Articles for English Language Teachers

Articles written about English language teaching, including career development, specialisations, as well as ideas and suggestions for the classroom. We currently have 67 articles available.

Teacher Training (1)

Articles for use on teacher training courses

• Classroom Language- Add Errors - Teacher training worksheets- Classroom Language Add Errors

Teaching English (53)

Articles about teaching English as a Second Language (ESL)

• 70 characteristics of a good grammar presentation - An in-depth look at how to present grammar
• A well balanced use of error correction - Error correction in the EFL classroom
• A well balanced use of L1 in class - Using students' first languages in the classroom
• Activities and topics about the Middle Ages for ESL classes - Interesting activities and topics about the Middle Ages for ESL classes
• Career paths in ELT publishing - How an ESL teacher can get into publishing
• Career paths in ELT publishing Part Two - How an ESL teacher can get into publishing Part 2
• Christmas vocabulary you can mime - Ideas on miming vocab associated with Xmas
• Classroom language for finishing classes - Useful classroom language for teachers for finishing classes
• Classroom language for starting lessons - Useful classroom language for ESL teachers for starting lessons
• Classroom language when doing listenings - Useful classroom language for teachers for doing listenings
• Classroom language when using the board - Useful classroom language for teachers while using the board
• Combining Christmas with a Young Learners' Syllabus - How to combine Christmas with a Kindergarten/ Pre-school/ Very Young Learners English Syllabus
• Combining history topics and English grammar - Activities suitable for English through History classes, CLIL classes, as supplementary activities when there are historical topics in an EFL textbook, or as grammar practice
• Creating a quality language test - A look at how to write a good language test.
• Debate on Culture in English as a foreign language classrooms - What role does culture play in the foreign or second language classroom
• Doing something with Christmas songs - How you can use Xmas songs in the classroom
• Getting published in TEFL Part One- Choosing a route - A look at the options available to people wanting to publish in ESL
• History-themed art, craft and project ideas for ESL students - Activities for history projects in the ESL classroom
• How to break into teacher training - Some tips on moving into teacher training
• IELTS Academic Reading, Locating information task- Tips for Teachers - Tips for helping students with this section of the IELTS exam
• Making textbook listenings manageable and fun - Tips for handling listening activities
• Peer Observations - The advantages and disadvantages of peer observations
• Prehistory and ancient history for ESL classes - Interesting activities and topics about prehistory and ancient history for ESL classes
• Preparing to teach your first EFL exam class - What you should do before teaching an EFL exam class for the first time.
• Putting the Grammar back into Christmas - Putting the seasonal cheer back into grammar
• Quotations for Motivation in the ESL Classroom - A look at how quotations can be used in the ESL classroom to motivate students.
• Rhymes and Crafts - Using rhymes and crafts in the ESL classroom
• Setting up a TEFL certificate course - Personal experiences in setting up a TEFL Certificate course
• Setting up a TEFL certificate course- Advantages & Disadvantages - The pros and cons of setting-up a TEFL certificate course from personal experience
• Setting up workshops for teachers - Some tips on how you can make workshops work well
• Teaching Speaking & Conversation - In what ways can conversation be regarded as a skill? How might this influence our approach to teaching it?
• Testing and reviewing new EFL materials - This article is based on a workshop entitled “Testing and Reviewing New Materials” given by Alex Case at the Tokyo Expo/ Tokyo ELT Book Fair
• The advantages and disadvantages of eliciting in the EFL classroom - The advantages and disadvantages of eliciting in the EFL classroom… and how to exploit them
• The other side of the mirror - ESL students offer their opinions of good language teaching.
• The perfect CV and cover letter for a teacher trainer - How to secure a job as a teacher trainer
• The perfect CV and cover letter for a TEFL teacher - Tips for a CV for teaching general English to adults
• The perfect CV and cover letter for a TEFL young learners teacher - What you need to include if you are applying to teach young learners
• The perfect CV and cover letter for an EFL exam class teacher - The CV for those specialising in ESL examinations
• The perfect CV and cover letter for an EFL manager - Tips for writing a CV for a Director of Studies position
• The perfect job reference for a teacher trainer - How to get a decent reference for a position as teacher trainer
• Things to put in a Self Access Centre or Student Library - Some suggestions for organising and equipping a Learning Resource Centre
• Tips for the automated teacher - Keeping your self-motivation up and the experience new as the years go by
• Using poetry to help with pronunciation - How poetry can help young learners with pronunciation
• Using songs with young learners - Why and how to use songs with young children
• Video in EFL Classrooms - How to develop video materials for EFL classes
• Why did my foolproof activity just fail with that class? - Why did my foolproof activity just fail with that class? … and how to make sure it works again next time.
• Why do my students question me? - Who's in charge in the classroom?
• Why your students don't want to do pairwork - Students are often less keen on pairwork than their teachers
• Why your students don’t do their homework - Reasons for students not doing their homework, with suggestions to deal with the problem
• Why your students have problems with listening comprehension - A look at why learners may find listening difficult
• Why your students overuse their dictionaries - A look at dictionaries in the classroom
• Why your students speak L1 in class - Some reasons why students speak their own language in English classes
• Why your students still make mistakes with grammar they know well - A look at a common and frustrating issue

Teaching English for Specific Purposes (6)

Articles about teaching English in specialised contexts or for special purposes

• Changing The Paradigm For Medical English Language Teaching - Medical English should be taught from the perspective of medicine and health care first and foremost while reinforcing vocabulary acquisition, grammar and structure secondly.
• Teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) - How is English for Specific Purposes (ESP) different from English as a Second Language (ESL), also known as general English?
• Technical Writing & Communication: What & Why? - A look at the importance of technical writing in the sciences.
• The perfect CV and cover letter for a Business English teacher - What employers are looking for in a Business English teacher
• Tips on using the Internet as a tool in TESOL - How to create an Internet-based lesson, with links to sample lessons.
• Whose Needs Are We Serving? - How Is The Design Of Curriculum For English For Medical Purposes Decided?

Teaching English in Asia (7)

Articles looking at teaching English in various Asian countries

• English as National Foreign Language - A look at the role of English in India.
• Get PAID for Teaching in China - A look at how to secure a good salary in China.
• Importance of the English Language - A look at the importance of English in India and the world.
• Japanese Passivity - A View of Japanese Student Passivity
• Motivational Orientation in English Language Learning - A study of Iranian undergraduate students' motivational orientation in English language learning
• Not the best way to teach English - A look at the way English is taught in Pakistan.
• Teaching English in Afghanistan - An article on the role of English language education in Afghanistan.