“Not black & white.” Grey. Yes, very grey. This is a good way to describe the terms & conditions of an ESL contract abroad, where written items that should be clear, rarely are. Even worse, legal jargon that – even when written in perfect English —can appear as foreign as the culture you might be emigrating to. Overseas ESL ...
Small town or big city? Many of my friends and family members who have taught abroad have longed for the bright lights of the world’s largest metropolises such as Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo, Mexico City, and Madrid. Based on my own experiences teaching abroad, however, I recommend relocating to a small city or town. Here's why. (more…)
- Roger Olanson
- August 11, 2015
- Asia, Bachelor's Degree, Eastern Europe, High School Diploma/College, Latin America, Master's Degree/PhD, Middle East, Saving Money, Teaching ESL, Travel, Western Europe
If you are considering teaching English overseas, do your research. Where should you go? Is it right for you? There are trends in ESL markets worldwide, which can help in determining if this is, in fact, the type of career path that you want to take. We've compiled a list of the top 10 countries that have a strong ...
Teaching abroad for the first time can be a daunting experience. The thought of standing at the head of the class in front of 10, 15, or 30 sets of eyes all trained on you, waiting for you to begin and watching your every move, can cause nerve-wracking fits in the weeks and days before you teach your own ...
It's easy to use regional dialects or commonly misused language mistakes when speaking everyday English. However, when teaching a second language to new students, it's important that you're giving them the proper foundation from which to build their habits. This includes your own speaking and writing habits in the classroom. The following are 20 common English grammar mistakes you ...
At the end of any Oxford Seminars Certification Course, there is a certain measure of excitement as students are being handed their certificates of completion. Applause rings out, camera phones are flashing and hugs and contact information are being exchanged. The air is full of celebration as students feel a mixture of accomplishment and relief. In the midst of ...
It was Saturday, the first day of the school/work week in Oman. Younis, one of my students, came in looking noticeably tan. Of course, Oman is the land of 363-days-of-sunshine-per-year and many Omanis have tan faces, but Younis was usually quite pale. On this Saturday morning, he looked as though he had spent a solid week at the beach. ...
So, you’ve decided that you’re ready to take off on a journey to go teach English as a second language overseas? Not everyone has the courage to step out of their comfort zone and commit to living and working in a new and likely unfamiliar country. Deciding to make this move is the first of several major decisions you ...
I was standing on the tarmac, waiting to board the plane that would take me further from home than I’d ever been, wondering what in the world I was doing. I was terrified. I was moving to the other side of the world to a place where I didn’t know a single person, couldn’t speak the language, and had ...
Are you on the fence about teaching English abroad? It can be intimidating and exciting all at once, maybe even a little overwhelming. And that's understandable because it's a pretty big decision to make. But, as our graduates explain, it's worth it! One of the Best Decisions I Ever Made Teaching has been something I’ve wanted to do since ...