Check out this really interesting article from the BBC. Although it is written about children, there is no reason why the same ideas cannot be applied to adults:
ESL Pronunciation s and z sounds April 16, 2011
Lots of Spanish students find it difficult to know when to pronounce the ’z’ or ‘s’ sound for third person verbs such as:
- Plays (z sound)
- Stays (z sound)
- Buys (z sound)
- Works (s sound)
- Talks (s sound)
- Hopes (s sound)
Teaching students the rules can often help them see when to use the two different sounds.
Voiced sounds are when the vocal cords are used to make the sound. If you put your hand on your throat or cheeks and make the sound ‘z’ you will feel the vibrations from your vocal cords. When you make the ‘s’ sound you won’t feel the vibration and this is called an unvoiced or voiceless sound – there is no vibration.
The rule with when to use the ‘s’ or ‘z’ sound is as follows:
If the verb (in the infinite form) ends in a voiced sound then you add the ‘z’ sound.
If the verbs (in the infinite form) ends in a voiceless sound then you add the ‘s’ sound.
If you take the verb ‘to play’ - get your student to put their hands on their throat and say the verb out loud. They ‘ay’ sound will give a vibration so they have to add the ‘z’ sound at the end.
If you take the verb ‘to work’ – get your student to put their hands on their throat and say the verb out loud. The ‘k’ sound has no vibration so they have to add the ‘s’ sound at the end.
Have fun with phonetics!
Getting Organized as a TEFL teacher January 19, 2011
As a newly qualified teacher I was a mess! It was like a Blue Peter craft day gone wrong with papers flying everywhere. This meant it was a really stressful start to my TEFL career. With each new group I started from scratch so I spent hours preparing and planning.
It was during my first Easter break that I realised there was another way and I had to get organized. Below are some tips that will make your first few months in your new TEFL job a much less stressful experience:
- Create a folder for each group you are working with so you can keep your plans, notes, timings and photocopies.
- Have blank pages at the beginning of each folder so that you can write notes that arise in the class. It may be that Juan’s grandmother is going into hospital, write it down so you can mention it in the next class. It may be that a grammar question comes up and you don’t know the answer – write it down, find out the answer and go back to the student with the answer next week.
- Have a master file for each level. Copy the teacher notes for each class you are teaching and annotate the notes at you go ie activity needs a different start, tell Ss the story about my trip to China etc. Once you have finished that class, add this back to your master file so it is at hand the next time you teach that class so you don’t have to redo the answers, ideas notes etc – it will be all ready to go
- Have an emergency teaching pack. Fill a plastic folder with games, handouts, role plays etc that cover a range of levels. If you prepare a group class and only one person turns up or if you forget to take a handout with you that was needed for that class, you have a back up from your pack.
- Recycle – you will always have to adapt to the individual needs of each group but you should be able to recycle a lot of what you do with other groups as long as you have kept it all in your master file
- Laminate everything that doesn’t move! A set of verb cards is invaluable, print them and stick them with clear sticky paper so they last forever. Any board game and cards should be done as well so you can resuse as many times as you want.
- When you have sets of cards make sure you mark them. If there are twelve cards write 1 of 12, 2 of 12 etc. this means you can quickly flick through them and see if any are missing before you teach the class.
Getting organized will make your life as a teacher much more pleasurable and ensure your students get well planned classes.
TEFL and Technology December 21, 2010
When I started in the TEFL industry the listening exercises were on tapes which were a real pain. We then moved to CDs but the players were huge and heavy to carry around. The latest technologies in terms of MP3 players, netbooks and interactive white boards have really revolutionized the technology you can use in the classroom.
Podcasts
These are a great way to introduce up to date and interesting topics in the classroom that you can download to your MP3 or smart phone. It also helps with getting a diverse range of accents from around the world. Remember however to ensure you prepare what you are actually going to do with the podcast – mix and match, comprehension questions etc. These are good sites to download podcasts suitable for the TEFL classroom. http://www.podcastsinenglish.com/index.shtml http://www.listen-to-english.com http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/tae
Interactive Whiteboard
We had our Promethean Interactive whiteboard installed about 6 months ago. Initially it was hard to make the transition from a regular board to this all bells and whistles. Over time we have been getting to know how it works and introducing more technology focused classes. The students love it and are very enthusiastic about getting up and using it. It has revolutionized using video clips and we have the new active voting gadgets which allow the students to interact throughout the class. We can keep their scores and it helps us to identify any students who are falling behind or struggling with particular areas. We decided to go with Promethean as their support and website means we are able to constantly download templates that we can adapt and use for our classes. http://www.prometheanworld.com/server.php?show=nav.21201
If you have access to a board, get creative with it. The templates can be adapted to suit any topic and any level. For our TEFL course we have just adapted the who wants to be a millionaire template to who wants to be a grammanaire to help our trainees with their grammar classes. Its very professional looking and very interactive.
Be careful however to ensure your classes remain very student focused as it is easy to get stuck at the board with lots of whizzbang stuff going on and end up with a very teacher focused class. Relinquish the pen and get the students involved with the board.
Video
www.youtube.com is another resource you cannot ignore in the classroom. Whether it is a song, a meeting, negotiating skills, humour etc there are thousands of perfect clips to suit what you are doing. With the amount of clips available to use in the TEFL classroom, it can be a little overwhelming so ensure you have a clear idea about what you are looking for before you start your search.
A fun activity in a group is to split the class in half. The first half leave the room and the remaining group watch the video clip without sound. They then leave the room and the second group listen to the clip but do not watch it.
As always, remember to have a pre, during and post activity. The pre activity could be a discussion on the importance of body language with communication. The during activity could be a set of questions for example for the listening only group:
Where are the people?
How many people are there?
What emotions are they feeling?
For the post activity group 1 have to write down their ideas about what is being said and group 2 write down what the scene looks like. They then all watch the film together. The activity normally takes around an hour but can easily go over if they really get into it.
Technology should never take the place of well planned classes but it really has the potential to spice up your classes.
TEFL in the classroom – level or competency? December 12, 2010
In the TEFL classroom we spend a lot of time focusing on mistakes, pronunciation and perfect grammar. We do however often overlook confidence in the classroom. I have recently been developing level testing to help companies with the interview process for jobs that need English. After working on it for about a year, one thing I have learnt is that it is certainly not just a matter of a person’s level, it is matter of confidence and competency.
I am a great example of this. If I take a level test, I come out as pre-intermediate (B1). Yet this is such an inaccurate reflection of my Spanish. My grammar is a little shocking at times but I feel extremely confident speaking Spanish – I have set up a business, bought a house, pitched to clients and had a baby, all in Spanish. My competency in Spanish is extremely high.
In the classroom you will often see very high level students with excellent vocab, grammar etc but take them outside the classroom and they are unable to produce their English as they lack confidence in their own abilities.
I recently met a Spanish mum through my son’s nursery that I get on with very well. We have always spoken in Spanish and at times I have struggled to find a word, conjugate a verb in the past etc and it has taken me a few moments to say what I needed to say. She recently came to TtMadrid for the free English classes. I spoke with in her in English and to my utter shock she is advanced – really advanced. I asked her why she had never spoken English to me and she said that her English wasn’t very good. This to me sums up many English students in Spain – a complete lack of confidence in their own ability.
As a teacher we need to think more about helping with a student’s self confidence so they are able to get out there and use their English.
There is no magic formula to this when there are so few opportunities for students use their English outside the classroom but over the next few blogs I will be discussing what teachers can do to help with this issue. I would love input from any teachers with methods they are currently using in the classroom.
TEFL Resource Websites December 5, 2010
There are a hundreds of TEFL resource websites with games, materials, information and much more. Here are a few that will make life a little easier for Monday morning planning!
www.puzzlemaker.com
This is a great site to help you make crosswords and wordsearches. They are a great CCQ to test the vocab you have taught or as a warmer to test what you did in a previous class.
www.handoutsonline.com
This is a paid site (although they do have free stuff as well). However it is well worth the 20 dollars for the subscription. The flash cards are great and if you laminate them, you can use them again and again. They also have some great games to test tenses, prepositions, opposites etc using a snakes and ladders (shoots and ladders) board.
http://bogglesworldesl.com/esl_games.htm
There are a range of very simple and useful games that are in word. This means you are able to adapt and change them really easily to meet whatever skill, grammar or lexical set that you are teaching.
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/
Comic strips are often used in the TEFL text books as they are visually stimulating, fun and interactive. This great site helps you make your own comics (or students can do their own for homework). Super easy to use, free and great quality.
Fantastic set of free flashcards for kids, general English, business English etc. Everything you can imagine teaching, has some flashcards on this website.
Put a bit of fun back in your classroom!
Is a TEFL course legit? November 13, 2010
One of the biggest problems when choosing your TEFL course, is that you generally have to trust their site and what they say, sign up and pay your money all in the hope that its legit. So what can you do to protect yourself?
- Annoy them with lots of emails. If they want your business and they are legit they will keep emailing you back and answer your questions
- Ask to speak to a few graduates so you can contact them directly and find out more about the programme.
- Most TEFL courses have a Facebook group (or graduates will have set one up). Join it so that you get a real feel for who takes the course and how they found it.
- If they say they are accredited or members of an association, check it out on the internet and email them to check if their claims are true.
- Be careful of forums as the information is often inaccurate or posted by those who own the courses.
Most of all do as much research as possible. The extra time you spend is well worth the investment you will put in to finding the TEFL course that is right for you.
At TtMadrid we wanted to make sure you could see us before making a decision - have a look at our video which is a snap shot of a typical day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWq8G0_QY4s
Who takes a TEFL course part 2 October 9, 2010
Many of those who take our TEFL course in Madrid have had professional careers in marketing, law, finance, HR etc but wake up one day and wonder how they got there. All those years of study, slogging through their commute every morning, working all hours and getting that dream promotion and then suddenly realising you are not happy. Where is that work life balance they keep going on about in all those glossy magazines?
Teaching English in Madrid or the rest of Spain can be stressful when you first start off. You are putting together your teaching schedule, planning endless lessons, getting to grips with speaking Spanish, getting used to banks closing at 2.30 and nothing being open on Sunday. Its normally around 3 months in when it all begins to seem more like the dream you had that day in your hermetically sealed office. Life begins to have a sense of routine, you know people to go out with, you are used to starting your nights out at midnight and eating at 10.30.
Those with previous professional backgrounds tend to teach executives in companies. They need help with their jobs, writing emails, preparing for presentations and to generally increase their level of English through chatting with teachers with life experiences and professional backgrounds.
For some who come to TEFL in Madrid, teaching English is a stop gap until they learn enough Spanish to return to their previous profession but in Madrid. Whilst for many this is the plan, it many cases, they never return to their previous jobs as they really enjoy TEFL in Madrid and find it hard to give up the 4 day week and free time they have during the days. One of my graduate teachers recently said that she didn’t think she could ever go back to the 9-5 routine because she could no longer survive without her afternoon siesta!
TEFL in Madrid can be a very professional job where you get to meet interesting and high flying people while still finding time to do those things in life that truly make you happy. Take a look at some of the people who have taken our course http://www.ttmadrid.com/tefl-course-testimonials.php
Who takes a TEFL Course? Part 1 July 27, 2010
For many of us, we didn’t wake up thinking we wanted to become a TEFL teacher – we just kind of fell into it. The motivation behind it tends to fall into a few categories. This looks at the first group.
A Year out before real life hits
Many people who take our TEFL course they decide they want to travel, experience another culture and live life a little before getting bogged down with mortgages and credit cards. This often means they are newly qualified graduates from University. However, for many they don’t have the funds to travel without earning money and teaching English can be a great way to earn money as you explore the world.
Taking a TEFL course in the country you want to travel is a good idea if you fall in this category. The TEFL academy will have links to TEFL jobs and you will get an instant set of friends. They can also help you with the transition to a new culture. For more information see http://www.ttmadrid.com/transition-to-spain.php
Don’t underestimate the value of what you are doing. Living in another country such as Spain looks good on your CV/resume as does learning or refining a second language.
However more importantly, teaching business English can give you a great insight into your future career. You get to teach top executives in international companies. They often agree to act as references for future employment which can really help you future job prospects.
TEFL jobs in business gives you real practical experience of business and commerce as you often help the students with their day to day jobs (emails, presentations, practice for an up and coming meeting etc).
Don’t for a minute think that TEFL is not a ‘proper’ job. The help, support and quality of teaching you give your student is of huge value to their professional and personal lives. It could also be the edge you need to make you stand out from the crown when you go for that graduate job.
TEFL Jobs Spain – Private Classes July 17, 2010
Private classes can be an excellent way of increasing your income but you need to think through some things first so that you maximize your time and money.
Take it seriously
One of the drawbacks of private classes is that they often cancel with little or no notice and then don’t expect to pay. Make sure that you set out your terms and conditions at the first meeting. Having a small contract will help with this so there is no misunderstandings with your student. Things to include could be:
- Cancellation policy – 24 hours notice is the norm
- A minimum attendance of 80% of the classes
- How much the classes cost
- When you expect to be paid
Be Safe
I have never heard of any horror stories but why take the risk. The following tips will help to keep you safe.
- Organize the first meeting at a bar or cafe close to the student’s house. If you don’t get a good feeling, leave. If you are happy, get them to walk you to their home so you know where to go next time
- Have a buddy that knows where you are, who you are meeting and arrange to phone them when you arrive and the time you are due to leave.
- Ensure you get a mobile number from them and full address and give this to your buddy.
Sell yourself
When you are putting up adverts make sure you sell yourself well.
- Specify what type of classes you teach (general, adult, children, business, exam prep etc)
- Highlight your skills or experience
- If you are female point this out. Women tend to want female teachers so they feel safer
- Explain how you teach – interactive, dynamic, well prepared etc
Where to advertise
In Madrid and Spain there are some great free places to put up ads on-line
- www.tusclasesparticulare.com
- www.donprofesor.com
- www.loquo.com
- www.tefl-madrid.com
If you live in an apartment block, put ads in the mail boxes as being close to home for late night classes is a real bonus. Local cafes and bars are normally very happy to let you leave some leaflets.
Think about time as well as hourly rates
It is often seductive to go for the highest hour rate without considering the overall package. This is an example:
A student contacts you who wants two hours a week on a Monday and Wednesday evening and you quote 20 euros an hour, earning 40 euros a week.
However, if you went back to the student and offered them a discount to have the 2 hours on the same night (17 euros an hour), you would be earning 34 euros a week but you are then able to sell Wednesday night to another student who wants 2 hrs a week at the same price and therefore earning 68 euros a week.
I hope the above tips will help when you get private TEFL jobs in Madrid and Spain
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