Ideas For Teachers

Here are a few tips on the regulations and requirements to teach English in Thailand. To find out more information on obtaining a visa to teach English in Thailand, please visit the Thaivisa web site.

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Here are some tips on teaching English in Thailand, ranging from how to find an apartment to what city you should work in.

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This is a quick video of a standard classroom in a private school in Thailand as well as an explanation of the differences with public and private schools.

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5. Pissed Off Teacher
This guy really blows his stack. Though in fairness, whistling can be annoying.

4. Angry teacher in Seoul
You have surely dreamed about doing this if you’ve taught in South Korea.

3. National anthem freak-out
This teacher may be a little too patriotic.

2. Mr. Jenkins gone mad
Mr. Jenkins doesn’t like when students talk back to him.

1. Angry teacher breaks mobile phone
You have to give this guy credit - he doesn’t miss a beat after smashing his students’ phone. Now that’s teaching!

There are so many options to consider when choosing a country to teach abroad, but not many people give much thought to what they will be doing in their free time and or what activities they will get involved with while they are there.

Whether you are into sports, sightseeing or even scuba diving, Japan has got you covered…

When most people mention Japanese culture many think of a very serious and respectful society while to others it invokes thoughts of women clad in kimonos and strange looking masks. Now while things like these still can be seen in Japan, today’s modern Japanese culture does know how to kick back and have a lot of fun too.

Read more at the site: Japanese Culture

This advice is for males and females alike, however, females will naturally end up with more in their pack.

Here is a quick list of what to bring:

1) Deodorant: a lot of countries tend not to use this as much as we do in western society and it is therefore sometimes scarce and usually very expensive
2) Shaving cream and razors: if you are going anywhere in Asia, you will have a hard time coming across these items, as Asians are generally not very hairy people
3) Your own towel: towels are generally smaller in Asia for example
4) Your own pillow: for those who are picky about having their own pillow that is. Don’t pack it in your bag, but bring it as carry on – it will be handy when you are on the plane trying to sleep
5) Work clothes: for men: A few pairs of casual/dressy pants and a couple of shirts that you can rotate. For women: skirts, dress pants, and blouses.
6) Clothes for each season: depending on where you go, you might need to pack some warm clothes for the winter, including a jacket, gloves and a tuk (a winter hat for all non- Canadians)
7) Medication: if you need medication, ask your doctor for a year’s supply or make sure that the country you are going to has what you need
8) A little taste of home: be it Kraft Dinner or your favorite cereal, comfort food from home will make you feel a little less homesick
9) A gift for your new boss: goes a long way – great first impressions are always a good way to start a new job

*Remember that if you do forget something, it can most likely be found wherever you are and if not, mailed to you. Also remember that bringing too much stuff is not always a bad thing, as it is usually cheaper (and faster), to send home rather than to send them to wherever you are.

Here is an example of what Korean Air will allow you to bring on the plane:

• Dimensions of 55*40*20 (cm)
• Total dimension 115cm or less.
• Economy Class Total of two pieces per Pax.
• Each piece must be under 23kg(50lbs)

(The sum of the dimensions of the two bags should not exceed 273cm)

Ah, soju, how I love thee, but where to begin? I’ll write about what I know, because what I remember isn’t much. Soju is described by its aficionados (and their number is ample) as “Korean Wine.” It is sometimes fruit flavoured and pleasantly decieving, but is most often clear and thus strong smelling. Bottles of soju can be purchased in a variety of sizes but is most commonly found in 500 mL format. What’s more, to illustrate how some cultures are far more advanced than us, soju can even be purchased in handy, lunchbox-sized … wait for it … tetra packs! Recess never tasted so good.

Did I mention that it packs a 21% punch? And the fact that it’s mainly consumed in shooter format? To boot, it is in fact rude to refuse a shot of soju if offered by your host; especially if the latter is female, older, a co-worker or, well, Korean. I hope everyone’s getting the picture. Nightly, businessmen can be seen stumbling along Korean streets, hand in hand with their officemates, dragging their sorry briefcases and slurring asses behind them. An interesting, but pitiful sight. Stories abound of fights, vomitting and persons passed out in the middle of the street, helpless, holding up traffic for all to bear.

That’s the darker side of the stuff, but in moderation (or a tad more…), fun times are promised. Luckily for me, I prefer beer to wash it all down, so I’ll do just fine. Let me end the soju stories at that, but I can somehow foretell they’ll rear up their ugly head sometime in the very near future.

S*

Notice the helmets and who’s wearing them…

For someone who has experience skipping from one country to another, traveling anywhere comes easy to them; they are aware of all of the little problems that could arise and are therefore prepared for them if they do. For people who are traveling for the first time or for those who only get away once or twice a year, these little ‘glitches’ can play a part in delaying or even cancelling a trip.

To make sure that nothing gets in the way of your trip, there are some very simple yet important things to look into, which could result in saving you a lot of hassle. Read more in the article Doing away with hassles while traveling abroad

The most important factor in managing a class is good lesson planning. If the pace and the activities in your lesson are level and age appropriate, the students will be stimulated and will enjoy your class. A well planned class will leave no time for disruptive behavior; a poorly planned class on the other hand will create an opportunity for students to talk and take focus away from your class.

Here are a few things to remember if you are looking to manage your classroom more successfully:

• Be prepared: Students respect teachers who have put time and effort into their lessons
• Learn the names of your students: This will let the students know that they are a part of the class, making no one feel left out.
• Maintain the interest of all students: Make sure that each student is somehow involved with the lesson so that no students feel bored or are given the opportunity to talk with their friends
• Never leave the class unattended: This will only result in losing the childrens’ attention which will take valuable classroom time to get back; come to class prepared so that you don’t have to leave even once during the lesson
• Vary teaching approaches and activities: Always keep your lessons new and fresh; this will keep the students’ interest and result in better comprehension of the lesson
• Let your students know the consequences of bad behavior: Make sure you follow through with the punishment that you have set out for misbehavior if you have a student who breaks the rules; if you don’t follow through, the students will take advantage of the rules as they will know they won’t get in trouble for their actions
• Always face the classroom: It is important that the students know you are aware of everything going on in the class. Kids will be kids, and sometimes their attention span is minimal at best, so make sure they know you are paying attention to their behavior
• Have seating plans and change if necessary: Most kids will want to sit with their friends, so let them, but warn them that they will be moved if they are disruptive. If you are having problems, change the seating arrangement – they will not be happy, but will most likely improve their behavior if they are allowed another chance to sit beside their friends again
• Use positive reinforcement: Always reward correct answers and good behavior as it will increase the likelihood for further participation from your students
• Always smile! This might sound simple, but a smile goes a long way in the classroom as it does in life

I recently came across what I thought was an incredible idea and service: Couch Surfing. This is a non profit site that allows people from around the world to stay on people’s couches (or beds) for free.
Read their mission statement below to see what they are all about:

“CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding.”
As a community we strive to do our individual and collective parts to make the world a better place, and we believe that the surfing of couches is a means to accomplish this goal. CouchSurfing isn’t about the furniture- it’s not just about finding free accommodations around the world- it’s about participating in creating a better world. We strive to make a better world by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. We open our minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. We create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents and cultures. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!

…and the link between teaching ESL and couch surfing?

•If you are new to a country and want to do some exploring in your free time, on weekends for example. It’s a great way to meet people and make connections
•Thinking about changing jobs? You might want to spend a weekend in the city that you are thinking about moving to before you make any commitments to a position there
•Thinking about working in a different country? It might not be a bad idea to scope out a few new areas just to make sure you want to be there. Places in Southeast Asia and Central America are easy to go from country to country, so if you have time, why not check out a few areas to see where you like best
•Giving back: You can do this wherever you are…as long as you have a couch!

Phone interviews are not usually the norm for jobs in western society, so when it comes time for an interview with a potential new employer who is calling from half way across the world, many people are clueless as to what to expect. Here are some tips that will help you get through what should be the easiest part of landing a teaching job abroad:

1)Make sure you are ready for the interview. You will most likely be in a different time zone from where your new employer is calling, so make sure that you have your interview time in synch. I hear a lot of complaints from teachers who leave their number on their resume and have directors call in the middle of the night, either because they don’t consider the time difference, or because that is the only time they have to call you.

2)Don’t ask about money. As mentioned, the interview should be the easiest part of getting a job abroad as the school has already gone through your credentials and seen your picture; once you get to the interview stage, it pretty much means that you are the person they want. The biggest mistake that people make is asking about how much money they will be earning or other benefits that they will receive. Schools want to hear that you are interested in teaching, so leave the money questions until the end of the conversation.

3)Ask about the job. Again, schools want to know that you will be a good teacher, so ask plenty of questions related to the students, the curriculum, the class sizes – anything related to teaching and you should be fine.

4)Make yourself understood. Directors of schools can sometimes have poor English skills (this is not necessarily a bad thing, as they are running the business side to things at the school, and will usually have a head teacher who can speak fluently). For some people, this is the first real conversation with someone who has poor English skills, so remember to slow down, be clear and make yourself understood.

5)Be personable. This is probably the most important thing that you can do in your interview. Schools are looking for someone who will be good with their students and someone who is easy to get along with, so make them know that you are that person. If you are too quiet or too pushy, you will give them the wrong impression; so be polite and personable and you will do just fine!

Each week, The Toronto Star interviews Canadian expats to see what it’s like living abroad. This weekly feature provides great insight to life abroad that you might not find in the ESL forums which are strewn with complaints, rants, more complaints and reasons not to get off your couch and experience something different. The article, ‘Canadians Abroad - Koreans Friendly -and Blunt’, gives you more of the positive and less of the negative, which is very refreshing to find.

Q: Do you feel like an outsider, and how do you cope?

A: I feel more like a minor celebrity … Korea is a very homogenous culture so everywhere I go, kids gawk, shout and wave from school buses. Adults, too, are usually eager to strike up a conversation and hone their English skills. It’s very flattering. And refreshing.

Q: What have you learned living abroad?

A: I cannot even recall a time or place when I’ve been the recipient of so many random acts of kindness … I hope – if nothing else – it’s the one thing that I bring back to Canada … I hope it’s contagious

. Read more..

Here is a great little lesson to get you started with teaching spelling. It is always good to begin with the basics, even if your students feel like they have already mastered these lessons.