Teaching English Abroad Post-Covid

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020Melissa

You may be wondering if teaching English abroad post-Covid is a good idea. Will there be travel restrictions? Is my job guaranteed? Is it safe? All of these are great questions, and the answer depends not only on what country you choose, but also on the specific job. Teaching English abroad post-Covid is going to require a lot more research than prior years, but it can be done.

First you should ask yourself why you are going. Is it to earn money? To travel? To escape an unpleasant home situation?

Introducing ESL Audio

February 25, 2020August 9, 2020Melissa

I am creating a collection of audio narrations and questions for ESL students that can be used by teachers in their classrooms, for one-to-one instruction, and even for student self-study. The first one, How the Whale Got His Throat by Rudyard Kipling is now available, and the questions can be downloaded below. Let me know what you think!

5 Ways to Use News Articles in the ESL Classroom

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019Melissa

If you’re looking for an easy, low prep ESL class, look no further than news articles. They are ideal for one-to-one classes, small groups, and larger group settings. You can also find something for nearly every level. Read on to find out the best ways that you can include news articles in your ESL classroom.

A Low-Tech First Class

September 26, 2019September 26, 2019Melissa

Many language teachers already know how important it is to have interactive lessons that get students involved from the first class, such as this example. But what can you do in a Low-Tech Classroom? Today we have the honor of a guest post from Raven, a former Language Assistant in Caceres, Spain, who will address the important topic of the low-tech first class.

Self-Advancement in EFL Teaching

June 24, 2019June 24, 2019Melissa

According to my WordPress statistics, in about a week it will have been a year since my last post. What have I been doing from summer 2018 until now? As the title suggests, I’ve been working on my own self-advancement in EFL teaching. But what exactly does that look like?

Auxiliar Experience on CVs and Cover Letters

May 26, 2018June 9, 2018Melissa

No two auxiliars experience the same working conditions, and auxiliars who have done multiple years know that experiences can even change from one year to the next. This post will help you learn how to tailor your individual experiences to the types of jobs you’re seeking.

If this will be your first year as an auxiliar , keep reading. This can help you make a plan for how to use your year abroad. Also, feel free to check out my article on how to plan your first class.

Even if your next job is another year as an auxiliar, read on. These strategies can shape your next auxiliar experience to help you gain the skills you need.

My Auxiliar Experience

First, let’s take a look at some of my job descriptions.

3 Ways to Earn Extra Income in Spain

January 20, 2018January 22, 2018Melissa

This post contains affiliate links, which support this blog at no additional cost to the reader.

Finding ways to earn extra income is not a new concept to most people, from the Millennial “side hustle” to Dave Ramsey inspired “Dave Jobs,” every generation has its own methods for creating new sources of income. This isn’t any different for the auxiliar de conversacion. Here are 3 tried and true methods for earning a bit of extra money while teaching abroad, and one bonus way to start earning extra income before you even move abroad.

THE SIDE HUSTLE

According to CNN Money, 44 million Americans have a side job. Many people need these jobs just to keep up with their regular bills. One benefit of teaching English in Spain, is that you can avoid such inflated bills, since the cost of living is so much lower than many of our cities back home. As an auxiliar, you shouldn’t NEED extra income just to get by, but it can really help improve your travel opportunities. Extra income can also be used to pay down debt back home.

Planning Your First Class: Teaching English Abroad

June 28, 2017September 6, 2017Melissa

First Class Anxiety

The first class. A lot of people, when moving abroad to teach English, get really excited about their new location. You might dream of all of the day trips and weekend travel that you’ll be able to do. But what makes a lot of new teachers nervous is thinking about that first class. What will the school be like? What will they expect from me? And the kids? Rest assured, these feelings are normal.

first class esl — Your brain on anxiety.

There is no one answer to all of these questions. Each school, administration, and group of students will be different. When you get there, you will be able to start answering these questions as you figure out your role in the classroom. But until then, what do you do?

Start planning your first class. You can do this without knowing much about your school, because the first class will be about you. What you will need to know about your school, is the age range. From there, you can create something adaptable to each level.