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.

Living in South Korea

Chris Backe gives us some tips about living in Korea, from his blog. 

1. Take off your shoes when you arrive - or not.

An increasing number of time-crunched locals are going the Western way and keeping their shoes on their feet. Since you probably won't know which camp your host is in, follow their lead to be absolutely sure.

2. Don't be too surprised to see the locals using their middle finger to point, tap a touch screen, or otherwise refer to something.

There's no insult intended with the gesture - it's just the longest finger hitting the button first.

3. For most locals, English is sorely lacking

This means good job prospects for English teachers, but finding a local to communicate in good English is a tall order. Don't be surprised to be mistaken for an English teacher, and try to handle their practiced questions gracefully.

4. The Seoul subway system is huge, the lines sometimes long, and the ajummas pushy.

The trains don't run 24 hours, however, so making a long trip or more than one transfer after 11pm begins to push it. Instead, keep your eyes for some of the buses that run well after the subways shut down. Several late-night buses leave from Yangjae station (line 3) while others leave from Sadang station (line 4). If you're close to one of those stations, try one of the buses there before resorting to a taxi.

5. Ladies, the typical local has little problem showing off their legs - thus the abundance of short shorts and skirts.

Most of the locals would look (stare) at someone with uncovered shoulders, however. Don't ask me what's going through their minds - just avoid sleeveless shirts or spaghetti strap shirts.

6. Men, if out on a date, be prepared to pay for most everything.

Equality in paying is becoming more common, but a woman might lose face if she's the one handing over a card. This goes double if you're the oldest one at the table.

7. Hongdae and Itaewon are the two most popular areas with foreigners that like to party.

If you like to be catered to and see English menus, you'll feel right at home. If you came to experience the Korean version of nightlife, get thee to Kondae (Konkuk University, line 2) or Sinchon (also line 2). While some foreigners also visit these areas, you'll notice fewer English menus (a great chance to practice your Korean!)

8. Speaking of Sinchon, there's actually two of them.

One is Sinchon (pronounce it 'Sin-CHOWN') and is in northwest Seoul near Hongdae. The other is Sincheon (pronounce it 'Sin-CHAWN') and is in southeast Seoul near Jamsil. More than a few locals have to pronounce it carefully to make sure they meet their friends at the same one!

9. When you're ready for a day trip out of Seoul, the country is your oyster.

Virtually all of mainland Korea is roundtrippable in one day, thanks to an excellent train and express bus system. While the locals often reserve their tickets ahead of time, the process is bit harder for foreigners to do. Your best bet is to head to a train station, where you can reserve tickets well ahead of time - in ENGLISH! - through an automated ticketing machine.

10. Speaking of trains, sometimes the train has sold out of seats and you'll have to take a standing room ticket.

This does not mean you'll be standing the whole time. It just means there's no seat available for your entire trip. When you first get on, take a look around to see if there are any empty seats. Be prepared to give up your seats to the legitimate ticket holder as you approach a station, of course. On most Sunday night trains coming back to Seoul, it'll be PACKED - something to experience once, but otherwise it's worth avoiding.

11. People tend to fall into one of two camps when it comes to K-pop: you love it or you tolerate it.

You'll hear it almost everywhere you go, and there's not much you can do about it. If it's not K-pop, it's either techno (even on a Monday morning!) or a selection of Western pop songs.

12. Riding the bus - get on, pay your money, and get ready for a ride!

Bus drivers follow a couple rules of the road, but that's about it. Don't expect them to wait for you to find a seat or get your things situated - they don't do that for the locals, and they don't certainly don't do that for the foreigners, either.

13. Speaking of buses, a number of in the front half of the bus are reserved for the old, the handicapped, and the pregnant.

Unless you happen to fit into one of those categories, make your way to the back of the bus. The older generation has no qualms about putting you in your place if you happen to be in 'their' seat! The same goes for the seats at either end of any subway car.

14. One of the biggest complaints among foreigners who live in Korea are the taxi drivers.

Most speak little English, although some might want to practice their English on you! Have your destination written in Korean if possible, and get in the car instead of asking through the window. Crossing town shouldn't cost more than 25,000 Korean won (about $23 USD), unless there's some serious traffic.

15. The easy rule to remember when bargaining: if a price is posted, it's generally not open for negotiation; if no price is posted, take that as the first price offered.

Most places tend to offer a pretty fair price to begin with, so negotiation isn't even really needed. If paying in cash, ask about a cash price - using a credit card will add a percentage to the final price, since most vendors will pass the transaction fee onto you. Department store or larger stores won't charge extra to use a credit card, but you won't find anyone willing to negotiate with you.

16. For better or worse, the Confucian mindset prevails and permeates throughout Korean culture.

Imagine a giant totem pole, where people stacked on top of each other. One is 'above' another based on their age, their gender, and their position in the working place. Therefore, don't be offended when you're asked your age. It's a way of figuring out whether you're above or below them.

17. If enjoying Korea on a Monday, you may notice a problem - lots of stores and sights are closed!

A lot of businesses are of the 'mom-and-pop' variety, and Monday is the best day to take a day off. A few places close on Sunday instead, leaving Monday an excellent day to go exploring.
18. The country's attitude towards recycling is wonderful - and sometimes completely ignored by the locals.

Don't be that guy that stuffs food waste into the recycling bin or drops your bottle just because you can't find a trash can. Any bathroom will have a trash can, and most subway stations have some by the turnstiles.

19. Speaking of bathrooms, the locals throw their used paper in a bin next to the commode instead of flushing it on down.

You'll probably say this is unsanitary, and you'd be right. Public restrooms have gotten a lot better in recent years, but it's still a good idea to keep a package of paper in your bag (or pick some up at a convenience store or the vending machine outside most subway station bathrooms)

20. The last tip to pass on: watch out for the soju.

The green glass bottle of 20% ABV alcohol costs a mere 1,500 won at convenience stores (about $1.40 USD) and about twice that at a bar or restaurant. Drink it out of shot glasses, and sip judiciously unless you want to get drunk fast. A number of people prefer mixing it with yogurt (I personally enjoy cutting it with cranberry juice) to avoid the taste of rubbing alcohol.

Source: Teach English in Asia

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?

Living in South Korea

1. Are there any local customs that a newcomer should be aware of?

Non-Koreans will encounter plenty of customs that are unique to Korea, but for the most part, don’t worry about them too much—Koreans generally don’t expect foreigners to adhere to all the local norms, and the basics of polite behavior are very similar to those in other countries. The two main things to keep in mind are to be humble—despite some appearances to the contrary this is a culture that prizes modesty, and a certain amount of deference in dealing with others. The second is that Korean society elevates the group, particularly family and colleagues, over the individual. This means you have to get used to a lot more things being done communally or by consensus. It’s also important to be conscious of the needs and feelings of others in your “group” when making decisions. Those who insist on getting their own way don’t tend to do very well here.

2. Making local friends is a great way to assimilate to living in a new country. What’s the best way to meet new people in South Korea?

Koreans are generally gregarious and great socializers, so most expatriates don’t have much trouble meeting locals. A lot of initial friendships are formed through work, places of worship or school (or the children’s schools, in the case of parents), but the best way to meet people with similar interests is to get involved in some kind of activity. Language exchange programs, volunteering, local crafts and martial arts are offered, even in smaller cities. In places like Seoul or Busan there are dozens of clubs with a healthy mix of foreign and Korean members that focus on things like hiking, sailing, public speaking or Buddhist studies. Unfair as it is, drinkers may find meeting and bonding with people easier than those who abstain.

3. What do you consider essential items to pack before moving to South Korea? Are there any items you just can’t find?

When packing, prioritize things of emotional or comfort value, since just about everything else can be bought or replaced here. Things like photos of home, a much-loved book, or portable hard drive loaded with your favorite movies, music or TV shows can come in handy on those days you just want to forget you’re in a foreign country for a while. If there’s something you need for a pastime that’s important to you—say an instrument or a mountain bike—bring it or ship it over if possible, since it will add to your quality of life here. The list of things you can’t find in South Korea shrinks every year, though anything exotic and imported is bound to cost a lot more than it would back home. Some things expatriates commonly complain are tough to find are (Western) sauces and spice mixes, plus-size clothing, English-language books and games for children and some types of liquor (dark rum or single-malt scotches for example). Any medication or beauty products you want to continue using should also be brought over since they may differ or be unavailable locally.

4. Should someone planning a move to South Korea find housing before they leave home or look around upon arrival? Are there any great housing resources to be aware of?

I'd advise against anyone making a final decision on housing before they arrive and see a place for themselves, unless their employer is choosing for them. There are simply too many things that can go wrong if you try to negotiate an unfamiliar real estate market from a distance, and finding a home you’re comfortable with is one of the biggest steps you can take towards an enjoyable stay. A great deal of housing information is available on the internet, but almost all of it is in Korean, and what there is in English is heavily skewed towards very high-end properties in Seoul. There’s no harm in corresponding with a few real estate agencies before your arrival to line up viewings or get advice. But the best approach is to book some temporary accommodation, either a serviced apartment or hotel, for a few weeks after your arrival and do your house-hunting on the ground with agents based in the neighborhoods you’re interested in.

5. What’s the best way to manage your money in South Korea? Any tips on opening a bank account?

Managing your money here is really no different from doing so back home. However there are fewer financial products advertised and made available to non-Koreans, so if you have a savings plan or investment portfolio in your home country that you’re happy with, consider maintaining that even if you have to remit funds back home to do it. If you’re looking to set something up locally, a few institutions, including Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) and Samsung Securities, offer services such as savings plans, loans, and online trading for expatriates. If you’re going to be sending money home a lot, or your time in South Korea will be short, it may be worth opening a foreign currency account. This will protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and often offer heavily discounted or free remittances. Opening a standard bank account is a pretty straightforward process—walk into any bank branch with identification and you’ll have one in a few minutes. Getting a credit card, or an ATM card that works overseas, can be substantially more complicated, which is why you’ll want the help of a local friend or colleague to deal with an expatriate-friendly institution like KEB.

6. When moving to South Korea, what are the initial costs? How much money should you set aside in order to make the move?

Initial costs vary substantially depending on your family situation, how much traveling and socializing you’re looking to do, as well as your tolerance for “going local”. Someone who can handle three Korean meals a day will probably spend a lot less than someone requiring regular doses of steak or pasta. At the very least you want to be able to cover your expenses for a month and have a bit of a financial cushion should things go wrong. As a rough guideline, a young, single traveler who’s content with budget accommodation should set aside $1000-$2000, and a family staying in a decent hotel or serviced apartment about $5000-$6000. These figures don’t include expenses incurred before arrival, like plane tickets or shipping household goods.

7. In which fields is it easy for a foreigner to secure a job? Any tips on getting hired?

The obvious answer is teaching English. Employers and visa regulations are more discriminating in recent years, but the Korean obsession with learning the language means any university graduate from an English-speaking country should have little trouble finding a job as a language instructor. Unfortunately, because the industry is fairly unregulated, pay and working conditions can sometimes leave a lot to be desired, and potential employers should be approached with caution. Many expatriates start out teaching English and branch later into various fields where their language skills can come in handy, including sales, public relations, or journalism. Others, especially those with technical or management expertise, are increasingly being hired directly by local firms, many of which are looking to boost their overseas presence. As in most countries, the best positions are found through word of mouth, and in fact, personal relationships probably count for more in South Korea than they do in the West. If you’ve got ambitions, it’s important to get out there and network.

8. What’s the one thing you wished you had known about living abroad before you left?

That it can be addictive. While it won’t always be easy going, a spell abroad teaches people so much about themselves and the wider world that many find themselves repeating or extending the experience.

Source: Moon Living Abroad in South Korea, excerpted from the book by the same title

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 South Korea

There are many Christmas traditions in South Korea, including the Santa Penguins Parade and the Santa Factory which will warm your heart and prepare you for your leave.

From Dogo News:
Every November, the March of the Holiday Penguins marks the beginning of the Christmas Fantasy, celebration at the Everland Amusement Park in Yongin, just south of Seoul. To the delight of both children and adults, the dozen or more tuxedo birds waddled solemnly some in Santa suits, while other posing as reindeers with antlers sticking out from their backs, instead of heads. These of course are no ordinary penguins, but endangered African Penguins, also know as Jackass Penguins, thanks to their donkey-like braying call.


From Zimbio:
The Santa Factory is group of men and women that prepares and delivers gifts to poor people as part of a charity campaign.

Why Christmas states other traditions include: 

• Department stores put on big displays of decorations. There's also an amazing display of lights in the capital city, Seoul. The lights are all over the city center including the bridges over the Han River.
• Presents are exchanged and a popular present is money.
• Santa Claus can also be seen around Korea but he might be wearing red or blue.
• A popular Christmas food is a Christmas Cake, but it's often a sponge cake covered in cream brought from a local bakery! Or you might even have an ice cream cake from a shop like Baskin Robbins.

Foreign English Teachers are Necessary

According to the Korea Times National, foreign English teachers are not only wanted, but are needed. Although the government has recently moved to reduce the number of foreign teachers, parents are arguing for them. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education conducted a study that found that 62.4 percent of parents felt that native English teachers are necessary at local elementary, middle and high schools. 

More than half of [parents] also answered that foreign English teachers’ placement at local schools was effective and 67.7 percent said they were mostly needed in elementary schools.

Korean teachers were also positive about foreigners’ role as assistant English teachers. Most of the respondents said foreign teachers were most effective for areas such as speaking, listening and pronunciation.
However, the respondents limited the effectiveness of foreign teachers to academically well-performing students such as those in the high ranking (46.2 percent) or the top level (30.6 percent) categories.

Most of them also preferred the placement of native English teachers at only elementary and middle schools.

More than 81 percent of foreign English teachers replied that they believe students are satisfied with their classes. About 90 percent of foreign teachers also said they are making a contribution to improving students’ English proficiency.

Some students disagree. “I had a class taught by a native teacher in middle school but I don’t think the teacher was very helpful. Personally, I think Korean teachers are more helpful in preparing for exams,” said Chung Yoon-sik, a high school senior at Choong Ang High School. This may be due to differences in focus on subject matter, culture, or examination preparation. Indeed, many American students are taught in preparation for examinations on the state or national level. This competition can be more intense in Asian countries.

The majority of parents (62.2 percent) also answered that the ideal type of English teachers at schools are “Koreans who are proficient in English communication skills and good at teaching.”
“In the long run, we need more Korean teachers who are well-trained and have excellent English skills. We need to improve the English capacity and quality of our Korean teachers to meet the demands of students and parents,” an official from the education office said.

A parent of a high school student who used to run a private English institute said, “I think foreign teachers are good for students to get used to foreigners and learn their culture but they’re not that helpful to beginners because they don’t understand well. Learning for one or two hours a week isn’t too helpful for these students. The best case scenario is increasing the number of Korean teachers who are proficient in spoken English so that they can guide these students.”

What's a jimjilbong?

A jimjilbong is a public bathhouse found in South Korea. It is part bathhouse and part spa. There are snacks and juices served, TVs to watch, comics and books to read. Plus, you nap, exfoliate, get clean, and sweat out your toxins.

"They are very popular in Korea and it is pretty typical for Korean's to spend 10 hours resting and sweating their way through a Saturday," says Rachel from Caucasian Invasion

"The walls of the bathing areas and saunas are usually decorated with very beautiful semi-precious stones, like rose quartz, agate, amethyst, and jade, in intricate designs. Don’t be surprised if you look up to see a big pink heart or star on the roof while sweating out the week’s stress in one of the sauna rooms," says Sara Stillman of Jeju Life

Travel is a wonderful way to experience new facets of a culture, immerse yourself in a way of life, and learn from others. What will visiting a jimjilbong teach you?

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