Hi,
I can't even download the manuals yet but am trying again today.
Good luck

If you're considering teaching in a European country and don't speak much if any of its local language and can't find a place to learn some of it before you go, I suggest taking some German lessons ahead of time.

I spoke very little Czech before I came to the Czech Republic as there was no place to learn it around my hometown in Canada before I left.

Any time that I've had to tell someone that I couldn't speak Czech or didn't understand enough of it to understand what they were saying to me, invariably their next line has been to ask if I could speak German. This has also held true for trips that I've taken to Slovakia and Hungary. If I couldn't speak the local language and the person speaking to me couldn't speak English I got asked if I could speak German.

Like English, German is one of those languages that is in high demand for business, so you'll find a lot of people who can speak it because they work for German based companies who require them to speak it.

French, Italian or Spanish will also be very helpful in European countries, but from what I've seen, I'd say a command of German would be more reliable.

My advice comes from 20/20 hindsight. Had I known axactly how widespread German was in Europe and how many could speak it, I'd have taken a few courses in it (as opposed to Russian courses that I took) before coming here.

German is considered a key language in Europe, basically spoken widely enough that your chances of finding someone who can speak it wherever you go in the continent are very good.

Thanks for the replies. We will keep looking and hopefully something will come up.

India is a vast country, Imagine teaching a class of 200 students in a room so small that you can't even turn around.

Imagine children standing outside the classroom door, and straining to listen, because there is no room for them inside.
Imagine thousands of children who do not attend school because they are needed in factories or have failed school or dropped out by Grade 3. Imagine schools where children have no playgrounds in which to play or books to read. here in Canada we cannot even imaging our kids in such a dramatic situation, with hardly any clothes to wear, or being able to have money to buy food let alone books with which to study. what can new teachers who have just graduated do about it. what a way to receive experience in teaching by volunteering in a country that has the shortage of Teachers, who can tell me does making money mean so much (yes i know we need money) but cant we give our time in such a way to help others have a chance in life. Myself i will be going to an Asian country in November while i am there i will be giving free English lessons. (I know thats not for everone)!

Tip of the month: Always be reminded take care of our world and yourself. If you show respect for the people that you work with and for and different cultures you meet, they will respect you.

Hi,

i am wanting to go and work in costa rica, from december 2008. could anyone help out with some info of schools, contacts, good places to go,

Much appreciated

cheers
Louise

Does anyone out there know how to get information on teaching English in Sudan?

There are immediate jobs available for September 2008 and again for February 2009 in Shanghai within the public school system. The pay is excellent, good benefits, only 19 hours of teaching per week with plenty of time remaining for private teaching or overtime contract work. A University degree as well as completion of the Foundation TESOL course is required. No previous teaching experience. Jobs are co-ordinated via the Toronto office. For immediate response, please email toronto@globaltesol.com.
Jim

I was in Changchun jilin china about 4 Mon's ago, yes there is racism there even up north china, Black's of any race are not welcome, about all people they prefer White's .
but in a pinch they will accept any color. that was my first hand experience there, also they Chinee teachers tend to be a bit prejudice to any outside English teachers cause of the difference in the pay English teachers are paid way more.

Hi Sophie, There is absolutely this kind of racism in China. However, some schools are so desperate for teachers (including the College I teach at) because of the new visa rules that anyone who qualifies should be accepted now. In my experience, Filipinos and South Africans usually end up in the countryside. Some Americans I know with higher degrees have been accepted by universities in major cities.