Is Halloween An American Thing

Linda is a passionate traveler and English teacher exploring the world one country at a time. After studying Mandarin Chinese, she moved to Guangzhou, China, to pursue an internship at a German online marketing company. She loved it so much that she decided to move back to China after finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Management in California. After working in online marketing for a while, she got into English teaching. Teaching English overseas has enabled her to experience life in different countries and fund her passion for travel. She taught English in China for a year and also during my her year in South Korea. She’s been living in South Korea since 2015 and returned to working in online marketing and teaching online in 2016 remotely. On her Website, she shares her tips and...  [Read more]

  There is often much confusion surrounding these acronyms but essentially they mean the same thing. TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages The above are generally used interchangeably, however, TEFL is most commonly used within the UK and TESOL is usually preferred in Australia and the USA. Although some countries may favor one acronym over the other, it is important to remember that a TEFL certification and a TESOL certification are exactly the same thing as the training involved is identical. Although TEFL and TESOL training courses are identical and the acronyms are generally used interchangeably, there is a technical difference between the two. The general perception is that speakers of English as a foreign...  [Read more]

One way to describe the difference between these two terms is shown below; The term TEFL refers to teaching English in a country where English is not generally spoken. An example would be teaching English to Thai students in Thailand. The term TESOL refers to teaching English in any country whether or not English is generally spoken. An example would be teaching Thai students who are learning English in Australia. Most employers understand that the terms are used interchangeably. Though they may use only one term or the other in general usage, when it comes to describing the qualifications required for a particular job they generally use both. The following are samples of job adverts taken from real current vacancies around the world, which you can browse through on our TESOL Jobs...  [Read more]

South America is a region with a growing demand for English language education, leading to an increased need for TEFL educators. Countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia have seen a rise in the importance of English proficiency for job opportunities, travel, and international communication. As a result, language institutes, schools, and universities in these countries are actively seeking qualified TEFL educators to meet the demand for English language instruction. The demand for TEFL educators in South America is diverse, ranging from teaching young learners to adult professionals in various settings such as private language schools, public schools, online platforms, and corporate training programs. Several factors influence the demand for TEFL educators in South America. One...  [Read more]

The job market for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teachers in South America is diverse and offers a range of opportunities for those looking to teach English in this region. South America is a popular destination for English language teachers due to the growing importance of English proficiency in the global market and the desire of many South Americans to learn English for academic, professional, and personal reasons. One of the main sectors where TESOL teachers can find employment in South America is in language schools. Many language schools in countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia offer English language courses to students of all ages and levels. These schools often hire native English speakers or non-native speakers with a high level of English...  [Read more]

The job market for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teachers in Central America is diverse and offers a range of opportunities for both experienced and novice teachers. Central America is a popular destination for English language learners, and as a result, there is a high demand for qualified English teachers across the region. In countries like Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala, there are numerous language schools, international schools, and private institutions that offer English language programs. These institutions often hire native English speakers or non-native speakers with a high level of proficiency and a TESOL certification. Additionally, there are opportunities to teach English in universities, businesses, and non-profit organizations. One of the...  [Read more]

The job market for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teachers in Latin America varies depending on the country and the specific city within that country. Overall, there is a demand for English teachers in Latin America due to the increasing importance of English as a global language for business, travel, and education. In larger cities like Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo, there are numerous language schools, international schools, and universities that hire TESOL teachers. These positions may be full-time or part-time, and they often require a TESOL certification such as a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults). Additionally, there are opportunities for TESOL teachers to offer private...  [Read more]

The job market for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teachers in North America is generally robust, with a high demand for qualified instructors in various settings. This demand is driven by factors such as globalization, immigration, and the increasing importance of English as a global language of communication. TESOL teachers can find employment opportunities in language schools, colleges and universities, adult education programs, corporate training departments, and online teaching platforms. In language schools, TESOL teachers typically work with international students who are looking to improve their English language skills for academic, professional, or personal reasons. These schools may be independent institutions or part of larger organizations, and they...  [Read more]

  Exploring the Demand for English Teachers in Latin America Benefits of Teaching English Abroad in Latin America Cultural Immersion and Language Acquisition TEFL and TESOL Certification for Teaching English Overseas Teaching Opportunities in Latin America for ESL Instructors Overcoming Challenges as an English Teacher in Latin America Impact of Teaching English Abroad on Local Communities Professional Development and Networking in the TEFL Industry Personal Growth and Fulfillment Through Teaching English Overseas Conclusion: Embracing a Rewarding Career as an English Teacher in Latin America Latin America is experiencing a growing demand for English teachers due to globalization and the importance of English proficiency in various industries. Countries like Brazil, Mexico, and...  [Read more]

Asia and Latin America both have a strong demand for English language teachers and you will always find a wide range of opportunities whether you are an experienced teacher or looking for your first classroom job. To help you decide which is the better option for you, you should take a look at the following points. Although you should be able to earn enough to live comfortably, most teachers in Latin America will find it hard to save much (if anything at all) of their monthly income. The average salary should take care of your rent and utilities, and leave enough to enjoy a good social life and even to cover some travel in the region. However, if you are looking to pay off debts or you want to save up for a travel fund, this might not be the region for you. Unlike much of Latin...  [Read more]

Many people find ESL jobs around the world with an online TESOL certification. The truth is, it is possible to find teaching jobs with no qualifications at all. The question you really need to ask is, can I get a job that pays well and offers good working conditions? Although the answer is still yes, you need to make sure that the course you choose is of the highest quality you can find. The unavoidable drawback of taking a TESOL course online is the obvious lack of any teaching practice. If your budget can stretch to a month-long in-class training course you will have many hours to practice the theory you have learned with real language learners in an authentic classroom environment. This type of course will open up a wider range of opportunities in many countries around the world....  [Read more]

  Globalization and the increasing demand for English speaking professionals all over the world, especially in emerging regions, has brought about a new, steadily growing sector: English as a Second Language (ESL). An ESL teacher is, therefore, an educator who works with English Language Learners (ELLs) whose native language is not English. The goal of the ESL teacher is to help the students reach a certain level of fluency in English, on both a spoken and written level. ESL educators are not to be confused with foreign language teachers. ESL teachers do not share the same native language and are specifically trained to offer explanations and directed teaching methods to non-English speakers. This teaching style is mainly focused on repetition, drills, demonstrations, and...  [Read more]

Hong Kong’s and Macau’s pre-eminent English educational institution Headstart Group Ltd. is Hong Kong’s and Macau’s pre-eminent English educational institution. We are dynamic, driven and a market leader in the industry. We provide bespoke English curriculum development, in-class and after-school English programmes, UK study tours, teacher training and native-speaking English teacher (NET) recruitment services for our clients. We serve more than 270 schools and universities, and are well-known for our superior quality of services all round.  [Read more]

  The next item we're going to consider is the use of dictionaries and here perhaps the first thing we should do is to make a distinction between the two main types of dictionary and that distinction is between the monolingual and the bilingual dictionary. In a monolingual dictionary you have a word and its associated meaning and those two are both described for example in English so the word and the description of that word are both given in English. Whereas in a bilingual dictionary that word meaning could often be for example the word given in English and the explanation given in Thai and vice versa. So what can we use a dictionary for? Well, within the dictionary itself obviously we can get things like how words are spelled or the spelling of the word. We can also get the...  [Read more]

There are five generally recognized levels of ESOL students worldwide and these are reflected in the curriculum materials available to students and teachers in the form of book series. The levels are often designated as follows: Note: Levels above these standard levels are typically called ‘advanced’ and are not generally taught in mainstream situations. It should be noted that some curricula cover these levels differently. An example would be the Touchstone series (from Cambridge) which uses a four level scale for their books. These four levels however cover the same content as a typical five level scale. Another popular series by the name “Cutting Edge’ has six levels, as there is also a book at advanced level as well as the five standard levels. For each of these levels we...  [Read more]

With increased globalization has come an increase in demand for knowledge of the English language in many parts of the world. To meet this demand, teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) is a sector of the education field that is booming, especially in the developing world. Essentially, an ESL teacher is a professional educator who works with non-native English speakers who have a desire to improve their English skills either by choice or as an obligation of their employment or wider educational program. Unlike foreign language teachers, ESL teachers generally do not share the same native language as their students. They are also specifically trained in techniques suited to teaching non-native English speakers, such as repetition, drills, demonstrations, and visuals. Although...  [Read more]

The world of teaching English to non-native speakers is awash with acronyms. To help categorize the acronyms they have been put into a series of headings. So to answer the question of the title, TESOL is a certification awarded for the teaching of English, so in that respect it is an ESL certification. The following represent a few of the more popular teaching methods. In addition to the main teaching of English as a second language ESL there are further sub-categories.  [Read more]

Acronyms associated with English language learners include ESL, EFL and ESOL. They all essentially mean the same thing in that these are learners of English, whose first or native language is not English. The teaching of these learners produces a new set of acronyms which have ‘Teaching’ at the start. Hence we have TESL, TEFL and TESOL for the teaching acronyms. Most employers around the world require some form of teaching certification for you to be employed as a teacher. This is true of both government based schools, private language centers and many online teaching companies. There are three general routes to this type of certification, which are; These are taken at some location in the world, typically in a country where English is not the native language. They often require...  [Read more]

This is one of the most common questions asked by our TESOL course trainees and the answer is quite simple. Yes, you can teach ESL without a bachelor’s degree. Anyone who is TESOL qualified will have a wide array of destinations to choose from all over the world, regardless of their previous educational record. If you have a degree in any subject you will certainly have a few more options, but non-degree holders are in no way excluded from ESL teaching in many parts of the world. In recent years some countries have made it compulsory for foreign teachers to have a degree if they want to obtain a work visa that allows them to work legally as an ESL teacher. This is most noticeable in Asia where some of the biggest markets for teachers such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan...  [Read more]

  Our 5-day combined TESOL course is a convenient short-format option that might be a good choice if you are currently in North America and are looking to teach English at home or abroad. The course kicks off with an online study section that covers all of the theory side of ESL teaching. Once the online part of the course is complete you then attend one of our training centers for an additional five days of in-class study. The big attraction of this particular course option is it includes additional face to face instruction from a professional teacher trainer that will build on all the things you learned during the initial online study phase. The in-class study section of the 5-day combined TESOL course can be completed at one of our 15 great locations spread across 13 different US...  [Read more]