How to Improve Your English Pronunciation, Part 2
Regardless of your age, you can always work on your pronunciation. Our mini session of today is to help non-native speakers improve their competence in pronunciation by focussing on one sound (actually two)–the TH. This sound is unique to English; therefore, the English student will always try to replace this sound by either T or S. Some students may object by saying that they are too old to change for the better. We have living proof that one of our TEFL trainees from the U.K. was able to teach a Russian lady beyond 50 how to form this sound properly within a week of daily practice. If she could do it, you can do it. INTRODUCTION Please watch this video and see for yourself what can happen if your pronunciation is incorrect. Maybe you are thinking about your pronunciation of the TH right now. Don’t worry. If you stay with…
A Sure Fire Road Map to Getting Your Dream TEFL Job
It takes courage to become a winner despite all odds. And you may have read somewhere that it is patience and persistence that will make you succeed. This is so true. FULFILLING YOUR DREAMS OF TEACHING ABROAD AT iTTi LAGOS, NIGERIA My dream has always been to teach English abroad, especially in countries of the Middle East (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and UAE) where teachers are well remunerated. But as a non-native speaker of English, with native-like proficiency, I reckoned that I needed to have the necessary qualifications to stand a chance. I decided to travel to the United States for my TESOL certification; it was a huge investment, considering that I am from Nigeria with unstable exchange rate of Naira to dollar. I emptied my bank account and got additional loan support from family members. I was optimistic that the training would stand me in good stead…
Will You Benefit by Lying on Your CV?
Although the rule is that one should not lie on your CV/resume, 63% of people admitted to lying or exaggerating. The latest story is that of a government official who put a Stanford University degree in her CV that the university could not confirm. On top of it, they discovered plagiarism in her doctoral dissertation. Obviously, those discoveries don’t necessarily benefit a good reputation. And it can absolutely hurt sooner or later when you are trying to build a career. The response of people in discussions about such scandals usually is that everybody does it. In Germany, a banker with the name Christian Eberhard dreamed of being a surgeon. He made his dream come true by forging a medical degree. When his fraud was discovered, he had already performed 190 surgeries at the University Clinic of Erlangen. This was despite the fact that he had written his “degree” with an…
Where to Eat on a Tight Budget in Paris, France
Here are some inexpensive restaurant suggestions for all those who have to live on a shoestring budget while taking the TEFL course in Paris. 1. Delicious Middle Eastern Food A Paris classic in the Marais—L’as du fallafel. The falafel here is simply out of this world, and at around €6, it can’t be beaten! The only negative part: Be prepared to wait in a (quickly moving) line. 32-34 Rue des Rosiers4th arrondissement+33 1 48 87 63 60Metro: Saint-Paul (Line 1) 2. Savory and Sweet Crepes Not far from L’as du fallafel, Breizh Cafe offers some of the best crepes in Paris. Their buckwheat versions with egg, ham and cheese are so good. Try a yummy one for around €8, and you’ll be full and happy all night! 109 Rue Vieille du Temple3rd arrondissement+33 1 42 72 13 77Metro: Saint-Sébastien – Froissart (Line 8) 3. Spicy Indian Food Paris may not be famous for its Indian food,…
Why Meaningful Learning Is So Important ?
In all those years as a TEFL trainer, I experienced countless novice teachers and seasoned ones during teaching practice. When they came, they all had difficulties with the “Principle of Meaningful Context.” When they left, they had become wonderful EFL teachers with the knowledge of how to excite their students in class. Nothing can replace excellent teaching skills. And those schools that hired our graduates were able to tell the difference. Read on to learn a little bit about our work in training EFL teachers. In English language (or any foreign language) teaching, our trainees learn that meaningful learning is imperative to a top-notch EFL class. What is the difference between meaningful learning and “rote” learning? Let me explain that by looking back in history. Most of our parents learned a foreign language from a teacher who spoke the native language of the students in class. Vocabulary was taught by translating…
Germany Values Its English Teachers
In a survey published by the Huffington Post, Germany has been listed as the country in Europe in which English teachers make the highest salaries in comparison to other European countries. Is there anything Germany-bound English teachers should pay attention to? Our blog gives you some tips of how to get employed in Germany that values its English teachers “If you like teaching, Germany is a really satisfying,dynamic environment to work in,” said Dale Coulter, Chair of the English-Language Teaching Association in Berlin-Brandenburg. “You have so much control over what you teach, the hours you want to work and what materials you develop for your learners.” “There is a big difference to teaching in a state school where you have lots of syllabi to deliver. There’s so much more freedom and dynamism in this industry.” Deborah C., an American ex-pat, who has been teaching English in Berlin since 1992 and…