient and be prepared to explain it again, but in a different manner.

● Provide lots of review activities. Try reviewing a little bit each day. Also allow for different situations in order to practise what was learnt. Think of different grouping, such as individual, pairs, small groups, and whole class.

● Be patient and don’t pressure students. While some students are ready to make mistakes and start talking, others are perfectionist who want to make sure they can say something perfectly before they say it.

● Give students more time. Wait and then wait some more. Don’t worry if you have to wait 30 seconds or a minute to have someone respond. It’s not because they’re not interested. It’s simply because they’re thinking of how to say it.

● Give homework. It sounds bad, but if you give homework, the students will open their books and be forced to review what they’ve learnt in class. The majority of students won’t open their books unless they have to.

● Forget the slang. Learn to speak properly and enunciate your words. Say something and stop, don’t keep rephrasing what you’ve said. It will only confuse your students.

● Give compliments. Let your students know that they are doing well. Have them save their past work so that they can see the progress they’ve made.

● Make learning fun. Let’s face it, most of us would rather do something fun than boring, so apply this concept to your classes. There are plenty of websites and material out there to make your class a blast.

● Use technology. There are websites that allow students to practise their English online. From games to online tests, there’s loads to choose from. Try assigning an online test or game for homework and you’ll see that most of your students will do it.

● Enroll in a language course. This is the best way to empathize with your students. You’ll know how they feel if you feel the same way. You’ll understand that learning a language requires a lot of time and effort.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.

Being a tourist is one thing, but making the move to a foreign country can be daunting. Here are some tips to help make the move easier.

English teachers are professionals and as such need to remember somethings while in the classroom. Here are some ideas to help get you started.

Dos

● Act [...]]]>

June on the TEFL Times has been set aside for a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer for TEFL Tips.

English teachers are professionals and as such need to remember somethings while in the classroom. Here are some ideas to help get you started.

Dos

● Act like a teacher. As a foreign teacher, both students and teachers will look up to you as a representative of your country. Act professional.

● Make class interesting. Prepare a variety of activities and games.

● Be consistent with the rules. You shouldn’t play favourites-make sure you treat all your students equally.
● Plan your lessons ahead of time. Winging it doesn’t work. You will have to think about what you want to teach before you enter the classroom.

● Make sure the topic is appropriate. Some issues that are accepted at home are taboo here.

● Speak clearly and loudly.

● Tell the students why you want them to do something.

● Expect the unexpected. Maybe you planned an activity for ten students and only five showed up. Always have a back-up plan.

● Keep an open mind. Some countries have laid-back ideas about timing. Students may show up ten minutes late.

● Ask your students for feedback. Most times they will be honest and tell you if they liked or didn’t like the activities you planned. They might also have suggestions for things that you can do in class.

● Adapt your teaching style. Some students like to thinking things over and have everything perfect before speaking. Others want to shout out the answer as soon as they know it.

● Bring realia into the classroom. Pictures from magazines, photos from home, real objects make lessons come alive.

Don’ts

● Wear weekend clothes to class. Jogging pants, jeans or shorts aren’t acceptable. Women should cover their shoulders, stomachs and knees. Sleeveless shirts are ok, but spaghetti straps aren’t. Men should wear dress pants and a dress shirt with a collar. Piercings and tattoos should be covered up.

● Dumb students down. Just because they can’t answer a question, doesn’t make them understand. Ask a different question or see if someone can help the student.

● Embarrass your students.

About the author
Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.