Category Archives: Teaching English in Europe

What was the biggest change in TEFL in the Noughties?

Posted on 21/12/2009 by alexcase

If you’d asked me in 1999, I probably would’ve predicted that Task Based Learning was going to take over the TEFL world, for better or worse. What a damp squib that turned out to be, with apparently even Cutting Edge … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council, Dogme, Electronic dictionaries, ELT publishing, Humanistic language teaching, IELTS, Interactive whiteboard, International House, Pilgrims, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Thailand, teaching online, Technology, TEFL blogs, TEFL in the UK, Twitter, Wall Street | 10 Comments

"Save UK ELT" Number 10 petition

Posted on 24/11/2009 by alexcase

I haven’t yet signed because I know nothing about the law in question (I usually wait for Melanie Butler of EL Gazette to make up my mind for me on things like this). If you want to find out more … Continue reading →

Posted in TEFL heroes- Melanie Butler, TEFL in the UK | 11 Comments

New TEFL articles etc October 2009

Posted on 20/10/2009 by alexcase

Chuseok holiday came just at the right point for me, so for once you can actually read my articles in the month which they are supposed to be for: Natural Interactions (in HLT magazine for the first time in many … Continue reading →

Posted in EFL CD ROMs, ELT World, Grammar games, HLT magazine, Present Perfect Continuous, Specific English, Teaching English in Turkey, TEFL, TEFL blogs, TEFL games, TEFL Tradesman | 9 Comments

A fireside chat with Sandy McManus

Posted on 22/09/2009 by alexcase

He’s been the most famous/ notorious online TEFL figure for around five years, and the age of Twitter doesn’t seem to have calmed him down at all. In this exclusive TEFLtastic interview, Sandy shows his sensitive side

Posted in Dogme, EL Gazette, first TEFL job, getting out of TEFL, Guardian TEFL, Humanistic language teaching, NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Teaching English in Spain, TEFL blacklist, TEFL blogs, TEFL career planning, TEFL chains, TEFL heroes- Mario Rinvolucri, TEFL heroes- Sandy McManus, TEFL heroes- Scott Thornbury, TEFL in the UK, TEFL villains- Paul Lowe, TEFLtrade | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Two more nearly been there moments

Posted on 13/09/2009 by alexcase

“I started French at the local grammar school, where our teacher has some difficulty managing the new reel-to-reel recorder. So we spent quite a lot of time listening to French played at high speed, both forwards and backwards” “My main … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English in Sweden, TEFL | Tagged | 1 Comment

Is a bad one to one teacher more useful than pairwork?

Posted on 04/09/2009 by alexcase

This is a question that is increasingly relevant now that students all over the world have the choice between a group class with a qualified and experienced teacher who is finally getting a living wage suitable for an adult or … Continue reading →

Posted in Eikaiwa, links, Teaching English in Europe, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL in the UK | Tagged | 10 Comments

The best of English Teacher X Part Two

Posted on 04/08/2009 by alexcase

1. “I was overcome with panic and wanted to run. . .but I’d already run, and here I was” English Teacher Q on his first ever English lesson, after trying to escape it all in Bangkok 2. “I walk into … Continue reading →

Posted in Englishteacherx, Teaching English in Eastern Europe, Teaching English in Russia, Teaching English in Thailand, TEFL | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

TOEIC- the Test of English for International What??

Posted on 08/07/2009 by alexcase

A guest piece by Carmela Chateau “International ’Communication’, according to the full name of the test, but most studies in communication refer to four skills. In the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, there are in fact five skills: … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP, EFL exams, EFL geek, ETS, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Europe, Teaching English in France, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Korea, Teaching English in Taiwan, TEFL blogs, TOEIC | 10 Comments

Rumours about TOEIC

Posted on 21/06/2009 by alexcase

This is just gossip, so perhaps you can tell me (by comment or email) which ones you have heard or think to be true: – The TOEIC was originally set up by specific request of the Japanese government who wanted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP, EFL exams, ETS, History of English teaching in Japan, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in China, Teaching English in Europe, Teaching English in France, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Korea, Teaching English in Taiwan, Teaching in Japanese companies, TEFL, TOEIC | Tagged | 4 Comments

How to choose a good summer school

Posted on 19/06/2009 by alexcase

If teaching is more important than saving money or accommodation being included, the first thing to do when choosing a summer school is to avoid actual summer schools altogether. If I was in the same position of looking for a … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council accreditation, EF, EL Gazette, finding good TEFL jobs, first TEFL job, links, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Europe, Teaching English in Turkey, TEFL, TEFL blacklist, TEFL blogs, TEFL career planning, TEFL chains, TEFL in the UK, TEFL Tradesman, TEFL working conditions, UK summer schools | 5 Comments