| As with any industry English language teaching is full | | | | classroom training courses continue with the |
| of specialist terms and acronyms that mean nothing | | | | acronyms - TTT and STT are useful concepts to |
| to those outside the industry. This article will take | | | | grasp. TTT is teacher talk time and the concept is |
| you through some of the most common terms used | | | | that if a teacher is doing all the talking in the |
| to help you prepare if you are considering entering | | | | classroom the students are not learning. STT is |
| the English language teaching industry. I use the term | | | | student talk time which should be higher than TTT. |
| industry, as private language schools exist worldwide | | | | Gap-fills or information gaps are exercises designed |
| generating considerable incomes - some of the larger | | | | to focus on certain language points, be they |
| organisations are franchised on every continent. | | | | grammar, vocabulary or another language focus. |
| Firstly acronyms, here are some of common ones in | | | | They often occur between pairs of students that |
| use today: | | | | have different pieces of information. In order for |
| TEFL - means teaching English as a foreign language. | | | | students to obtain all information they will need to |
| TESOL is teaching English as a second or other | | | | use English to get it - this is the gap to be filled or |
| language. A distinction exists between those students | | | | the information to be found. An example may be to |
| who are learning English because they are now living | | | | practice asking for prices with one students with a |
| in an English speaking country and those that are | | | | shopping list and another with a price list, thus armed |
| studying English as part of their education. These | | | | students can communicate with a purpose. |
| latter students often need English to progress in their | | | | L1 and L2 are abbreviations used to denote first and |
| careers. Other acronyms exist along the same lines, | | | | second languages and usually occurs in a teaching |
| such as ESP - English for Specific Purposes; this labels | | | | course in the context of considering how a student's |
| courses with a particular focus, for example, it may | | | | native language can impinge on their learning. An |
| be a course for nurses and therefore the course | | | | example is false friends, these are words from two |
| content will use medical contexts and vocabulary to | | | | different languages that appear similar but have |
| teach the students. One particularly large area of ESP | | | | different meanings, for example, the word 'puxar', |
| is Business English, having a business background is a | | | | pronounced 'pushar' feels like push but in actual fact |
| great asset to have for an English language teacher. | | | | means pull. |
| As an industry set in education there are a lot of | | | | Elicitation and concept questions are techniques that |
| acronyms for the various qualifications for both | | | | from an important part of teaching. Elicitation is a |
| students and teachers. CELTA and DELTA are | | | | technique whereby a teacher will attempt to tease |
| teaching qualifications that have become industry | | | | out answers from students. It is the reverse of |
| standards, at least for UK based teachers. CELTA is | | | | spoon-feeding. It is designed to achieve 'cognitive |
| the Certificate in English Language Teachings to | | | | engagement', that is, getting students to think and |
| Adults and DELTA is its higher diploma progression. | | | | analyse the language. A simple example of elicitation |
| Students wishing to enter universities in an English | | | | is a teaching showing pictures and asking students |
| speaking country will need to demonstrate they have | | | | what is in the picture - this is more effective than |
| enough English to properly access their chosen | | | | the teacher showing the picture and simply saying |
| course. TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) | | | | 'this is a..'. Concept questions are questions that aim |
| and IELTS (International English Language Testing | | | | to pin down ideas, meaning and concepts. For |
| System) are examinations that provide universities | | | | example if a teacher is teaching the word 'sprint', he |
| with internationally recognised competence tests for | | | | or she might ask if sprinting was a fast or slow way |
| academic English. The former is North American in | | | | of running, is it quicker than jogging? can a hundred |
| origin and the latter British. An equivalent exam exists | | | | year old man sprint? can you sprint for a mile? These |
| for workplace English which is TOEIC - Test of | | | | questions will refine the definition for students. |
| English for International Communication which has its | | | | Controlled practice is an activity in which the language |
| origins in Japan. Other popular examinations include | | | | a student can use to complete the task is restricted. |
| the suite of exams provided by the Cambridge | | | | A multiple choice activity restricts the language a |
| Examination board - FCE (First Certificate in English), | | | | student can use to the choices he or she is given. By |
| ACE (Advanced Certificate in English), CPE | | | | contrast, authentic practice is an activity in which |
| (Certificate in Proficiency English Test) are the most | | | | there is no restriction or control over what language |
| popular. | | | | a student can use. Authentic practice tries to give |
| Levels in English language teaching can be described in | | | | the students an opportunity to use English in a real |
| various ways according to the organisation. Generally, | | | | way. Role plays are a popular method of doing this. |
| the following levels are observed in most language | | | | I hope this has given some taste to the ideas and |
| schools - beginner, elementary, lower intermediate, | | | | jargon used in English language teaching. It can be a |
| intermediate, upper intermediate, advanced. False | | | | wonderfully rewarding career to follow, giving you |
| beginner is a level that is recognised for students | | | | the opportunity to see countries and cultures from |
| who may not have studied for a long time and have | | | | the inside. |
| knowledge but need to retrieve it. Inside the | | | | |