Summer TEFL Teacher Advice

No Summer School Blues: Avoiding Summer School Stress

Posted by Neil Root | May 12, 2014 | General Advice

By Neil Root
Neil Root is a writer and London based English Language teacher with 10 years experience.

No Summer School Blues: Avoiding Summer School Stress

By freestock.ca [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

On the surface, summer school EFL teaching appears more relaxed than other EFL teaching disciplines. But this can be deceptive. The language delivery may be less stringent and high-powered than exam or higher level general English classes, but there other stresses to bear in mind. Below are a few of the stresses you may encounter, and tips on how to deal with them.

Balancing Learning and Fun in the Summer School Classroom

Posted by Neil Root | May 6, 2014 | Teaching Tips

By Neil Root
Neil Root is a writer and London based English Language teacher with 10 years experience.

By D. Sharon Pruitt from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, USA (Sunset Party Dancing Girl Silhouette) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Teenagers need stimulation as they live in their own world, as we once did. Your job as a summer school EFL teacher is to enter their world, but also to invite them into your well-prepared teaching world. This is a difficult balance, and doesn’t always happen automatically, but it’s essential to work at it if you want to get the most out of a teen group and they the best learning experience you can offer.

How To Have Fun And Stay In Control Of Your TEFL Class

Posted by Guest Bloggers | April 23, 2014 | General Advice

By Kivak (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Teaching English at a UK summer camp? Prepare yourself for a fun-filled environment…and a lot of hard work! The tricky part to any teaching job is getting the balance right between being your student’s teacher but also someone they respect, like and trust. Yet when the main draw for many English learners to a UK summer school is the fun environment, with many summer schools offering music, sport and other extra-curricular activities, how does the teacher stay in control?

In this article I’ll share with you three top tips for every TEFL teacher considering teaching at a summer school.

Presenting Grammar to Teenagers

Posted by Neil Root | December 5, 2012 | Teaching Tips

By Neil Root
Neil Root is a writer and London based English Language teacher with 10 years experience.

Presenting grammar

Grammar is essential for teenagers, as they are still formulating the language, and if they get their structures solid early they will become fluent later. Each student of course has a different level of ability, depending on their learning background, natural aptitude and personality. Your job is to take all your students with you on a learning experience which enriches them, stimulates them and strengthens their English.

6 ways to immerse yourself in a language

Posted by Guest Bloggers | November 29, 2012 | General Advice

Guest post by Andrea Picaso Fritz

By Shawn Lipowski (Shawnlipowski) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Immersion is generally thought to be the best technique for learning a language. The basic idea is: if you are surrounded by a particular language, hearing and speaking it every day, then you will learn it far more quickly than you would if you were just learning in a classroom. Of course, classroom learning has its place – learning the rules of grammar provides the basis for greater linguistic sophistication. But immersion, whether alongside classroom learning or not, is guaranteed to dramatically help with vocabulary and fluency. Summer school students in the UK have a great opportunity to be immersed in English during their time away from home. Here are some ideas for you and your students to immerse yourselves in a language:

Teaching Teens: Do’s and Don’ts

Posted by Neil Root | November 22, 2012 | Teaching Tips

By Neil Root
Neil Root is a writer and London based English Language teacher with 10 years experience.

By Tgyeltshen (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Most TEFL summer schools involve teaching groups of teenagers, and it can be a very rewarding experience. Younger students often show quick progress and the enthusiasm and energy in the classroom can be infectious. But class management and maintaining control can be tricky and the following are a few tips about what to do and not do to have a successful summer school EFL teaching experience.