7 useful resources for a beginner teacher to be inspired

7 USEFUL RESOURCES FOR A BEGINNER TEACHER TO BE INSPIRED

by Yelyzaveta Proshchenkova

When I was 16 years old I decided to begin my teaching career. At the beginning, it was very hard to understand how to arrange exciting classes and make the teaching materials easy to understand.

However, I started to watch a lot of videos of qualified and experienced educators. I also observed my lessons at school, as well as at university. I noticed some common methods and gained much knowledge.

I never stop developing my skills. I watch webinars, read various articles and so on. Currently, I am enrolled in a TESOL/TEFL course. It helps me to develop not only my teaching competence, but also to make my knowledge of English better.

There are numerous sources which I use to create my lessons. Some of them are:

• LearnEnglish Teens: it can help you improve your English language skills through reading, writing, and listening exercises, exam tips, grammar and vocabulary exercises, games, and videos. You can also interact with other teenagers worldwide through the comments section.
• iSL Collective: a community of language teachers from around the world sharing their self-made worksheets on this free platform! This is intended for all language teachers working in schools or conducting individual lessons. You can download all teaching materials for English language instruction absolutely free. The website offers materials for students of all levels and from various fields (business, school, materials for individuals with special educational needs).
• Test-English: grammar lessons with exercises and clear explanations, grammatical tables, reading and listening tests with transcriptions, writing lessons, instant feedback, programmed responses to student answers. This website allows the development of almost all language aspects: grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, language use.
• Quizlet: a service that simplifies the memorization of any information through the use of flashcards. You can either find ready-made flashcards in the database or create your own. The formats available cater to both individual work and interaction with the class. The free version has limited functionality, but in the paid plans, you can add audio and images to the flashcards, creating more interactive materials.

As development is an integral part of every modern teacher’s life, it’s crucial to be aware of the latest educational trends and techniques. Here you can find a few useful links for your professional growth:

• World TESOL Academy: Become an online teacher — Learn how to teach English overseas & online. Study online at your own pace.
• Teaching English: a global program for English teachers and teacher educators, drawing on UK and local expertise, and the unique insight and experience of the British Council. Build your professional network, share ideas and knowhow, and stay up to date with the latest research and innovations in teaching. You’ll find lesson plans, events and learning resources to support your practice, as well as new opportunities to help your career grow – whether you’re taking your first steps as an English language teacher, or your next steps as a teacher educator.
• YouTube: a free video sharing website that makes it easy to watch online videos. You can even create and upload your own videos to share with others.

I wish everyone, whether you are a student, a beginner or a proficient teacher, to be the best version of them and to make your students love their subjects.