Cool Link: English Club

English Club has resources for those who want to teach English as well as learn it.  They've got some neat features such as idioms, slang, phrasal verbs, lesson plans, games, quizzes, as well as a forum. They also have a Learning English Video Project that is worth checking out. Their site is great because it's made for teachers by teachers.


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Hot Topic: Too Young to Teach

Discrimination is rampant in TEFL. While most schools and language institutes accept anyone who's qualified, some have age limits (ageism) and some promote sexism.

Some schools won't hire you if you're too old and others won't hire you if you're too young. Having finished high school and university early, I started teaching a couple months after my 20th birthday. I had a TEFL cert and a BA and didn't have  problems getting a job. But that was years ago.

Times have changed. Some employers want their teachers to be at least 25 to teach for them. They cite maturity as a reason. Other times, countries have restrictions. In Malaysia for example you have to be 27 in order to get a work visa. In China, in theory, you have to be at least 24 to teach English.

What do you think?
Do you think teachers should be 25 to teach?  Have you had problems getting a job due to your age?

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ESL EFL Roadshow: Job Interview Tips

TEFL Tips is hosting the first ESL EFL Roadshow this month: a group of bloggers from around the world. Lots of experience, tips, and ideas to help ESL and EFL teachers out. This month's topic is job interview tips.

From TEFL Newbie
Most people approach TEFL interviews the same way they would an interview back in their home country. Two problems with that. First, many of us are hoping to escape that uncomfortable and degrading process in a new world overseas. Second, more often than not your interviewer is not from that Western world and has distinctly different ideas about who they want to hire and why. Here's how to win that job!  Find out by reading Ted's blog TEFL Newbie.

Ted Tucker is a retired TEFL educator and TEFL Teacher Trainer. With an overseas career that started as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana in 1989 - he has been abroad ever since working in countries throughout Asia and the Middle East. You can find him at TEFL Newbie.

From Istanbul's Stranger
Remember, you're interviewing them too. Four tips about weird job interviews that might be telling you something is seriously awry. Find out more by reading Istanbul's Stranger's blog.


Istanbul's Stranger is originally from Reno, Nevada and most recently from Portland, Oregon. Stranger came to Turkey almost 10 years ago. She had all kinds of education before that, which she's still paying for. Stranger's been working in the former Byzantium since she arrived, teaching adults at language schools and universities. She also did some freelance writing while on work-hiatus for baby-raising, and currently babysits grown-up children in the English prep department of a large university.

From Teacher in Mexico
Congratulations! You just finished your EFL teacher training, those grueling four weeks of sweating over coming up with interesting ideas for classes, of pouring over page after page of theory, of juggling type three conditionals. Well you're all done. So what’s next? The job interview. Find out more by reading Guy's blog Teacher in Mexico.

Guy Courchesne, TEFL course instructor, Teachers Latin America. Guy is a journalist and and EFL teacher that has lived in Mexico for 11 years. Guy has been teaching business EFL and TEFL courses for the last 9 years in Mexico City, Acapulco, and Guadalajara. Guy is a member of Mextesol and also gives English teaching workshops to language institutes around Mexico. You can find him at Teacher in Mexico.

From TEFL Tips
Interviews can be daunting but if you're prepared and know what to expect you'll have no problem acing your interview. Don't forget to ask questions as well! Find out what questions you'll be asked and what questions you should ask the interviewer by reading TEFL Tips.


Sharon de Hinojosa is your host here at TEFL Tips. I've been teaching English since early 2003.  I got started posting on Dave’s ESL Cafe shortly after and found myself regularly helping out other people and giving advice to newbies.  Over time, things progressed and I thought it would be a good idea to compile answers to FAQ that newbies often have about TEFLing and that’s how my wonderful TEFL Tips got started.

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Cool Link: Teacher Planet

Teacher Planet has lesson plan templates, rubrics, worksheets, tools for teachers, and a lot more.  While not specifically aimed at TEFL teachers, there is still a lot of information you can use in your classroom, such as rubrics, themes, certificates, jokes, articles, and even online degrees. To make things even better they even have a special section for ESL. 

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Quick Tip: Positive Reinforcement

When you think of classroom management and discipline you tend to think more about punishments than rewards. It really should be the other way around. Positive reinforcement works wonders and with all ages, levels, and number of students in a class.

Shouting at students and tell them to sit up straight ruins the whole environment. Compliment one student on seating nicely and you'll find the rest eager to please the teacher and will sit up properly straightaway.

Boys and girls tend to learn differently, but positive reinforcement works with everyone. There are lots of ways to use positive reinforcement in the classroom.

• Verbal praise is great and free. 
• Some teachers use stickers, games, or candy.  
• Try phoning home. You'll feel good and I guarantee you'll make the parent's day.  An added plus: the parent will tell their child and they'll beam with pride.

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