Category Archives: Teaching English in Spain

Plenty of TEFL jobs in Spain despite the recession?

Posted on 20/08/2012 by alexcase

This piece of PR fluff not even trying to pretend to be journalism doesn’t provide any evidence at all for its claim that “there is currently a high demand for English teachers here”, but it is certainly conceivable when even … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English in Spain | 4 Comments

Minimal pairs for Spanish speaking learners of English

Posted on 17/06/2012 by alexcase

Ones in blue linked to graded lists of minimal pairs. Will add more as more lists go up. Article on pronunciation for Spanish speakers also now available here. If you like this and want more, please support TEFLtastic. Vowel sounds … Continue reading →

Posted in minimal pairs, Teaching English in Spain | 6 Comments

The most TEFLtastic attempts at humour in 2009

Posted on 29/12/2009 by alexcase

Wasn’t a great year for humour on TEFLtastic (must be taking my job seriously in my old age?!), but I did manage my most successful spoof yet, if not quite up to the standard of UN to Ban Unnecessary Languages: Don’t Do the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Dogme, links, notes from the TEFL graveyard, Teaching English in Spain, Teaching methods and methodologies, TEFL, TEFL blogs, TEFL in the UK, TEFL interview questions, TEFL Tradesman, The Silent Way | Tagged | 5 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

Six things to do as soon as you finish your TEFL course

Posted on 08/02/2009 by alexcase

A bit of that SixThings magic on TEFLtastic with a guest piece from the author of  that blog, Lindsay Clandfield: “1. Celebrate and decompress Especially true if you’ve done an intensive course in English language teaching. It’s probably been a … Continue reading →

Posted in first TEFL job, links, Teaching English in Spain, TEFL career planning, TEFL certificate, TEFL qualifications | Tagged | 25 Comments

The dream dictionary for TEFL teachers

Posted on 15/09/2008 by alexcase

What elements of your dreams tell you about your TEFLing future: Suddenly realising you have no clothes on – you will realise halfway through your next improvised grammar explanation that it doesn’t make any sense   Water – You will … Continue reading →

Posted in Grammar, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Spain, TEFL working conditions, Warmers | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The conundrums of being an ETP Part One

Posted on 22/06/2008 by alexcase

With all the problems I have had with TEFL teaching dossers (especially dossing DoSes) over the years, I have to admit that their philosophical position does at least have logic going for it- if they are going to be treated … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching Professional, finding good TEFL jobs, Guardian TEFL, links, Opening, TEFL career planning, TEFL CV/ TESOL resume, Wall Street | 1 Comment

The benefits of teaching in Japan

Posted on 12/05/2008 by alexcase

Number one is that the status of English teachers is not so obviously low that when I met the love of my life and asked her to marry me she actually agreed! You won’t hear a lot about it on … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a Director of Studies, Cross cultural training in EFL, Cultural differences/ cultural training, Discipline in the classroom, Eikaiwa, ELT management, English Teachers in Japan, IELTS, Job security, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Spain, Teaching Japanese primary school children, Teaching older students, Teaching shy students, TEFL, TEFL working conditions, TESOL, TOEIC | 7 Comments

Question from a reader- Legal English

Posted on 04/03/2008 by alexcase

“Hi Alex Just been looking at the worksheets and lesson plans you´ve reproduced.  You´ve certainly been busy, great work I will be using quite a lot of them.  I was checking through to see if you had any specific to … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP, Legal English, Materials, Photocopiable worksheets, Teaching English in Spain, TEFL | 2 Comments

Question from a reader

Posted on 11/02/2008 by alexcase

 Well, more a vague cry for help or reassurance than a question, but as this is not Dave’s TEFL Forum of Death, we’ll just use that freedom to let our creative juices flow… “Hi Alex,   My name is Katie. … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Spain, TEFL certificate, TEFL interview questions, TEFL qualifications | 3 Comments