I recently discovered a GENIUS book that offers a new way to teach English. Penned by Lisa Lieberman Doctor (one of our editors here on Wandering Educators!), this book is both simple and complex. Why is it so genius?
Several years ago, while teaching creative writing for three months in a small village in Spain, I was made to feel welcome by a wonderful group of people who were native to the town. Every Saturday night, more than twenty men and women would arrive at the farmhouse my husband and I were renting, each of them carrying a tray of their favorite foods.
Teaching English to students in Mexico was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and though it may sound cliché, I truly feel as though I learned as much -- or more -- from my students and my experience as my students learned from me during my time teaching ESL. The expatriate lifestyle in Mexico was absolutely wonderful, and I was consistently impressed by how passionate my students were throughout each and every class session.
Get ready! Go Overseas and International TEFL Academy have teamed up to launch their first annual teach abroad contest. Applicants will teach us a word or phrase in another language for a chance to win one of several prizes.
The grand prize winner will receive a free on-site TEFL course through International TEFL Academy in their choice of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, San Diego, or Chicago, along with roundtrip airfare and housing for the duration of the course. One runner up will receive an online course, and an honorable mention will receive a Camelbak backpack.
After four years of undergraduate courses focused on finance, I felt very prepared to take the next logical step of attending grad school with an eye toward working on Wall Street. I did not, however, feel prepared to enter the “real world,” and this realization caused me to evaluate the choices I had made that left me feeling bereft of any real life experience. So I scrapped the grad school plans and opted to pursue an opportunity to teach English in Honduras.
Teaching, in any sense of the profession, is not all apples and chocolate. It’s hard work. It doesn’t matter what subject or age you teach, or which country you teach in, it’s inevitable that your job will have negatives to go along with the positives.
Panel Discussion Part Two: Teaching English as a Second Language
Are you thinking of teaching English abroad, but you’re still not quite sure about it? Our special two-part series on Teaching English Abroad answers some basic questions about teaching English as a Second Language.
Our ESL contributors have taught in various destinations around Asia. Read on for a few tips and tricks for first-time ESL teachers. Feel free to drop by any of the following sites for additional information about teaching abroad in Asia.