A patchwork of lights shimmered along the night sky’s horizon. I looked out over the wing of the China Airlines 747 down at the Taiwan’s approaching radiance. I was excited, and I tried to discern signs of what lay ahead of me. I had twenty minutes left on my one-way ticket to Taiwan and $2000… Continue reading Living and working in Taiwan
Author: Alison Carter
Living and teaching in Moscow
I’ve been living in Moscow since August 2003 and I thought I’d write about my experience in case you’re thinking of coming here to teach at some time in the future. To begin with, I’m pleased to say that my overall experience has been a positive one. My job is interesting, the school is supportive,… Continue reading Living and teaching in Moscow
Teaching English in Peace Corps
“I always wanted to do that,” is the response Peace Corps Volunteers most often hear when they tell someone about their Peace Corps experiences. People often say this with a sigh, and a hint of remorse as if they had allowed the opportunity to pass them by forever. While many people carry this misconception that… Continue reading Teaching English in Peace Corps
The 24 hour job search
In less than a day of searching, university graduates can find jobs teaching English overseas that will pay $35,000 a year. But how can they tell what jobs are really waiting for them? Andrew Wiens got an unexpected phone call one day asking him if he wanted a job. Jocelyn McIntyre was offered a position… Continue reading The 24 hour job search
Teaching kids in Japan is easy with the right tools
Kids have the attention span of an ant! Why wouldn’t they? They have everything they could ever want given to them in a New York second. Your biggest competition in keeping their attention is their GAMEBOY and GAMECUBE and that is some REAL competition. Not to worry because I got this down big time and… Continue reading Teaching kids in Japan is easy with the right tools
The other side of the world
Arriving in Pusan, Korea was an experience I’ll never forget. It seems like yesterday when I think about it. After a nice flight and smooth connections from Halifax, Nova Scotia, I was met by Mr. Yoon. He was looking for foreign passengers in the airport. Foreigners stick out like sore thumbs so he spotted me… Continue reading The other side of the world
Training Centers vs. Public Schools
When you start looking for a job in China, you’ll come across two types of schools: training (or language) schools and normal schools. If my past rantings have been any indication, I much prefer to work at a public school, but both have their pros and cons. I’ve worked at both and have talked to… Continue reading Training Centers vs. Public Schools
Helping ESL Students Become Computer Literate
Increasingly, our daily lives involve computers – whether it’s getting money from an ATM, communicating via email or doing word processing at work. Today, people need tools to be successful in a high-tech world. Computer literacy skills can enhance employability, and open up new avenues of communication, knowledge, information, and entertainment. For teachers of ESL… Continue reading Helping ESL Students Become Computer Literate
Greetings from Osan
Hello! My name is Ellie and I am a teacher at Wonderland in Osan. I have been in Korea for the last four months and have had an amazing experience thus far. When I first arrived, I was met at the airport by Ms. Lee and her husband, the directors of my hak-won, they kindly… Continue reading Greetings from Osan
ESL teacher on the move: the things you’ll need
What things do experienced ESL travellers suggest you bring along in your luggage? 1. Vitamins: These are expensive in some countries like South Korea. 2. Passport: Make sure it is updated. Many countries will not let you enter if you have less than 6 months before expiration on your passport. 3. CDs: I found I… Continue reading ESL teacher on the move: the things you’ll need