• Home
  • Write for Us
  • Digital Nomads
  • Hiking
  • Teaching Abroad
  • Volunteering
  • Food
  • Events
  • Archive
  • Contact

Backpackers Travel Magazine

Volunteering, Backpacking Travel Guides, Backpacker Hostels, Jobs, Tours, Activities, Events, Outdoors, Gear, Camping, Hiking, Climbing, Yoga, Digital Nomads, TEFL, Volunteer & Adventure around the World

Backpackers Travel Magazine - Backpacking Independent Travel Guides, Backpacker Hostels, Jobs, Tours, Activities, Volunteering & Adventure around the World, South America, Chile, New Zealand, Asia and Thailand
Backpacking in Asia
Backpackers Travel New Zealand Magazine - Written by backpackers for backpackers
Backpacking in Europe
Backpackers Europe Magazine
Backpackers Asia Magazine
Backpacking in New Zealand
Backpackers South America Magazine
Backpacking in South America

The voice of independent travel

Get updated on backpackers travel, events, hostels, people, deals, budgets, food, gear and adventure!

  • Magazines
    • Latest Issue
  • Asia
    • Backpacking in AsiaAsia
  • New Zealand
    • Backpacking in New ZealandNew Zealand
  • Europe
    • Backpacking in EuropeEurope
  • South America
  • Africa
    • Backpacking in AfricaAfrica
  • Hostels
  • Gear
  • Volunteer Abroad
    • Apply to Volunteer
    • Registration for Volunteer Projects
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Backpacker / Essential Tools for Teaching English TEFL

Essential Tools for Teaching English TEFL

March 30, 2015 By backpackers Travel

Teaching English TEFL Flashcards

Teaching English as a foreign language in schools is one of the popular ways for expats and long-term travelers to make a living in places like Asia or South America. I still find it both inspiring and quite remarkable to see, how many teachers with little or no knowledge of the countries native language they find themselves working in, can stand in front of 30+ children. Who in turn cannot speak a word of English, and conduct a successful vocabulary lesson. The only thing they have between them to communicate is some carefully selected images. Time to discuss one of the things that every teacher teaching a English as a foreign language should have in their teaching tool kit.

Teaching English with Flashcards

As most TEFL schools will tell you the main medium for teaching languages is by using Flashcards. A flash card is simply an image, which is used to portray a specific meaning that helps students form a word association. This is based on the education theory that if we SEE and HEAR at the same time the meaning of the content will become accepted as reality. Foreign language teachers are usually armed with a plethora of flash cards for their classes. That along with your lesson plan, an abundance of games + songs and a good attitude are essential tools for teaching in Thailand.

How to use Flashcards

Drilling is the most common technique for teaching with flashcards. The idea is to repeat the ‘word picture’ association in as many ways within a lesson as possible, with the hope that it will eventually become automatic for students. A typical lesson would start by introducing a topic. A teacher would use flashcards to introduce individual words and then a sentence structure would then be shown on the board.

The flash cards would then be used to show how the words would be used in the sentence. This would then be reinforced using a song, games or role-play exercises whereby once again, the flashcards would be used to reinforce key vocabulary from the lesson.

Most EFL teachers keep their lesson plans generally structured this way (depending on the age group). This is because, by keeping the lessons setup this way will help you with the children who might not understand a word you are saying to them at the beginning of your class (quite literally in most cases) should be able to follow your lesson without feeling too overwhelmed.

The second reason is due to the haphazard nature of different schools, foreign teachers will often be expected to conduct lessons without having a chance to plan properly. By keeping lesson plans generally structured in the same way allows teachers come up with lesson content relatively easily.

Filed Under: Backpacker, TEFL Teaching Tagged With: Teaching, TEFL

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Latest Backpackers Mag Issue Out Now!

Asia Backpacker Mag

FREE DOWNLOAD OR DONATE!

Download Magazine

Backpackers Travel Magazine – Let The Adventure Begin!

Tags

accommodation Africa Asia Backpack Backpackers Backpacking Backpacking Asia Budget Campervans Camping Cape Town Chiang Mai China Cooking Digital Nomads Europe Events Food Freedom Camping Gap Year Gear Hiking Hostels India Ireland Markets New Zealand North America Outdoors Parks Road Trip Solo Female Travel South Africa South East Asia Spain Teaching Thailand Trails Travel Tips Trekking Volontär Volunteer Volunteering Walks Working Holiday

Become a travel writer! Write for Us!

Become a travel writer.

Recent Backpacker Articles & Tips

  • Ikaria – Volunteering on a Timeless Greek Island
  • Solo Hiking the Slovenian Mountain Trail
  • 8 Reasons Why You Should Go On A Caravan Holiday
  • Essential Items for Your Hiking Backpack
  • How Traveling Across The Globe Can Improve Mental Health

[instagram-feed]

Ikaria – Volunteering on a Timeless Island

Ikaria – Volunteering on a Timeless Greek Island

‘I wished our first meeting hadn’t started an hour and a half late…at least not the very first one!’ Mihalis laughed, pointing to an invisible watch on his hairy wrist. ‘This isn’t the kind of Greece you know…time doesn’t exist in Ikaria!’ His explosive laugh caused us, the foreign volunteers, to pause with our buttered […]

Solo Hiking the Slovenian Mountain Trail

Solo Hiking the Slovenian Mountain Trail

I sat in a hostel room in Maribor, northeastern Slovenia, hiking gear and packaged food strewn all over my bed. I was planning to start walking the Slovenian Mountain Trail the following day but I still knew almost nothing about it. Established in 1953, It’s one of the oldest long distance mountain trails in the […]

Write for us Travel Writers

Feature Backpacker Travel Articles

Go On A Caravan Holiday, Make it yours

8 Reasons Why You Should Go On A Caravan Holiday

Caravan holidays are making a comeback. With the cost of holidays rising, this cheaper alternative is a cost-effective and flexible option for an impromptu weekend getaway. Whatever your age the … [Read More...]

Essential Items for Your Hiking Backpack

Essential Items for Your Hiking Backpack

Essential Items for Your Hiking Backpack (Infographic) A well-packed backpack is a key factor in making sure your hike is comfortable, safe and enjoyable. Learn more about how to pack your hiking … [Read More...]

How Traveling Across The Globe Can Improve Mental Health

Whether you’re traveling to a local city near your home or across the globe, science shows that traveling can positively influence mental health. In fact, a study by Harris Group found that 72 percent … [Read More...]

sky road ireland

Walking Sky Road on Ireland’s West Coast

I stand above the ocean at Sky Road’s summit and look out over the islands, where folktales say mermaids sit and sing and comb their hair. A group of French tourists laugh amongst themselves. There’s … [Read More...]

Bhutan and Punakha Festival

It all started with a dream and a decision to let go and trust life. I stumbled upon an image of Taktsang Monastery or Tiger Nest last year but honestly never thought I’d make it to Bhutan. In a … [Read More...]

Backpackers Travel Gear

Hiking, Climbing, Travel & Outdoor Gear

Essential Items for Your Hiking Backpack

Essential Items for Your Hiking Backpack

Essential Items for Your Hiking Backpack (Infographic) A well-packed backpack is a key factor in making sure your hike is comfortable, safe and enjoyable. Learn more about how to pack your hiking … [Read More...]

7 Essential Tips for Women Solo Hikers

Doing thing solo, especially hiking solo, is one of the best ways to improve the independence and personal skills. Of course, hiking alone in the wilderness has its risks. Yet, there is no reason … [Read More...]

What I’ve Learned From Reviewing Over a Dozen Backpacks

After a year and a half of one bag travel, I caught the backpack bug—big time. So much so that I started my own website, packhacker.com, where my team and I review backpacks and other gear with a … [Read More...]

Backpacker Hostels

Hostel Guide for Backpackers

The Backpack Hostel Cape Town in South Africa

The Backpack Hostel in Cape Town South Africa – Hostels for Backpackers

The Backpack Hostel Conveniently located in Cape Town, The Backpack Hostel is a great base from which to explore this vibrant … [Read More...]

The Local Hostel NYC in New York City, USA

The Local Hostel NYC in New York City, USA – Hostels for Backpackers

The Local Hostel NYC Conveniently located in New York (NY), The Local Hostel NYC is a great base from which to explore this … [Read More...]

  • Volunteer Abroad – Apply Now
  • Registration for Voluntary Organizations & Projects

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2023 Backpackers Travel Magazine · Write for Us · WordPress · Log in