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Alice Pilkington qualified as a CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certified teacher in October 2009. She started working in Rome before moving to Istanbul, where she¡¯s spent the past three and a half years teaching English to ¡°everyone from 8-year-olds to company executives; students to bored housewives¡±. Having taught in two very different countries to a diverse range of English learners, Alice shares with us the five lessons she¡¯s learned:

1. Don't take things personally when you're teaching English

"I am probably not emotionally suited for this job. I take everything very personally and if a lesson goes wrong or an activity I have taken time and energy to plan doesn¡¯t work, I feel like a complete failure. It¡¯s a trial and error experience but when things go wrong, they can go very wrong, and it really makes you doubt your abilities as a teacher.

Having said that, the lessons that do go well can make up for these negative feelings. I shouldn¡¯t take things personally; the majority of my colleagues don¡¯t and it saves them a lot of sleepless nights"

2. Teaching English is incredibly rewarding

"There are very few feelings that I¡¯ve experienced that compare to seeing a student use a word that you have taught them ¨C it makes you feel like a proud parent. Equally, seeing a student improve over a series of months is so joyful.?I have been teaching English university preparation students for the past year.

In September, they could barely say what their name was and what they did over the weekend. Nine months on and they¡¯re capable of reading academic texts and speaking at length about marketing strategies and environmental problems. It¡¯s a wonderful thing to observe"

3. Teach more than just English

"Turkish students love hearing about how you appreciate their food and cultural traditions. Equally, they are genuinely interested in understanding how things operate in the UK and enjoy hearing personal anecdotes.?I tend to be very open with my students ¨C even about my personal life.?I think it is partly because I have striven from the very beginning of my career to be seen as their equal.

Turkish students are used to having a huge respect for teachers, and there is a hierarchical system in schools here, which I can never go along with. In my first lesson with most students, I tell them that they must call me by my first name (usually you refer to teachers here as ¡®hocam¡¯ which means ¡®my teacher¡¯ and shows respect) and this can take a long while for them to get used to."

4. Failure to prepare is to prepare for failure... or is it?

"Lessons that you spend hours preparing for generally don¡¯t go as well as you had hoped. There were several times when I¡¯d spend hours cutting and sticking things on pieces of card and placing pictures all over the classroom, hoping it would get some vocabulary action going, only to start the class and receive no response from the students.

Conversely, lessons where you don¡¯t feel very motivated or have no idea what you are going to do until you get into the classroom (which I call the ¡®flying by the seat of your pants¡¯ lessons) can turn out to be the best ones. I once had a lesson in which I was, admittedly, rather hungover. On the way to the lesson, I grabbed a book called ¡®Taboos and Issues¡¯, full of discussion topics, which I used as a basis for a rather impromptu lesson on addictions, which was very successful indeed."

5. Teaching English isn't easy

"Teaching English is a love/hate profession. There are weeks when you absolutely loathe it and want to quit, but then within the space of a lesson or two, you get inspired by something completely unexpected, rediscover your joy for it and love it again."

Traveling to a new country is a wonderful way to practice your English skills, but sometimes speaking English in a foreign country can be a little daunting¡ªand an can only help so much. That¡¯s why we¡¯re sharing these three traveling tips: try them the next time you travel to an English-speaking country. They¡¯re sure to make communicating in English with others more interesting and fun.

Learn how to ¡°break the ice¡±

While you¡¯re exploring, you¡¯ll likely come across strangers you might want to ¡°break the ice¡± with or speak to. A simple ¡°hi¡± or ¡°hello¡± along with telling them where you¡¯re from is a great way to start a conversation.? Next, ask them for ¡°insider tips¡± about their city, like their favorite places to visit or not-to-be-missed restaurants.

If they seem friendly and are willing to share more information, make sure you ask for their name and use it when asking more questions. Most people appreciate it when others call them by their names in conversation.

Learn how to ask people for help

It's normal to get lost during your trip, but don't worry. Most English-speaking countries will have tourist centers near popular destinations with trained staff who can help you with any questions.

If you can¡¯t find a tourist center quickly enough, approach a friendly-looking person (students with backpacks are a pretty safe bet) and use the skills that you¡¯ve already learned about approaching new people. You can include additional questions like ¡°I¡¯m lost, could you help me?¡± or ¡°Do you know where I can find _________?¡± to let them know that you need their help. It¡¯s also not uncommon for strangers to come up to you, especially when you¡¯re carrying a map and look lost, to ask if you need help finding your way.

Learn to express gratitude

You will likely want to thank many people during your travels, like the new friends who just helped you when you were lost¡ªand there are many ways to express gratitude.

Saying ¡°thanks¡± or ¡°thanks so much¡± is an informal form of ¡°thank you¡± in many English-speaking countries. You can also add the phrase ¡°I appreciate it¡± or say ¡°Thank you. I really appreciate your help¡± if the person you are thanking did something really special for you, like helping you out with directions.

For some people, talking to someone you don¡¯t know can be a little scary, especially in a second language. But don¡¯t worry?¡ª most people will be pretty responsive to you. In fact, many people welcome visitors to their cities with open arms, just remember to be polite and have a smile on your face when approaching them.

English is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, but how much do you know about the language? Here are 11 facts about English?that you might not know.

Students all over the globe learn English for many reasons. Some of these motivations may come from the students themselves ¨C perhaps they are learning because they are travelling to an English-speaking area, or they want to be able to converse with English-speaking friends and colleagues. Other reasons for learning could include meeting school requirements, studying abroad, or progressing their careers.

As well as different reasons to learn English, there are also different goals. Many students are still focused on becoming fluent in English, and we are seeing an increase in people who want to learn the language for specific reasons. For example, immersing themselves in a particular culture or simply being able to order from a menu while travelling abroad.

Teachers are focusing on these personal needs to help students achieve their actual goals. It¡¯s likely you¡¯ve already spoken to your students about why they want to learn English. Understanding this is important as different motivations can influence a student¡¯s attitude towards learning the language ¨C and it may be necessary for you to adapt your teaching strategies for different groups of learners.

Teaching English to different groups of learners

Let¡¯s meet some different groups of students, learn a little more about their motivations and explore whether different motivations alter how students learn English. You may recognise some of these learners in your classes.

1. Adult learners

These students are learning English for pleasure or personal reasons. It might be because of travel, social or family reasons or perhaps because a better grasp of English might assist them with their careers. There are also adult learners who could be learning English as an immigration requirement.

For example, 23-year-old Alice decided to learn English so she could meet people and have more meaningful interactions with her English-speaking neighbours. She says: ¡°I was very shy and not very confident in speaking to people, but learning English helped me connect with others and meet new people. I have changed a lot.¡±

A motivation like Alice¡¯s requires strong teacher support and peer motivation woven into structured learning. Alice can set her goals and with the GSE Learning Objectives map out what she needs to do to achieve them. Teacher encouragement and personal support ¨C and easy access to digital coursework, a social community of others all learning English, and small classes that emphasise conversation ¨C keep people like Alice engaged and motivated to achieve her language goals. ¡°I cannot do it without them¡±, she says.

2. Professional learners

These learners are typically in a more formal type of English programme and are learning the language to achieve specific career milestones, such as a promotion. Their employer might even be paying for their learning or they might be reimbursed for the cost of their lessons.

Vincenzo is 33 and works as a Product Manager in Milan for an international organization with offices around the world. He says: ¡°I asked to take English classes as part of my professional development. My company chose an English provider and gave me a choice of group or one-to-one classes. I chose one-to-one classes as I¡¯m easily distracted.¡±

Professional learners like Vincenzo succeed using a blended learning model of learning in class and at home that they can tailor around their lives. They have a strong motivation to succeed ¨C that¡¯s why learning at home works for them ¨C but step-by-step progress provided by the GSE Learning Objectives is also important to keep this motivation alive. ¡°I met with my teacher once a week where we would work on mistakes I would make while speaking English. He would also give me extra practice materials, like interesting games and videos to listen to in my own time, to help me really get a better understanding of the language,¡± Vincenzo says.

3. Academic learners

Learning English is a requirement for many school programmes and students will continue this at college or university. Many of these students will be learning English with a formal course that offers practice tests for high-stakes exams.

Seventeen-year-old Subra is from Malaysia and learns English at school. Some of her family live in Australia and she is considering studying abroad to attend a University that specializes in health care. When she was young, she learned in a traditional classroom backed with tests that helped her see how she was progressing. Now she uses technology, such as her Android Huawei phone to practise her English but still needs the validation of regular testing to know she is on track.

Subra?says: ¡°I am used to studying for tests as I prepared hard for exams to get into middle school and senior school, which was totally determined by test results.¡±

Academic learners like Subra need to see demonstrable results to help them stay motivated and guide them to the level of English they need to achieve to get the required score on high-stakes tests. With the clear GSE Learning Objectives and a placement test, academic learners can map out where they are right now and where they need to be in order to reach their academic goals. These learners need encouragement and validation of their progress from their teachers to help keep them on track.

Understanding student motivations will help you teach to their specific needs, thus helping them to stay focused and motivated in achieving their goals.

Kirsty Murray taught English for a year at a coll¨¨ge (the French equivalent of a secondary school) in Villers-Cotter¨ºts: a town in the north of France known for being the birthplace of Alexandre Dumas. She taught mixed-ability groups of 11- to 16-year-olds, with classes ranging in size from 10 to 35 students. Here, she shares the five lessons she learned from the experience.

Watching films can be a great way for people to learn English. We all have our favourite movie moments and, even as passive viewers, they're probably teaching you more than you realise. Here's a selection of our favourite scenes, along with the reasons why they're educational as well as entertaining.

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As adult learners, our very motivation for learning English can sometimes hinder our progress because we are focusing too much on the end result. The informal way in which children learn English ¨C through music, games and fun activities ¨C offers an environment where they can learn and practise without worrying about the importance of it all. This relaxed attitude, in turn, gives them confidence in learning English and sets them up for more opportunities in their academic pursuits and future career options.

the positive impact bilingualism has on a child¡¯s cognitive development. Catherine Ford, head teacher of Moreton First Prep School, says that children : ¡°Before children become self-conscious they can try out their newly acquired languages without fear of embarrassment¡±.

Starting the English learning process at a young age will provide the head start that most parents are keen to give their children in life, education and career. More than 77% of parents who were interviewed as part of said they would consider sending their child to study at a university abroad, which involves studying in English.

Educational benefits

The number of students pursuing postgraduate studies overseas continues to rise, reflecting the global nature of education. According to the seeking diverse academic experiences and cultural immersion. One crucial factor in this journey is having the right level of English skills, especially when applying to universities in popular destinations such as the US, UK, and Australia.

Learning English from a young age provides a solid foundation, enabling students to tackle more complex language skills tailored to their academic goals. Traditional English teaching often emphasizes reading, writing, and grammar, but studying abroad offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in an English-speaking culture, enhancing speaking and listening skills.

Future career benefits

Mastering English at an early age can be a transformative asset for future career success. English is the lingua franca of business, opening doors to global opportunities and enabling individuals to pursue diverse career paths across borders. As the most widely used language in business worldwide, proficiency in English is a powerful motivator for students aspiring to join global companies.

Bilingualism is becoming increasingly advantageous in the job market, improving employability and making candidates more appealing to employers. , underscoring the competitive edge that language skills provide.

Empowering the next generation

The benefits your children are given by learning English at a young age are invaluable and as they go through life, the possibilities for advancement in their academic and business careers will be wide open. Children are fortunate to have intuitive language learning capabilities from a young age and this is certainly something to capitalize on.

Tim Marsh has been teaching English since 1985 and has taught over 3,500 students, with ages ranging from six to 65. He is therefore well placed to describe teaching English as a ¡°difficult and demanding¡± job, as well as to share the five lessons he¡¯s learned during his impressive time in his career¡­

1. Know your stuff

¡°The Spanish expect paid professionals to know everything about their expertise but there are few teachers of the English language who do know everything. We should prepare lessons adequately when teaching aspects we¡¯re not entirely confident about.

Many CELTA tutors say that if you are asked a question that you cannot answer confidently, you shouldn¡¯t panic but instead inform the student that you will check and give them the detailed answer at the following lesson. This may be useful when you first start out, but it shouldn¡¯t happen frequently, as your honesty will not always be appreciated!¡±

2. Expect the unexpected

¡°Teaching English is very rewarding and can be full of surprises. As a result, it¡¯s not a good idea to try to follow a rigid teaching plan. Write a plan that¡¯s flexible enough to allow for a good dose of spontaneity to enter into proceedings. I can honestly say that not one single day is the same as another.

If a Spaniard is not in the mood for working on a particular skill, as will happen from time to time, then be prepared to change that lesson at the drop of a hat. It¡¯s always a good idea to keep four or five ¡®favourite¡¯ lessons filed within easy reach for just such occasions ¨C preferably skills lessons that can be easily adapted to the theme that you are currently working on.

Whatever you had planned for this week can always be done next week. The customer is always right and, when living in Spain, big lunches, high temperatures, Barcelona against Real Madrid and the after-match party can bring about very unexpected lessons!¡±

3. Stick to what you¡¯re being paid to do

¡°The Spanish are extremely friendly people who love to talk and are happy to share ¨C sometimes in great detail ¨C the problems in their working and even private lives. In an effort to establish friendly relationships, they often create an intimacy: what is referred to in Spanish as ¡®confianza¡¯.

This is much the same kind of trust and confidence that we have with our doctors or lawyers, so, unless you¡¯re careful, you can find yourself doubling as teacher and therapist, which will alter the dynamic of the classroom.

A teacher of English teaches English. Stick to what you know, stick to what you¡¯re being paid to do and create a professional framework in which to do your best as a teacher and not as a therapist.¡±

4. Do not offer guarantees

¡°The busiest time of the year is often during the summer, when language schools begin to fill up as state-school exam results come in. Parents enroll their children on intensive or exam revision courses so that they can take their resits in September.

English courses are often expensive and parents will expect a guarantee that their child will pass the school English exam at the end of the summer. Never offer a guarantee! There are usually a number of reasons why the child has failed in the first place and it is better to lose a client than to make promises you can¡¯t keep.¡±

5. Have a good pair of shoes

¡°Many years ago, the famous soprano Rita Hunter was asked what she considered to be the most important requirement when singing opera. She answered, ¡°A good pair of shoes.¡± She went on to say that when she was appearing in a Wagner opera that started at 5.30 pm and didn¡¯t finish until 11 pm, the most important thing to look after was her feet.

I¡¯ve always tried to avoid institutions that insist on a uniform or on wearing a shirt and tie. Students often feel uncomfortable in a classroom where the teacher is formally dressed. I have always found the working environment much more relaxed when dressed in a similar way to my students. This and the fact that in Spain the temperature can hit the 30s in June and stay there into September mean that I dress casually, often in shorts. And I always wear a good pair of shoes.¡±

Regardless of where you¡¯re travelling, it¡®s definitely worth learning some basic English, and you won¡¯t be alone: (20% of the world). Of course, if you¡¯re visiting an English-speaking country like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, it¡¯s especially useful to brush up on your English.

Here are six simple things you need to know when travelling to English-speaking countries: