Many people who are planning to move abroad to teach English debate whether or not they should take a TEFL course. Besides the fact that the majority of EFL employers around the world already require their teachers to possess a TEFL certification, there are many other reasons why a TEFL course is a great investment.
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What suits you? Taiwan or China? Read about the differences between both countries. While both countries have similarities, they can vary in lifestyles.
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Teachers ask about tutoring versus classroom teaching in Asia. Here’s some extra information that might be helpful in making the most of your time abroad.
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Taiwan Firsts – What To Expect When You Visit Taiwan for the First Time As my parents are getting ready to return to the U.S. from their trip to Taiwan, they reminded me what it’s like to not only visit Taiwan, but also Asia, for the first time. After being exposed to Asian culture for a majority of my life, it’s easy to forget that parts of it vary greatly from what people may be accustomed to in Western culture. Moving from a Western country to an Asian one can bring with it real culture shock. Here a few regularities that those of us living in Asia may have already gotten used to. What’s That Smell? As my parents and I were walking through some of the night markets in Taiwan they kept commenting on the awful smell in the air. For those of us living in Taiwan we know exactly what that smell is – Stinky Tofu. It took me a second to realize what they were talking about because I hardly notice the smell anymore; however, they’re right, it smells. I mean, there’s a reason it’s called Stinky Tofu. Trust me though, it delicious when fried with cabbage […]
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Typically we all have our pre-determined ideas of what teaching abroad will be like but here are 7 surprising things you didn’t know about teaching abroad.
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Ah! The joys of free time! A year ago, I was a busy beaver. There was so much to do back then; documents after documents needed to be filled, apostilled, signed- a long list of tasks needed to get done.
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Making your schedule work for you while living abroad is crucial to life abroad. It’s important to manage your time to take advantage of all possibilities Although a year sounds like a long time, it flies by before you can even realize it. Being in a new country and missing out on everything it has to offer is a mistake some travelers come to regret in the future. Making a plan for what to do in your spare time can prevent future feelings of regret or feelings of missing out on potential self-improvement and adventuring. Although teaching abroad will occupy a chunk of your time: making lesson plans, preparing projects and activities, writing progress reports for students; that doesn’t go to say you will not have free time to travel and continue to improve yourself. Potential Schedules Most people who come to teach in Asia have a few options with their work schedules. One option is to work afternoons and evenings in “training schools” or “cram schools.” These schools often cater to students ranging from elementary school all the way to adults. Work hours at such schools after start around 1pm and last until about 6 or 7pm. Usually these […]
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Going home is hard after you’ve been abroad. Here are 10 things to know about going home after living abroad. Reverse culture shock can be a harsh reality. It’s going to be hard to relate to people at first All of your friends, old and new, back home have been having a completely different set of experience than you for the last year or more. Sure, they’ll want to hear about your time abroad, but after all the cool stories run out, and conversation shifts to the day-to-day, it’s normal for the newly-returned traveler to feel like an alien in their own culture. Who has the time to keep up with the latest TV shows, movies, and pop culture back home while they’re overseas adventuring? You may find yourself connecting with new people, people who share your new perspectives on life and can relate to your experiences. People want to hear about your experiences…but not all the time Your friends, family, and even complete strangers, are going to be fascinated by your time abroad, but their fascination will only last for so long. While you’re still recovering from jet lag and trying to re-accustom yourself to speaking English, your friends […]
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