How can I improve my English in London?

As a teacher trainer of English as a Foreign Language, this is a question I am often hear asked by foreign nationals after arriving to live in London. They are in England but can’t find a way to meet English people. Here are some ideas to help solve the problem.

1 – Try to find a language exchange partner on the internet. This will be a British person who wants to learn your language. You will then meet up together and spend maybe 30 minutes talking in English and 30 minutes talking  in your own language. Check advertisements on www.gumtree.com

2 - Find a language school which offers free English lessons. Some English language schools in London train new teachers and offer free lessons as a result. One good example is the well thought of ISIS Study Centre Greenwich, which has run TEFL training courses in London for over 10 years. They offer lessons on week days starting at 2.30pm – for more details visit their webpage:

http://www.isistefl.com/free-english-lessons

3 – Visit the pubs, bars and cafes of London. This is where Londoners go to spend free time, read and relax. If you get lucky you’ll have the chance to meet new people and get to practice your English. Sit back, have a coffee or beer, read a newspaper and get chatting!

4 – Attend paid lessons at a language school. This will give your learning structure and enable you to socialise more by meeting other students. The very fact you are learning in a group will give you motivation to work harder. Visit www.isisstudycentres.com for more information.

5 – Get a job. Any job. Whether it’s cleaning or working in a restaurant, f you work hard and make a success of it you never know who you will meet or what opportunities you will get. At the very least you will get the chance to socialise with colleagues from time to time.  

6 – Join a club. Find an activity you enjoy or would like to know more about and contact your local Community College to find out more. The cost is often low and it will give you a chance to meet local people, learn a new skill and enjoy your free time.

Whatever you do, make sure you take every opportunity you can to talk to new people wherever you find them.

Best of luck in London.

Mark Lewis (B.A,CertTESOL, DELTA)

www.isistefl.com

Job Offer - Prague, Czech Republic

We receive information about TEFL jobs around the world from time to time at ISIS. Stay in touch via the blog to hear about the latest jobs on offer.

To apply contact Mark or Rob for more details.

Our Czech – English Preschool based in Prague 5 is looking for a suitable candidate for the position of: 

Preschool Teacher / Preschool Teacher´s Assistant

We expect TEFL trained teachers (CELTA ,Trinity CertTESOL or equivalent), preschool experience and enthusiasm. 

The ideal candidate will be an optimistic, responsible teacher who loves working with children.

Experience with children at the age of 1 - 3 years is welcome.

(click here for the domecek website)

ad posted by ISIS Tefl, Teacher trainers in London, Brighton and Oxford (Trinity CertTESOL)

www.isistefl.com

Job Offer - La Rioja, Spain

We receive information about TEFL jobs around the world from time to time at ISIS. Stay in touch via the blog to hear about the latest jobs on offer.

To apply contact Mark or Rob for more details.

NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHER WANTED

JOB DESCRIPTION:           Mainly teaching managers and workers in different companies around the area (especially speaking and maybe some business English) and perhaps also in a small language school (both Primary and Secondary).

LOCATION:                         Calahorra – La Rioja (SPAIN)

(Calahorra is a friendly town in the north of Spain with 28,000 inhabitants and a good standard of living.)

DURATION:                        Mid-September 2012 to Mid-June 2013

Successful candidates will ideally have experience teaching both adults and children, and be energetic and enthusiastic.

Driving licence required.

REMUNERATION:            Good salary. 


www.isistefl.com

Someone has said something nice about ISIS Tefl…

Part of the CertTESOL training is 6 hours of genuine teaching practice. Yes! You have the chance to stand up in front of a group of real people and teach them real English. For many it is the most exciting and rewarding parts of the course. You have your chance to put all the theory and ideas into practice. And the students themselves are generally a wonderful group of people.

Sometimes the students who attend the lessons tell us how much the classes mean to them…

Thanks to Filipa Tavares from Portugal for this terrific endorsement of why it can be so good for people to come for free English lessons at ISIS Greenwich.

"I would like to congratulate all the team of ISIS Tefl, it has been a nice surprise to discover that I could attend free lessons while I am looking for a job. It is great to have a good purpose to leave home and meet people from different backgrounds and nationalities. Above all to experience lessons and teachers who work with such creative subjects, which I would never think of being confronted with in free lessons... Very useful topics for a target group like us, such us: different media, culture, polite speech, colloquial English, word stress, and art among others. Beyond learning and practicing English, I experienced your support and pure interest. Thank you very much."

Congratulations to Filipa who has got a new job now! We will miss her, but wish her every success in her career.


www.isistefl.com

Distance learning Trinity Diploma in TESOL at ISIS Tefl

Taking the next step up in your TEFL career can be difficult if you don't hold the Trinity Diploma in TESOL. ISIS Tefl have been running a distance Trinity Diploma in TESOL course for several years now. Head of Teacher Training, Harry Hall, answers some of your questions about the distance Dip (TESOL).

Harry Hall has been involved in Teacher Training for 15 years both in the UK and abroad. He has wide experience of delivering courses at both Certificateand Diploma level and is a member of Trinity College’s moderation panels for both qualifications.

What is the basic framework of the ISIS Trinty Diploma TESOL course?

The Diploma TESOL has a mixed delivery format consisting of Distance Learning and Face to Face components. It consists of:

• A nine month Distance learning programme delivered via Moodle preparing for the Unit 1 Formal written exam
• A portfolio of assignments to be carried out at your place of work concurrently with the Distance learning programme. (Unit 2)
• A two week on site F2F component during which the practical teaching practice sessions take place, along with phonology practice. (Units 3 / 4)

The Trinity TESOL Diploma, along with the DELTA , is one of the two universally recognized qualifications at Diploma level. Both are on Level 7 of the QCF framework.

How much teaching experience should I have to enroll on the Diploma TESOL?

It is generally recommended that you have at least two years teaching experience before enrolling on the Diploma TESOL. The sharing of previous classroom experiences is a major element on a  Diploma TESOL programme.

Do I need to be currently working full-time as an EFL teacher?

No, but you will need to have a location where you will be able to deliver a series of lessons for research and development issues necessary for the Dip TESOL. You will also need to be able to observe a set of lessons by experienced teachers. (See Unit 2)

In certain circumstances, these course components can be carried out at the centre in Greenwich.

During the 9 month distance learning component, how many hours can I expect to work every week?

We realise that trainees have different schedules and there are times when you can expect to be busier at your place of work than others. However, generally you will need to allocate approximately 8 hours for reading/writing per week while on the Distance learning programme.

Will I feel isolated during the distance learning programme?

Through use of the forums and chatrooms you will be  regularly interacting with fellow trainees over the nine months of the Distance Learning programme. Additionally there is a fortnightly live chatroom, when you have a direct link to tutors and peers to discuss issues arising from the month’s work.

Do I need to find a tutor to observe the 5 lessons that I need to teach on the Diploma TESOL?

No, unlike the DELTA, on the Trinity Diploma course we will provide all observation tutors during the 2 week on site component.

What if I can’t attend the two week on-site component?

We realise that working teachers may be involved in exam programmes etc that make it extremely difficult to take time off at specific times of year. Accordingly we generally offer at least two starting dates for the on-site component.

What if I fail any components of the Diploma TESOL?

For a fee, you can arrange to re-sit any of the four Units of the course.

What can I expect to gain from the course?

The Diploma course is a very demanding, but hopefully  rewarding experience. Possession of the Diploma is now generally required for full-time teaching positions in reputable UK schools and enables you to look for senior positions within the industry, such as DOS, Teacher trainer etc.

In addition to career opportunities, over the Dip TESOL your classroom skills and knowledge will have been upgraded in such a way as to make a notable difference to your background knowledge and repertoire of teaching strategies and techniques.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Further enquiries about the ISIS Trinity Dip (TESOL) Distance Course should be emailed directly to: 

harry@isisgroup.co.uk

www.isistefl.com

TEFL | TESOL | TEACHER TRAINING | TEFL Courses | Distance Trinity Diploma TESOL 

Greetings from Korea!

What a nice email we received a few days ago! A lot can happen when you take a TEFL course in London…

Hello all!

It's Sarah -Jayne,  thought I would send a little hello from South Korea as I haven't managed to send a postcard! 

Great news out here, I got a promotion at the school I'm in and I'm now 'Head Foreign Teacher of middle school' (Never thought I'd be saying that during my first teaching practice…)

Living the dream, and again will always be thankful to you guys for all of the support you gave me during my Cert TESOL last August in Greenwich.

I hope all is well. 

Sarah-Jayne

www.isistefl.com

Teaching English on the ISIS Tefl course in London

One of the requirements of the Trinity Cert TESOL, the TEFL course we run at ISIS Tefl London, is that you undertake 6 hours observed teaching. For the vast majority of teacher trainees, this is their first experience at the front of the classroom.

On the ISIS Tefl course, we guide our trainees through their lesson planning in advance… but preparing lessons, and actually delivering them to students are two different things! It's natural to feel nervous but I always say the same things: You're teaching a bit of English, giving students a bit of practice, and encouraging a bit of speaking, and you're standing in front of the friendlist group of people you could hope to meet.

So… who are these people? Who will you teach on the Cert TESOL course at ISIS Tefl London?

Teaching Practice for trainees on the Cert TESOL course (standard TEFL Course) at ISIS Tefl London = free English lessons for willing students! 

Well, some of the students our TEFL trainees teach are studying at the school, but many are from outside. From different countries all over the world, they now find themselves living in London! They are working people, and if they don't already have a job, they're looking for one. What do they all have in common? They need English! And we give them lessons for free!!

You can guess how fond we are, as a TEFL Training department, of our students. They help us to train teachers, and we help them to gain some skills they'll need to live and work in England.

So a big THANK YOU to all who turn up faithfully every afternoon at 2:30pm to support us and the TEFL trainees.

Glau from Venezuela, had this to say about us:

" I really enjoy my time when I go to the free lessons, people there are very supportive of students, while those who are teaching the classes are very dynamic. I think the most important is the environment where we learn another language and culture, everyone is super friendly and this makes the stay more pleasant in the school. I ♥ ISIS TEFL ;) "

      

Author: Rob Farag, Teacher Trainer.

www.isistefl.com

5 reasons for doing a Cert TESOL course at ISIS London!

1) The unique friendliness of the place and of the staff.

2) The constant availability of teachers in the school.

3) The remarkable seriousness with which teachers train and prepare students.

4) The incomparable way teachers encouraged and motivated students by pushing them to improve their weaknesses and reinforcing their strengths.

5) The fantastic facilities and the fact it's so close to Central London by train.

Angela Tranfa, Trainee March 2012

www.isistefl.com

Our most recent trainee testimonial was a pleasure to read…

Angela Tranfa, March 2012: "Thank you for all for the help you gave us in the last month. I am very happy with the experience, it was really challenging for me, and it was amazing! I'd recommend this TEFL course to anyone."

Choosing the right TEFL Course!

With such a seemingly wide variety of training options available for the novice to the industry of Teaching English as a Foreign Language – it can be overwhelming when determining which is the appropriate course for you.

Here is a quick guide for those who need to know…

Online TEFL Courses:

Typically they involve little or no ‘face-time’ with your trainer. And, worryingly for a prospective teacher, they involve no actual practical teaching – there is necessarily instead a more theoretical approach to classroom activities and techniques.

Who’s it for?

Such courses may suit those looking to improve and develop their knowledge of English language and grammar.

TEFL Taster Courses:

These are typically held over one weekend or three days. They have the advantage of being ‘on-site’ so you have access to the trainers to ask questions and gain a deeper insight into their knowledge and experience. Crucially though, they are not actually certificated by globally-recognised awarding bodies.

Who’s it for?

They may be suitable for those looking to find out more about the industry, or others whose plan is to teach in a more remote location where internationally-recognised  certificates are not required.

Trinity College London CertTESOL / Cambridge University CELTA:

These take place over approximately one month on a full-time basis or three months part-time. Both courses lead to globally significant qualifications which will enable the successful trainee to teach in virtually any country around the world.

Who are they for?

Anyone who wants to take the first professional steps on to the TEFL ladder should seriously consider one of these two qualifications as they are seen as the industry standard. In fact some industry insiders say that a private language school in Europe who employs teachers without either qualification should be described as cowboy operators!

Wondering which TEFL Course in London to choose from?

Testimonial: Georgina Simmons, October 2011. "The ISIS London TEFL Course is great in so many ways. The tutors are incredibly supportive, the course itself is well structured and very thorough, and the centre has a great atmosphere. I was made to feel like I was a part of the school from day one and made friends with new classmates, teachers and students from all over the world."

www.isistefl.com

Challenge yourself, and change direction!

Testimonial: Andrea Stroebel, August 2011. "It was a valuable and incomparable experience. From the first day on, the ISIS London tutors and my classmates made me feel way more than comfortable. Not only this warm atmosphere, but also the highly professional input sessions and coaching with subsequent practice enormously enriched my abilities as a future TEFL teacher."

www.isistefl.com

Is a 4-week TEFL course worthwhile?

Testimonial: Olly Goodall, April 2011. "I had a great four weeks on the TEFL course in London. It was well-balanced between learning the technicalities of language, analysing methods of teaching before practising ourselves. The tutors gave us valuable insights from their own experience and space to create our own teaching styles. Importantly, we were able to do this in an atmosphere that was not only relaxed and comfortable, but encouraging and constructive."

www.isistefl.com

Considering a TEFL course in London?

Testimonial: Matt Shewbridge, July 2011. "The Trinity TESOL course at ISIS is rewarding, demanding and valuable. The quality of teaching during my course was extremely high and it was obvious that the trainers' first priority was for every trainee to do as well as possible. They were professional and rigorous yet friendly and approachable. I thoroughly recommend that anybody wanting who plans to get into the industry via a TEFL course in London, seriously considers ISIS."

www.isistefl.com

Why do a TEFL Course?

Testimonial: Chris Winters, August 2011. "This course was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I learnt more about the grammatical and phonological components of the English language in my month with ISIS London than I did in four years of university in Australia! The most valuable element of the course for me was the insights I received in engaging students of all abilities using a variety of strategies; skills I will continue to use for the rest of my teaching career."

www.isistefl.com

THE ENGLISH INTERVIEW: EDWARD LAM, TRANSLATOR

While visiting Hong Kong, ISIS TEFL Course Director Mark was lucky enough to catch up with the film translator Ed Lam.

ISIS TEFL: How often did you translate films into English at your peak?

Ed Lam: I worked on about one film per month.

IT: Any we might know in the UK?

EL: I did Sideways – a funny film. Also Passion of the Christ which was difficult as Mel Gibson had insisted that the film be translated using the traditional Catholic version of the Bible.

IT: Did you like the job?

EL: I’m into anything to do with language. And that job allows you to find out more about different cultures. But also you sometimes have to bridge the gap between the cultures when translating certain ideas or concepts that may not exist in one society. It can be difficult but you have to create an equilavent dialogue.

IT: And what do you do when you’re not translating films?

EL: I work in the Civil Service as an administrator. I use English every day and there is no way I could do my job without the language. All email communication is via email so it’s really essential – it’s helped me progress in my career because Hong Kong is a bi-lingual city.

IT: You must be fascinated by English to be able to translate films successfully, how did you get into learning and using the language?

EL: Hong Kong used to be a British Colony until July 1^st 1997. From Kindergarten onwards learning English and Chinese were major subjects. I’d say I fell in love with the language in Primary School. I just loved the way it sounds. I also liked the grammar, because in English there are clear rules – unlike in Chinese.

IT: Do you have any particularly positive memories of teachers?

I had a favourite teacher who was brilliant at teaching me the rules of English. I still remember exactly how she taught me. It gave me a good foundation for me to build upon. I still use those rules when I sometimes teach English to people privately.

At High School some teachers would make use of other media. Play films or music in the class and learn from the message of the film or the lyrics. This kept things interesting and added variety. I’ve always had a passion for pop music so I would listen and sing along, it helped me speak the language in a natural way that I didn’t find awkward or embarrassing. Some songs may have a good message and that helps with remembering the language.

Bringing real life to students is also important. So actually taking students to a restaurant. Or showing them how to understand and order from a real menu. 

We also had some assignments. Students had to go outside to the streets and find real English speakers to interview. Then we would write a report about their answers. The questions often related to cultural differences between their home country and Hong Kong. It really helped with making classes more interactive.

IT: Did you have bad learning experiences with teachers?

EL: Some teachers treat the language as just another subject. They taught grammar in a robotic way – almost in a mechanical way. Not in a productive, creative way. They just get you to memorise the rules without any lively explanation. That would make learning the language boring and frustrating. But in principal it can be taught in a lively way relating to real life.

But mostly I was lucky enough to have interesting teachers who understood their role and responsibility. They would show you how to put the language into practical use.  

IT: Do you have any tips to English learners out there?

EL: I would say you need to fall in love with the culture. That’s the basis of mastering a language.

Also paying attention to and being sensitive to your surroundings. For example noticing the details of a slogan in an advertisement. Noticing and remembering every word. 

Could you be a Super Teacher?

ISIS CertTESOL Course Director Mark has just been to Hong Kong – a dream destination for many travllers and TEFL teachers – and these were some of his findings…


Having visited Hong Kong a couple of times now, my impressions are that education in HK is held in extremely high regard. Where some kids in Britain may occasionally take school for granted and do not necessarily (even try to) reach their potential, in general HK pupils are strongly encouraged to strive to improve their knowledge and skills at every opportunity.

Huge respect is given to teachers and successful learning is seen as an absolute necessity. It appears to be a very competitive environment for the Hong Kong learners to operate in and having a strong command of English is a pre-requisite for progression as a working professional. Thus, learners (and their families) continually place a high value on improving their abilities.

In fact, a number of the English speakers who I talked to amazed and amused me with their overall passion for and knowledge of the language and culture. More on them to follow…

When out and about in the city I was particularly surprised to find many billboard posters (some were enormous) advertising individual teachers in various subjects, but especially in English. The teachers’ profile pictures look pretty slick and I now call them the Super Teachers.

I can just imagine their classes, packed lecture theatres with standing room only, eager students straining to hear every ounce of advice. Just like your own foreign language learning experience in Britain right?

Maybe one day, it could be You!

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English in the Amazon

Recently qualified teachers, Georgie Simmons and Jon Mortenson, went to the jungle after completing their Trinity CertTESOL at ISIS Tefl, London. Georgie fills us in on their adventures so far:

We've been out here for about three weeks now and it's going really well. Jon is working with years 8, 9 and 10 at the school every day of the week, teaching them how to use computers too. He also spends his Fridays coaching them in football, which they love! I've been working with a group of adults every morning, then teaching years 4, 5 and 6 twice a week, as well as the other teachers at the school two afternoons a week.

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We're just getting used to the routines of life in the jungle. The River Napo is our shower, the jungle is our toilet, we wear wellies wherever we go, but get sunburnt if we're out too long. We have a house frog called Albert, who jumped on my face the other day. So, a lot to get used to, but it's a great experience. We're both working on our Spanish, which was nil before we came here but is getting better every day.

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I guess the thing that makes everything special is the people who live in the Sani community. They have been so kind to us, helping us to settle in and generally being very welcoming. I'm looking forward to getting to know them more over the coming months.

Thanks Georgie! For details on how to start your own adventure, visit our website
www.isistefl.com

Tales from far, far, away...

As well as advising you on your job prospects for paid employment, ISIS Tefl can provide you with a variety of contacts in the Voluntary sector, all over the world. So, in January 2012, two of our trainees - Jon and Georgie, decided to make their first step into teaching an adventurous one!

Here is a little bit about their experience in the rainforests of Ecuador (written by their School Principal):

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Week 1 -Jon and Georgie are very nice and seem to be getting on really well.  We have agreed that one will teach colegio (secondary school age children) and the other the younger years and adults.  One has already started teaching the young adults and the other  will start on Monday as he was shadowing another teacher in the school this week in order to take over.

Week 3 -Everything is fine here and the teachers are doing really well with everything. They had their first community party yesterday for the inauguration of the new classrooms.  The vice alcalde and the junta parrochial (local school council people) and some other senores (general school inspectors and other teachers) came and there was chicha (a local often alcoholic drink) for everyone (except the teachers of course!) and music and dancing etc.  It was a good opportunity for them to get to meet and know the community better ( the  indigenous Kichwa people).  The children are being so much more sociable these days and they are responding very well to teachers.  So lovely to see them playing and chatting with the new teachers rather than just staring and running away like they used to!  The little ones are becoming confident too.  Really lovely.

We are hoping to carry on with a story hour with the little ones although its was hard to get them to concentrate. We are trying to encourage the local teacher to do dance classes with them every week and the older school children too because she is great at that.

This week one of the teachers went to Pompeya (a trading market nearby ) with some community members (by canoe up river)  and the other teacher stayed behind to plan lessons look through the adult syllabuses for next week.

***

So - good luck Jon and Georgie :) 

ISIS Tefl hope to hear from you soon!!

Real Career or just a Gap Year?

Many people ask if Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is a genuine career option or just a constructive way to fill in time.

While TEFL certainly offers the possibility of interesting work overseas for those in between school and university. The days of people simply turning up in foreign countries and expecting to find paid teaching to help fund their exotic travel plans are largely a thing of the past.

There are two universally recognised possibilities which enable people to teach English in countries all over the globe. They are the Cambridge University CELTA & the Trinity College TESOL. Both are equally valid – at level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework – this means the standard of work required is at the level of a degree course. You can typically attain the certificates via 4-week intensive courses.

Once in the industry there are a plethora of specialisations and niche areas a teacher may consider pursuing to help develop their career: Teaching Teenagers and Young Learners is a huge growth area; Business English and 1:1 Teaching certainly helps pay the bills; Exam English can really develop specific skills; and Blended Learning (incorporating IT into the classroom) is a relatively recent addition to the field.

Further qualifications are available for experienced teachers at the Diploma and Masters level. These typically can open the gateway to more senior positions within educational establishments such as Director of Studies, Teacher Trainer, Lecturer or even School Principal.

The world of TEFL now seems to be ever-growing as English continues its dominance as the primary international language of communication. So now and in the future it undoubtedly remains a genuine career option.

Welcome to ISIS Tefl!

ISIS Tefl run intensive Teacher training courses lasting four weeks, our mission is simple:

1. To turn people into the English teachers of the future!
2. To support them throughout their career, wherever their journey may take them.

We have over 20 years experience designing and delivering accredited TEFL courses, so, whatever your reason for starting a career in TEFL, start it with us.

We are based in the centre of historic Greenwich, in London. We're two minutes walk from beautiful Greenwich Park, one of the largest single green spaces in south east London, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory and the Meridian line.

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The Trinity CertTESOL certificate is an initial qualification in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages. It is accredited at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework, and respected and recognised by language schools around the world.

The course consists of several different components:

Input sessions with course tutors
These take place during the morning and will examine both theoretical and practical aspects of EFL teaching, introducing techniques that can be applied to your own lessons. There will also be slots dedicated to the study of grammar, pronunciation and other aspects of the English language.


Teaching Practice
You will complete a minimum of six hours supervised classroom teaching. Classes consist of a minimum of six people and are composed of multi-lingual students already enrolled in the school who attend on a 'Free Lesson' basis.


Observations
You will be required to observe several lessons taught at the School in order to further your ability to assess teacher performance.


Unknown Language Training
You will spend four hours learning an unknown language during the course to help you appreciate the problems faced by learners and encourage you to analyze your own reactions to the experience.


Written assignments
You will be asked to complete a series of journals relating to the components above to help you analyze and reflect upon them.


Learner Profile
You will spend several hours interviewing, teaching and analyzing the language capabilities and study style of a student on a one to one basis.