ITTO Blog | TEFL TESOL Certificate Courses Blog.

Greetings and Salutations

February is the month of love. Valentine’s Day is celebrated throughout much of the English speaking world, so we must address that in the blog. Wait until you read about the city of choice this month! Also, there is a new style of teaching coming and we want to tell you about it. It is the latest thing as far as education goes, and, of course, ITTO is on the leading edge! If you have not noticed learning styles, you will find some new information on the issue. Moreover, you will read about the challenges of TEFL in a primitive country (some of which is humorous). Take a deep breath. Dive in. The water’s fine.

PS: To find some really great photographs of all types of countries visit the following website: http://www.galenfrysinger.com/guadalajara.htm . Amazing!

What’s New at ITTO

In case you did not know, ITTO is not only offering a Special Teaching Business English Course here in Guadalajara, but we now can offer the same certificate online. That way, if you have other obligations, a job, or you missed the opportunity to get this certificate before, you may now earn the Teaching Business English Certificate online. This certificate can lead to a more lucrative job in the field of business English. Remember, if you an ITTO Graduate, you are special, so you get a 15% discount automatically!! Not bad, eh? At ITTO, there is always something new happening. Be sure to check out our promotions for the spring and summer! You might know a friend who wants their TEFL Certificate.

TEFL Challenges

While perusing some magazines for TEFL articles, I ran across a delightful one written by Lisa Konczal. She was teaching in French Guiana at Cayenne, the capital. Located in a slum area, the impoverished school had all of three computers for a student body of over 1,000. (Six had been stolen). French Guiana, in case you did not know, is located in the rain forest just north of Brazil, thus, it rains…a lot. However, the immigrant population coming into the country covers everywhere from China to Haiti. The result is a country that is not entirely French, but not Hispanic either.

For most of Lisa’s students, English is their third language. As she wrote, “A real TEFL challenge is teaching English in French to someone from Guangdong”. 

Of course, the natives were a handful too. The first words most students learn are the naughty ones. Therefore, while Lisa was trying to teach the word “beach”, one of the darlings managed to write “bitch” on the blackboard with the word “beach” underneath. Ah, students, don’t you love ‘em.

Afterwards, Lisa wanted the children to spell “the United States”, which got her the response, ”What´s that?”  In other words, after five months of studying English, the students knew the word “bitch”, but not what the United States even was.

As Lisa stated, “No one ever said teaching English was a day at the beach”.

Student Traveler Magazine p.31, 2007

Blended Learning

What is blended learning, you ask? (Yes, I know. It sounds like a whiskey) Please, read on.

One of the latest and greatest trends in TEFL education these days is blended learning. If you have not heard of it, you should go do some serious research on the Internet. It may be the education style of the future and not just in TEFL. Blended learning is a combination of classroom teaching with technology. Students come to class, of course, but not 100 percent of the time. A lot of their work is done on the Internet, with their own CD’s, DVD’s, and, believe it or not, their cell phones.

For TEFL this is an opportunity to leap into the “classroom style” of the future. Of course, with languages, students must practice pronunciation, grammar drills, role-plays, etc. However, to study and practice on their own, they only need a CD and a computer. In most places, computer cafes are in abundance, and a lot of students have their own laptops. Naturally, these are not very available in primitive areas, but in the cities, they flourish.

So how do you manage and plan for blended learning? I will tell you. First, there is the proverbial lesson plan. Suppose you have students who are learning the names of body parts, such as eyes, ears, nose, elbow, etc.  You should have them in class to explain vocabulary, practice, and, of course, some dialogue drill. You can then assign several websites for them to peruse, answer questions, do a worksheet, whatever. You know your classes. You might even have some of the vocabulary done on your cell phone and send it to them for more pronunciation practice. When they return to class, you can review and then do some role-play. One teacher even had a nurse come to class with a stethoscope and the students got to listen to each others hearts. Talk about application! They loved it! Not only that, you can use the Simon Says Game which students also seem to adore.  After that, they can do a communicative activity of being in a doctor’s office and explaining symptoms or parts of the body that are malfunctioning due to illness, accident, etc. If successful at this, they are ready to use this lesson in English for the real world.

Moreover, if you have the technology, students can even see some classes from home on their computer. This can be important if the student is incapacitated for one reason or another, or if they find the distance to the school unrealistic for traveling everyday. This does not mean that they should never come to class. They need to get global correction, interaction, and other activities with their classmates, but it would accomplish a great deal if students are out with a communicable disease and yet not flat on their backs with a high fever, for example.

Use what you know, your common sense, your creativity, and your professionalism to start using blended learning as a new, modern tool for teaching English! Good luck.

span style=”mso-ansi-language: EN-US;” lang=”EN-US”>To learn more about blended learning, check out this website: http://www.learningcircuits.org/2003/jul2003/rossett.htm

Moreover, you can just put in the name and surf the web at your convenience. Fabulous!

Los Cabos, Mexico

Ever wonder where the most romantic spots in the world are considered to be? I checked with Traveler Magazine, and here are a few:

span style=”font-size: small;”>Chassignolles, France

Fez, Morocco

span style=”font-size: small;”>Los Cabos, Mexico

Bora-Bora

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Balapitiya, Sri Lanka

Venice to Paris on the Orient Express

Hmmm…. Notice that Los Cabos, Mexico is among them. Let’s visit.

Los Cabos is the perfect place to visit when you need to get away from it all, plus, it is very romantic. It is here that the Sea of Cortés comes in contact with the Pacific Ocean. Big game fishing attracts fishermen from all over the world, and the prizes for the tournaments are stupendous. Of course, there is also golf, snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding, bikes, etc. This is not to mention the world-class resorts available; the exotic restaurants; the weather; and the night-life. The Marina is fabulous, and there even exists gardens of black coral. Whatever you want to do for sports or entertainment, it is available in Los Cabos. (The shopping is great, too.) And, yes, there are some TEFL jobs available!!

PS:

Remember that these resorts are often hosts to exceedingly famous movie-stars and celebrities. For example: Oprah Winfrey. Get your attention? Thought so. You might also run into diplomats, CEO´s and other VIP´s. Who knows? Go, live, enjoy!

photo from http://visitloscabos.travel/about-los-cabos/san-jose-del-cabo
Photo from Wikipedia The Famous Arch	Shopping in Los Cabos- Photo by Yahoo Images

Teachers Resources

While seeking various resources for jobs, information, and ideas that you might use in your TEFL classes, I ran across a possibility that some of you might be interested in: online teaching. You will, of course, need a computer, a broadband connection, video, microphone, and you. To my surprise, the jobs are becoming more and more plentiful. In some cases, you must live in the country that is hiring you, while in other cases, you may live anywhere in the world. Moreover, some jobs require native speakers and others do not. Pay varies, so be sure you check how much you will get paid as well as to whom you pay your taxes.

Here are some sites:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/edu/1550523090.html
http://www.tutorabc.com/asp/company/recruit.asp?language=en

http://www.esljobs.com/online/teach-english-online-4/ 

http://www.mail-pal.com/becomeourinstructor/application_form.php 

http://teachers.thelanguagemenu.com/

Greetings and Salutations

Happy New Year Everyone!!! It has been a year of surprises all over the place! Let us hope every country comes up with a better economy in the next few months or so. For one thing, we all need to eat.

Also, I did an ”oops” in the last blog when I said there was a Young Learners class after the ITTO class. When I wrote that, I thought it would be sent out earlier. Sorry about that. Anyway, we DO have Young Learners Certificate Classes coming up after our March ITTO class is finished.

What’s New at ITTO

If you are thinking about coming to ITTO in 2010, then check out the specials in our newsletter or visit our website at www.teflcertificatecourses.com where you can find out about fees, specials, and extra certificates.

St. Valentine’s day gift! Feb. 2 TEFL Course: Save 50% you or your significant one - Traveling alone?, save $100.00

Take advantage of ITTO’s special for this extraordinary month. Especially for friends and lovers, ITTO is letting you or your significant other have 50% off tuition if you both sign up for our February TEFL Certificate course. That means one of you will only have to pay half price instead of two full prices for this month of love, as you both register at the same time. If you DO plan on traveling to ITTO alone, however, we will give you $100 Valentine’s Day gift. This special is only for the TEFL course from February 2 through February 26, 2010. DO IT NOW!! This promotion will end on Jan. 29th, 2010.

* No other discounts are valid in conjunction with this offer.

Holyweek 2010! March 1st TEFL Course + FREE 4-day at the beach on us!

Too good to miss! Sign up for ITTO´s TEFL Certificate Course for March 1 through March 26, 2010 in Guadalajara. Mexico and you get a great vacation at the beach.! Yes! Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! And it is FREE! This fantastic 4-day vacation includes lodging, roundtrip travel by deluxe motorcoach with beverages and snacks en route, restroom on board, and leisure time in Puerto Vallarta. It occurs after your course from March 27th to March 30th. This definitely an opportunity you do NOT want to miss out on. DO IT NOW!!

* No other discounts are valid in conjunction with this offer.

Summer TEFL Courses 2010 Special! - Save $1.00 every day starting today!

From now until July 2nd 2010, you can save $1.00 USD a day for payment in advance of your start course date (only course dates listed below) at ITTO in Guadalajara, Mexico! The sooner you pay, the more you save! Be an early bird and save a bundle! (You don´t even have to catch a worm).

For example, if you pay your $200.00 deposit fee on January 31st, 2010, and your course begins on July 5th, 2010, multiply $1.00 for each calendar day… your savings: $152.00, your balance due $1,048.00!!!. Do you want a better example?, if you pay your $200.00 deposit fee on January 31st, 2010, and your course begins on September 27th, 2010 … your savings: $239.00, your balance due $961.00!!!

TEFL Course dates:
* July 5, 2010 * August 2, 2010 * August 30, 2010 * September 27, 2010

Act now, time and money are running!

* No other discounts are valid in conjunction with this offer.

Extend your experience at ITTO 1 more week!

Take our 1-week Teaching Business English (TBE) or Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) Course after your 4-week TEFL Course and save 20% on any of these Certificates:
TBE or TEYL Course regular fee: $360.00 USD
TBE or TEYL Course ITTO graduates fee: $288.00 USD (20% off)

Rio de Janeiro

Yes, we know they speak Portuguese in Rio, but not only is it an interesting city, it has been appointed as the place for the Olympics in 2016, which is rather exciting. Plus, if you wish to attend this event, you not only need to learn about the city, but start saving your coins to travel there. So, take a break and read about Rio. It is rather amazing.

Rio de Janeiro is famous for its natural settings, its carnival-styled celebrations, its dances, such as the samba and Bossa Nova, and, of course, its hotel-lined tourist beaches, such as Copacabana, not to mention its slums. One of the most famous landmarks is the giant statue of Christ, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Summer Olympics, and it will be the first South American city to host the event. Mexico City hosted the Olympics in 1968.

Rio also boasts the largest and second largest urban forests in the world: Floresta daTijuca, and White Stone State Park. Although known for its charm and beauty, Rio is one of the most violent cities in the world. Much of the violent crime is concentrated in the slums. but it also happens in higher class neighborhoods. Rio, for the most part, faces south. It was founded on an inlet of Guanabara Bay, the entrance to which is marked by Sugar Loaf. The population is about 6,137,000, not counting the greater metropolitan area. Rio has a tropical savanna climate which means a rainy period from December to March. The temperature occasionally reaches over 40°C (104°F) in inland areas of the city, and extreme maximum temperatures above 30°C (86°F) can happen every month. In the main tourist areas (south, where the beaches are located), the temperature is moderated by the cool sea-breezes from the Atlantic Ocean.

Panoramic view of the Botafogo neighborhood and Sugarloaf Mountain. Wikipedia photo.

The Portuguese mariners named the area Rio because they thought the bay was the mouth of a big river. Calling it temporarily “the river of January” or Rio de Janeiro, they built a settlement. The small colony grew until it became a city.

The South Zone of Rio de Janeiro is made up of of several districts, which include Rio’s famous Atlantic beach coastline. The neighbourhood of Copacabana beach hosts one of the world’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve parties when more than two million people go to the beach to watch the fireworks. The West Side is the region furthest from the centre of Rio de Janeiro. The area has industrial zones, but some agricultural areas still remain in its wide area.

The City of Samba, the latest tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro, was built in the port district neighboring downtown. There is a reason for this. It is here, considered to be “Sacred Ground,” that the Carioca samba was born.

Christ Redeemer.
Wikipedia Photo.

Christ Redeemer, symbol of the city of Rio de Janeiro, stands 38 meters high, and had its opening on October 12, 1931. The Christ is the image of the carioca people in faith and sympathy, plus it celebrates 78 years of existence as of 2009.

Sugar Loaf cable car. An idea of Augusto Ferreira Ramos, it was inaugurated on October 27, 1912, it had its ninetieth anniversary in 2002. The cable car, the third in the world, is a major icon of Rio tourism and has become a trademark of the city. Considered to be one of the safest in the world by international agencies of passenger cable cars, it has never had an accident with casualties. Sugar Loaf is surrounded by typical tropical vegetation, with vestiges of the Atlantic Forest containing native species that have disappeared from other areas of the Brazilian coast. It also boasts rare species, such as the orchid “laelia lobata” that can only be found in two places on the globe, Sugar Loaf and Gávea Rock, both of which are located in Rio de Janeiro.

Primary schools are largely under municipal administration, while the state plays a more significant role in the secondary schools. Rio has a large number of private schools that are known to offer a better education than public schools, with some exceptions. Rio is the home of many colleges and universities.

There are more than 50 museums in Rio. The principal cultural centers, such as the Modern Art Museum, the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Bank of Brazil Cultural Center show international exhibits under conditions identical to the best museums in the world. There are several other important museums in Rio: the Quinta da Boa Vista, the Native Art Museum (primitives, with the largest collection of native paintings in the world), and the Indian Museum

In Rio buses are the major means of mass transportation. There are nearly 440 municipal bus lines serving over four million passengers each day. However, the Metro is Rio’s safest and cleanest form of public transport. Driving in Rio de Janeiro might not be the best choice.

If you go, send us a post card!!

Capitals

You would think that these are so simple to teach. Not true. Of course, it is because in most Latin based languages, certain words are not capitalized the way they are in English. If you are teaching Asians, it might be easier since they would be learning for the first time, not trying to remember from a Latin based language. For example, names of countries in most places are capitalized, whereas the names of languages in some languages are not. However, if you are teaching English, you must reinforce capitals as you teach. Otherwise, when students are writing, they will automatically use their L1 background and not English. This can occur in even intermediate and advance language classes.

As a general rule, capitals are taught in the lower levels while students are learning basic English terms and grammar. Be sure that you cover all the bases when you teach these. Obviously, sentences in English always start with a capital. So do people´s names. It is interesting to note that while the names of businesses are capitalized, you have to be careful. There is always someone in business that likes to break the rules- eBay, for example. Of course, in English, the names of streets, avenues, and such are always capitalized. While you are teaching these, please reinforce them in writing activities so putting capitals in the right places becomes a habit in the L2 language.

One activity might include placing names of streets on a small map. Be sure to use part of the students´ city where they can relate to the activity. Another activity might include something where the students use the names of languages. It could include a follow-up of an oral practice where you tape the name of a country on the students´ backs. Then, each of them has to guess where they are from. (“Am I from Mexico?” “Am I from France?”) After they discover which country they are from, they then have to say in English what language they speak. (A world map comes in handy with this exercise.) If they follow this activity up with writing the sentences, then they should use the capitals correctly. Integrating these activities also helps the students gain confidence. The goal, as always, is to communicate effectively in the L2 language.

One of the aggravating things in capitals is when to use the word “the” in front, such as “the United States”. Just check your grammar book for the rules and follow them. You can always incorporate these forms in reading passages to reinforce when and where to use capitals.

One last thing, do not mix “capitols” with “capitals”. Not only are they not spelled the same, they mean two different things. They are also easily mixed up if you don´t watch it. Make it fun and enjoy yourself. Have a “capital” time!