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[W1024]Worksheets For English Teachers

by Brenda Townsend Hall, Bre

Anyone who leaves their familiar environment for a prolonged spell is prone to the stress of culture shock. Although we know on a rational level that we are going to meet unfamiliar routines and customs, emotionally it takes time to adjust and this period of adjustment leads to unexpected reactions. These could include mood swings, depression, frustration, loneliness, apathy, even panic or physical symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, colds, stomach upsets. Each of us reacts differently under stress. Firstly, language may be a source of profound difficulty. If you are not proficient in the language of the host country then the problems could accumulate to an intolerable level. Back home you are a sophisticated individual, well able to articulate your needs and ideas. Suddenly you find people looking at you with blank incomprehension, sometimes even wincing as you massacre their native tongue in your attempts to communicate. It's not surprising that you feel frustrated and isolated.

Other changes such as climate, food, and different timetables have a more invidious effect. You may not realize that these are the sources of your emotional, mental or physical pain. Small things start to have a disproportionate importance. People's different behavior patterns have a subtle influence too: are they more time conscious than you or less so? Do they use unfamiliar gestures and facial expressions? How formal are they in social and work situations? Do men and women play different roles from those you are used to?

Typically culture shock moves through different stages, from the initial excitement of the new challenge to a sense of being overwhelmed by all that is unfamiliar, followed by a period when you settle in and gradually take a more balanced view of your new surroundings. The second phase can be very alarming and you may have the sense that you have made a terrible mistake and wish to go home. You will be missing your family and friends, you will long for the foods you can't find in your host country, or your favorite TV program.

So what can you do to minimize the impact of culture shock? Well, you can make full use of all the technological aids that can keep you in touch with your loved ones; nowadays it is possible through email and even video links to make contact as often as you need to. Join societies, sports clubs, work groups that can bring you into contact with your compatriots so that you can swap experiences, borrow and lend books and magazines and talk about your comparisons of the new milieu with the home country. These are the means by which you will feel less isolated and cut off. It can be very reassuring to find a compatriot who understands your reactions.

Proper preparation before you leave for the new country is vital too. Get up to speed on the essential information about the place: its customs, food, religion, all the systems you will need to have contact with such as education, health-care, driving regulations. Do your very best to learn at least a little of the language and try out some of the typical food before you go.

And if things get bad, tell your Director of Studies. It is only reasonable that the school that has brought you away from your home country should provide you with some support in the early stages. Schools should have an induction period for new teachers and could do much to counter the sense of isolation the newcomer often feels. I'd be really interested to know what your school does in this respect.

With the Olympics taking place in Beijing this summer, all eyes are looking to China and noticing that the Chinese are learning to speak English in record numbers. With a population of more than 1.3 billion people and a 10 % annual growth rate of over the past 10 years, China is quickly becoming home to the largest middle class in the world,a group of people who are hungry for the ticket to success: the ability to speak English.

English has become the worlds international language, and is an integral part of business, travel, medicine, entertainment, international commerce, and higher education (with US universities being the top draw of nations).

China has made it a national priority to have English taught in its thousands of public schools, and has allowed the free enterprise of private English language schools. The problem with learning foreign languages worldwide is that the native teachers typically have poor verbal skills and lack of context in the language being taught. The solution is to hire native English speakers from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

English teaching around the world has reached nearly 300,000 teachers living abroad and using their native English skills. English classes worldwide are typically taught in complete English immersion which provides the opportunity to teach around the world.

With such a large market demand, most schools in China pay approximately double the salary of native Chinese teachers and often provide free airfare and housing to attract the tens of thousands of teachers needed each year. Besides China, English teachers are also needed to teach throughout Asia, Europe and Latin America.

With the shortage of teachers, there is an international certification available named TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). A TEFL Certification trains and qualifies native English speakers to obtain teaching jobs worldwide. Intensive TEFL Certification courses can be finished in 30 days on location or in 2 month part-time TEFL courses online.

Native English speakers from America, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand are in high demand and can find themselves flying off within a few months off to the land of the rising sun. While most of the teachers are in the 20's and 30's who are energetic and adventurous, many people in their 50's find a second chance of living abroad after the kids have grown.

Leading the industry worldwide training close to 1,000 new teachers every year, The TEFL Institute of Chicago offers TEFL certification in Shanghai China and 25 other international TEFL locations, as well as online TEFL training for those working full time.

While many of us cannot make it to Beijing to participate in or observe the Olympics, the Chinese are inviting us to teach English abroad for a year and participate in an international cultural exchange that is the opportunity of a lifetime.

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Both Brenda Townsend Hall & Johnathan Marx are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Brenda Townsend Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Culture and Software. Brenda Townsend Hall, a contributing editor to ESLemployment, is a writer in the fields of English for business, cross-cultural awareness and business communications. Interested in receiving TEFL job listings weekly for free? To learn more visit. Brenda Townsend Hall's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.

Johnathan Marx has sinced written about articles on various topics from Medical Malpractice, Teachers. Leading the industry worldwide training close to 1,000 new teachers every year, The TEFL Institute of Chicago offers. Johnathan Marx's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.