Happy New Year Everybody!

1st January 2012

New Year Special - Register now to save!
Save up to $400 on a TESOL course when you register in January!

In a hurry to get overseas? Then our iTESOL course, or Certificate in TESOL course options may be just the ticket to launch your overseas adventure with. If you are looking to teach in most parts of the world including Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan, we recommend our most popular course for teaching overseas, the Certificate III in TESOL. If you have a bit more time, or are currently teaching or looking to teach in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or Europe, Certificate IV in TESOL is our highest and most widely acclaimed TESOL qualification.

What ever your destination, we have a great special to get you moving...

Register for any TESOL qualification, attend the in-class in January, February or March and SAVE!*

• online only 120 hour iTESOL was $1195 now $795- Save $400
• Certificate in TESOL was $1195 now $995- Save $200
• Certificate III in TESOL was $2195 now $1995 - Save $200
• Certificate IV in TESOL was $2695 now $1995 - Save $200

Find a course in January, February or March - Click Here

For course information, Click Here.

Register online, or email registrations@staff.teachinternational.com.

Read what Sue and Viv have to say about TESOL teaching in Sapa, Vietnam

22nd November 2011

Grad Story

How/Why did you first think of doing a TESOL course and going overseas?

We were starting to plan our (early) retirement a few years ago, and started compiling a list of things we could do to keep ourselves active (census collecting, electoral roll supervising and the like), when we met a lady who said she was going oversees to teach English. It sounded so exciting and exactly what we were looking for; overseas travel with some meaning, and something we could do for some pocket money (don’t need to make millions, just enough to provide a roof and some food) so we started looking into it.

Why did you choose Teach International?

We needed a course that had an online component to start with, as we were both working full-time and needed to be able to fit it into our hectic lifestyle. However, we realized that it had to be both reputable and practical - in terms of having a serious in-class component - as we are not teachers and we believed that we would need authentic classroom skills, which you can’t get online. TI fitted the bill on both counts.

How did the course help you prepare for the journey ahead?

The Teach International course was invaluable for us. The way Andy and Emmy Claire taught us the current methods of teaching ESOL (by using those methods to teach us), certainly prepared us for the journey ahead. The role plays, and games, the practice teaching classes both within class and also with “real live people” after the course finished, all helped us to understand what methods would be useful when teaching. We were able to use some of those skills before we left Australia at AMES, where we worked as volunteers for a year in order to get more experience. Now that we are teaching students with not only very little English, but also with almost no literacy in their own language, we use the TI methods every single day with great results.

Where are you teaching, how long have you been there and how did you get the job?

We have been in Sapa, which is a remote town in Northern Vietnam, for a month at this point and will be here for another month. We are teaching a group of H’Mong children and youth. We got the job after finding the school (SAPA O’CHAU) on Google. We emailed the school to see if we could help and they welcomed us with open arms – as they would with anyone from TI!!

What do you enjoy most about living there?

Sapa is a beautiful place – the scenery is magnificent, with high-peaked mountains and valleys of terraced rice fields that we gaze over every day at breakfast. The local ethnic minority people – the H’Mong, Red Dao and others, are warm-hearted and full of joy, so it is a delight to teach them. We have so many laughs during school, and as we were told – even when we do something silly and we all fall about laughing, they are laughing With us, not At us!

What do you find challenging about living there?

Sapa is geographically remote and takes an overnight train journey (day journey Not Recommended) from Hanoi to Lao Cai on the Chinese border, followed by about 1 hour on a small bus. You board the bus at 5am and it is not only a very winding road, but it is often shrouded in dense fog: the journey to Sapa is not for the faint of heart. If you stay for awhile it can also feel a bit isolated. Because of the isolation, various things are hard to get, so it pays to plan well and bring some blu-tak, some small gifts, and any special tea that you can’t live without! Sapa is also a damp place, so most buildings have a musty smell and mould on walls is not uncommon. It is also good to be aware that Vietnam as a whole is a rapidly developing nation, so you need to be tolerant of inconsistency and flexible in outlook. It is also a challenging school in which to teach. Some of the kids have very good spoken English but cannot read or write. Other students come to us with no English skills whatsoever, so our class levels cover a wide range of ability, even within each level. The other thing which makes it challenging is that there is as yet no syllabus, so we need to work that out as we go and plan every single lesson almost from scratch. BUT IT IS SO MUCH FUN – and such a privilege to be getting to know them a little.

Do you have any funny stories?

We have often laughed at the many inventive methods used throughout Vietnam to fulfil various needs – the provision of electricity is a constant amazement to us! We also had a funny afternoon with a group of students one Saturday: we were asked to teach some of the students how to make biscuits (cookies), so we established that there was an oven available – with an oven tray – and then went in search of ingredients. Flour was easy, since there are many bakeries in Vietnam, as was sugar. However, self-raising flour is not to be found, and neither was baking powder. Funnily enough, New Zealand butter was available (at least at the time that we looked!). Thank goodness for the Internet and being able to find recipes! We also bought a crunchy peanut bar and some dried fruit - mango we discovered (as no flavourings were available). The oven turned out to be a bench-top oven that we had some issues with in finding a power outlet that would work, however we got over that hurdle, to find that the large bowl and huge hand whisk were not really suitable. The mixture simply went into a ball inside the whisk and had to be prised out and worked a great deal until it became manageable. We were getting the students to do most of it, and at that stage we were sure they would never do it again! However we pressed on and divided the mixture into 3 – one plain, one peanut and one mango – then rolled it into balls that should have been of even size (that skill can develop over time!) and placed them on the oven tray. We were both dubious, to say the least, and thought we may be encouraging them to buy biscuits in packets! But surprise, surprise, the biscuits turned out very good! And they have since made them entirely without our help, two or three more times – of even sizes! We are greatly impressed.

What advice would you give to someone planning on teaching there?

If you volunteer at Sapa O’Chau (or indeed, anywhere) be prepared to commit to a set period of time and not renege on the commitment. Many people do renege and so the students have a constant turnover of teachers and the organisers here are frequently let down by people who say they will stay for a couple of weeks or a month and then leave after a few days. Unless you are experienced at travelling alone, we would recommend that you come with a friend. When culture-shock and isolation hit us, we had each other for company and got through it. Both of us believe that we would have been miserable if we were alone.

What are your future plans? Will you keep teaching and travelling?

We would dearly love to stay at Sapa O’Chau, but financially it is not possible. We plan to stay in Vietnam and find some paid work, either in Hanoi or somewhere quieter, such as Danang. We deliberately didn’t arrange jobs before leaving Australia as we don’t want to work full-time and don’t want to commit to a full year contract, both of which seem to be requisite in pre-arranged jobs. We have found that there are part-time jobs going, if you are on the ground. A year is a long time and we want to honour any commitment we make: apart from that being our usual M.O., we have heard that many “backpackers” do not treat the jobs that they take seriously, and don’t add value or fulfil their commitment, thereby making it harder for those who follow.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Keep an eye out on the Discovery Channel from about February 2012. Ian Wright, who is well known for his Globe Trekker series, came to Sapa in October 2011 and made a documentary about Sapa that includes a section about the school and its founder. We are hoping that the profile this documentary gives the school will result in more financial and other support, as it is a project that is really ‘delivering the goods’ already, but on a shoestring budget

If you are graduating from the TI course and feel nervous about taking on your first job, volunteering at Sapa O’Chau could be an ideal way to gain some experience and confidence (and it will look good on your CV). It is a challenging gig, but you will never regret it because you will walk away not only grateful that you did your TESOL course with the wonderful teachers and methods at TI, but also with more faith in your own abilities and a good feeling that you made a real contribution to the local minority people.

Teach International has teamed up with Disney English.

11th November 2011

Disney English - Foreign Trainer

No one speaks the language of children better than Disney and nothing captures their imaginations more than a great story. Disney English combines the art of Disney storytelling with breakthrough teaching methodology to spark a child’s passion for learning English. Since the opening of our flagship center in Shanghai in 2008, Disney English has been delivering an award-winning curriculum based on innovative technologies and beloved Disney characters to children throughout China. With an interactive learning process that immerses them in their favorite Disney stories, songs and characters, Disney English creates a fun, lively, and effective learning environment.

An opportunity with Disney English invites candidates to make a difference in the life of a child while gaining experience with The Walt Disney Company, a world-class entertainment and technological leader. A unique, life-changing experience, the role of a Foreign Trainer with Disney English could be the experience of a lifetime. Bring your individual talents here and discover for yourself why a career with Disney is the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

Position Overview

The Foreign Trainer will instruct children aged 2-12 at Disney English Language Learning Centers in China during a 12 to 15-month contract. Trainers will deliver innovative and immersive Disney programming to children in an energetic, passionate manner to provide a highly engaging and effective premium learning experience. The Foreign Trainer reports to the Language Learning Director (LLD) in the Disney English Language Learning Center.

For a full list of General Duties and Responsibilities contact Adam, at Teach International to find out more about this career changing once in a life-time opportunity:

Why not do your TESOL course in Japan?

24th August 2011

Why not do your accredited TESOL course in Japan?

Do you have a fascination for Japan? Have you ever been excited and then bored by a friend who has traveled to Japan and can't stop talking about it? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live there, not just as a tourist, but like one of the locals, attending community festivals, going to the local bath house? Well, why not do an accredited TESOL course with us in Japan?

Before you answer that question, here are three common myths we'd like to bust:

• Myth One: You need to know how to speak Japanese. You will only speak English in the classroom, and your work colleagues from around the world will all speak English too.
• Myth Two: Japan is Expensive. Cost of living is certainly relative to what you are earning, and in Japan you can earn a lot. But you would be surprised to learn that Japan can be surprisingly affordable. There are plenty of excellent accommodation options that are probably cheaper than what you have right now. Public transportation is faster, better and cheaper than anything we have here and much cheaper than owning a car. You will never get bored of eating out and Japan caters to all budgets, and of course.. tastes.
• Myth Three: You have to have a university degree. While it certainly makes getting a work visa easier, this is not the only option. If you are serious about living and working in Japan, there are a variety of legal ways to do it.

For over a decade now Teach International graduates have been travelling to teach English in Japan with a TESOL qualification obtained in their home town. From January 2012, Teach International will be taking the TESOL course to Japan! The same course trainers and course options available locally, can now be had in culturally significant and beautiful Kyoto, Japan.

Our Study Overseas Programme is a great chance to explore a new, bustling city from a different perspective to the average tourist. You will travel and experience living, learning and earning through teaching English(TESOL) with a group of like-minded adventurers.

To register or find out more information, call our friendly registration team today on 1300 558 890. We anticipate this course will fill up fast, avoid disappointment and call today!

7 Tips For Successful TESOL Job Seeking

13th July 2011

If you think you’d like to experience life in another culture, and support your adventure by teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), there are a few skills you can pick-up to ensure that you get the job you want in the part of the world you’d most like to see.

1. Know thyself, as the old Romans used to say. Job searching in this industry can be super exciting, but if you think looking for a job in your home town can be daunting, hold on to your hat! You can make it easy on yourself by knowing what it is you want. Take the time to narrow down your search by filling out the following list, country, preferred geography (coastal beach town, close to ski mountains, etc), type of institution (franchise language school, public school, business classes, etc) type of students (children, adolescents, university students, adults; if you don't like kids don't sign up for Peppy's Kids Club!), how much money do you need to earn? (the big bucks, or, a volunteer position to ease your mind about the money stole from your mother's purse).

2. While the world most definitely is your oyster and finding jobs in the Southeast Asian countries--Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam--is not very difficult, the jobs you see on the internet are really only the tip of the iceberg. Under the surface there are many more jobs going and often better than what you will find posted on the job boards. You would benefit greatly from seeing the school facilities, any accommodation being provided, and talking to their staffs, especially ESL teachers already working there, in person before making a commitment. They'll give you the good oil on what you can really expect from each school. Of course in this day and age much of this is possible to do over the internet, with pictures being provided and testimonials from teachers. Avoid recruiters who are not willing to provide the details you request.

In some countries, Thailand for example, its essential to put your feet on the ground and go for personal interviews, arrange to take a few days off to visit the schools there in which you are particularly interested. Be prepared either to stay on if you are hired, or to return home, possibly with a layover in another Asian country for additional interviews.

3. Dress the part. Teaching is a revered profession still in many countries, so show you are au fait, up to the standard, by dressing the part. Pick your best dressed high school teacher and go one better. It's often a business shirt and slacks with a tie, and don't forget to shine those shoes boy! For the ladies, a nice blouse, skirt, nylons and dress shoes will go just fine, easy on the heels.

4. You need to bring documentation of all your teaching credentials to each meeting. These will include copies of all your university degrees, and TESOL certificates if you have them. In Korea, you’ll need your original university transcripts.

5. Having a TESOL certificate is absolutely essential if you want your choice of the best ESL/EFL teaching jobs. Discerning employers put TESOL, TESL, TEFL qualifications into two camps. Knowledge based, and skills based qualifications. A knowledge based qualification is essentially an online only course. Skills based qualifications incorporate a face-to-face component and practice teaching with real non-English speaking students. A Teach International certificate in TESOL gives you the convenience of a knowledge based online course with the credibility of a skills based qualification, including 4 or 6 hours of practice teaching in a real classroom setting. On a budget? Start as low as you can go with the iTESOL, or Foundation TWO course and upgrade one step at at time. Easy-pesy.

6. Don't be shy to include unconventional but relevant experience. When applying for jobs working with children, let them know how great you are with your sister's four kids, or your role as camp leader over the last 2 summers, or your Sunday School teacher role with primary aged children. It all counts..

7. Finally, learn the culture. The easiest definition of culture is, "the way things are done around here". Often, when we say, "he/she doesn't have a clue", what we mean is that person is culturally inept regarding "the way things are done around here". Take some time to understand the idiosyncrasies of the culture you have chosen to immerse yourself in. It will help you avoid making embarrassing faux pas, or worse, offending one of your students or boss.

Study Overseas Program - Istanbul

27th April 2009

Study TESOL in Istanbul

Teach International's popular Study Overseas Program will be held this November in Turkey. There are seats still available but they wont last.

Istanbul is a culturally dense place where East really does meet West, and both sides can lay claim to its rich tapestry of peoples and Empires past. This is one of the great cities of the old world with a modern pulse, that has to be experienced. Teach International's TESOL course provides you with the opportunity to complete your in-class training and practice teaching hours, with time to explore the sights and sounds of Istanbul!

Experience first-hand what its like to teach English overseas, while you rub shoulders with past Teach International graduates who are there doing it.

Who is this course for?

• Anyone looking for a whole new world experience.
• Perhaps you are of Turkish decent and would like to visit your home country with a possible new career in Teaching English as a way of supporting your stay there.
• You ran into the Snow Queen once, and now you have an insatiable appetite for Turkish Delight and hot chocolate.

With places strictly limited, secure your place now and enrol today! Visit our website for more information on how you can start your TESOL adventure in Istanbul this November with Teach International.

Call (AU) 1300 558 890 or (NZ) 0800 832 243 to speak to a TESOL Advisor and discover the delights Turkey can offer you.

Jobs guaranteed with Teach International!

27th February 2007

Teach International offers all graduates a JOB GUARANTEE!

We are confident that our TESOL training will not only prepare you for the journey ahead, but will also ensure you get offered the best possible job overseas!

To read full guarantee, click here...

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