Just a Minute is a very popular British radio quiz game which is ideal for the TEFL classroom and great for practicing speaking skills. It's very simple to prepare and great fun to play. Best for small groups but it can be played with larger groups if you prepare it...
MemoryLifter (CALL Software)
MemoryLifter is a freeware program which displays flashcards. Although it's not specifically for English, there are English modules and you can create your own set of materials for your students allowing them to study and learn the items appropriate for their level...
Oxford Commas in English Punctuation
The Oxford Comma (sometimes known as the Serial Comma or the Harvard Comma) causes a lot of debate and controversy in grammatical circles. On the one hand is British English where a list of items in a sentence are separated by commas unless there is a coordinating...
Stripes – Basic English (TEFAL)
Can we teach like this? Of course not because we're mere mortals. But Harold Ramis in the 1981 film classic, Stripes, can. Stripes - Basic English The film opens with Russell Ziskey (played by Harold Ramis) teaching a brand new class to speak English when he himself...
Backpacker Teachers in TEFL
Backpacker Teachers is a derogatory term for unqualified, casual teachers who take on a job teaching English because they happen to speak English and need the money while they are, generally, backpacking around a country. History Some 30 years ago there was a...
I want to Learn EFL! (TEFAL)
BBC: Smack the Pony-English as a Foreign Language A woman tries to register for an EFL course... but there's a problem. This clip comes from the British TV series, Smack the Pony.
Spelling Chequer Poem (TEFAL)
English spelling is easy. We all no that as this poem demonstrates. Eye have a spelling chequer, it came with my pea sea, It plainly marks, for my revue, mist aches I cannot sea. Each time when eye have struck the quays I weight four it to say If wot eye rote is wrong...
IATEFL
IATEFL is the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language. It is a respected organization set up in the UK in 1967. It brings together over 4,000 teachers & administrators, writers, publishers and other professionals involved in teaching...
Explaining Unknown Words in the TEFL Classroom
One of most common situations a TEFL teacher will find themself in is Explaining Unknown Words. A typical scenario is when a class is working on a text or watching a video and then a student will simply ask what the meaning of a certain word is. They may well use you...
Sweet Incentives in TEFL Teaching
Many teachers like to use Sweets or Candy as Incentives for their students, especially with younger classes. TEFL teachers heading abroad will often fill their bag with candy from back home not only to motivate their class but also offer a little bit of cultural input...