Conditionals are one of the grammar areas that consistently cause problems for both learners and new teachers. Students often learn the labels, zero , first , second , third , but still struggle to use them accurately. Teachers, especially early in their training, can fall into the same trap: prioritising terminology (form) over meaning and use. A more effective approach is to focus first on what conditionals do : they describe relationships between situations, possibilities,

English language students might first encounter the passive voice when they're still at a low level, but understanding why it is used and how it works can be challenging. For teachers, the passive often raises another question: how can it be taught clearly and communicatively without overwhelming learners with grammar rules? This article explains what the passive voice is, how it differs from the active voice, how it is formed, and what difficulties learners commonly experien

Whether you're preparing for a CELTA , currently in the middle of one, or teaching your first few classes after qualifying, one of the main things you'll want to know how to do is clarify meaning, form and pronunciation. On CELTA, this can feel high stakes. You plan carefully. You rehearse your boardwork. Then, in the lesson, you realise that your students haven't understood something and you are suddenly unsure whether you have really clarified anything at all. This guide wa

1. What Are Concept-Checking Questions? Concept-checking questions (CCQs) are short, targeted questions teachers use to check whether...

What Is the Present Perfect? The present perfect is one of those grammar points that can confuse both students and teachers. Is it...

As a new English teacher, one of the most valuable skills you need to develop is the ability to ask the right questions. Eliciting, the...

Part of learning anything is to practise it. When I was a teenager and I learned to drive in Ireland in the 1990s, my father took me to...

One of the most important skills to learn as a new teacher is the skill of checking students' understanding. We might think we're...

Most grammar or vocabulary lessons on an English teaching course, be it an online CELTA course or a classroom CELTA, will start with some...

As you progress through a CELTA course, you will start to get comfortable with all the things you need to do when you're teaching new...

Some people are lucky enough to have a degree in languages or linguistics before their CELTA course, and so they may feel comfortable...