“If there is an ideal time to visit Kyoto, it’s early April. With the cherry blossoms in full bloom, the city takes on an otherworldly persona. Despite the throngs of visitors, which provide continuous people-watching opportunities, there is a sense of calm, stillness, and peace as you pause to marvel at the exquisiteness of the cherry blossom, a shape ...
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 ...
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 ...
Whether it was at high school tabling events or college career fairs, we’ve all seen the offers to teach English overseas by our 21st birthdays. I give much of the credit for my choice to take the plunge right after college to a gentleman sitting outside the career center at my alma mater. Richard (I never asked for his ...
Teaching abroad is one of the most rewarding experiences one can involve themselves in. It is the perfect way to experience a new culture, meet new people, and learn a new language all while having a support system of co-workers that become something of a family away from home. At some point, however, everyone gets a bit homesick. Even the ...
Where in the World Are Magda and Brent? Crossing the Border into Laos! The crossing into Laos was memorable for one big reason: the guards. Upon arrival at the border, we first had to check out of Vietnam and then check in to Laos with our newly acquired visas-on-arrival. ...
Volunteer With Elephants in Sri Lanka! About five years ago when I was teaching English at a college in Oman, I spent part of my summer vacation in Sri Lanka. The Millennium Elephant Orphanage there advertised for volunteers to work with their seven elephants in Kegalle, a town about an hour from the capital city of Colombo. I didn’t ...