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Mar 2016The importance of teaching practice in TEFL training
Teaching English is a very complex process that involves knowledge about linguistics as well as about educational psychology. However, like everything else in life, there is the theory and then the reality. There is a Chinese proverb that says: I hear and I forget… I see and I remember… I do and I understand. This holds so very true for English teaching. That’s why at Oxbridge…
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Jan 2016The joys and tribulations of web classes
It’s 8:30 in the morning. Your 3 students from Valencia, Zaragoza and Barcelona are getting ready for a web class. In half an hour, they will all be enjoying their 30 minute web class with each other and their favorite teacher. No, they will not be commuting to Madrid at the speed of sound in order to be together in class by 9:00, nor will…
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Jan 2016Teaching Taboo Subjects
When I first started teaching I found myself teaching an activity about relationships to normally out-going group of students. Less than a minute into the discussion one student announced that she did not want me to ask her any questions as she had recently ended a relationship and was too upset to talk about the subject. It was obviously an awkward moment and I mentioned this to…
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Dec 2015Dealing with those difficult students
Despite the majority of students being motivated and professional, there is always a possibility you may come across one or two “difficult” students who come to class with a negative attitude. I’m sure that as teachers we can all relate to this and have some form of experience when it comes to having to work with a person who arrives to class with the wrong…
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Dec 2015ESL teachers’ frustrations. Is there a way out?
Monday. 8:30 in the morning. A mixed-level group of unresponsive adult learners. Is it me? At least it’s only three of them. Or maybe that’s the problem. Is it their personalities? Perhaps it’s that they’re not interested in the activities. But everything played out so well in my mind last night… questions and answers, role-plays, no fill-in-the-gap activities, detailed situations for them to produce sound…
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Dec 2015Comfortable settings in an ESL classroom
How well can you remember your first classroom at school? I can vividly remember walking into the classroom to be greeted by Mrs Magdalia, who had a book in her hand. She asked me if I knew what the word on the page of the book on the desk was. The word was “look”, and I didn’t know it, but I didn’t feel disappointed or…
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Sep 2015Controversial Topics: How to Approach Them in the ESL Classroom
Every one of us has at one time, in the classroom or outside of it, felt that sinking feeling – somebody in the group says a controversial topic, and that point is met by a wall of uncomfortable silence. Or worse, by a thunder of bristled opposition. Discussing hot-button issues can often be tricky, but it is important not to skirt away from doing it….
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Jul 2015Motivate and Encourage Students. Learn how!
Whether you teach a language, an instrument, a profession or a sport all teachers have many responsibilities. One of the most important things that a teacher must be able to do is ensure that they motivate and encourage students. With some groups or classes this can be easy but with others you may find it extremely difficult for one reason or another. So if this…
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Jul 2015TEFL Myths
As with a lot of professions, there are preconceived notions when it comes to TEFL (both good and bad) that aren’t necessarily true. I have listed below a few TEFL myths and the reasoning behind why they are just that. FACT: Although it does help your chances of gaining employment as a TEFL teacher, it certainly isn’t a requirement that you were born and raised…
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Jun 2015TEFL teaching experience
If teaching English as a foreign language (commonly known as TEFL) is something that appeals to you, you may want to know what it’s like before taking the plunge. Here, I am going to give you an insight into a real TEFL teaching experience . John Shepherd was a teacher at Oxbridge TEFL in Barcelona but decided to move on to pastures new and is…