Many prospective teachers ask whether they need to know the language spoken in the country they hope to teach in. "Do I have to speak fluent Korean to teach in South Korea, or fluent Japanese to teach in Japan?" The short answer is no, you do not have to speak the language, but the more of the language you do know, the easier ...
Teaching English abroad is not only a great way to travel and see the world, but a great way to gain valuable experience that can open countless career doors both at home and overseas. Read on to see how teaching ESL improved my job prospects in America, and for tips on how to network and find jobs teaching ESL ...
An Unexpected Opportunity to Teach English in Laos After our harrowing escape from the jungle tree house during the Gibbon Experience zipline adventure, we returned to Huay Xai for one more night before heading for Thailand. On the zipline trip, we shared our treehouses with two French travelers who had stayed in Huay Xai for a few nights earlier. ...
When you’re first beginning in this wonderful world of ESL teaching, it can be daunting to know what is best for you. Do you know what country you want to teach in? Do you have all the requirements they ask for? Urban or rural? What grades and levels should you teach? What should you bring with you to your new home? ...
Discover why Taiwan is known as Ilha Formosa meaning ‘beautiful island’. From the hustle and bustle of Taipei to the beaches and tropical mountainous regions, Taiwan is a small country worth exploring. The cultural and religious hybrid of the island makes this a unique destination. Taiwan's economy consists of both smaller businesses and international manufacturing companies, making it a stable economic environment ...
Thailand, the “Land of Smiles,” is a great destination for ESL teachers who want to teach abroad and experience a country that’s rich in history, famous for its culinary arts, and replete with vacation destinations. Most ESL teaching positions here are in Bangkok, a beautiful and busy metropolis famous for its floating markets, spectacular sights, and delicious food. On ...
“In Spain I’d visited Tarragona with its Roman amphitheater and Merida, with its preserved theater…Of course, Barcelona had much to offer with its location near mountains and on the sea. Sitges, a gorgeous beach town, was half an hour away, and I hiked many of the mountains in the Pyrenees…I will always be grateful for the opportunities I had ...
It was mid-August in Southern California and our daughters were still very young. Lara just finished kindergarten and Lisa was ready for third grade. Both went to school a few blocks from our home and would be starting classes in a couple of weeks. Late one night, I got a phone call from the business manager of a school ...
Congratulations! You, like so many of us, have made the life-changing decision to work and travel overseas (or are at least heading down that path!). How do you get started? Although you can find jobs overseas without teacher training, your chances of finding meaningful, secure work are much better with certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). ...
Improvisation! Whether you are traveling in your new country or teaching a class, things don't always go according to plan, so it is important to be able to think on the fly and improvise. Improvisation is the most important skill for any ESL teacher to have. Sometimes, your quick thinking is rewarded with an even better outcome than you ...