Apostille

What is an Apostille and why do I need one?

An Apostille is a certification provided under the Hague convention of 1961 for authenticating documents for use in foreign countries.

An Exemplified certification covers those countries who did not sign the Hague Treaty.

The sole function of the Apostille or Exemplified certificate is to certify the authenticity of the signature of the document.

For our purposes, this will likely only include your documents for birth. Other Apostilles include death, marriage, and divorce.

Source: Department of Health

Travel the World

What are some great reasons to live abroad, working as a teacher, and learning from your environment?

Author Arthur Frommer, from the Dallas Morning News:

Travel makes us care about strangers. A famine or disaster isn't distant, abstract suffering if you've visited the region.

Travel teaches that not everyone shares your beliefs. In issues small and large – from child-rearing to politics – a traveler learns there are many ways of thinking.

Travelers learn that all people in the world are basically alike.

We all care about family and protecting our loved ones, Mr. Frommer says. During his trip to China, he and his wife met an elderly woman. She didn't speak English, but when she saw the Frommers' gray hair, she insisted they wait while she ran to get something. She returned a moment later with pictures of her grandchildren.

He recalls sitting in a mud hut years earlier and hearing a young African mother confide her wish to learn to read. She wanted to understand government pamphlets about health care so she could protect her children.

"Aside from all the exterior differences, we all share the basic urges and concerns," Mr. Frommer says.

Rob Sangster reports in Great Outdoor Recreation Pages:

Travel is an opportunity to think of beginnings and endings, to challenge inhibitions, to experience pure joy.

As a traveler, you develop a deeper understanding of the strivings of billions of humans, of lives filled with achievement, as well as lives filled from dawn to dusk with hard work and hopelessness. And you realize how much of what you'd accepted as universal truth is based on only the values of the country, even the neighborhood, in which you grew up.

In the fable of the "Blind Men and the Elephant," one blind man puts his arms around the elephant's sturdy front leg and says, "This animal resembles a tree." Another grabs the trunk and insists the elephant is like a giant snake. A third runs his hand along the great flank and declares that, "An elephant is very like a wall." In the same way, it's hard to have an accurate perspective on life when experience is limited to a single culture.

Upgrade Reality takes a more direct approach:

Whoever you think you are right now and whatever you think you want from life right now will change if you travel for a long time. You will see the world, experience different cultures and meet many people. You will learn much about yourself and your expectations and goals in life may just change completely.

Travelling just gives such a general sense of ‘WOW’. All the different experiences (both good and bad) just make you feel alive and part of this wonderful world.

Challenges

One writer from Teaching English in Asia discusses her difficulties in teaching abroad so you can work around them for yourself.

1. Discipline
Every culture has a different standard of discipline and consequences for bad behavior. One of the challenges I faced teaching at English camps in Korea was how light the consequences of bad behavior was and how little follow through with the consequences there was. I found that though I could not control what disciplinary actions were or were not taken outside my classroom, in my classroom I could. Making it clear to my students right from the start what the rules of the classroom were and what the consequences for bad behavior were AND consistently following through with punishment as well as rewards, made the students' behavior in my classroom much better than it was outside of it.

2. Communication
The way that Koreans communicate and the way that Americans communicate is very different. As an American, it was very frustrating to be the last to know about something - change in schedule, course work, class time. I learned quickly that the best way to deal with the communication challenge was to accept it. I was not going to change the culture and so just rolling with the last minute changes, the confusion, made my teaching life much easier and allowed me to focus on my students and the rewarding feelings I had from teaching and spending time with them. It's not the end of the world to have to rearrange your class planning or find out two minutes before that there has been a change in plans. Just accept that this is the way things work here and go on with your day.

3. Language
The students were not supposed to speak Korean in English class and there was supposed to be a Korean teacher in the classroom to help with any needed translations and with the kids. This was not the way it worked out in one of the camps I taught at. The Korean teachers were often called out of class for meetings with the director and meetings with each other. This led my students to speak a lot of Korean in class which meant I didn't know what they were talking about, which meant it was, at times, difficult to keep the students in line that needed close watching.

It was challenging with 14 students in my class to teach, keep them engaged and to stay on top of those students who liked to speak Korean to each other during class. I found the best way to cut down on this was to be very clear, right from the start, that any student caught speaking Korean to another student would be moved to the other side of the classroom. If any student didn't understand what I was teaching and needed someone to clarify in Korean, they were to let me know and I would ask a student I trusted and knew to understand to explain it.

4. Teaching Styles
Teaching children of another culture created some challenges for me. As much research as I did beforehand on the way Korean students are taught and the psyche of Korean students, being in front of a class and being mindful of what they are used to was difficult. For example, students in Korea are taught to be very good memorizers. They pick up vocabulary very quickly in classroom games, activities and practice. But when it comes to truly knowing and holding on to what they've memorized, it's a different story. They ended up testing poorly on what they seemed to know so well in class. I learned it was important to create several kinds of classroom activities for the same vocabulary to ensure that the new words were really sinking in. Like most kids, Korean students love playing classroom games and finding fun and practical application games for vocabulary, grammar and verb tenses really made a difference in their retention.

5. Teaching Tools
In my situation teaching at the English camps, besides the textbook, teaching tools were not readily available. This made it challenging to make learning fun for the kids. I had to become very creative in making up games, teaching aids and classroom activities. I found a lot of resources from this site's database of English Games and also had the kids help create and make games like crosswords, memory and word searches.

Community support is a great way to face challenges while teaching English overseas! We would love to hear any about challenges you've faced teaching English in another country. How did you face these challenges and how did you respond to them?

Chinese Travel Phrases

Before you leave for China, you might want to make note of some useful phrases. These are provided in the form of video so you can repeat and practice them, while hearing them spoken to you.

The first place you will encounter is the airport. Here are some useful phrases regarding transportation. Once at the airport, you will need to clear customs. This process is slightly different in every country. Knowing what to expect will help you have a smooth transition. Since you are going to an address, you may need assistance with directions.

We hope this helps you to ease into Chinese culture easily upon arrival.

A Perfect Candidate

What makes Valerie Smith a perfect candidate for teaching abroad and how do you compare?

“I always had an interest in China. It’s an up and coming country. Then I took a class in Chinese and found out I really loved it,” Smith said.

“I think if you’re going to learn about any culture you should learn their language. That reflects their culture in and of itself. If I do research on China I would certainly have to be in China or in Chinese-speaking countries. So it would definitely help to know Chinese,” the 22-year-old Smith said.

“She has a genuine love of learning, she’s curious about the world and curious about other cultures. She will make a wonderful geographer,” said Richard Hunter, one of Smith’s geography teachers. 

Smith is really flying outside of her comfort zone by winging to China. She has never lived off campus, doesn’t drive a car and has never traveled overseas. She acknowledged she is somewhat nervous about her trip. “I guess we’re all kind of watching the political situation over there. ... From what I’ve seen I don’t think there’s going to be any political upheaval, but who knows? I just have to expect the unexpected,” Smith said.

What if I get sick?

One fear people often have about traveling is not knowing what to do in case of illness or injury. We hope today's blog will put you at ease. The following information refers to policies in China.

Q. What do I do if I get mild symptoms, like a cold?
A. Most areas have walk-in clinics that will give you a diagnosis and a prescription.

Q. What if I have moderate to severe symptoms?
A. There are many hospitals in major areas that carry a full range of medical services, such as surgical operations. They will check your insurance and refer you elsewhere if necessary.

Q. How can I get an ambulance?
A. Dial 120 and an ambulance will arrive in a few minutes. The cost will be reasonable and they will take you to a hospital under your insurance, if time permits.

Q. If I have to stay in a hospital, will I have a private room?
A. Most rooms have 4 patients in them, so you will be sharing a room with 3 other patients.

Q. Where do I fill my prescription?
A. Hospitals have their own pharmacies, but they are more expensive than neighborhood pharmacies.

Q. Can I see a dentist?
A. There are many dental offices set up for foreigners. Check in advance to see if they are covered under your insurance or if you will need to pay out of pocket.

Q. Will my doctor speak English?
A. It is unlikely that your doctor or nurse will speak English. It is recommended that you bring a translator with you, or go to an expat hospital, specifically designed for foreigners.

Source: Live in Shanghai

Benefits of Teaching Abroad

You may have been considering teaching abroad for the culture, the change of pace, or simply to have your travel paid for. Here are some more reasons to choose this career path today:

1. The training is painless.
     A TESL certificate can be attained through a 100 hour course, and most schools offer evening/weekend sessions or online courses. The fees start at about $500 USD, and many schools have services to help with the job hunt.
     If you have some extra cash and want to start your travels immediately, larger ESL schools offer four week TESL training in exotic locations around Europe, Southeast Asia, or Central and South America.

2. You can be a student in your own classroom.
     Regardless of age, the students you teach will be excited to see a foreigner take an interest in their culture. Most will gladly offer tips about local foods to eat, places to see, and things to try.
     Young students can teach you a lot about pop culture or local slang, and simple conversations will give you insight into their family lives and customs.

3. A year is a long time…
     …to experience a whole calendar’s worth of festivals, holidays, cultural events, and seasonal foods. You’ll get much more insight than a single trip. Also, worldwide holidays like Chinese New Year or Christmas are a bit different in every country. You’ll get to experience a unique version of a familiar holiday.

4. It’s a crash course in cultural sensitivity.
     Most expats reach the “Their society makes ZERO sense to me!” phase at some point. It’s a normal step in one’s adjustment to a new culture. Getting past this phase of culture shock means opening your mind to new and unfamiliar things. Whether the traffic laws are driving you crazy, or new acquaintances ask questions that seem invasive to you, be patient.
     You’ll come to appreciate the ways in which this foreign culture operates. Most often, you’ll note customs that strike you as far more practical than those in your native country.

5. You’ll get an instant network of local acquaintances.
     Whether you’re teaching in a language centre or public school, you’ll be amongst colleagues who speak English. Regardless of their level of expertise, they’ll likely be keen to practice their English conversation skills with you. Not only will you have new friends, but your coworkers can help you navigate the area and its customs better than any guidebook.

6. You’ll be tapping into an excellent grapevine.
     A lot of good jobs, and general travel tips, are accumulated by word of mouth. By meeting other teachers, you can get advice about new destinations or jobs from people who have been there, lived that.

7. It’s a resume-booster, even if you don’t want to teach long-term.
     You might worry that this job will look like a blip on your resume. Even if your teaching experience consisted of sing-alongs and barnyard animal flashcards, don’t underestimate the skills you developed along the way. Communicating across cultural barriers, using leadership skills to conduct classes, and picking up a new language (even just conversationally) are great assets.

Source: Anne Merritt

Christmas in China

There are many things to love about teaching abroad. One of them is experiencing your culture through the eyes of a foreigner. Never is that more striking than when comparing the holiday songs you grew up with with those same songs in Chinese!

Here is a video of children in Hong Kong singing Christmas Carols. Look at the cute costumes.

Here is another video, complete with bells! This is more of a traditional pageant.

You can download 13 free Christmas songs here in Chinese. Enjoy!

Christmas in Beijing, China

Travel can include all your favorite holidays, and even some new ones! What is Christmas like in Beijing?

A tour of the city, however, eliminates any doubt that Christmas was indeed being celebrated. And a celebration it was, as Christmas carols were played and sung in public complexes and Christmas wishes greeted us everywhere, complete with Santa and sleigh bells, including red-nosed reindeers. This is apparently a new phenomenon in the People's Republic of China, with its inception traced back to the 1980s Open Door policy of Deng Xiao Ping. Since then, the sight of the chubby old man with the red hat and thick white beard has become as common as Colonel Sanders, the other bearded man, who as the face of KFC has mushroomed all over China. In fact, public and private companies alike throw Christmas parties and restaurants and bars have Christmas Eve specials, featuring exotic wines and mystery gifts...For the Chinese, it is Christmas in so far as the theme song, "Silent Night," elicits a sense of holiness and peace and the myth of the magi promotes gift-giving. --Edmund Chia and Gemma Cruz, theologians

Source: NCR

What Should I Bring with Me?

Deck of Cards

And not just a regular pack, although that’s good too. Uno, Phase 10, any card game that you know how to play. Why? I’ve taught ESL kindergarten through adult, and the appeal of a good game of cards knows no age limit. I started every day in my Korean kindergarten class with a five minute game of Uno – they counted out loud, they talked strategy, they had fun speaking English, and they got calm and focused for the lesson to follow.

Flash Card Software

I constantly found myself scouring the Internet minutes before a class to find printable flash cards that were relevant to the lesson I was about to teach. Save yourself the trouble (and be a lot more organized than I was) by downloading software like CueCard – it’s free, the cards are printable, and you can add pictures and audio.

Portable Recorder

Of course, if you have a smartphone you’ve likely got an app for this already. If not, a digital portable recorder is incredibly useful when it comes to working on pronunciation with students. Often, a language student thinks they’re mimicking you perfectly when in reality something is off. Letting them hear themselves is invaluable. As a bonus, younger students love to hear recordings of themselves – a recorder gives you a fun way to encourage more speaking in class. You can also use these to record and document vocal tests to refer back to when a student questions his grade.

Classroom Planning Programs

An inherent problem with teaching ESL abroad is you don’t know your students (or their proficiency levels) until the first day. Particularly in the beginning, planning lessons and creating tests can be a scramble, and online templates might seem free but can have some pretty severe limitations. Before you go, download a few programs you can figure out how to use prior to day one, hopefully making your first week in the classroom a little less hectic.

Podcasts

A good ESL podcast can be a great classroom resource. It’s likely that, as an ESL teacher, you will be the only native speaker students hear. Podcasts can expose them to different articulations, accents, and ideas. Many also come with transcriptions you can print and use in class as a reference.

iPod + Speaker

Every ESL classroom I’ve ever taught in had a little stereo/CD player sitting in the corner, because the textbooks and workbooks the schools provided came with audio accompaniment. An iPod and portable speaker are ideal for using those podcasts in the classroom, not to mention the obvious entertainment value for you.

Audio Books

Again, fun for you, educational for your students. From my experience, the goal of using audio books wasn’t so much to get students to completely understand what was being said – Shakespeare is tough enough without the added language barrier. But when you’re working on a specific concept like idioms or phrasal verbs, an audio selection can really help enhance your lesson.

eReader

It’s an obvious choice, but I couldn’t leave it off – I would have been thrilled with an iPad, Kindle or Nook when I lived overseas. Even in the largest cities, finding a good selection of books in English can be tough.

Source: Matador Goods