How to Stay Focused on Long Reading Passages

How to Stay Focused on Long Reading Passages Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a long reading passage on a standardized test, only to realize you havent internalized a single word? You look at the clock to find that six minutes have passed and then the panic sets in. No matter how many times you read the passage, you just cannot seem to grasp it. This is a common problem among many test-takers; after all, standardized tests are meant to challenge you. Staying focused during standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT can be challenging, but comprehending these long reading passages is key. Here are a few tips on how to stay focused during the much-dreaded long reading passages on standardized tests. [RELATED: ACT Reading Tips] Practice One way to stay focused is to prepare for the exam by taking practice tests. The more practice you have under your belt, the more likely you will recognize how short of a time period you actually have to complete the standardized test you are taking. There is nothing like a bit of nerves to keep you on track and remind you that time is ticking. Notes Another way to remain alert during the entire length of a reading passage is to write notes along the way. Obviously, you do not have time to summarize every detail you read, but a note here and there will aid you in understanding the text overall. This method takes practice, so be sure to implement it into your strategy before the actual day of the test. Figure out the type of notes that are most helpful for you to have once you finish the passage. Perhaps making a note when you find an interesting sentence is a good way to jog your memory. Or you could try noting the moment you encounter a new character or intriguing quote. However you choose to apply this method, stick with it. It likely wont benefit you to change your process midway through your exam. If you find yourself daydreaming, return to the last note you took and begin reading from that pointit sure beats having to start all over again from the beginning of the entire passage! Ask questions in your head If you feel note-taking absorbs too much of your time, consider asking yourself some checkpoint questions while reading the passage. These questions you ask yourself should be personalized, but here are a few examples to work from: What is the main point of this paragraph? What are the most important details here? Is this important or is it just additional background information? Who is speaking at this moment? Was this an example of a particular literary device? Can I summarize this paragraph in one sentence or less? Why is this section included in the passage? Asking questions forces you to engage with the text, not just glaze over it. If you find that you are struggling to answer even the most basic questions about a section of text, it is probably safe to say that you should go back and reread. Balancing time and reading can be a challenge, but just remind yourself that you must understand the text in order to truly succeed on the test. [RELATED: How to Interpret a Reading Assignment] Mouth the words While reading out loud would be a stellar strategy to use during a standardized test, it would be quite distracting to your fellow test-takers. However, one strategy you can implement while going through a long reading passage is to mouth the words as you read them. Yes, you may look a bit strange, but does it really matter? Moving your lips as you read is going to help you slow down (a reasonable amount) and concentrate on every single word. By doing this, you will hopefully be able to stay focused and follow a good reading pace for the entire passage. Finding the best strategy for you is a matter of practice. Once you figure out the tactic that works for you, use it consistently.

Singing Lessons for Kids 10 Ways to Support Your Child

Singing Lessons for Kids 10 Ways to Support Your Child Suzy S. If your son or daughter loves to sing, a private teacher can teach him or her how to sing correctly and stay excited about learning! Here, St. Augustine, FL teacher  Heather L.  shares 10 ways you can support your child throughout the journey Kids are simply made to sing. In most of the lessons that I teach, no matter the students age, I inevitably find myself teaching her how to be a kid in some way. Shaking out tense muscles, dancing to the beat, making animal sounds, keeping it simple, opening your heart these are things that kids do naturally all the time. That, in turn, makes it easier for most children to learn how to sing correctly and well. Be that as it may, it can seem difficult at times to find ways to support your young singer effectively. Heres a list of 10 ways to support your child. 1. Say positive and encouraging. Humans, especially children, will desire to live up to the qualities that are expected, or even  simply named to them. Telling your child that youre proud of him simply for choosing to take  voice lessons or calling that song that hes been working on beautiful can make his entire  week. On the other hand, one harsh, overly critical word could make him want to quit  altogether. 2. Encourage healthy speaking habits. What we call the voice is really a group of different muscles and tissues working together to create sound. They may be fairly resilient in adults, but in children they can be easily damaged, sometimes temporarily and sometimes permanently. Encourage your child to learn and practice healthy speaking habits: • No whispering • No screaming • No vocal fry (a phonation that sounds like popcorn popping) • No straining or belting (unless being trained by a specialist) Listen for swelling of the vocal folds uneven vocal tone, breathiness, roughness and ask your  child to go into low voice mode for a few days, where their voice is warm, but low in volume.  She could pretend to be talking to a secret fairy or a bug right in front of her nose. 3. Provide a healthy diet. Healthy diet means something different to everyone. One thats supportive of singing  (and staying well-behaved in a voice lesson or choir practice) includes lots of non-dairy  fluids for hydration, raw vegetable and fruits to combat inflammation in the vocal folds and  surrounding tissues (especially apples and dark, leafy greens), and fish for focus and  concentration. Now, as a parent, I understand how impossible this diet can be at times. But  whats great about highly nutritive food is that even a little bit can make a difference. 4. Help with home practice. Sit down with your child, look at her schedule, and plan out practice sessions. They dont have  be very long (15 minutes a day is fine) but they should be daily. Set a timer,  encourage gentle warm-ups, like humming or lip bubbles, and let your child sing his assigned  songs in as much privacy as youre willing to give. Feeling self-conscious affects a singers voice  more than anything, so try to give some space. That is, unless your child invites an audience! 5. Experience live music together. So much of the music that our children experience these days is from a phone or tablet. Give your child the special gift of experiencing live music with you. This gives you the chance to talk about it together: What did you like? What didnt you like? Was the music fast or slow? Loud or soft?  Getting your kid thinking critically about music, even if youre not a musician yourself, is so  important in keeping music interesting and fun. 6. Load fun music games onto your devices. Look for apps like NoteWorks or Junos Piano. Theyre fun, educational, and easy to learn.  Your little one will know her musical alphabet by heart in no time. 7. Get a keyboard. Even keyboards that arent the full 88 keys are beneficial for singers, especially young ones.  The voice is a musical instrument that essentially is the human body itself, so being able to  go to an outside instrument for reference and support can be really helpful. 8. Play animals. Getting kids to understand vocal language like space  or registers can be tricky. Pretending to be specific animals, like an owl to demonstrate  an open, floating, and well-supported sound, can be a lot of fun and supports what your childs  teacher is teacher. Consult your childs teacher for more exercises. 9. Eliminate secondhand smoke. If you or someone in your household smokes, then consider smoking only outside or in the  garage. Secondhand smoke is harmful in many ways, most notably to the voice. 10. Be there. Be the parent who attends the big recitals and concerts. Knowing your mom and dad are in  an audience means the world to a kid. You, as a parent, could be the single most important part of your childs vocal education. The trust and confidence that your child places in you every day is so precious. Use it wisely to motivate, nurture, and guide your young singer, and shell learn much more than just how to carry a tune. Heather L. teaches singing, piano, acting, and more in St. Augustine, FL, as well as through online lessons. She is  a graduate of the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli.  Learn more about Heather here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Nick J Webb

Tips for Helping Kids with ADHD Manage Transitions

Tips for Helping Kids with ADHD Manage Transitions In my previous post I discussed the reasons why so many kids with ADHD struggle to successfully transition from one activity to another throughout the day. The good news is that while transitions are much more difficult for kids with ADHD than kids without ADHD, with some targeted support and accommodations, transitioning between activities can become much easier. Provide a 5-minute warning. 5 minutes (or more) before the end of an activity, let the child know that the transition will be happening soon. Make sure the child heard you by making eye contact before giving the warning and asking the child to verbally repeat the number of minutes that are left in the activity. Break the transition down into small manageable steps. If the transition requires the child to complete more than 2 steps (e.g., put your materials in your desk, put your completed work in the bin on the teachers desk, get your backpack, and line up by the door), then give the child instructions that break the instructions down into just two steps at a time. For example, Put your materials away and then put your completed work on my desk. Nice job! Now go get your backpack and line up at the door. If the transition is one that happens routinely, then post the steps on the wall, create a checklist, or give the child the instructions 2 at a time until the steps become a habit. The fewer steps a child needs to follow during a transition time, the more smoothly things will go. Think about your most difficult transition times and consider whether there are any steps that can be removed or completed ahead of time. For example, when it comes to transitioning from play time to homework time, making sure the childs homework station is organized, well stocked with supplies, and has his or her backpack (and daily materials) sitting nearby can actually take care of many little steps that get in the way of getting started on homework. Give instructions slowly. For kids with ADHD who process information more slowly, make sure you provide the instructions with enough time (about 10 seconds) in between for the child to start following through. Often instructions are given rapid-fire during transitions because everyone is in a hurry. But, this fast pace ultimately just slows things down when a child cant process the information quickly enough to be able to follow through. Allow extra time. Most kids with ADHD cannot transition between activities quickly, and when you try to rush them they only seem to move more slowly. Instead, allow extra time either by giving the child with ADHD a head start on the transition activities, or by building in an extra few minutes for everyone during the transition time. At home this may mean allowing an extra 5 or 10 minutes in the morning to transition from finishing breakfast to getting out the door, for example. Stay calm. Kids with ADHD often struggle to manage their emotions during transitions and so do their parents and teachers who worry about being late or feel frustrated because the child is not doing what they want them to do. When a childs emotions are escalating, help the child calm down by staying calm yourself. Practice deep breathing and/or walk away and come back in a few minutes when youre feeling more calm and clear headed. Rather than spending too much time during the transition talking to the child about why he or she is upset, instead focus on problem solving. Is the child overwhelmed? Help him or her complete one or two tasks to provide support as he or she gets started on the new activity. Is the child frustrated because he or she didnt want to stop playing video games? Give the child a few minutes alone to calm down before he or she starts the next activity. It can be helpful to have conversations with kids about why they are so upset or frustrated, just save these conv ersations for a less stressful time when they arent transitioning between two activities. Use praise and rewards. Think about the behaviors you want to see from the child and provide specific praise to keep him or her motivated. For example, Great job following my instructions right away. I like how you stayed calm even though you were disappointed that you didnt finish the assignment before the time was up. For kids who need extra incentives to stay on track, consider providing small rewards for successful transitions. Stick to a routine whenever possible. Surprises and changes in schedules will always be a part of life but sticking to a routine as much as possible will go a long way in helping your child transition between activities smoothly. Many kids with ADHD benefit from having the routine or schedule posted on the wall, especially if they are prompted to look at it throughout the day. Kids with ADHD will always face some challenges navigating transitions throughout the day. But with the proper support they can be successful and transition from one activity to the next smoothly most of the time. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

5 Questions to Ask When Evaluating a College Major

5 Questions to Ask When Evaluating a College Major Improving Academic Performance I attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN and majored in Finance in the business school. IU has a very highly ranked business program, and many companies from throughout the Midwest and beyond recruit there. A degree from the Kelley School of Business is a very direct way to position yourself for employment after graduation. Each major, while certainly “academic,” also provides “job training” of sorts, which allows you to slot right in at a major corporation and start being productive in the accounting, finance, operations, or legal department. Employers value that type of rigorous, career oriented training. However, at the time, I also felt like there was something to be said for attaining a true liberal arts education. So, also took the classes required to get a minor in History, a minor in Philosophy, and I was a class away from a minor in economics. These were interesting subjects that provided a broader education and forced me to think in different ways. I was amazed at the intellectual rigor and deep, critical thinking skills which the philosophy classes required. They could make your head hurt. And, the Logic classes in the Philosophy department were extremely analytical, and were basically a branch of mathematics. In fact, I recently went back to do some research, and found that philosophy majors score well above average on both the quant and verbal sections of the GRE. On the benefits of a philosophymajor Furthermore, when I graduated from IU, I took a job at a boutique strategy consulting firm. At Marakon, I worked with Fortune 500 companies to help them make company-altering decisions, such as what markets to exit, which products to invest in, which customer segments to target, etc. The job requires deep knowledge of accounting and finance, is highly analytical and quantitative, and starting in the first few weeks, you’re already introduced to clients and expected to behave and communicate in a business content with people who’ve been working in business for decades. But guess what? Marakon doesn’t really care what you major in, and in fact, prefers not to hire folks with undergraduate business degrees. They simply look for kids who have demonstrated the ability to think analytically, communicate, lead, and deal with uncertainty. In fact, a Philosophy major with the ability to deal with numbers is probably the ideal candidate. In today’s economy, most people think it’s a good idea to choose a major with a direct link to a career: Business major = job in business Accounting major â€" job as an accountant Nursing major = job in nursing Engineering major = job as engineer Education major = job as teacher Of course, with unemployment where it is, this isn’t bad advice. You need to think ahead about what doors your degree will open when you graduate. However, I think it’s more important to choose a major that provides option value and demonstrates your ability to think critically. In other words, an Engineering major is good because you can be an engineer, but also because you can be a consultant, marketer, teacher, or anything else â€" because potential employers will know you’re smart and motivated. With all that said, here are 5 questions to ask when evaluating any given college major: Are you interested in it? Are you able to excel in it? What does it signal to potential employers? What is the most direct, typical career route for those with that major? Are there other ways to achieve the end point that major leads to without actually majoring in that subject? In a follow up post, we’ll use these five questions to evaluate a hypothetical decision between a Marketing and Philosophy major. What do you think is most important when choosing a major?

Teach Away Academy

Teach Away Academy Teach Away Academy Teach Aways user-friendly and intuitive platform is an excellent resource for connecting with a huge network of quality teachers looking for a new experience teaching abroad. In its ability to help schools find candidates, Teach Away is unmatched. Weve found that through Teach Away, we receive higher quality candidates than with any of the job boards weve used and direct access to candidates ensures we have a much wider network to recruit from. Teach Away Academy Teach Away Academy Teach Aways user-friendly and intuitive platform is an excellent resource for connecting with a huge network of quality teachers looking for a new experience teaching abroad. In its ability to help schools find candidates, Teach Away is unmatched. Weve found that through Teach Away, we receive higher quality candidates than with any of the job boards weve used and direct access to candidates ensures we have a much wider network to recruit from. Teach Away Academy Teach Away Academy Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum.Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Teach Away Academy Teach Away Academy Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum.Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Teach Away Academy Teach Away Academy Teach Aways user-friendly and intuitive platform is an excellent resource for connecting with a huge network of quality teachers looking for a new experience teaching abroad. In its ability to help schools find candidates, Teach Away is unmatched. Weve found that through Teach Away, we receive higher quality candidates than with any of the job boards weve used and direct access to candidates ensures we have a much wider network to recruit from. Teach Away Academy Teach Away Academy Teach Aways user-friendly and intuitive platform is an excellent resource for connecting with a huge network of quality teachers looking for a new experience teaching abroad. In its ability to help schools find candidates, Teach Away is unmatched. Weve found that through Teach Away, we receive higher quality candidates than with any of the job boards weve used and direct access to candidates ensures we have a much wider network to recruit from.

Trumps Administration Why the Controversy

Trump's Administration Why the Controversy pexels.com So, for your benefit, here is a quick summary of who to be on the lookout for following Friday’s inauguration: The New Team: Senior Adviser: Jared Kushner What’s his role? There’s a lot that goes into the role, but he’s essentially a part of domestic and foreign policy. Why he’s controversial? He’s married to Trump’s daughter, Ivanka. It’s debatable as to whether or not this breaks anti-nepotism laws (basically, the laws that state the president can’t appoint family members). It’s also controversial because he’s the CEO of the family’s real estate business (though he will be supposedly stepping down to take on the role). Chief Strategist: Steve Bannon What’s his role? He’s basically the lead adviser to Trump. Why he’s controversial? He ran a media outlet (Breitbart News) that leaned very far to the right. For Democrats, this is a bad thing. For Republicans, not so much. Chief of Staff: Reince Priebus What’s his role? Called the president’s “gatekeeper,” he will essentially supervise the staff in the White House. Why he’s controversial? Just another Republican. In fact, he was a Republican National Committee chairman. Counselor to the President: Kellyanne Conway What’s her role? She would essentially be the president’s top adviser, working on his top priorities with lawmakers. Why she’s controversial? She was Trump’s campaign manager. In other news, she was the first female in that role to win the presidential election. An odd bit of irony for you, huh? National Security Adviser: Michael Flynn What’s his role? He keeps us safe. Kind of. He’s an adviser to the president on issues such as military and foreign policy. Why he’s controversial? He’s anti-Islam. Or at least, pro-aggression towards Islam. He’s a retired general (served in both Iraq and Afghanistan) and he’s ready to turn up the heat. Press Secretary: Sean Spicer What’s his role? Exactly as you’d think: he manages the relationship between the White House and the press. Why he’s controversial? He was the head spokesman of the Republican National Committee (just another Republican). But I think we’ll learn rather quickly that he’s going to have one of the toughest jobs over the next four years. That is if recent events have anything to say about it. Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson What’s his role? He’s the main go-to on foreign policy. He’s basically going to be managing our international relations. Why he’s controversial? He was the CEO of ExxonMobil. He also has ties with Russia and Vladimir Putin himself. So for a president that’s rumored to have a similar relationship, this is a questionable choice. Defense Secretary: James Mattis What’s his role? He’s the go-to man on defense. In other words, he runs the military. Why he’s controversial? He’s clashed with the White House previously under the Obama administration, though he has served for over 40 years in the Marines and has led forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq. So he’s qualified, but things will be very different than they were under Obama. UN Ambassador: Gov. Nikki Haley What’s her role? She’s the go-to for the United Nations. She’s going to be a foreign policy adviser to the secretary of state and the president himself. Why she’s controversial? She’s probably best known as the South Carolina governor that took the Confederate Flag down after a shooting in order to stop division, and she’s been a big advocate against some of Trump’s plans. So we’ll likely see some head-butting there in the future. CIA Director: Mike Pompeo What’s his role? You guessed it he’s in charge of CIA operations. He’s also going to advise Trump on CIA intel to keep the U.S. safe. Why he’s controversial? For a brief history lesson, he was on the committee that investigated the Benghazi attacks. In future tense, he’s dealing with a president that’s been fairly anti-CIA. So again, head-butting could be in the near future. Attorney General: Jeff Sessions What’s his role? He’s going to be running the Justice Department. So he’s basically the top law enforcement officer in the U.S. Why he’s controversial? He’s got a “spotty” civil rights history. Especially surrounding the police and Black Lives Matter issues that are ongoing, this is going to be quite a problem moving forward. Don’t be too surprised if this comes up frequently. Treasury Secretary: Steve Mnuchin What’s his role? He’s our money man. Basically, he’s in charge of U.S. debt and updating the president on our finances as a country. Why he’s controversial? He has no government background. Oh, and he’s exactly the type of person that Trump said wouldn’t be appointed under his presidency. So already, some red flags are flying high. His plans will likely only help the financial elite, according to many sources, which is a bummer for middle-class Americans. So these names will come up again be on the lookout! And at least now you have some background information for the next time you hear their names.

How to choose the right TEFL course for you

How to choose the right TEFL course for you Congrats, you've made the life-changing decision toteachEnglish abroad! But before you start packing your suitcase for this exciting new chapter in your life, there is one thing you’ll need to get to set yourself up for success: a TEFL certificate. In case you need a refresher, TEFL stands for teaching English as a foreign language. Completing a TEFL course from a reputable program shows prospective employers that 1) you’re committed to teaching English to the best of your abilities, and 2) you’re fully qualified and equipped to lead an ESL classroom. Indeed, without a valid TEFL certificate, many schools abroad will pass over your teaching application without a second glance. Needless to say, we strongly recommend that you enroll in and complete a TEFL course! But choosing a TEFL program from the thousands availableâ€"both online and in-personâ€"is a challenge in itself. To help you sift through the myriad available programs, we’ve put together a few of the best practices for choosing a TEFL course. Find a program designed by a reputable institution As you well know, anyone can make a website in this day and age. So, when you’re searching for a TEFL course, it’s important to do your research about any potential program. There is no formal accrediting body for TEFL, so organizations are free to create a course, put it onlineand charge a fee. But that leaves you facingthe very big question: which organizations can you trust, and which should you ignore? First things first, we suggest you take a look at who backs the course and who designed it. If a world-renowned university puts their name behind a TEFL courseâ€"â€"like the University of Toronto OISE or the University of California, Berkeleyâ€"â€"puts their name behind a TEFL course, then you can be sure you are going to receive a quality education and get the most bang for your buck. Avoid taking the quick and easy route On a related note, if a TEFL course promises to certify you in less than 100 hours, steer clear! To achieve full TEFL certification, the minimum standard is 100 hours of experience, which spans the lessons, coursework, and teaching practicum. While some countries may differ in their ESL teacher requirements, like China, for instance, you will be severely limiting your options by enrolling in a TEFL program that promises to certify you in less than 100 hours. However, many schools abroad require their ESL teachers to hold a TEFL certification from a 120-hour course. So, even a 100-hour program isn’t necessarily the prudent choice. In fact, our TEFL course developed with the International House UC Berkeley only offers a120-hour option. Furthermore, you get what you pay for with TEFL courses. If you select a shockingly low-priced, 40-hour course, it’s unlikely you will be in any shape to teach an ESL class by its completion. Holding a TEFL certificate does not mean you are ready to lead a classroom full of children who are dependant on you to guide and lead them through the language learning process. But taking a proper course and completing the necessary hours required will better prepare you to take on this daunting but rewarding challenge. Our humble suggestion is to be fair (and kind!) to yourself and your future students and take the time to invest and research the TEFL course that’s right for you. Select a TEFL program to match your lifestyle Gone are the days of TEFL courses taught only in person. In today’s world, prospective ESL teachers have a trio of program options: in-person in their home country, in-person in a foreign country (usually where they intend on teaching English), or online. So, if you prefer to learn in a classroom environment, that option is certainly open to you. After all, many TEFL students appreciate the structure of in-person lessons and interacting face-to-face with other students and their teacher. However, for individuals who can’t commit to attending a scheduled class, online courses offer the opportunity to complete your TEFL course on your own time and even when you are working on your bachelor's degree. While many of these online programs do require an in-person practicum, the majority of the hours can be completed at your leisure from the comfort of home. Ultimately, TEFL courses that are 100% online offer the most flexibility and are the easiest to fit into your schedule. They’re also self-paced, which means you can decide how quickly or slowly you complete the coursework. If you’re in the mood for an adventure, you can even get TEFL-certified overseas! Many prospective students opt to become certified in the country where they would prefer to teach English. It’s an excellent way to gain firsthand knowledge of the culture and daily life, forge connections with local schools, and decide whether they want to commit to living in that country for the duration of an ESL teaching contract. Examine the curriculum of each TEFL course So, you’ve found a TEFL course that matches your lifestyle and learning preferences. What could there possibly be left to do? Well, we recommend taking a long, detailed look at your TEFL course’s curriculum before hitting that sign-up button. To become a confident and successful ESL teacher, you should learn the following items during your TEFL program: How to plan lessons for ESL students The responsibilities of an ESL teacher Ways to manage an ESL classroom How to teach reading, writing, grammar, speaking, and pronunciation ESL teaching resources to use with students (ex. games and group activities) Methods for navigating cultural differences Best practices for being an effective English teacher in an ESL classroom setting Also, consider what aspects of teaching English abroad interest you most. Some courses have an added focus on developing skills for living and working in a global setting. For instance, the TEFL course from International House UC Berkeley includes six modules on international teaching and global effectiveness. Meanwhile, other TEFL courses offer the option to specialize in specific regions or types of students. For example, if you know that you’d like to teach English in China to kindergarten students, the OISE TEFL course gives you the option to take elective modules in Teaching English to Mandarin Speakers and Teaching English to Young Learners (among other specializations). Read the reviews from past participants Still feeling unsure about a prospective TEFL course? Check out their online reviews! There are several websites that offer moderated directories of reviews from past participants in TEFL programs, offered both online and in-person.TEFL Course Reviewand GoAbroadis usually a good place to start, followed by a quick Google search to find additional reviews. Now that you know how to find the TEFL course that’s right for you, it’s time to actually take the next step and enroll. Soon enough, you’ll be on your way to teaching English all over the world!