Buxiban

This is a name given to a private educational institution that supplements formal education; also known as a cram school, or a hagwon (Korean). Classes usually start in the late afternoon when students have finished their normal school day.

Buxibans are popular in many parts of Asia where schools are extremely competitive and students are expected to engage in additional studies.

CEFR

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR or CEF) is an international standard for describing language ability comprising 6 levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. Learners are classified into 3 groups: the Basic User (levels A1/A2), the Independent User (B1 and B2) and the Proficient User (C1 and C2). The CEFR is language-neutral and is available for around 40 different languages.

Teachers can include their CEFR certificate on their resume as proof of language proficiency. They can also encourage students to take the exam as it can be an effective guideline to highlight their strengths and areas that require more work. CEFR is most commonly used in academic settings (such as for college admissions), but can also be used for employment in some cases where a certain language level proficiency is needed.

CELTA

CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is an advanced and intensive brand of TEFL certification designed by Cambridge University. It’s a full-time, month-long commitment that includes written assignments and a practicum. It’s common for people to pursue their CELTA after first completing their TESOL/TEFL course.

Collocations

Collocations are words that are often found together and just sound natural to native English speakers. Collocations can range from strong to weak; with stronger collocations, the words appear together so often that replacing one of them with a different word would sound unnatural (e.g. fast food); with weaker collocations, one of the words could easily be swapped and still sound natural (e.g. big house, big dog, etc.)

With so many different collocations and no rules to govern them, collocations often have to be memorized. Teachers can assist in this process by increasing the students’ exposure to them through authentic materials.

Cram school

This is a name given to a private educational institution that supplements formal education; also known as a buxiban (in China and Taiwan), or a hagwon (in Korea).

Classes usually start in the late afternoon when students have finished their normal school day. Cram schools are popular in many parts of Asia where schools are extremely competitive and students are expected to engage in additional studies.

Demo video

Demo videos are usually 5-15 minute recordings where a teacher will conduct a mock teaching session either with imaginary students or people pretending to be students for the purpose of the video.  These videos are often required as part of the interview process so that schools can determine whether the teacher can demonstrate valuable teaching skills, and to see if they might be a good fit for their institution.

They’re often very important for job applications submitted over the internet, and are especially common with online teaching positions. If you wish to learn more about demo videos, you could take a look at our 80-hour TEOL (Teaching English to Online Learners) course where we cover how to record a demo video in detail.

Drilling

Drilling is a technique used to introduce new language items to your students. Teachers model the target grammar, vocabulary, or sentence structures by demonstrating it vocally to the class, after which the students will repeat back or give the correct answer to a close-ended prompt. Drilling helps students perfect pronunciation and intonation, as well as practice new grammar and vocabulary in a controlled practice activity.

A common example of drilling has the teacher introduce words using flashcards, reading each one as they hold it up for the class to see. The class then repeats after the teacher chorally, and later on individually.

ESL

This is an acronym that stands for “English as a Second Language”. ESL is the name given to the subject of learning English as an additional language. If you teach English to non-native speakers, this would be considered as an ESL class.

EYL

This is an acronym that stands for “English for Young Learners”. EYL is the name given to English language classes that are designed specifically for younger students (around 3-10 years of age).  If you’re teaching English to non-native children, this would be known as an EYL class.

This is a sub-category of the broader subject of ESL (English as a Second Language). Similarly, there is also an acronym for adult ESL lessons – EAL (English for Adult Learners).

Do you want to teach EYL classes?

If you’re interested in teaching EYL classes, you could explore our 60-hour TEYL course which covers training for this specific type of teaching.

EAL

This is an acronym that stands for “English for Adult Learners”. EAL is the name given to English language classes that are designed specifically for adult students. If you’re teaching English to adult students, this would be known as an EAL class.

This is a sub-category of the broader subject of ESL (English as a Second Language). Similarly, there is also an acronym for younger students – EYL (English for Adult Learners).

Do you want to teach EAL classes?

If you’re interested in EAL classes, our new 70-hour TEAL course could be useful. It shows you the specific techniques and preparations needed to teach English to adult learners.

Hagwon

This is a name given to a private educational institution that supplements formal education; also known as a buxiban (in China and Taiwan), or a “cram school” elsewhere.

Classes usually start in the late afternoon when students have finished their normal school day. Hagwons are popular in many parts of Asia where schools are extremely competitive and students are expected to engage in additional studies.

Hard copy

This is a physical copy of your certificate. Some employers will require teachers to have physical copies of their certificates, while others will be happy to see a digital certificate (known as a “soft copy”).

At World TESOL Academy, we have our hard copy certificates professionally produced on certificate-grade paper, embossed with a gold seal, and packaged in a protective display folder.

Ordering a hard copy certificate:

If you have completed one of our courses, you’ll be able able to log in to your account and purchase the corresponding hard copy certificate through the links below:

120-hour TESOL/TEFL certificate hard copy
80-hour TEOL certificate hard copy
60-hour TEYL certificate hard copy

Note – you must have completed your course and passed all of its assessments if you wish to order a hard copy of your certificate.

IELTS

International school

These are usually private schools that align their curriculum with either a British, American, Canadian, or Australian education system. Their school terms and curriculums will often be different from regular public schools, and lessons will usually be taught using English – even if the students are studying subjects such as science, math, media, etc.

International schools often pay quite well, but require teachers with a couple of years of experience.

Miming

A method of teaching a word without speaking. The teacher would use only hand gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey the meaning of the word. Miming can be used in many different ways.

It’s a powerful tool that can help you to capture the interest of your students and help them to build stronger mental bonds with the language being taught.

Ofqual

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. They ensure that courses and qualifications are of a good standard and that they are fit for purpose. Ofqual regulates both vocational and academic qualifications, including TESOL.

Public school

A school that is funded by a local, state, or federal government. Private or international schools will usually be funded through tuition fees paid by the families of the students, but public schools are generally free to attend in most places around the world.

Public schools often pay slightly less than private/international schools, and might not have the same level of resources to put into their classrooms, but they can still offer great environments to work in, and are a good way to build up experience as a teacher.

Practicum

A course of study designed especially for the preparation of teachers that involves the supervised practical application of previously studied theory. Teachers have the chance to put what they’ve learned into practice in a real classroom and get feedback from a mentor and/or tutor. Having a practicum is a good addition to your resume, but not essential. Many employers offer this training on-site as part of the job orientation, which means that even with practicum, you may still have to undergo their own evaluation and training. This is a way for them to be able to evaluate and direct you so that you are teaching according to their policies and teaching methods.

Soft copy

An electronic version of a document. When you finish a course from World TESOL Academy, you will earn your soft copy certificate. This is a PDF file that can be downloaded onto your computer or mobile device and forwarded to employers to prove that you’ve completed an accredited training course.

All of our soft copy certificates come with unique certificate numbers on, allowing schools to verify if your certificate is authentic or not.

TOCFL

The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) is a set of standardized language proficiency tests developed by the National Taiwan Normal University to assess and certify the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers of Chinese.

There are three different types of TOCFL exams: TOCFL Listening & Reading, TOCFL Speaking, and TOCFL Writing. Levels are separated into 4 test bands: Novice (Pre-Beginners), Band A (Beginner), Band B (Intermediate), and Band C (Advanced). Each of these bands is further split into 2 sublevels, making eight levels in total.

The TOCFL certificate grants the holder eligibility for the “Taiwan Scholarship” and “Ministry of Education Huayu Enrichment Scholarship”, and can also be used to apply to universities in Taiwan. Many jobs worldwide also accept the certification as proof of Chinese language proficiency.

Teachers who plan to settle down in Chinese-speaking countries and have interest in learning the language may be interested in attaining a TOCFL certificate, which will significantly increase career opportunities.

TOEFL

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized academic test mainly taken by students applying to universities in English-speaking countries. It measures their ability to use English in a university setting, with evaluations across the following areas: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

The TOEFL iBT is the most common version of the test and is conducted online, with scores ranging from 0-120. Many schools will set a minimum TOEFL score that you must achieve in order to be accepted. If your students are pursuing higher education abroad, they will likely need to sit for this exam.

TOEIC

The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) is a standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native speakers. It is oriented towards professionals and companies, with topics related to English in the workplace such as meetings, telephone conversations, emails, and travel. If your student plans to work in an international company or is aiming for a promotion in their current one, they will want to score high on this exam.

There are two different forms of the TOEIC exam: one which tests the receptive English skills (reading and listening) and one which tests the productive English skills (speaking and writing). Students can choose to take one or both depending on their needs.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

A transitive verb is a verb that can have an object. They describe actions that can be done to something.

“She brushed her hair.”

The object of the verb brush in the sentence above is her hair.

An intransitive verb is a verb that cannot have an object.

“The coffee shop opens at 11 AM.”

The verb open does not need an object to make a complete sentence.

UKRLP

The UK Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP) is a government database of verified schools, academies, and learning centers in the UK. Learning providers need to submit information to the UKRLP, and once verified will be issued with their own unique verification number known as a UKPRN.

World TESOL Academy, our UKPRN is 10087431, and our status can be verified here: UK Register of Learning Providers – 10087431.