From the first lesson you give to the thousandth the same question is always: What can I bring to the lesson for it to be effective and engaging? Here are 3 simple tips to liven up your lessons. 1. Use Images! Using images is a great way to reduce your talk time, change the dynamics,and to encourage creativity and fluency. Using photos and image can support learning for all levels of students. Example activities 1. Descriptive Writing: Set a set time limit and get your student to freely write a story based on the image you have provided. Sure to get creative juices going! 2. Comparatives: Provide two photos of  people, places, or events and get student to verbally compare the content. 2. Get up! A new teacher might be shy about doing this and a more experienced teacher reluctant to. Get your students to move around! It provides variety, gets the blood moving, and is energising! Example activities 1. Role play: Act out an authentic interaction s...

What can we do each day to make us even better English teachers? Here are our 7 recommendations... 1. Create Relevant Content Use and develop content which interests your student. How do you know what interests your students have? Ask them! Conversation leads us to understanding, and if we start a learning journey with a new student by getting to know them first, we will be able to give them more appropriate content and be a step closer to fulfilling their learning objectives. It is good practice not to assume everyone has the same learning objectives, and the same ways of reaching them. Find out what they are before you start teaching them! 2. Prepare Teachers infamously don't have tons of time at their disposal, and we are used to dong things on the fly, but hopefully doing them well. Prepare well when you can in areas you anticipate might be difficult for the student, such as certain grammar points, a specific English exam preparation, or the meaning of new vocabulary...

There are lots of good reasons to work for a good English school. A good school can help you develop as a teacher, as well as enabling you to meet other teachers, and a constant stream of students. Also, being employed by an English gives you guidance as to what and how to teach, and  can provide stability in terms of regular teaching hours. There is no question that working for an English school can help teachers to develop and grow, and most people would agree that any English teacher should at least have the experience of having worked for a school. However, there may be a time, either before, during, or after working with an English school when you wish to be in charge of your own teaching. It may be because of a lack of teaching opportunities at local schools at that time. It may be that because schools are seasonal that your teaching hours are reduced at certain times of the year. It could be that you want to earn more money, or be more in control of your work life. Giv...