Improving English is as easy as 1-2-3!

Learning happens every day.  It is a regular practice, which needs to be incorporated into your daily routine. Here are a few helpful tips to improve your English:

Each week ask yourself, “what’s are your learning goals?” and most of all, your action steps to attain these goals.   Having a moment to consider your learning goals, will help you stay focus.  It will boost your confidence and effort as you see the results each week, keeping your excited even during those weeks or days when avoidance or fatigue set in.

Before ending your day review important new information --  every night. As you sleep your brain will work at the information you provided as you nod off to dreamland! Quiet moments help us retain information. Most importantly, the information stays with us!

Listen to English each day.  Set a goal of 5 to 10 minutes of listening each day, adding more time to listening each week.  Don’t set a goal of listening to English for an hour.  It may happen one day, but the following day, you might every excuse not to listen to English.  This daily exercise will help increase your speed of comprehension while developing a good habit to listen to English regularly.   Here’s a list of Canadian radio stations online: http://www.surfmusic.de/country/canada.html

Find ways to use your English be it -- speaking, listening or reading English in real life settings.  Learning English in the classroom is important, however applying your English skills and practice them helps improve your fluency and confidence in the language.  Our Explore Canada programs are uniquely design to bridge in class lessons and real world, fun lessons. If you are struggling to find real world situations to apply your English than decide for yourself how and what you will do to create your own experiences.  Use the Internet to listen the news. Visit Canadian news channels at www.cbc.ca or www.ctv.ca  or world news at www.bbc.com, however as you learn to listen to English to one accent as it may pose a challenge to your learning efforts at the beginning.

Read an English book a month.   As a first Canada book read Lucy Maud Montgomery’s book, “Anne of Green Gables”.  It’s online at http://www.publicbookshelf.com/fiction/green-gables/ .   Find online book discussion. Response to the questions offered as it will help you remember the book, while bridging comprehension, critical thinking and expression into a fun writing exercise.  Be sure to add new words to your list of vocabulary book too.

Have fun! 


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Teaching Around the World

Teaching around the world offers many gifts both in friendships and memories.  The experiences are personal for each of us. We can grow, learn, and laugh about it.  Above all, it makes us a better teacher, parent, partner, friend and even global citizen. 

If you are new in your career, looking to expand your horizons, or you want to work and travel, here’s some tips to help you teach around the world.

Exploring Fuzhou, China with self taught English teachers.

There are always better options and pay for teachers who are qualified or have their teaching certification. International schools look for these accreditations. This is not always the case.  There are opportunities for non-qualified teachers too.   The pay may be less, however it may be the same as a certified teacher.  It’s dependent on the supply of teachers, the time urgency to hire a teacher, and the overall demand for a native English-speaking teacher.  Research is important.

Having a degree opens doors to teach English while learning of a new land and culture.   Adding a TESOL or TESL certification makes it easier to stand up in front of class and share knowledge, establish boundaries and build excitement. 

Canadians are friendly. We are thoughtful, respectful and hard working.   International schools both accredited or not, want us. Our accent is easier for students studying English, or its their second language.  This is to our advantage.  Canada’s education system is respected and recognized.  We can boost our education nurtures young minds of tomorrow to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. It's bridging knowledge and application.  

International schools want  Canadian talent – their knowledge, experience, compassion and skills.  There is always opportunity.  Adventures and life journeys are about being open, and willing to learn,  and most of all have the flexibility either to adapt or take things in stride. The world would be a boring place if we are all the same.

Be patience, and respectful with culture, people and time. It is an adventure of a lifetime. Embrace it! Have fun!