30 May 2014 / by Radmila Gurkova

FM - Unifying format criteria for TEFL activities. The cherry on the cake!

On debate: We need to unify format criteria when creating TEFL activities in order to create the perfect activity. The teachers creating activities and the ones correcting them have to use the same criteria.

We agreed to: Creating standards for activities.

Checklist with the most important bullet points to remember when creating TEFL activities.

TL definition: simplify explanation, not copy and paste from online dictionaries

Put pictures in tables to avoid overlapping of text and image when doing web classes

Length of texts: 1/2 page maximum for high levels, 1/3 page maximum for lower levels.

Edit texts to make the suitable for the students levels.

Font: Arial 16.

For topics and other activities when possible, provide the URL link to the original source: could be a youtube link, a link to an online article, news, etc.

When we create activities, we have to think of doing them for web classes and then adapt for the in-person ones rather than the other way round. With this in mind, remember to:
1. Avoid instructions containing "cut the attachment"
2. Limit the number of pages on attachments (some activities contained a SWOT analysis of more than 5 pages, way too long!

Highlight TL in the text (use capital letters or bold type)

Always double check the grammar point and make sure it corresponds to the issue-subissue

Double check for spelling and typos

Creating TEFL activities can be time consuming and tiring unless you share! Learn more about how to create successful TEFL activities. Join the TEFL community.

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February 2016

You are how you think

by Paola Tanc

A lot of people often say that you are what you eat, but it really should be "you are how you think". Let me explain. My name is Paola, I was born and raised in Mexico City, meaning that Spanish is my native language. I had always been a very shy little girl, living in my perfect little bubble and having a big family meant that I didn't re...

19

February 2016

Sharing Experiences: Food

by Toby Knight

Food. I love it. We have to eat it to survive but more importantly it defines who we are, where we are from and represents countries and cultures. ESL conversations require both students and teachers sharing experiences and in my opinion there is no better topic than food. Consider this: Spain has more restaurants, bars and cafeterias than al...

18

January 2016

Building professional identity in a community of practice

by Ana Garza

When we decided to start our careers as teachers by working for someone else, we started to participate in a community of practice ...

15

January 2016

The joys and tribulations of web classes

by Rafael Olivares

It's 8:30 in the morning. Your 3 students from Valencia, Zaragoza and Barcelona are getting ready for a web class. In half an hour, they will all be enjoying their 30 minute web class with each other and their favorite teacher. No, they will not be commuting to Madrid at the speed of sound in order to be together in class by 9:00, nor will...

11

January 2016

A perfect ESL conversation

by Paola Tanc

I'd like you to look back at your past experiences as a student. What were the best memories you had about those classes?What could you do to recreate them in your classroom? Personally, my best memories are the ones where I had the most fun. When the teacher thought outside the box and did something different and challenging for a change....

08

January 2016

Teaching Taboo Subjects

by Toby Knight

When I first started teaching I found myself teaching an activity about relationships to normally out-going group of students. Less than a minute into the discussion one student announced that she did not want me to ask her any questions as she had recently ended a relationship and was too upset to talk about the subject. It was obviously an ...

18

December 2015

Eating your way through Spain

by Rafael Olivares

If you are living and working in Spain, it is more than likely that you will have heard someone utter the words: "Spain has some of the finest food in the world." And yet, many foreigners working as TEFL teachers become quickly disillusioned with Spain's gastronomic offerings. The reason behind this dissapointment lies in the difficulty of...

14

December 2015

Dealing with those difficult students

by Rob Wylie

Despite the majority of students being motivated and professional, there is always a possibility you may come across one or two “difficult” students who come to class with a negative attitude. I’m sure that as teachers we can all relate to this and have some form of experience when it comes to having to work with a person who arrives to class...

12

December 2015

What you need to ask yourself before creating ESL activities

by Paola Tanc

Creating ESL activities can sometimes be frustrating, at least that's the case in my life. I sometimes find myself in need for inspiration, so I google some conversation topics that might interest the students, or that's what I think. I start working on the activity until I feel that it is perfect, I submit my activity and wait for the day w...

07

December 2015

ESL teachers' frustrations. Is there a way out?

by Ana Garza

Monday. 8:30 in the morning. A mixed-level group of unresponsive adult learners. Is it me? At least it’s only three of them. Or maybe that’s the problem. Is it their personalities? Perhaps it’s that they’re not interested in the activities. But everything played out so well in my mind last night… questions and answers, role-...

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30 May 2014 / by Radmila Gurkova

FM - Unifying format criteria for TEFL activities. The cherry on the cake!

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