How to Get Started Teaching English Abroad if You Have No Experience

Teaching English in another nation is an easy way to travel the globe without having to save thousands of dollars or have years of experience as a teacher. All you need is an online TEFL certificate and the ability to communicate in English. The rest is easy after you've checked those boxes.

When you begin teaching English in a foreign country, you will be able to spend your weekends exploring your new surroundings. If you pick China as your teaching location, for example, you will have the opportunity to travel across East Asia, including Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.

You may be able to save thousands of dollars by teaching English in another nation. You won't have to live on a shoestring budget, though, because the cost of living in many of the most popular teaching locations is rather cheap.

Become certified to teach English in a foreign country.

Before you accomplish anything, you must first obtain certification. A bachelor's degree and a teaching credential, such as an online TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or an online TESOL certificate (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate, are required for most teaching employment.

However, there are certain jobs that just require one of the two or, in some circumstances, neither, but they're uncommon and typically don't pay as much.

The TEFL is the most frequent and straightforward qualification for people interested in teaching English in another country. The very minimum is a 120-hour online course, which we suggest because it's inexpensive and provides you with access to a large job board once you've completed it.

Although all TEFL courses include an online component, several programs also allow students to train in a classroom setting.


If you enroll in online classes, you will have total freedom in terms of when and where you take them. You may learn at your own speed without being interrupted, and online programs are generally less expensive.

You may, however, find that learning in a classroom is more convenient. Some people focus better in a classroom than at home, and you'll be able to ask questions of your teacher, exchange notes with classmates, and bounce ideas off one another. After all, you'll be teaching in a classroom, so you may as well become comfortable with it. After all, you're going to be teaching in a classroom, so you may as well get used to it.

Select a Location to Teach English Abroad

After you've chosen that you want to teach English in a foreign nation and have acquired your certification, you'll need to pick a country. Your own tastes will influence your destination selection.

Here are some of the considerations you might wish to make.

Language

There are certain languages that are easier to learn than others. Because all three languages use the same alphabet, English people may find it easy to learn Spanish and French. Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, on the other hand, may be more difficult to develop.

If you want to learn a certain language, go to a nation where it is spoken. Teaching English in Russia is a guaranteed method to learn Russian if you've always wanted to.

The Living Costs

Is money the root of all evil or a major source of amusement? Salary is a major consideration for many persons considering teaching English in another country. Some nations give higher wages to English teachers than others. Japan and South Korea, on general, are the most financially rewarding places and offer the finest advantages. Housing, flights, and big incentives are all included in many of them.

Find a Job Teaching English in a Foreign Country

You've received your qualification, you've chosen a nation, and you're on the verge of being ready.

Fortunately, there are several open English teaching opportunities available, as well as resources to assist you in finding, applying for, and landing them.

First and foremost, you should focus your search. What are the ages of the children you'd want to instruct? Do you want to work with young children, teenagers, or adults? Consider if you'd like to teach at a public or private school. Positions in private schools are harder to come by and, if you do, may be more demanding, but they pay better.

Prepare to Teach English Overseas with These Practical Tips

Now that you've gotten everything in order, here are a few pointers to help you prepare to teach English in another country.

• Set aside a small amount of cash to carry with you. To get by until your first paycheck arrives, you'll need some cash. Depending on the country, $1,000 to $1,500 should enough.
• Make an attempt to learn the basics of the language of the country where you will be teaching. Knowing how to say ‘hello’, ‘thank you’, and ‘please have one more drink’ can come in useful.

• In your region, look for upcoming events, groups, and activities. You may feel lonely, which is understandable; nevertheless, don't let that get you down. Look out local events to participate in, and don't be afraid to do it alone. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, have a good time, and avoid loneliness.

• Bring the necessary clothing. According to local norms, you'll soon figure out what is appropriate dress for instructors in your location. To better integrate, do some study ahead of time on how they dress.

You should be feeling secure about starting to teach English in another country by now.

It's difficult to imagine going halfway around the world to educate. It surely isn't without its difficulties. Teaching English in a foreign country, on the other hand, will be one of the most gratifying experiences of your life. Not only that, but it's also one of the simplest and most cost-effective methods to see the world.

---

Esmé Gelder has eight years of experience as an international instructor. To support student conduct and progress, she attempts to employ positive reinforcement teaching approaches. She feels that teaching overseas boosts one's self-assurance.

The post How to Get Started Teaching English Abroad if You Have No Experience appeared first on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement.

* This article was originally published here

Siri And Me: A Former Lyft Driver’s Love-Hate Relationship With Her GPS

When I was a Lyft driver, passengers talked to me about all kinds of things: the conflict between finding meaningful work and achieving financial security; the pull of a gambling addiction; the endearing habits of one’s lovable cross-eyed cat.

One man recalled how he’d studied bats, flown helicopters, and met his wife down in Guadalajara, Mexico at different points in his life. A girl in her late teens discussed feeling caught between varying interests when deciding on a career—should she be a criminal investigator? Study geriatrics? Help kids with Down syndrome?

Cumulatively though, it was Siri who dominated the majority of my earscape.

Spending that much time with anyone will accustom you to their quirks and idiosyncrasies. It may also have you tallying up the things about them that occasionally lead you to want to throw them out the window.

At times I found myself quick to blame Siri; occasionally, even for things that were my own fault.

One morning, for example, I entered a destination only to be filled with horror and incredulity after seeing how long it would take to drive there.

“Two hours and 28 minutes to get to San Francisco?!” I said, aghast, while looking down at the screen. “Traffic must be horrible right now!”

Just as I was about to shoot the messenger and get mad at Siri, I realized I’d been the one to err—the GPS was set to pedestrian rather than driver mode.

Below is a cobbling together of the Siri traits that made me laugh and smile as well as the ones I could do without. In exploring both her endearing foibles and her annoying traits, my hope is to lay bare this oft taken for granted road companion in all her complexity.

What I like about her

1. When she finds alternative routes for me.

When heavy traffic clogs the freeway, Siri escorts me onto an alternative route. On one, we drove down bucolic side roads past fields of sunflowers while listening to country music and watching bugs splatter against my windshield. On another, a river gushed a few feet away from us, providing a peaceful backdrop both visually and auditorily.

I appreciate this. Her redirection tells me she’s looking out for me. It communicates an attempt to protect against stress—because even if the alt route doesn’t save significant time, I would much rather drive freely and with ample space on a scenic road than clustered amongst agitated drivers in the stop and go traffic of a congested freeway.

2. Her foibles.

It’s endearing when she mispronounces a word (“lack a shore” instead of Lakeshore or “chai-ull” instead of chiles) in the same way that my dad (a Greek-Cypriot immigrant) calling the San Francisco Ferry Building the “Furry Building” is.

Another time, she simply said: “Drive to P.” I had no idea what she was talking about.

3. Her humility.

Usually Siri says the name of the person I’m about to fetch. “Pick up Mark,” or “Pick up Maria,” she’ll instruct.

One time, though, a request came in from a passenger whose name was written in Asian characters. Siri didn’t even bother trying to pronounce it. Immediately skipping over the name, she simply commanded: “Pick up.” Period.

Healthy sense of knowing your limitations, Siri.

4. That she can stand her ground.

That’s not to say she can’t dish it back when she’s treated with disrespect, though. She can, which to me is admirable. One time, for example, after I got annoyed with her and called her stupid (then felt guilty and immediately apologized), she misheard me and thought I said, “I love you.” Not quite ready to forgive me, she saucily quipped in response: “You hardly know me.”

5. When she says things in a comically serious or overly ominous tone of voice.

The tone she used once when instructing me to “pick up Doug at Top Dog” (a hot dog chain restaurant) made it sound like I was being sent to embark on an incredibly serious, no-nonsense mission.

“I need my top scout to go fetch a topnotch, high caliber sausage at Top Dog. You are to get there quickly, and you are to deliver it back to me intact–no questions asked–and you are not to tell anyone. I’m counting on you, Comrade,” I imagine her saying.

“Yes, Siri Captain Sir,” I imagine saying back.

6. When she decides she’s over it.

When drivers are arriving at their destination, usually the GPS provides specific instructions: “Drop off Carla on the right,” or “Drop off Mitch on the left.”

Sometimes though, she won’t include the name. Instead she’ll only say “drop off.” There’s a command-like abruptness to the instruction, in response to which the passenger usually either laughs or becomes slightly offended at Siri’s insinuation that they are mere cargo to be left on the side of the road.

“I’m over this passenger, please dispose of them ASAP,” it’s as if she’s just flippantly announced.

7. When she demonstrates range and versatility.

Once when our destination was Foodmax, Siri decided to draw out the “xx” at the end of it (“drop off Monique at Foodmaxxx”). I thanked her for the little preview into her capacity for serving other functions beyond direction-giving (like narrating pornos).

8. When she keeps talking even after we’ve reached our destination.

Sometimes I forget to turn off the GPS upon arriving, and Siri will continue speaking—albeit with a muffled voice inside my bag. Once when we were at the grocery store, her sudden burst of speech startled a poor older man down the aisle from me, who turned his head in many directions to locate the source of the sound. By the time he had, I’d already reached into my bag and turned her off.

9. The way she had my back in a dream one night (does it count even though it didn’t occur in real life? Oh well, I’ll include it anyway).

My sister and I were in a car driving. I asked her a question; my sister didn’t respond. A few seconds passed and finally Siri stepped in to answer, most likely so that I wouldn’t feel bad. I don’t remember the question, nor what her answer was—only feeling grateful to Siri in that moment for her attempt.

What I like less

1. When she’s overly-helpful.

Sometimes her attempts to help reach a level of overbearingness. She’ll say too much to the point that it’s disruptive, like that parent or well-meaning relative who keeps asking if you need anything when you’re trying to concentrate on an important task.

One time, for instance, I really wanted to get back to listening to my podcast, but Siri kept interrupting, feeling the need to read aloud the entire long name of the freeway that we were about to merge onto (“In .2 miles, merge onto I-80 Business Loop East, Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe”).

Sighing, I told her this wasn’t necessary; that she wasn’t being graded on her thoroughness, and that shorthand would suffice.

Ten seconds later, she interrupted the podcast once again to announce that I had successfully merged onto (repeat entire long name of freeway written out above).

2. When she displays past-focused rigidity.

A few days after traveling with me to Sacramento, Siri thought we were still there. Although we were now in San Francisco, she attempted to navigate me from Sacramento to my destination on Folsom Street in San Francisco, telling me it would be a 1.5 hour drive even though we were only 10 blocks away.

I turned on some CBT to help get her mind out of the past.

3. When she engages in Schadenfreude.

Sometimes, like when she gleefully announces, “There is a slowdown on the Bay Bridge that is causing a 42 minute delay,” I wonder why her voice sounds so jubilant as she tells me this. It almost feels like she’s reveling in my discomfort.

Other times, she even seems possessed by a vindictive streak, instructing me to make a U-turn on the freeway or turn right into a concrete wall.

4. When she ghosts.

Like any machine, Siri is fallible. She’ll ghost (which is scary and can trigger abandonment issues, especially when you’re in an unfamiliar area surrounded by so many quickly moving vehicles and little idea of where you’re going).

I remember one time, as I drove a passenger back to their house in the Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego, she directed me to the 805 North, then at some point stopped talking. Two Adele songs had played before I realized this though (which I did only after looking down at my phone and seeing I had missed our exit).

I pictured Siri in human form in that moment, smoking a blunt and lulled to sleep by Adele’s at once powerful and soporific vocals.

Reconciling the good and the bad

I know I’m not alone in my occasional impatience towards Siri; I’ve seen many other people display it as well. Sometimes I think the only thing we speak to more harshly than we speak to ourselves is Siri.

But what if we treated her more like someone we love?

What if we could accept that she’ll mess up the timing sometimes? That she won’t always say the right thing? That she can’t be there for us 100% of the time?

Overwhelmed by people’s unending needs and constant demands, she’ll burn out and shut down (it could be argued, by friends of hers in the service device community, that like the rest of us she too needs ‘me time’ to recharge).

She’s… human just like you?

Well, not exactly. But that doesn’t mean she’s not worthy of some gratitude. Maybe Siri Appreciation Day isn’t such an awful idea.

Siri, thank you for being uniquely you. It’s been a pleasure to ride with all that you are, warts and all.

* This article was originally published here

5 Tips For Retaining Your Staff During Difficult Times

Whether you’re a team leader, manager, or business owner, your team is one of the most valuable assets your company has. Without dedicated members of staff, you wouldn’t be able to complete necessary projects, inspire your customers, drive sales, or build your brand presence. Unfortunately, many companies spend so much time focusing on their customers […]

The post 5 Tips For Retaining Your Staff During Difficult Times appeared first on Personal Development.

* This article was originally published here

5 Ways to Help You Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day

Drinking water is very important for maintaining good health. Many individuals are dehydrated daily, which can lead to headaches, constipation, and the potential for high blood pressure. All these health risks can be avoided by drinking water. Here are five tips that can help you stay hydrated throughout your day.

Always Have a Water Bottle Around

Often a lack of hydration can be because of not having any water around to drink. By always having a water bottle around there is no excuse to not stay hydrated. These water bottles do not have to be plastic disposable, store-bought water bottles. It can instead be a refillable water bottle.

When you are using a refillable water bottle you can make sure that the water you are drinking is high quality. There are water purification drops that you can use to make sure your water is high quality. If you are traveling and in an area with bad tap water, these drops can help cleanse the water you are drinking.

Set Alarms to Remind You to Drink Water

Another reason that you may not be hydrated throughout the day is that you just simply forget to drink water. When you are busy throughout the day you may tend to focus on the task at hand and forget to eat or drink. Therefore, you may need to set alarms on your phone.

You can set an alarm on your phone once every hour to remind you to drink water. You do not have to chug a huge amount of water at these times, but they are just to make sure that you are hydrating frequently.

Add Flavor to Your Water

A lot of people do not like drinking water because there is no taste to it, and they would prefer to drink a sports drink that is flavored. While these sports drinks can help your hydration levels, they also contain a lot of sugar among other things that may not be great for you. There are many products that are made to flavor water.

The most common product that is used to flavor water is MiO. Crystal Light also makes products that flavor your water. These can also serve as a replacement for soda, or other sugary drinks if you are trying to lose weight.

Monitor Alcohol and Caffeine Intake

Alcohol is known for causing dehydration. When drinking alcoholic beverages, you are consuming alcohol which will remove fluids from your bloodstream, and it will cause you to urinate more because of this. In addition to the effect that alcohol has, you are drinking alcohol which can make you feel as if you do not need to drink any water.

Caffeine is not as notorious as alcohol for causing dehydration, but it is along the same lines. If you are drinking a lot of beverages with caffeine, then you may feel as if you do not need to drink water. It also removes fluids from your bloodstream, just not as much as alcohol does.

Keep Track of Your Water Intake

Keeping track of your water intake may cause you to drink more water throughout the day. If you are not keeping track of your water intake, then you may overestimate how much water you have drank throughout the day. By keeping track of the fluid ounces, you have drunk you will know exactly how much water you need to drink to meet your daily goal.

The recommended amount of water for men is 13 cups a day, and the recommended amount for women is 9 cups a day. It will not hurt you to drink more than this, but if you are struggling to drink water as it is, these are your daily goals.

Conclusion

Drinking water is extremely important for your health. Your body is made up of nearly 75% water, which is why it is so important. If you are struggling to drink water follow these tips, and if you are already hitting your daily goal keep it up!

The post 5 Ways to Help You Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day appeared first on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement.

* This article was originally published here

If You Feel Like Giving Up, That Means You’re Almost There

If you feel like giving up, that’s usually an indicator that you’re strides away from overcoming. In the pinnacle of our distress, we are often tested with riddles and doors with cast iron padlocks for a reason. It usually means that whatever lies on the other side is not only worthy of our efforts but probably in high demand. That’s why the moment you feel you’re on the brink of surrender is the most critical. It’s the point in time when many of your competitors turn around and head home. Few rise to the challenge much like you have already, but even fewer see those challenges through.

To be at one’s wits’ end is where we discover our durability. It’s where we astonish ourselves with all we’re capable of. Quitting prematurely is not how we vouch for our ambitions, though choking on the struggle isn’t how we vouch for them either. Sometimes we need to reroute or take a brief interlude. Sometimes we need to ask for help. But it rarely means we need to forfeit entirely. There’s always a sneaky solution watching us from the shadows of our frustrations. We just can’t always see it.

That’s why interludes are so powerful. They allow us time to reboot and then go back and reassess — to shift our gaze outside of the labyrinth we’re used to seeing. This is how ideas flick the light of realization. And these ideas form bridges from impossible to possible.

It’s a dreadful feeling to look back at the things you could’ve done but didn’t. Of course, sometimes our priorities reshuffle and we liberate the dreams we’ve outgrown in order to chase new ones. But never should we give up on the ones that were made for us. The dreams that were made for us are the ones that swim in our heads past midnight. They’re the ones that tap us on the shoulder like an obnoxious younger sibling until we finally turn around and answer. These are the ones we shouldn’t ignore. These are the ones we should fight for at any cost.

You’re closer than you think you are to that which will make you happy. But don’t be surprised if the best gifts that arrive at your door are the ones you didn’t ask for.

If you ever find yourself dizzy with defeat in the midst of your greatest challenges, rest assured that you’re either one step away from arriving or you’re headed somewhere far better.

* This article was originally published here

Keep Fighting, Warrior

This is a love letter for those who’ve battled their own demons and were left with scars to prove it.

We see you.

You’ve wrestled with self-doubt and fought in wars others won’t ever know about.

You’ve met monsters in your mind head-on and kept calm in the face of fear.

The courage you have to take on each day is admirable and you deserve so much more credit than you often give yourself.

Here’s a toast to you.

You’ve done it.

You got up this morning.

You took a deep breath.

You talked to a friend.

You moved your body.

You did the work.

You’ve survived.

Even on days when you felt bombarded by your own thoughts.

Even on days where you could barely keep your head above water.

You’ve survived.

These may not sound like achievements to you, but they are.

Each day you fight, each day you get a little stronger, each day you survive, each day you’re here deserves celebration.

It’s about time you acknowledge all that you’ve overcome so far.

These achievements of yours are worthy of praise, yet you don’t recognize all that you’ve accomplished.

That’s understandable.

You see others who seem to be not only surviving but thriving.

You’re constantly comparing your faults with other people’s fortunes.

You’re constantly contrasting your missteps with other people’s milestones

You’ve become blind to the fact that everyone around you has battle scars too.

Some just bandage theirs up differently.

We’ve all failed. We’ve all made mistakes. Not a single person has been briefed on how to win, just given guidance on how to survive based on how others have done the same.

But even if you’re doubting your worth or your achievements, please know that there are others alongside you who commend your bravery.

Keep fighting, warrior.

* This article was originally published here

Council Post: Six Tips On How To Find Your Career Path

Mila Semeshkina is Founder and CEO at Lectera.com, Expert in Fast Education I believe there are two types of people when it comes to career paths: the ones who are constantly moving toward their goals and the ones who are moving past them. To fit in the first and more appealing category, one might …

* This article was originally published here