While it might seem like Christmas was just yesterday, it’s that time of year again when we are bombarded with chocolate eggs and eggs-tremely bad puns. Holidays and special occasions are great to introduce into the English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom for a change from the curriculum. There are loads of eggs-ellent ideas for Easter classroom decorations and activities, which can easily be adapted for the TEFL classroom. 

But let’s first take a look at how Easter is celebrated around the world. 

Easter around the world

There are a number of different Easter traditions around the world. 

The world’s largest Easter celebration, which lasts one week, takes place in Guatemala. It celebrates the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ with marches and floats. In preparation for the marches, the streets are covered in flowers, sawdust, fruit and sand to resemble a colourful carpet. On Easter Sunday the celebration turns joyous. Fireworks are used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Easter in Guatemala

In Sweden, children wear old clothes to dress up as witches. They walk around the neighbourhood and trade homemade pictures and paintings for sweets and chocolates.

In some countries in North Western Europe, bonfires are lit on Easter Sunday and Monday.

In France, residents of a small village are known to make a giant omelette on Easter Monday! They use more than 4,500 eggs which feeds around 1,000 people!

In Spain, Easter is celebrated throughout Holy Week (or Semana Santa). Costumes of long robes and pointed hoods are worn in processions, and dramatic Biblical scenes are illustrated in floats.

Read more: Teach English in France and Teach English in Spain

Easter in Spain

On the Greek island of Corfu, people throw earthenware pots and pans filled with water out of their windows onto the street. 

Carb-lovers should consider heading to Italy for their Easter celebrations. 

On the island of Sicily there is a tradition called archi di pasqua (“Easter arches”). The people of the town decorate the main street with archways, domes and bell towers – all made from bread! Other natural elements like rosemary, asparagus and bay leaf are used, with the end result looking like the inside of a cathedral.

Easter in Sicily

In Poland, Easter Monday is celebrated as a water festival known as Wet Monday. If you walk the streets you’ll be soaked with buckets, balloons and water pistols.

Read more: Teach English In Poland

In Bermuda, people traditionally fly kites on Good Friday. These kites are hexagonal or octagonal in shape to incorporate a cross structure. Fish and hot cross buns are enjoyed throughout the holiday. On Easter Sunday, you can attend sunrise services on beaches around the island.

In Brazil, small towns host a carnival called Sabado de Aleluia to celebrate the end of Lent. They give each other large chocolate eggs, hollow or filled with treats.

Believe it or not, these are just a few Easter celebrations from around the world! 

Please note: Easter is a religious holiday. As such, be mindful of the situation you are teaching in. It might not be appropriate or relevant to discuss Easter in your classroom. But if you think it is a suitable idea for your classroom, here are some of our favourite ideas:

Easter EFL classroom activities

Holiday celebrations are always fun to bring into the TEFL classroom. There are loads of egg-citing activities you can do with all ages.

Easter EFL classroom activities for Young Learners:

Easter classroom activities ideas for the EFL classroom: egg decorating

Read more: 6 Differences between Teaching Adults and Young Learners

Easter EFL classroom activities for teens and adults:

Remember, if you want to experience Easter in a foreign destination, sign up for one of our TEFL courses and you never know where you could be celebrating Easter next year.

Wherever and however you are celebrating, we hope you have a hoppy* Easter!

*Are we cracking you up yet or are you egg-noring our bad Easter jokes? 

Okay, we’ll stop now. 

What is the happiest country in the world?

Have you thought about it? Where would you guess? Spain, with an average of 300 days of sunshine a year? Nepal, with 35 public holidays every year? India, which reportedly has the most attractive people in the world?

Where in the world do the happiest people live? Why are they so happy? And – most importantly – can I teach there?

If, like us, you’ve wondered about teaching English as a foreign language in one of the happiest countries in the world, then read on!

What do we mean by “the happiest country in the world”?

Every year since 2012 the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network publishes a report. This report is titled the World Happiness Report. The World Happiness Report uses six key factors to determine the happiness level of over 150 countries:

This survey asks questions along the lines of:

If you imagine a ladder whose rungs are numbered zero to 10, and zero represents your worst possible life and 10 represents your best, which rung would you be on?

In other words, people rate their quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10.

What is the happiest country in the world?

 Finland is the happiest country in the world. It has been for the last SIX years.

The countries which were found to be the top ten happiest countries of the world in 2023, are:

The UK placed 20th and the US placed 23rd – and South Africa 83rd. Costa Rica and Kuwait are two new entrants in the top 20. 

Why is Finland the happiest country in the world?

What the report has shown is that people are satisfied with their lives when they have:

What’s more, so-called happy countries generally have universal health care, affordable childcare and plenty of paid leave.

Interestingly, America has never made it into the top ten, which shows you that happiness levels are not dependent on the wealth of a nation. 

But we knew that already, didn’t we?

Can I teach in one of the happiest countries in the world?

This is the question we’re all asking. After all, why wouldn’t we want to live there? As teachers of English as a foreign language, the question then becomes: can I teach English there? 

Read more: 11 Best Countries To Teach English Abroad in 2024

But when you think about it, the happiest countries in the world may not be the best countries for teachers. TEFL teachers have their own set of criteria to evaluate the best countries to be a teacher.

According to a recent survey conducted by The TEFL Academy, the top reasons TEFL teachers chose to teach in a specific country are:

So the demand for teachers is the most important consideration in choosing a teaching destination abroad. The so-called happiest countries generally don’t have a very high demand for TEFL teachers, with the exception of Australia. So it seems that the happiest places in the world to live are not the same as the best countries to teach in.

When we look at the factors affecting TEFL teachers’ choice of teaching destination we need to come up with our own list of best countries to be a teacher.

The best countries to be a teacher

The most popular countries for our TEFL teachers to live abroad in are (drum roll, please):

Now let’s look at teaching in these countries.

Teaching English in South Korea

It makes sense that South Korea is a fave with TEFL teachers. Jobs are plentiful, salaries are generous, the culture is rich and fascinating. 

Teaching English in South Korea can mean teaching in a public school through a government-sponsored program such as EPIK or SMOE, teaching at a university, or teaching in a hagwon. The most popular cities for TEFL positions in South Korea are Seoul, Daegu and Busan. The average teaching salaries in South Korea range from $1,700 to $3,100 but include generous packages.

South Korea is one of the best countries to teach in
Busan, South Korea

Teaching English in Spain

Is it the food? Is it the sunshine? Is it the lifestyle? We’re pretty sure it’s a combination of all of those things that make teaching English in Spain so popular. As an added bonus, if you’re an EU national, there are plenty of jobs in Spain which don’t require a degree.

TEFL jobs in Spain can be found as a language teaching assistant or teacher in public or private schools, in private language academies, and summer camps. Many teachers in Spain work on a freelance basis. Popular cities for teaching English in Spain are Barcelona, Madrid and Seville. The average teaching salary in Spain is between $750 and $3,500 a month.

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Madrid, Spain

Teaching English in China

An abundance of teaching jobs coupled with generous salaries and a fascinating culture make teaching English in China a unique adventure for the TEFL teacher.

TEFL teachers can find teaching jobs in China in universities, public and private schools, kindergartens, and private language academies. Popular cities to teach in China are Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Xi’an. The average teaching salary in China is between $1,200 and $5,00 a month.

Read more: Can I Teach English In China If I Don’t Speak Chinese? Yes!

Great Wall
Beijing, China

Teaching English in Italy

Pizza, pasta, pizazz – all this and more awaits you when teaching English in Italy. And with a great work-life balance, what more could you ask for?

Teaching jobs are usually in public schools, private language schools, and summer camps. Private tutoring is also common. Popular cities to teach in Italy are Rome, Milan and Florence. The average teaching salary in Italy is between $2,000 and $2,500.

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Florence, Italy

Teaching English in Vietnam

Teaching English in Vietnam offers low-cost living in a tropical paradise. And not to mention TEFL jobs in abundance!

TEFL jobs can be found in international schools, language schools, and private lessons. There is also a government English teaching assistant program. Popular cities to teach English in Vietnam include Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and Da Nang. The average salary in Vietnam is from $1,000 to $2,000 a month, but with such a low cost of living your saving potential is high.

Vietnam

So there you have it, the best countries to teach English in, as voted for by TEFL teachers themselves.

Ready to get started on your TEFL journey! Sign up for one of our internationally recognised, accredited, award-winning TEFL courses and take the first step!

 

English is a crazy language.

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or French fries in France. Boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

Why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing?

If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Why do we have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on. English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn’t a race at all).

Adapted from Crazy English by Richard Lederer

 

confused man thinking about common mistakes in English

The simple fact that pony and bologna rhyme* but rough, through and though don’t should be a giveaway but many people don’t realise just how weird English is until they teach English as a foreign language. 

Read more: What Level Should My English Be For A TEFL Course?

English teachers are usually focused on the common English mistakes their students are making, but there are many common English mistakes that even teachers make! (Don’t worry, we won’t tell!)

Of course, there are many different Englishes. People use different vocabulary and even different grammar when they speak. What might be considered incorrect in one English is totally natural in another – and that’s not what we’re talking about. Differences in dialect is one thing, but there are some instances of language usage which are just plain wrong no matter what English you speak. 

Read more: Which English? English In The EFL Classroom

We’re not going to bother with the usual their, they’re, there or its, it’s, because it seems like those common English mistakes are forever ingrained in our collective consciousness *sigh*. 

Instead, we’re going to do us all a favour and highlight a few of the most common atrocities our ears and eyes are subjected to, just to clear up any confusion once and for all. 

Read more: Why Do My Learners Make The Same Mistakes?

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Do you make these mistakes in English?

Let’s start with a few basic ones:

Desert vs dessert

Desert is a verb, meaning to leave without permission, or a noun, referring to a dry, sandy region.

The soldier was punished for deserting his battalion.

The Sahara Desert is the biggest desert in the world.

Dessert is a noun, referring to the sweet course of a meal.

He had ice cream for dessert every Tuesday.

Lose vs loose

Lose is a verb, meaning to misplace something so that it cannot be found, or to fail to win.

She had to buy another pair of glasses because she had lost hers.

Manchester United lost to Arsenal last night.

Loose is an adjective, the opposite of tight.

She has lost weight so that dress is very loose on her.

Past vs passed

Past is an adjective or a noun, referring to time gone by.

My granny always used to reminisce about the past.

Passed is the past tense of pass.

When they had passed the library, they began to talk again.

Principal vs principle

Principal is a noun, referring to the head of a school, or an adjective, describing the most important thing.

My father was the principal of the high school for five years.

She was the principal ballet dancer in the show.

Principle is a noun, referring to a fundamental belief.

Don’t let anyone force you to give up your principles.

Site vs sight

Site is a noun, referring to a piece of land which is used for a specific purpose.

This is the site of the new shopping centre.

Sight is a noun, referring to something we see or the sense of seeing.

The sunset was a spectacular sight.

After the operation, he regained his sight.

Stationary vs stationery

Stationary is an adjective, meaning not moving.

The train was stationary because it was at the station.

Stationery is a noun, referring to writing materials such as pens and paper.

Before the school term started, they went shopping for new stationery.

Every day vs everyday

Every day refers to something that happens every day.

I have eggs for breakfast every day.

Everyday is an adjective referring to something which is commonplace, ordinary or typical. 

My everyday work outfit is a suit. 

Affect vs effect

Affect is a verb.

Effect is a noun. 

Man pondering common English mistakes

Now let’s take it up a notch.

Should of 

If I had known she was going to be there, I would of told you

OR

If I had known she was going to be there, I would’ve told you?

Zero points and a shake of the head if you chose option A, 10 points and a high-five if you chose option B!

Irregardless  

Repeat after me: not a word. Not. A Word.

The clue is in the affixes, people! Ir is a prefix of negation, as is the suffix –less. There is no need for both of them.

Hint: use regardless.

for all intensive purposes 

Perhaps an understanable mistake, but still a mistake. It should be for all intents and purposes, [please and thank you.

bare with me 

A possibly embarrassing mistake, this one.

Bare means naked, so instead of saying bare with me, you need to say bear with me. 

you’ve got another thing coming 

No, actually you’ve got another think coming.

escapegoat

When you’re trying to blame someone for something you’ve done wrong then you’re not looking for a goat trying to escape. You’re, in fact, looking for a scapegoat.

on tender hooks

To be on tender hooks sounds very strange indeed but, to be fair, the correct on tenterhooks doesn’t make sense to us these days anyway.

case and point 

Case in point means that you are about to relate something which perfectly describes the point you are trying to make. Case and point imply that the case and the point are two separate things entirely.

nip it in the butt

To nip something in the bud means to stop something before it gets out of hand. While to nip something (or someone!)  in the butt is just outrageously inappropriate.

wreck havoc

To wreak havoc means to cause chaos. If you use the word wreck, you mean that the chaos is destroyed. This would presumably result in a state of calm, which is the actual opposite of what is meant by the phrase.

one in the same

Seriously though, one in the same what? It’s one and the same. 

slight of hand

Magicians use sleight of hand to make those pesky coins appear out of our ears. Slight means a small amount which could possibly refer to someone with small hands but it wouldn’t really make any sense.

baited breath

To bait someone means to taunt them, which is not exactly possible when it comes to breathing.

In the case of bated breath, your breath is bated, coming from the word abated, which means to lessen in severity. In other words, you have less breath because you are holding it.

beckon call

To beckon means to call someone, so we can see why this one can cause confusion. However, the true idiom is to be at someone’s beck and call, meaning that you are there to wait on them hand and foot.

scotch free 

Presumably, scotch free means free of scotch, while to get off scot-free means to commit a crime and not be punished for it. While we’re not sure of the exact origins of the phrase, no, it doesn’t have anything to do with someone called Scott.

mute point 

If something or someone is mute, it means it cannot speak or it has no volume, which is clearly not applicable to a point.

Interestingly, a moot point refers to both a point that needs to be discussed (in legal situations) and a point that is not worthy of discussion.

I could care less 

While I could care less implies that you still care, the correct I couldn’t care less shows that you care so little that you would not be able to care any less – which is really what you are trying to say, isn’t it?

peaked my interest 

A peak is the highest point of something, while pique means to arouse or provoke, so something piques your interest.

While this mistake is a bit more understandable than the others, the true meaning of the phrase is that your interest was aroused rather than reaching its peak.

piece of mind 

Pizzas and cakes have pieces. Hopefully, wherever you live there is peace.

While it’s certainly possible to give someone a piece of your mind, if you do something for peace of mind, you are doing it to alleviate any related worry – not because your brain is breaking into tiny, little pieces.

do diligence 

While diligence is something you do, you also need to make sure you do your due diligence, especially when you are considering which TEFL course you should take.

Read more: Which TEFL Course Should I Take?

wet your appetite

Yes, yes, yes, appetite refers to food and drink, but that’s not to say that it’s something that we can actually wet.

To whet your appetite means to increase your desire for something, usually by exposing you to a small amount of it. For example, doing a TEFL course will whet your appetite for teaching English abroad. #truestory

And lastly but certainly not leastly**, our pet peeve:

supposably

It’s. Not. A. Word.

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Okay, rant over. We feel better now. 

If you’re a teacher and you want to know how exactly to tackle common English mistakes like these (and others) that our learners make in the classroom, check out Encouraging Mistakes In The TEFL Classroom: Effective Error Correction.

And if you enjoyed reading this and you’re not a teacher yet,  you’ll probably enjoy doing a TEFL course and teaching English as a foreign language. Chat to us to find out how we can make your dreams come true!

 

*In US English

** Also not a word.

Ah, the conundrum of airport wifi passwords!

Being stuck at an airport for hours on end is something travellers are familiar with. Waiting to board, a delayed flight, or a layover is an unpreventable occurrence when travelling. And it can be an infuriating waste of time – especially if you can’t get access to the airport wifi!

Well, we have news for you! We have found a really great tool for teachers travelling, whether it’s for vacation or to teach English abroad. An interactive map that provides users with free airport wifi passwords for every airport around the world! That’s right – free airport wifi passwords! Genius!

Ralph Waldo Emerson apparently once said that life is a journey, not a destination. Of course, being a traveller means you are likely to spend a lot of your time travelling rather than arriving, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s all enjoyable! It can be difficult to appreciate the journey when you are squashed on a bus next to a chicken for five hours (#truestory) or sat waiting around for a delayed train in the early hours of the morning. 

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Hamad International Airport, Qatar

At least airports usually offer a certain amount of entertainment in-between flights. You can grab a bite to eat, do some shopping in the duty-free, find a quiet spot to read. These days, many airports go the extra mile to make sure your visit is as pleasant as possible – by offering free airport wifi. 

But connecting to it can be a nightmare. Some require a local SIM card, others a local phone number, and most a network password. Luckily, we’ve got just the solution for you.

Read more: The Ultimate Packing Guide for Teaching Abroad

The most amazing airports

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Changi Airport, Singapore

Before we let you in on our little secret, let’s talk about airports for a second. Because there are airports and then there are airports! If you haven’t discovered these amazing airports yet, do yourself a favour and book a flight that passes through one of these amazing airports.

Hamad International Airport in Qatar boasts a 200-room hotel, a swimming pool and a 23-foot tall sculpture of a yellow teddy bear. Incheon Airport in South Korea has a casino, golf course, museum, spa and ice rink. At Hong Kong Airport there is an Aviation Discovery Centre where you can ride a plane simulator, as well as an IMAX theatre. Singapore’s Changi Airport is a favourite with travellers, with over 300 shops, two free cinemas and a butterfly garden, complete with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and 1,000 butterflies.

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Incheon Aiport, South Korea

Airport wifi: The most frustrating problem

But we can’t always choose the airport we’re stuck in. 

For the most part, there is airport wifi no matter which airport we can find ourselves in. The trouble is finding it and connecting to it, especially if you don’t have wifi! 

Read more: 15 Genius Travel Hacks and Teaching Tips for TEFL Teachers

Airport wifi: The most incredible solution

Luckily for us, some clever person – computer security engineer and travel blogger Anil Polat, to be precise – has come to our rescue, with an interactive map with free airport wifi passwords for all the airport networks around the world. 

That’s right! 

It is updated regularly with more than 130 airports already on the map. Even better, if you don’t have wifi to find the wifi password, you can download the map to use offline. 

All you need to do is click on the airport on the map and the network name and wifi password will pop up. If you’re a team player, you can even contribute to the map to make sure it is kept updated.

To save you the trouble of googling free airport wifi, here is the map . Or, if you prefer, there’s an app!

Thanks Anil!

Teaching English abroad is a popular career option for teachers from English-speaking countries like the US, UK, South Africa and Australia. With the abundance of travel opportunities available to TEFL teachers this shouldn’t come as a surprise to those of us who like to travel.

But what many don’t realise is there is a huge demand for TEFL teachers in those same countries they are leaving behind. Summer camps and private language schools are options for teachers looking for jobs in their home country, but there is a growing need for EFL teachers in public schools, especially in the US.

[In the US, these learners are usually referred to as ESL learners, so this is the terminology we’ll use going forward in this article.]

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The ESL situation in the US

In recent years, mass immigration has seen an influx of immigrants into the US. War, poverty and political instability in their home countries are driving families from their homes into the States in search of greener pastures.

Of course, many of these immigrants are not native English speakers; some do not know English at all. When it comes to children of school-going age, they are being placed in public schools. 

Circumstances don’t allow for many public schools to offer bilingual classes, or classes for ESL learners (also known as English Language Learners or ELLs). Instead, they are placed with American children in mainstream classes, sometimes with additional ESL lessons or with the support of an TESL-qualified assistant teacher.

Some states are able to handle these new learners with relatively few problems. But in other states it’s causing massive issues.

Problems with ESL programs in schools

The biggest issue with ESL programs in mainstream schools in the US is the class size and, as a result, the student:teacher ratio.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2020, overall, ELLs accounted for 10% of the students in public elementary and secondary schools – 16% in New Mexico and 20% in Texas.

The states mostly affected are those with high immigration rates. Immigrants come from Central America and the Caribbean, as well as Eastern Europe, South East Asia and the Middle East.

These large numbers naturally mean an increase in class sizes, and an increase in student:teacher ratios. A school district in San Diego may have a (multilingual) student:teacher ratio of 4:1, but in Los Angeles 23:1 and Baltimore 30:1. 

3 WAYS TO FLIP YOUR EFL CLASSROOM

The ESL teacher shortage

The increase in the number of students across American schools has, along with other issues, led to a teacher shortage. As a result, some US states have changed their qualification specifications, effectively opening a door for TEFL-qualified teachers.

Bear in mind, this immigration means that there are not only school-age ELLs, but their parents too. These adult ELLs need to learn English to assimilate into the culture, as well as for employment.

Read more: 6 Differences Between Teaching Adults And Young Learners

Because of the spcialised nature of the needs of these ELLs and their families, ESL teachers are perfectly suited to cater to this situation.

ESL teachers often have to deal with overcrowded classrooms, students from different social and linguistic backgrounds, and ELLs of different English levels. At times we might have to teach Proficient children, while at others adults who cannot read or write in English – or even their own language.

The Raise The Bar Policy Brief from the US Department of Education specifically mentions a shortage in teachers of English as a second language (ESL teachers).

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ESL jobs in the USA

What does this mean for TEFL-qualified teachers? 

A growing focus on the impact of immigration on the mainstream education system, along with a greater acceptance of TEFL/TESL qualifications, and governmental support for upskilling teachers is good news for ESL teachers.

Of course the United States is a huge country. Teaching requirements differ from state to state, as do rates of pay and teacher support. 

But what this means is there is a growing need for TEFL-qualified teachers in the US, not only in private language schools or volunteer positions, but in mainstream schools. Now is the perfect time to get TEFL-qualified if you’re in the USA.

 

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights” – Gloria Steinem.

There are many reasons we should celebrate the women in our lives, and International Women’s Day is just one day we should be doing that.

When is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8. It has been celebrated as a holiday by the United Nations every year since 1975, though its origins are from before then. The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”.

International Women’s Day is a day to raise awareness of issues faced by women all over the world, as well as celebrate the many remarkable achievements of women over the years in society, economics, politics, culture – and education!

Celebrating women in education

As teachers, we understand the importance of teachers and educators in our world. That’s why we’re teachers! But particular women in history have made a huge difference to learners and education all over the world who are often overlooked.

Let’s look at the accomplishments of these women to understand even better why we need to celebrate them.

Malala Yousafzai

Malala is truly an inspiration.

Born in Pakistan in 1997, Malala was forced out of school when she was just 11, when the Taliban came into power. She spoke out publicly about the ban on girls in schools and, as a result, was shot in the head by a masked gunman. She recovered and continued her fight.

She started the Malala fund, a charity dedicated to giving every girl an opportunity to achieve the future she wants through education. In December 2014 she became the youngest-ever Nobel Laureate, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She has since graduated from the University of Oxford and travels around the world championing girls’ rights to education.

 

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Maria Montessori

You might be familiar with the education system which bears her name, but you might not know how she started this global movement.

Working as a doctor in Italy in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Montessori worked with intellectually challenged children, and developed a way of teaching which proved very successful. The Montessori system believes in the right of each child to be treated as an individual, encourages their drive to learn, and fosters the creative potential of children. In Montessori schools, students are encouraged to work on their own and in their own, while the teacher acts more like a guide than a teacher.

She opened a children’s home for all children and continued educating them with her methods. The Montessori method is now widely used around the world.

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Septima Clark

Clark, also known as the “Mother of the Movement”, was a pioneer in grassroots citizenship education.

She worked as a teacher in the South of the United States in the mid-1900s and became active in the civil rights movement. She participated in the lawsuit which led to pay equity for black and white teachers in South Carolina, as well as conducting civil rights workshops when she wasn’t teaching. Clark believed that literacy and political empowerment are linked so she taught people basic literacy skills, the rights of U.S. citizens and how to fill out voter registration forms.

Rosa Parks attended one of her workshops before she launched the Montgomery bus boycott.

 

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Savitribai Phule

Phule is often referred to as the mother of Indian feminism.

In 1848, Phule became the first female teacher in India. She opened a school for girls and established a shelter for destitute women, widows and child brides. She worked tirelessly for equality in her country, and faced much discrimination for her efforts.

She was declared to be the best teacher in the state by the British government in 1852.

 

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Jane Elliot

Jane Elliot has one mission: one race.

She believes in exposing prejudice as an irrational system based on arbitrary factors. In 1968, Elliot devised the now-famous Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes experiment as an anti-racism exercise. In this experiment Elliot, a teacher of an all-white third grade class in the United States, wanted to show what discrimination is like.

She split her class into two groups: those with blue eyes and those with brown eyes. She told the students that studies have shown that people with brown eyes are smarter, more civilized and better people than those with blue eyes. She gave the brown-eyed students special privileges and treated them more favourably.

The results of the experiment were telling: the students started to internalise and accept the characteristics they had been assigned based on the arbitrary colour of their eyes. In other words, the brown-eyed students began to believe they were superior, while the blue-eyed students began to believe they were inferior – purely based on their eye colour!

To this day she continues to fight against racism and discrimination.

 

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In the EFL classroom we enjoy celebrating holidays, both national and international. In honour of these women and all the women before and after them, take some time to integrate International Women’s Day into your lessons.

International Women’s Day in the EFL Classroom

 International Women’s Day is an important day to to spend focusing on the achievements of women over time, the current gender inequality that is still present in all societies, and the future for women.

We’re not suggesting that you hold a march or demonstrate outside your school, but there are a number of activities you can include in your lesson in celebration.

Webquest

If you access to the Internet, organise a webquest for your students. Assign each student or pair of students a famous woman and give them time to research her and her life. They can then present this to the class. Examples of women are: Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Emmeline Pankhurst, Serena Williams, Malala Yousafzai and Florence Nightingale.

Similarly, students could give a presentation of a remarkable woman from their country.

Information gap

Source biographies of women and print them out. Divide the readings so that each student in a pair has only certain information on the woman. Pairs must ask each other questions to find out all the information about the woman in question.

If gender roles were reversed

This is an activity for more Advanced and older students.

Ask your students to imagine what it would be like if gender roles were reversed in their communities. Use this to discuss the current situation women find themselves in every day and how your students could contribute to changing the status quo.

So while you should certainly take part in whatever International Women’s Day celebrations are taking part in your community, you can also take the opportunity to celebrate women in your EFL classroom.

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The thought of packing your bags and moving abroad to teach English as a foreign language is certainly an exciting one! But it’s totally normal to have some anxiety too, especially if you’re travelling alone, and especially if you’re a woman.

Let’s talk about teaching and travelling alone as a woman abroad: is it safe?

Is it safe to travel alone as a woman? Is it safe to live alone abroad as a woman?

Many people wonder, should I travel alone as a woman? And, if you’re a TEFL teacher, you’re dealing with not only travelling abroad alone but living abroad alone too. Is it safe?

Read more: Solo Traveller? Don’t Panic!

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Where to travel alone as a woman

Of course we can’t say that anywhere in the world is 100% safe for anyone, but a fear of travelling alone shouldn’t stop you from becoming a TEFL teacher or adventuring across the globe. It’s fair to say there are certain places in this world that are safer than others – but it might not be where you think!

In fact, in 2023 according to the Global Peace Index, the US ranked as the 131st safest country in the world (out of 163), while popular TEFL destinations like Japan, Spain and Thailand ranked 9th, 32nd and 92nd respectively!

According to a 2023 survey, the five safest cities in the world are:

  1. Copenhagen, Denmark
  2. Toronto, Canada 
  3. Singapore, Singapore
  4. Sydney, Australia
  5. Tokyo, Japan

TEFL: The key to moving to a country alone as a woman

Living abroad in a foreign city should be considered the same as living in your hometown. Depending on the city, you may have certain reservations about walking in certain areas at certain times or keeping a good grip on your valuables, but these concerns are global.

But travelling as a TEFL teacher makes travelling abroad alone much easier than travelling as a tourist. How? Well, consider this:

Because teaching English abroad is such a flexible career option, you can tailor your TEFL experience to suit your individual needs.

Travelling along as a woman: is it safe? Woman looks at map deciding where to go.

Tips for travelling and living abroad alone as a woman

Packing your bags yet?!

Before you go here are our top tips for living abroad alone as a woman.

Read more: How To Protect Yourself While Travelling Solo

Sound like your vibe? Check out our TEFL courses to get TEFL-qualified today and start your adventure abroad as soon as possible.

The Grammys. The Brit Awards. The Oscars. 

Award season is once again upon us. We may not be as award-winning as Barbie or Tay Tay, but we’ve certainly got our fair share of accolades!

Yes, The TEFL Academy has once again won a Go Overseas award for Overall Top TEFL Course Providers 2023 AND a Go Abroad award for Top Rated TEFL Provider – just to add to the same awards we won in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

That’s 5 years in a row!

Overall Top TEFL Course Provider and Top Rated TEFL Provider. Pretty impressive, if we do say so ourselves. 

But why are we making such a fuss about these awards?

Simply put, they’re a big deal, because they’re community awards, which means the winners are voted for by the community i.e. our TEFL trainees.

Go Overseas hosts their awards every year to recognise the best travel organisations and providers in the world. With over 13,000 travel providers on their site, the awards are divided into 8 categories: Study, Volunteer, Teach, Intern, Gap Year, High School, Language Schools, and TEFL.

Our trainees rated The TEFL Academy on instruction, support, value, academic rigour, and job assistance. The TEFL Academy got the second highest overall score in not one or two categories but OVERALL.

Similarly, the Go Abroad Top Rated Organisation Awards is a round-up of the most highly rated providers on the Go Abroad website. Once again, it was our students who voted us as one of the top-rated TEFL organisations. 

If you’re wondering why GoAbroad decided to award us this prestigious title, we have a hunch:

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What else do our trainees have to say about The TEFL Academy and our award-winning TEFL courses?

Our trainers are “knowledgeable”, “personable”, and “awesome”. 

Our courses are “thorough”, “entertaining” and “informative”. 

And when asked about The TEFL Academy itself, TEFL teacher Jonathan said that “Excellence is an understatement!”, while teacher Wilna said that “The TEFL Academy is a cut above the rest”. And we couldn’t agree more.

But you don’t have to take our word for it – go and see for yourselves. Read our reviews from the students themselves. 

And a big THANK YOU, GRACIAS and ARIGATO to our TEFL trainees who help us help our English language learners, one lesson at a time.

PS: If you want to find out more about teaching English abroad, we’ve got you covered with our blog post Is TEFL Right For Me?

The start of a new year can mean many changes, fresh starts, and turning over new leaves. But one thing that hasn’t changed for most of us is our love of travel. 

Travel in 2024 has started off strong, and looks set to continue that way. Are you in the same boat? Your feet itching to go somewhere new, be somewhere else? Us too! So let’s look at the travel trends we can expect to see in 2024 – to see if they could be the ticket to travel we’ve been looking for.

Read more: How To Travel The World For Free Even If You Don’t Have Money

Travel trend alert: Mass migration

It’s been predicted that the travel numbers for 2024 are going to break records. Maybe it’s because we’ve been a bit pre-occupied the last few years (understatement!) or maybe it’s it’s just the way the cookie is crumbling – who knows?

But what does that mean for us?

Top tip: Teaching English abroad allows you to experience places, people and cultures out of reach of regular tourists. It offers a truly authentic way of experiencing a country, by living and breathing it as a resident.

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Travel trend alert: Set-jetting

The Bear. The Last of Us. Succession. Chances are, you’ve seen ALL the episodes or you’re binge-watching them right now! Amirite?

With the growing popularity of TV series and movies set in exotic locations, more and more people are being introduced to destinations they perhaps wouldn’t have considered visiting before. 

Fancy waltzing down the Champs-Élysées a la Emily in Paris? Fans of The Crown and Bridgerton are flocking to London, Bath and Windsor to recreate their own period drama. Maybe White Lotus has shown you the beauty that is Thailand. Or you fancy checking out the chaos of South Korea, if Squid Games is to be believed.

Top tip: Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) positions are as flexible as you want them to be. If you’re fascinated with Romania because of Wednesday, why not find a job teaching English in Bucharest? Easy peasy.

Read more: Solo Traveller? Don’t Panic!

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Travel trend alert: Dupe travel 

Again moving away from the norm, travellers are now looking into what has been termed dupe travel. Dupe travel takes travellers to destinations that are similar to the hotspots – similar tourist attractions, sights, experiences – but in a less touristy destination. 

Because these destinations are not-yet-discovered by the masses, they are less crowded, cheaper, and more authentic. But they offer similar, if not better, experiences than the trending travel destinations – with the added bonus of a touch of uniqueness.

Where do dupe travellers go? 

Top tip: TEFL teachers have insider knowledge of a country. As a TEFL teacher you have access not only to the tried-and-tested tourist hotspots, but also to the hidden nooks and crannies where no tourists are to be seen.

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Travel trend alert: All about the vibes

These days we’re all about personalisation, and travelling is no different. 

Travelling is a very personal experience. Some of us enjoy trekking in rainforests for days. Some of us would rather experience the culture of local spice markets. Some like beaches, some like trendy cities. 

In 2024 people are heading to destinations which suit their vibe. If they’re looking for low-key vibes, they’ll head to a chilled beach destination like Costa Rica. Those who prefer modern city vibes will choose Tokyo instead. Whatever your vibe, you’re likely to find a destination specifically suited to you.

Top tip: TEFL is a career which you can mould to suit your personality and your interests. TEFL teachers teach in remote villages or ultra-modern cities – and everywhere in-between.

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So what are we really trying to say?

Getting TEFL-qualified should be on your to-do list on 2024 if you’re a travel fundi. Who doesn’t want to travel the world and make money at the same time?

Ah, the 14th of February. The international day of love. 

Love it or hate it, the 14th of February is a time when we are inundated with flowers, chocolates, declarations of love, and all things heart-shaped. 

But not all countries celebrate the same way. You may be familiar with red roses and over-booked restaurants, but others may associate hazelnuts and cherry trees with Valentine’s Day. 

But first things first, why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day? 

Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Historically, Saint Valentine was a priest who performed weddings for soldiers who weren’t allowed to marry. In those days, married men were seen as weaker warriors – correlation or cause or effect, we’re not sure 😉 – and so the emperor prohibited them from marrying. 

More recently, during the Middle Ages (ok, so not so recently!) Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a number of poems describing a “valentine”, which is where our celebrations are believed to have originated.

Regardless of how it started, it’s big business these days. Americans alone spent $26 million on Valentine’s Day gifts in 2023! And they send around 145 million Valentine’s Day cards every year. And that’s just America!

Let’s look at a few of the more unusual Valentine’s Day Celebrations around the world.

South Korea

Valentine’s Day in South Korea is kinda unconventional by Western standards. On February 14th, the men get to relax and keep their wallets in their pockets because it’s customary for women to do the spending and give men flowers, chocolates or sweets. On March 14th – known as White Day – it’s the ladies’ turn and the men return the favour with flowers, chocolates and a gift. 

China

Traditionally the Chinese celebrate the equivalent of Valentine’s Day on Qixi – the Seventh Night Festival – which is on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. According to Chinese legend, a heavenly king’s daughter and a cowherd fell in love, got married and had twins. The king was unhappy with the marriage and made his daughter return to the heavens. But when the king heard the cries of the cowherd and the twins, he allowed his daughter to return to her family once a year on Qixi. 

During Qixi, women offer fruit to this mythical king to increase their chances of finding a husband, while couples go to temples to pray for happiness and prosperity.

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Denmark

The Danes are new to the idea of celebrating Valentine’s Day; they have been celebrating February 14th only since the 1990s. They decided to move away from the traditional roses and instead give white snowdrops to loved ones, or even friends.

Along with the flowers, men can give women gaekkebrev, which is a card with a funny poem written in it and signed anonymously. If the woman can correctly guess who sent her the card, she will be given an Easter egg at Easter.

Italy

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day in Italy is also celebrated as the Spring Festival. Couples gather in gardens and public spaces to read poetry and take a walk together. Another traditional belief is that the first man a woman sees on Valentine’s Day will be the man she would marry (which is a frightening thought), and they would marry within a year. These days, Italians give each other baci perugina, hazelnuts covered in chocolate, wrapped in paper with a romantic quote written on it in four languages.

France

Considering that Paris is considered by many to be the most romantic city in the world, it’s no surprise that couples flock to the city to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

To demonstrate their love, couples used to be able to attach a padlock to the Pont des Arts and throw the key in the River Seine, but the locks have since been removed and the practice frowned upon for safety reasons – which sounds lame but is reasonable when you realise the locks weighed the same as twenty elephants! Besides Paris, the village of St Valentin holds a Valentine’s Day Festival every year, when the village is decorated with flowers and couples come here to get married, renew their wedding vows and plant trees. 

Czech Republic

Celebrated on May 1st, Valentine’s Day is a very romantic affair in Czech Republic. On this day couples make a pilgrimage to a statue of the poet Karol Hynek Macha and kiss under the cherry trees for good luck.

Valentine’s Day Celebrations around the World

England

Historically, in England, on the evening before Valentine’s Day, women used to put five bay leaves on their pillows to bring dreams of their future husbands. In Norfolk, Jack Valentine leaves small gifts and sweets or chocolates on porches for children.

Wales

Over in Wales, a tradition which has been practiced since the 16th century is still carried out in some parts of the country. January 25th is known as the Day of San Dwynen and on this day lovers exchange unique handcrafted spoons.

Brazil

Brazilians don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day as such – because they’re usually too occupied with Carnival in February – but they celebrate Dia dos Namorades or Lover’s Day on June 12th. On this day couples give each other the usual gifts, chocolates and flowers but they also celebrate the day with their friends. The following day is Saint Anthony’s Day which honours the patron saint of marriage.

Philippines

Valentine’s Day in the Philippines takes romance to the next level. Besides the usual Valentine’s Day celebrations, in recent years February 14th has become a very popular day to get married. So much so that thousands of couples gather in a public space to either get married or renew their vows together on this day.

Ghana

Ghanians have the right idea! In Ghana February 14th is celebrated as National Chocolate Day. Ghana is one of the top cocoa producing countries in the world, so the government cleverly introduced this holiday in 2007 to boost tourism. On this day there are festivals and performances throughout the country.

But hang on! If you’re not loved up on Valentine’s Day, – South Korea has got you covered!

 On April 14th, also known as Black Day, singletons gather together to eat jajangmyeon – black bean-paste noodles. While this is traditionally considered to be a day of mourning, we think it’s a great excuse for a party!

Or, if you’d like an official day of celebration, Estonia celebrates friendship day on February 14th with parties and festivals for singles and couples alike.

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P.S. If you’re keen on discovering – and experiencing – different customs and traditions like this yourself, you should look into a TEFL course. A TEFL qualification is all you need to live and teach in (almost) any country in the world. Maybe next year you could be in the city of love for Valentine’s Day yourself!

 

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