Category Archives: Teaching English in Western 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

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

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

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

The other side of Oxford Street

Posted on 16/06/2009 by alexcase

A guest piece by “Holden Coalfield” “‘No thanks’, I said to the leafleter who offered me and everyone else a flyer for an English school as I walked out of Oxford Circus tube into this crowded and surprisingly tacky centre … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Cambridge Delta, CELTA, Dodgy TEFL school owners, ELT management, finding good TEFL jobs, first TEFL job, Job security, Learner motivation, Oxford Street schools, Teacher training, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TEFL certificate, TEFL in the UK, TEFL qualifications, TEFL scams, TEFL working conditions | Tagged | 6 Comments

Maybe British host families aren't the worst

Posted on 20/05/2009 by alexcase

This American family borrowed 1000 dollars off their Norweigan exchange student and then he got booted out of the country! Still, I still think host families in London win the prize. One Brazilian student told a hilarious story of rushing … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural differences/ cultural training, EF, links, TEFL, TEFL chains, TEFL in the UK | Tagged | 2 Comments

Prices of EFL textbooks to drop?

Posted on 10/05/2009 by alexcase

There are strong rumours that, perhaps due to the 100 day sit in and short hunger strike of students on London’s Oxford Street protesting the price of books, the latest edition of the Headway series of textbooks (official title “Latest … Continue reading →

Posted in ELT publishing, Oxford Street schools, Oxford University Press (OUP), TEFL, TEFL in the UK, textbooks | Tagged , | 3 Comments

A bit of TEFL justice

Posted on 08/05/2009 by alexcase

Paul Lowe and his former sidekick Ashley Arnold have been given fines, community service and (for Paul) a suspended sentence for the notorious time when Windsor Schools took money off students for a Trinity TESOL course knowing full well that … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council accreditation, Cambridge ESOL, CELTA, Dodgy TEFL courses, Dodgy TEFL school owners, Teacher training, TEFL, TEFL certificate, TEFL in the UK, TEFL qualifications, TEFL scams, TEFL villains- Paul Lowe, Trinity, Trinity CertTESOL, Windsor Schools, Windsor TEFL | 7 Comments