Chalkboard is i-to-i's TEFL community.
It is currently still in testing phase which could mean you find the odd bug!
Q: What is i-to-i Chalkboard? A: It's the online community of TEFL specialists i-to-i.com
Use the tabs below to learn more about our TEFL courses
View JamesJenkin’s:
About Me
Hi everyone
I'm James, i-to-i's Academic Director.
I've been a TEFL teacher for almost twenty years. TEFL leads to the most amazing experiences! I've taught in China, Vietnam and Australia, and I've overseen programs in a number of countries including Saudi Arabia and Thailand. My students have included government ministers, oil and gas engineers, airline pilots and ship captains. This sort of thing is just normal in our field!
My absolute love is teacher training. I've been a Cambridge CELTA tutor since 1998, and an i-to-i tutor since 2005. I get so much from seeing a new teacher stand up and teach a great class.
I've been managing language schools for some time, so I do understand what employers look for in a teacher. (They like i-to-i graduates!)
I'm very interested in language learning - my first degree was in modern languages (Russian and Latvian), and I have an MA in Applied Linguistics. I did leave TEFL for a year and a bit to work for Lonely Planet, looking after their phrasebooks and language sections in guidebooks. It was fun, but I missed TEFL, so I came back …
I've written or co-authored a number of books including the Lonely Planet Russian Phrasebook, OUP's English Have A Go!, and i-to-i's TEFL Uncovered and Essential TEFL.
I'd love to hear from anyone, and answer any queries you might have about teaching and finding work. Grammar questions are my particular favourite (sad but true). I will try to get back to you as soon as possible, but forgive me if it takes a day or two.
All the best
James
My Friends (22)
-
- Nayani
-
I get to spend 1 week exploring the Teaching Internship...
-
- ClaireLucy
-
I work for i-to-i TEFL Australia (i'm the one with...
-
- spidey310
-
I am nearing the end of the tefl course if...
-
- laura_mc
-
Hey! Im laura, currently working at i-to-i part time on...
-
- gcoulby
-
I can't wait to finish my course and jump into...
SEE ALL
My recent comments
-
-
JamesJenkin said:
“'Tarantula' - that's funny!”
about Fear (Post)
-
-
JamesJenkin said:
“Hi Ian - you'll be brilliant! You're right, in some...”
about Fear (Post)
-
-
JamesJenkin said:
“Hi Ian, just my suggestions for 'fear breaking'. For the...”
about Fear (Post)
-
-
JamesJenkin said:
“Brilliant post!”
about Fear (Post)
-
-
JamesJenkin said:
“Hi d3lta69, it's great TEFL has become a life career...”
about EDI CertTEFL from a TEFL Tutor’s Perspective (Post)
Comments on my stuff
-
-
AlixM09 said:
“Ah yes... it all looks a bit clearer now the...”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
AlixM09 said:
“C'mon then James! Is that enough? Or do you want...”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
Briona said:
“Sure. You could say either "a book" (article) or "this book" (determiner)....”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
Briona said:
“@ James: A singular, countable noun must always be preceded...”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
AlixM09 said:
“apart frpm an article? please explain exactly what you're asking......”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
AlixM09 said:
“James, that what I meant by 'expect that only to...”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
AlixM09 said:
“I'll try to answer the first two in one go...”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
lasmak said:
“James, I'm really curious about (5), as I have indeed...”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
lasmak said:
“1) I think 'connotation' is the answer to this question....”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
Phelx said:
“1) 'Skinny', 'slim' and 'thin' 'Skinny' = unhealthy (sometimes), lack...”
about Grammar and Vocab Quiz! (Post)
-
-
i-to-i said:
“Hi Wanda, If you email the helpdesk at helpdesk@tefl-training.com they...”
about An Absolute Beginners Guide to TEFL (Post)
-
-
Wanda said:
“I need help with a test question that I have...”
about An Absolute Beginners Guide to TEFL (Post)
-
-
NickP01 said:
“Hi James, Your entry on Latin America slightly worries me!...”
about Can you survive abroad with a TEFL job? (Post)
-
-
daniel-z said:
“Latin America sounds to me underrated. I think there might...”
about Can you survive abroad with a TEFL job? (Post)
-
-
AlixM09 said:
“I like the silence idea! Saves the whole sketch of...”
about How to Keep Control in Your Class (Post)
-
-
PDixon said:
“one of my favourite warm up games is called "criss...”
about My Students Won’t Talk in the Classroom – Help! (Post)
-
-
Jones569 said:
“Hi James, To echoe what Nikki has already mentioned thank...”
about Five TEFL Myths... (Post)
-
-
PDixon said:
“Here in Japan it is difficult to break some of...”
about Five TEFL Myths... (Post)
-
-
Nikkiw said:
“Hi James Excellent post, and very reassuring, especially the sections...”
about Five TEFL Myths... (Post)
-
-
LEROYANG said:
“Thanks for the add! :-)”
about JamesJenkin (User)
-
-
Longstaff said:
“Hi James -- I remember your videos from the course.......”
about What Don't Students Like? (Post)
-
-
Longstaff said:
“PART 1 --I enjoyed this blog entry also. I'm in...”
about What Don't Students Like? (Post)
-
-
Longstaff said:
“ PART 2 --I tell them "It is supposed to be...”
about What Don't Students Like? (Post)
-
-
newhorizon said:
“travelled to Vietnam in February and March of 2011 and...”
about JamesJenkin (User)
-
-
PDixon said:
“In japan students lack a lot of confidence...also they do...”
about What Don't Students Like? (Post)
-
-
benglishtea said:
“Greetings, James! Got any advice for an interview process that's...”
about JamesJenkin (User)
-
-
cassie1987 said:
“I think this is an excellent post and quite an...”
about What Don't Students Like? (Post)
-
-
i-to-i said:
“Thanks James! Good luck to everyone looking for a TEFL...”
about Finding a Great Job (Post)
-
-
ellenajames100 said:
“Hi James, This article has really inspired me! I have...”
about Hallelujah - Internationally Recognized TEFL Courses with i-to-i! (Post)
-
-
papadopoulos said:
“Wonderful. I am using similar ideas in Greece and it...”
about A Great First Class (Post)
-
-
fatari said:
“LOVED this article!!!!! More of these please, I'm not getting...”
about A Great First Class (Post)
Recent Blog Posts
Grammar and Vocab Quiz!
- JamesJenkin
- Feb 22, 2012
- Views (223)
- Comments (17)
Language quiz (1 = moderately easy, 2 = tricky, 3 = hard) What's the difference between 'skinny', 'slim' and 'thin' (to describe a person)? (1) What's the difference between 'very' and 'too'? (1) Why is this weird: 'If you don't mind my asking, where's the bus stop?' (2) What's the difference between 'remember to' and 'remember +ing'? (2) What must always come before a singular, countable noun? (3)Roll up, roll up with your answers below!
An Absolute Beginners Guide to TEFL
- JamesJenkin
- Jan 11, 2012
- Views (282)
- Comments (2)
Does the world need TEFL teachers?Yes! Over a billion people worldwide are learning English. There's a need for every conceivable type of TEFL teacher in almost every country, from kindergarten teachers in Korea, to summer camp instructors in Turkey, to Business English teachers in Brazil.Which places have the best jobs?It depends what you're looking for. It is possible to make a decent salary and save money in TEFL, especially in North Asia and the Middle...
read more
View my blog
Recent Discussion in JamesJenkin’s Groups
| Group | Topic | Activity | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | What is it like to live in China? | 9:30AM | 4 |
| Teach in China Internship | August 2012 china | 9:10AM | 155 |
| China | Wanna go to rural China. | 4:32AM | 2 |
| Newbies | Teaching in China (Z visa, contract, salary, visa process..) | Yesterday | 6 |
| Vietnam | Vietnam August 2012 Internship! Who's Going...? | Yesterday | 37 |
View my Groups
Loading recent content...
Profile Comments
Add Your Comment!
Log in to leave a comment or Create an accountThanks for the add! :-)
travelled to Vietnam in February and March of 2011 and decided to take the train from HCMC to Hue then from Hue to Hanoi. It was one of my most amazing travel experiences. For a total cost of US$80 I travelled over 1000km over 3 days, met amazingly friendly and curious locals, saw some amazing views and slept well in the sleeper berth. No airports to deal with an plenty of time to just...
Hi Brandon
Nice to receive your comment - hope the study's going well!
I would definitely suggest less is more. It's tempting to try to blow an employer away with a complex plan, and with lots of frenetic teacher activity. However I think it's much more impressive to have:
- a clear lesson aim that you can articulate (e.g. 'Students will learn and practice X')
- several clear stages (e.g. 1. a 'warmer' to get students relaxed and talking to each other 2. a 'presentation' where you teach something 3. 'practice' - possibly two or more practice activities going from controlled to freer - where students get to use what they learnt)
Make sure there's lots of student-student practice, rather than you being out the front talking all the time. You can say to the employer. 'Learning English is a skill, like learning to cook or drive, so the students have to spend most of the time actually practicing with each other'. They'll like that!
Let me know if you want to discuss the actual lesson in more detail.
Good luck!
Cheers
James
Greetings, James! Got any advice for an interview process that's asking to see lesson plan/model examples? I haven't taken the online TEFL training just yet, and was wondering if/how this would be covered.
Thanks!
» Comments RSS