Posts Tagged ‘native english speaker’
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
TalktoCanada.com has primarily been focused on teaching adults, but is increasing its “kids” client base. One of our teachers — Lusi Brace — talks about her experience teaching kids online.
She says…”I believe that the online teaching is definitely a breakthrough in education. Working for TalktoCanada I have had the pleasure to teach different nationalities and different ages. In the last couple of months, I’ve started to teach children online. Although for some teachers, it can be challenging to maintain a child’s attention and concentration in a class environment, the online experience does not shy away from that same effort. I would say it requires more effort to keep the child concentrated in a virtual classroom where he or she has an easy access to internet. However as a TalktoCanada teacher I am trained and prepared with materials to keep my students interested in the lessons. I try to organize the lessons to meet each of my student’s needs. I believe that it is important to get as personal in understanding and helping the student whose needs might vary from learning the language, building vocabulary, or reinforcing their reading and comprehension. In a virtual classroom I have from 3 students to just one so it is easy for me to help them acquire the knowledge and skills that they need. When I teach children online I try to keep the lessons as entertaining and simple without forgetting the necessary and essential points of the lesson. More importantly it is easier to also keep in touch with the parents and communicate their child’s strengths, weaknesses and improvements. I welcome any concerns that the parents might have about their child and try to work with them to help the student become better and more prepared. Not many teachers can say that teaching children is effortless, but I can happily confirm that teaching children online is no longer an effort but a pleasure.”
To sign up your child today for lessons please click on this link: http://www.talktocanada.com/individual-training/user-fees/
Tags: concerns, having fun online, kids and computers, learning online, native english speaker, parents, teaching english, teaching kids online
Posted in English Improvement, Learning English Online, Teaching Online | No Comments »
Saturday, June 26th, 2010
Now that you’ve figured out why and what you are going to be studying the next step is figuring out a time for corporate language training. You need to ask yourself, “Is it realistic to ask my employees to use their lunch break to study English?” In most cases the answer will be no. You need to find a time when your employees are not too tired from day to day tasks (end of the day is not a good time) – and aren’t too sleepy (first thing in the morning – also not a good idea). The best time is about 1 or 2 hours into the working day, or just before lunch. Lessons should be no longer than 2hs long, and be held regularly over a period of at least 12 weeks.
Employees should understand that corporate language training is essential for their advancement in any company, and as such should be taken seriously with 100% participation. You need to figure out how your employees will respond the best – either by face to face training or the increasingly common e-learning that is offered by TalktoCanada.com.
There are benefits to both – face to face training creates an atmosphere where students may take it more seriously – and put a little more effort in – it’s harder to not show up to a real class than to a virtual class. E-learning however offers convenience, native speakers, and interactivity that a face to face setting wouldn’t be as easy to incorporate into the learning material.
E-learning also focuses a lot on pronunciation and fluency – which is extremely beneficial in all aspects of business. Meeting simulation, role plays, debates, opinions, conversations…are all things that are present in an e-learning course EVERY SINGLE LESSON. It’s impossible NOT to talk in a lesson – and actually having it virtually breaks down some of those barriers, and students feel more confident when participating.
Regardless of what training you decide on, it needs to satisfy all of your needs and accomplish your goals within a reasonable amount of time. Corporate training that offers magical solutions in a short amount of time are probably too good to be true. It takes time and energy – and as the saying goes “the more you give the more you get back in return.”
Read some blogs about the benefits of E-Learning with TalktoCanada.com:
http://www.talktocanada.com/category/learning-english-online/page/5/
http://www.talktocanada.com/2010/03/moving-to-an-internet-enabled-english-training-program/
http://www.talktocanada.com/2009/11/how-talktocanada-com-makes-online-english-learning-personal/
Tags: corporate language training, curriculum, dogme, methods, native english speaker, sleepy, timing, webex
Posted in English Improvement, English for Business, Learning English Online | No Comments »
Monday, May 31st, 2010
Laurie Bilokraly
My name is Laurie Bilokraly and I live in Kingsville, Ontario. Kingsville is the Southern most town in Canada and is situated on Lake Erie. I have my degree in Communication Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. I have been married for 1 year and my husband and I are avid mountain bikes.The last book I read was Crowe Lake by Mary Lawson. I would describe myself as fun, outgoing and spontaneous.
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, an hour, a day or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever” — Lance Armstrong
Tags: Canada, lake erie, native english speaker, ontario, teacher, Teaching Online, WLU
Posted in Learning English Online, Teaching Online | No Comments »
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Aaron Petrie
TalktoCanada.com Teacher since 2010
I’m D. Aaron Petrie, an English Teacher in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Canada’s East Coast. I have a BA in history from The University Of Kings’ College (Halifax) and have recently returned from several years teaching English and studying Chinese in southern Taiwan. Three things I often seem to get called are enthusiastic, restless and nocturnal. I heartily enjoy my work with Talktocanada.com because it lets me meet students from around the world and enjoy genuine, thoughtful exchanges with them. It also keeps me on my toes, as my motto in teaching is “show, don’t tell”. I tend to get a workout from miming and gesturing my way through lessons, whether in a classroom or in front of a camera. In my spare time I study French and Chinese, and volunteer with a community radio station. Lately I’ve spent a lot of time listening to Ruth Minnikin & Her Bandwagon’s CD “Depend on This”, often while re-reading favourite passages from Lisa Moore’s novel “February”. My plans for the next year or so involve getting a few more stamps in my passport, why not drop me a line if you have a suggestion for where.
Tags: Canada, esl, ESL teacher, halifax, history, native english speaker, Nova Scotia, teacher, Teaching Online
Posted in Learning English Online, Teaching Online | No Comments »
Monday, January 25th, 2010
Tell me a little bit about yourself:
My name is Tenielle and I’m a teacher with Talk to Canada. I currently reside in New Brunswick, Canada. I have both a BA and an MA in Sociology.
Fun facts about me; I enjoy a good debate, testing new technology, photography, learning new languages and collecting vintage books. I am a huge Star Trek fan, of all genres. I also enjoy conducting research projects on many different topics, such as global economics, multicultural education initiatives, and criminal justice to name a few.
What was the last book that you read?
The last book I read was The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.
Describe yourself in 3 words:
Creative, adventurous and passionate.
Why do you like Teaching Online?
I like the flexibility of teaching with TTC and working in the online, adult education arena. It is a fun and uniquely cultural opportunity to meet, work alongside a great team and teach students from all over the world. This is truly a global experience, and all through the convenience of the computer.
Motto that you live by:
Everyday is an opportunity to achieve something, even if it’s just to hope for tomorrow.
Tags: Canadian teacher, creativity, english experience, esl, foreign language, global english, native english speaker, skype, TalktoCanada.com, Teaching Online, WOW teacher
Posted in Teaching Online | No Comments »
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
Below you will find the top 3 tips on how to improve your spoken English skills.
- Speak daily or at least a few times a week with a native English speaker. If you speak with an English as a second language speaker, you can definitely improve but you will find that over time, you will just start repeating the same mistakes as the other person.
- Purchase a software application such as Rosetta Stone which will help you practice your speaking and intonation at your own pace.
- If you want to learn business English for example, listen to online programs dealing with this subject matter such as the business news network, age of persuasion by the CBC (for intermediate/advanced students) or allbusiness.com. Note – If you can’t access the links above, it may be due to country restrictions on content.
Wishing you all the success in your spoken English studies!
Tags: business english, business news, english as a second language, improve your spoken English, language speaker, native english speaker, software application
Posted in English Improvement | No Comments »
Monday, January 11th, 2010
Tell me a little bit about yourself:
My name is Kim but I usually go by Kiki and I live in Victoria, BC. I have an English degree and also a Library degree, but I haven’t worked in libraries for quite a few years. I really prefer teaching. I enjoy knitting, music and reading, but I don’t get a lot of time for the last one!
What was the last book that you read?
The last book I read, hmm… actually it was a book on Buddhism called A Path with Heart, by Jack Kornfield. I’m really interested in Buddhism and Tibetan culture in general.
Describe yourself in 3 words:
talkative, curious, multitasker…
Why do you like teaching English online?
I love meeting people from other cultures and learning about them, and I also love English, so the two fit together well. I really enjoy teaching online in particular because it’s flexible, I can work from home and I’m an Internet addict (so this way I can Google stuff while I teach)!
Motto that you live by:
Act with intention.
Tags: english experience, esl, face time, foreign language, global english, individual training, innovative teaching methods, Learn English Online with WebEx, method of teaching, native english speaker, proper pronunciation
Posted in Teaching Online | No Comments »
Monday, January 11th, 2010
Working online does have its obvious advantages — setting my own schedule, not having to commute, meeting people from all over the world etc… but it does have some disadvantages in that sometimes you feel stuck in a virtual world and wonder if you are just a video and a voice behind a screen helping students learn English online.
I’ve always tried to add a “human” element to my teaching – by making things real, personalized and cater to each of my student’s individual needs, and I think it has proven useful. My long time students feel more like friends than like clients – we are able to share ideas and feelings freely learn about each other and all the while learning English. Recently, I received a mysterious package in the mail, upon opening it I was overwhelmed with surprise – it was a package from one of my students with a few food items which we had discussed in class one day. Of course presents from “real life” students are common – you almost expect them at all of the major holidays or at the end of a course – but in the “virtual world” the etiquette is obviously different and more confused.
I like how both worlds tend to mesh together, whether on purpose or not. The “human element” is always there no matter how virtual things are. We need that “human element” to feel connected, and TalktoCanada.com is able to offer that to its students, by making the lessons about them rather than about a set curriculum. This does not only apply to individual students – but also corporate clients, and it shows through their improvements as well as in their continuing study with TalktoCanada.com.
I like my “virtual world” and I like how I have made it into a comfortable environment where anybody can join, no matter where they are or what they are studying, the “door” is always open.
Tags: creativity, demonstrations, english experience, esl, foreign language, global english, individual training, innovative teaching methods, interactive feedback, language speaker, language teacher, languages, Learn English Online with WebEx, method of teaching, native english speaker
Posted in Learning English Online, Teaching Online | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Tell me a little bit about yourself:
My name is Samantha, and I currently live in North Bay, Ontario where I moved five years ago to go to school at Nipissing University. I graduated in May of last year with a BA in English Studies and a minor in Fine Arts, and I graduated in May of this year with a BA in Education. I really enjoy working with language, and have been slowly teaching myself to speak French the last few months for fun. Some of my favourite things to do include painting, hiking, listening to music, and having potlucks with friends =)
What was the last book that you read?
Ender in Exile.
Describe yourself in 3 words:
compassionate, curious, opinionated
Why do you like Teaching with TalktoCanada Online?
Because I enjoy working with people from another culture, I love teaching, and I really like the fact that the job is portable. I can visit with family and friends in other cities without having to take time off work =)
Motto that you live by:
Take the leap. Don’t let fear shackle your potential.
Tags: efl, english experience, esl, foreign language, individual training, innovative teaching methods, language speaker, language teacher, language training, Learn English Online with WebEx, method of teaching, native english speaker, native language, native speaker, native speakers, new language, online computer, online english learning, Teaching English Online with WebEx, Teaching Online
Posted in Teaching Online | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Learning English is not a simple task, and learning it from someone who YES may be a native English speaker — but has a difficult accent to understand — is sometimes really hard to get used to.
In my 8 years of ESL teaching — my students have always commented on how easy and clear it is to understand my “accent”. Yes, it is quite different from British, Australian, South African and even American accents. Some describe it as neutral and easy to understand and learn. Not only that but mainstream English culture uses this neutral accent.
This makes it easier for the student to learn and understand English. For beginners especially, it is important for them to learn with a neutral accent – have you ever met a non native English speaker who’s English accent was British, or Australian? It’s quite amusing as an ESL teacher to hear — a Mexican who had never been to England — speaking English with a British accent.
Now I do realize that there are some misconceptions about the way Canadians speak — no we do not say “eh” after every sentence, nor do we say “aboot” or any other weird or unusual word. Granted we do have some differences in spelling and in some words (pop not soda, washroom not bathroom) but nothing that would put you at a disadvantage, if anything – an advantage.
So take advantage of learning English with a Native Canadian English Speaker — you’ll notice the difference — not only in the ease of learning and picking up on the new accent — but also in the mannerism in which we speak.
Tags: creativity, english experience, esl, foreign language, individual training, language speaker, language teacher, language training, languages, method of teaching, native english speaker, native language, native speaker
Posted in Learning English Online, Teaching Online | No Comments »
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