Skip to main content
Training teachers since 1997
UK: +44 (0) 7869 257 124 Student login
Home › Blog

TEFL & TESOL blog

Guides, stories and advice for teaching English online or overseas - from getting qualified to landing your first job.

Preparing for IELTS? Try our free IELTS Hub

Estimate your IELTS band and take a free, auto-scored practice test - no sign-up needed.

Explore the IELTS Hub →
IELTS Reading: How to Beat True/False/Not Given

IELTS Reading: How to Beat True/False/Not Given

22/07/2026

Quick answer: To beat True/False/Not Given, decide each statement against what the passage actually...

How IELTS Speaking Is Scored: The Four Criteria Explained

How IELTS Speaking Is Scored: The Four Criteria Explained

22/07/2026

Quick answer: IELTS Speaking is scored on four criteria, each marked from 0 to 9 and weighted...

Zoom, Meet, Teams or WhatsApp for Online English Teaching?

Zoom, Meet, Teams or WhatsApp for Online English Teaching?

25/02/2021

Quick answer: For most online English teachers in 2026, Zoom is still the safest default –...

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Common Topics and Model Answers

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Common Topics and Model Answers

22/07/2026

Quick answer: IELTS Speaking Part 1 is a short, friendly interview of about 4–5 minutes where the...

IELTS Listening Question Types Explained

IELTS Listening Question Types Explained

22/07/2026

Quick answer: IELTS Listening has four sections and 40 questions, and it reuses a fixed set of...

I'm Indian and Teach English in China

I'm Indian and Teach English in China

10/04/2018

Quick answer: Yes, Indian nationals and other non-native English speakers can teach English in...

IELTS Speaking Part 2: How to Answer the Cue Card

IELTS Speaking Part 2: How to Answer the Cue Card

22/07/2026

Quick answer: In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you are given a cue card (task card) with a topic and three...

Making the most of written correction

Making the most of written correction

16/05/2019

Quick answer: The best written correction identifies the type of mistake and lets students fix it...

What IELTS Score Do You Need for University?

What IELTS Score Do You Need for University?

22/07/2026

Quick answer: Most universities that teach in English ask for an IELTS Academic result somewhere in...

10 TEFL Warmers That Work in Any Class (No-Prep)

10 TEFL Warmers That Work in Any Class (No-Prep)

01/10/2014

Quick answer: A warmer is a short 5–10 minute activity that gets students thinking in English...

How to Go From Band 6 to Band 7 in IELTS Writing

How to Go From Band 6 to Band 7 in IELTS Writing

22/07/2026

Quick answer: The jump from band 6 to band 7 in IELTS Writing is mostly about consistency and...

3 ways to ace your English teaching profile page on italki

3 ways to ace your English teaching profile page on italki

20/04/2021

Quick answer: Stand out on italki, Preply or Verbling by doing three things: be niche (specialise...

Where Can I Teach English Without a Degree? 2026 Country List

Where Can I Teach English Without a Degree? 2026 Country List

05/06/2017

Quick answer: You can teach English without a degree in much of Europe (Spain, Italy, Poland,...

IELTS Listening: How to Avoid Losing Easy Marks

IELTS Listening: How to Avoid Losing Easy Marks

22/07/2026

Quick answer: Most lost Listening marks are not about understanding the audio - they are careless...

How the IELTS Band Scale Works (0–9, and Half Bands)

How the IELTS Band Scale Works (0–9, and Half Bands)

22/07/2026

Quick answer: The IELTS band scale runs from 0 to 9, where each whole band describes a level of...

IELTS Reading and Listening: Question Types and Strategies

IELTS Reading and Listening: Question Types and Strategies

22/07/2026

Quick answer: IELTS Reading and Listening are the two skills you can improve fastest, because they...

TEFL vs TESOL: What's the Difference? (And Which You Need)

TEFL vs TESOL: What's the Difference? (And Which You Need)

25/04/2025

Quick answer: TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to...

Hong Kong NET Scheme Interview: Questions, Demo Lesson & Tips

Hong Kong NET Scheme Interview: Questions, Demo Lesson & Tips

17/04/2024

Quick answer: A Hong Kong NET Scheme interview usually combines a panel interview with a short...

What IELTS Score Do You Need for a UK, Australia or Canada Work Visa?

What IELTS Score Do You Need for a UK, Australia or Canada Work Visa?

22/07/2026

Quick answer: There is no single IELTS score for a work visa - the requirement depends on the...

TEFL for Beginners: How to Start Teaching English Step by Step

TEFL for Beginners: How to Start Teaching English Step by Step

28/04/2025

Quick answer: To start teaching English with no experience, take an accredited TEFL course of at...

TEFL CV: Template, Examples and What Employers Want (2026)

TEFL CV: Template, Examples and What Employers Want (2026)

01/09/2017

Quick answer: A strong TEFL CV puts your teaching qualification and any teaching experience near...

Teaching English in France: Visas, Freelancing & Finding Work

Teaching English in France: Visas, Freelancing & Finding Work

01/10/2014

Quick answer: France has steady demand for English teachers in language schools, companies and...

Tips for TEFL Discussion Classes That Get Students Talking

Tips for TEFL Discussion Classes That Get Students Talking

01/10/2014

Quick answer: TEFL discussion classes work when you break the lesson into manageable chunks:...

Companies That Hire Online English Teachers Without a Degree

Companies That Hire Online English Teachers Without a Degree

25/08/2026

Plenty of online platforms hire English teachers without a degree in 2026. They fall into three...