Diploma courses

We need to talk about teacher burnout

Okay, we’re now about halfway through the first term of school and most of you are probably in your teaching groove, so you might be thinking this may not apply to you. But it does. As Benjamin Franklin says, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Burnout is a gradual thing, not happening overnight and making sure you are aware of the… All categories, Certificate courses, Careers in TESOL, Diploma courses, ESL activities

Teaching jobs in Hong Kong: the secret life of a teacher trainer

Some of the most common questions I hear include: Hey, how did you get your job? What do you need to do to become a trainer? So do you get all summer off? Contrary to what many people assume about language teaching, most of us work within the constraints of the private sector. This has many advantages – and many facets that people new to the… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, ESL activities, How to..., Careers in TESOL

5 things you didn't know about grammar

One of the more common beliefs that teachers and students bring to the classroom, especially in Hong Kong (which tends to favour classroom activities based on memorization and declarative, as opposed to procedural knowledge) is an obsession with grammar.  Yes but they need to know the grammar, teachers often say. Yes, the students didn… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, How to..., Five ways to

It all begins with context: getting your lesson off to a positive start

Set context, and carry on This ought to be the mantra for all teachers, yet it is often one of the most challenging components of any language lesson: set it well, and the meaning and range of language students can use appropriately becomes suddenly more accessible; set it poorly, and you’ll have the students (and possibly yourself too!)… All categories, Five ways to, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, ESL activities, How to...

Does this sound right? Making the most of pronunciation

It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Right? In which case, it often makes me wonder why teaching pronunciation doesn’t take more of the focus in English language lessons.  That’s not to say that teachers don’t do it – indeed, it’s a compulsory component of most teacher training programmes. However, these often focus largely on… All categories, ESL activities, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, How to...

5 ways to motivate your students

For many of us, our time at school is amongst the most memorable experiences we have of growing up. And for many of us, it’s not just going to school, but the teachers we had that impact us most strongly. And more often than not, it’s the memories of the teachers who motivated us to learn and engage with the lesson that stay with us. As teachers… All categories, Certificate courses, ESL activities, Diploma courses, How to...

How to Teach Grammar Creatively: moving beyond the basics

A few weeks ago we introduced you to the basic principles of how to teach grammar. The key idea behind the basics of teaching grammar relies setting a clear context, introducing the target form and then providing practice and production opportunities for your students.  This week we look at some alternative ways to deliver grammar… All categories, How to..., Five ways to, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, Teaching skills

TEFL work in Hong Kong: finding your first job

Oftentimes, coming off a TEFL course can be jarring. The intensity of the course is finally over, leaving you feeling discombobulated and out of sorts. You know you have to look for a job, but just feel overwhelmed by the idea of job-hunting. What to do? Where to begin? This post looks at different entry routes in the TESOL industry… All categories, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, How to...

What is it like to take the DipTESOL?

This week we interview a recent DipTESOL trainee, who completed his Trinity DipTESOL in Hong Kong in 2014.  After 4 years post-certificate, he was an experienced teacher looking to develop his teaching skills, knowledge of language teaching and his career when he decided to take the DipTESOL. 1) Why did you decide to take the… All categories, Diploma courses, TESOL Masters, Certificate courses

English pronunciation: variation or error?

Following on from last week's post on using the IPA with your classes, this week we ask: does your accent matter? Teachers often get asked who speaks better English; the British, Irish, Australians, New Zealanders or North Americans?  Actually, the question itself is meaningless as currently, English has many variations (grammatically… All categories, Certificate courses, How to..., Teaching skills, Diploma courses

Differentiation: what is it and how do I do it?

Off the back of a stimulating PD session at the English for Asia centre in Sheung Wan, we thought we would take a closer look at making the most of differentiation in language learning. What is differentiation? Differentiation is what happens when teachers try to respond to the individuals in their classrooms in order to enhance learning… All categories, How to..., ESL activities, Certificate courses, Diploma courses

What’s it like to work in EFL in Hong Kong?

I often get asked what it’s like to work in TEFL in Hong Kong and having had over 10 years working in a variety of TEFL academic contexts here, including one-to-one tuition, as a NET teacher in local schools, kindergartens, learning centres and reputable (and disreputable!) language training organisations, it’s probably safe to say I’ve… All categories, How to..., Careers in TESOL, Certificate courses, Diploma courses, TESOL Masters