Archive for the ‘efl / esl’ Category
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29
Dec
2009
TESOL
What is TESOL?
TESOL stands for ‘Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages’. While qualifications to teach English as a Second Language vary across countries and institutions, TESOL provides a great opportunity to teach English around the world. To teach English in Australia, a degree or diploma in education plus teaching experience, is also required to teach English to speakers of other languages.
There are different TESOL Certification courses, depending on how long you want to study for and where you want to teach. For example, the Advanced TESOL Certificate Course is designed for those who want to teach English overseas, so no degree or prior teaching experience is necessary. This course will typically include the standard 60-hour TESOL course plus 1 specialisation course (also 60 hours). Whereas the Certificate IV in TESOL includes the standard 60 hour course made up of 16 core units, plus 3 specialisation courses (each specialisation is 60 hours as well).
The TESOL Certificate
The TESOL Certificate can be used to tutor privately, start your own tuition business, or take up a teaching position at an educational institution. It will teach you how to interact with students, keep their interest, and be confident in your role as a teacher. The course will teach you about pronunciation, conversation, grammar, activity-based learning, applied linguistics, the philosophy of teaching, developing TESOL industry knowledge, lesson planning and teaching preparation, and the skills of listening, speaking, writing and reading.
Core TESOL units cover ideas and techniques such as working in socially diverse environments, TESOL methods, teaching presentation, teaching vocabulary, implementing student assessment materials, health safety and security procedures, information technology techniques in TESOL and more. Then there are specialisation units that cover teaching specific types of English from tourism, to business, hospitality, computer, medical and legal. These units also cover different student ages, from pre-school to elementary, adolescents and adults.
21
Dec
2009
English Speaking Skills
Speaking Skills
Out of the four components of language use- reading, writing, speaking and listening- the last two have to be the most important. Being able to communicate verbally is essential whether you are migrating to, travelling, studying, working in an English-speaking country. It is important for asking for directions, shopping, ordering at a restaurant, making and answering phone calls, engaging in a conversation, or giving a business presentation.
Being able to speak in English involves the interaction of multiple elements, from having a useful and extensive enough vocabulary, to being able to construct sentences and use the correct tense, developing appropriate intonation and stress patterns, and pronouncing words properly.
Common problems for students learning English when it comes to joining a conversation include trying to translate from the native language into English instead of using English terms and phrases that the student has learnt, or looking for a specific word rather than using simple language to describe what is meant. Translating not only takes time, it will also make you more hesitant. Another problem is nervousness and lack of confidence, which can be overcome only through practice.
English Speaking Exams
English exams such as the CAE, IELTS and TOEFL will typically include a section that tests a candidate’s English speaking skills. Usually this will include a 10 - 15 minute conversation with an examiner which is recorded then evaluated. The best way to practice for an English speaking exam is to practice when you can, where you can, whether with a native English speaker or not.
Try to relax and speak at a slower pace. By speaking slowly you’ll discover that it is easier to think about what you are saying, find the words that you need and be able to link between words automatically. Finally, use the English that you know. Rather than carrying around a dictionary, use the words and phrases that you have learnt to try and convey your message.
21
Dec
2009
English Listening Skills
Preparing for English Exams
Most English language exams, including the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English and the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), will test a candidate’s listening comprehension skills. This could involve listening to CDs or tapes, whether recordings of conversations, songs or radio programs, then answering questions on the content of these recordings. Depending on the exam, the recording may be played several times. Before the recording is played, the candidate should read the questions carefully to determine what exactly they need to know.
The first time the candidate should focus on understanding the general gist of the recording, without taking in details or writing any notes. After the first time, candidates can take quick notes of key words or phrases, listening out specifically for information they are required to give. If you can’t find the answer to one of the questions, don’t get stuck on it but move on to try and answer the rest of the test.
Listening Skills
Listening involves three main steps: hearing, understanding and judging. The first just involves simply being able to perceive the sounds. The next step is to understand the meaning of the sounds, both the individual words and sentences as a whole. The final step is to judge whether what you have heard and understood makes sense in regards to the context, and comprehending the implications.
Listening skills for ESL students can be difficult to acquire, since these skills cannot be taught like English grammar or vocabulary. There are two main things that help improve listening skills. The first is getting over the mental block of trying to translate every word that is heard. The aim is to understand the general meaning, so it is okay not to catch every word. The second thing is to practice listening, but in short periods a couple of times a week. Don’t watch an entire film at first, just listen to different clips a couple of times a week.