Author Archives: alexcase

21 signs that I was fated to be a TEFLer

Posted on 26/02/2014 by alexcase

When I left university I had no particular desire to live abroad and absolutely no desire to teach, but looking back it seems that long before that all the signs were there that I was destined to be a TEFL … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English as a Foreign Language | Tagged | 5 Comments

A very mixed story of unionisation in TEFL

Posted on 24/02/2014 by alexcase

An interesting bit of TEFL history from the Japan Times: Lado’s histoy and demise weren’t without their lessons Anyone know any stories with clearer conclusions on this most controversial of possible changes in TEFL?

Posted in Teaching English in Japan | Tagged | Leave a comment

TEFL vs care work

Posted on 20/02/2014 by alexcase

Before I somehow fell into TEFL and spent 18 years (and counting) doing it, I somehow fell into care work and spent 3 or 4 years doing that – and in fact the plan was go back and get into … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English as a Foreign Language | Leave a comment

EFL taboo topics games (TEFLtastic classics Part 21)

Posted on 18/02/2014 by alexcase

Cultural training, loads of useful real-life speaking, and a great way to practise specific language such as tenses, now all here: Taboo topics games/ worksheets More TEFLtastic classics here: TEFLtastic classics

Posted in Cultural differences/ cultural training, Present simple/ continuous, TEFL games | Tagged | Leave a comment

50 Present Continuous links now much better organised

Posted on 14/02/2014 by alexcase

This was the opposite job to polishing up my Present Simple page, meaning this time there was already so much stuff there that it was impossible to navigate. Have therefore made new pages for Present Continuous for future arrangements, video worksheets … Continue reading →

Posted in present continuous | 2 Comments

Teaching comparing/ contrasting

Posted on 12/02/2014 by alexcase

The comparatives and superlatives page is consistently the most popular part of this blog, but personally I rarely teach those two as isolated language points any more. Instead, I’ve moved onto combining “-er” and “more…” with “much”, “quite a lot” etc, plus even … Continue reading →

Posted in Functional language | Leave a comment

TEFL – the best job for military spouses and missionaries?

Posted on 10/02/2014 by alexcase

Apparently so, according to two unconnected recent articles (or, rather, “articles”): Best jobs for military spouses overseas? Teaching as mission jumpstarts education careers

Posted in Teaching English as a Foreign Language | 1 Comment

English tests for UK visas suspended after BBC reveals fraud

Posted on 10/02/2014 by alexcase

Seems being responsible for the awful TOEIC tests is the least of ETS’s sins: Students visa fraud exposed in BBC investigation Student visa English tests suspended over fraud claims More on ETS and their products on TEFLtastic: ETS is crap … Continue reading →

Posted in ETS | Tagged | 6 Comments

Present Simple activities page much expanded

Posted on 08/02/2014 by alexcase

Still not the biggest of page even after doubling in size, but I think it’s much more useful to teach contrasting it with Present Continuous or third person S, both of which I have many more ideas for linked to from there: Present … Continue reading →

Posted in Photocopiable worksheets, Present simple for routines etc., TEFL games | Leave a comment

What student compliments really mean

Posted on 06/02/2014 by alexcase

Thank you for your patience. – You almost managed to conceal your irritation. My classmates were very patient. – It was classmates who actually taught me./ Why didn’t you spot I was in the wrong class and move me?/ You … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English as a Foreign Language | Tagged | 1 Comment