Middle East Calling

Reminder: ESL Daily has expanded and can now be viewed at http://www.blog.esldaily.org/

At the moment, Qatar has a shortage of British schools, but this will soon change as several new international schools are set to open this year in the capital, Doha. The British embassy recently announced that a number of schools will open as soon as September 2008. Responding to student's demands for a British curriculum, the British embassy is working in conjunction with the Supreme Educational Council (SEC) to open even more facilities in the nest few years. The schools will be open to Qataris as well as international students.

The Middle East has been an alternative destination for many teachers in recent years, offering an extremely unique, if somewhat strict, environment in which to live and teach. With the expansion of schools and a growing demand for Western curriculums, it may soon become an even more viable alternative for teachers looking to escape Asia's recent fluctuating and relatively volatile ESL market.

For more, refer to Here.
By Sean McCall

Korea's Reversal is New Zealand's Misfortune

Reminder: ESL Daily has expanded and can now be viewed at http://www.blog.esldaily.org/

New Zealand's fears of a dwindling foreign student population at its international schools is a growing concern that should be shared by all English-speaking countries who enroll Korean students. Incoming Korean President Lee Myung-Bak's government has announced plans to spend 5.5 billion (US) on English education in a move to bolster the English talent and proficiency of the country's workforce and entice students to stay in Korea for their post-secondary education instead of spending their money overseas. It's a move President Lee believes will give Korea an edge in the global marketplace over its neighbours. For New Zealand's international schools this plan means trouble. According to the New Zealand Herald, who spoke with the school principle of Belmont Primary School, the school's income from international students "dropped from $114,000 in 2006 to $66,000 last year." With a strong dollar against the Korean Won, New Zealand's Korean student population, which is currently at 15,000, will likely further decrease.

Although America, Canada and Australia remain favourite overseas destinations for Korean students, New Zealand's dwindling student population could soon be a situation seen in these places as well. This all depends, of course, on how successful President Lee's plan is and if the bureaucracy that usually stifles Korea's educational system can be overcome.

For the full story in the New Zealand Herald, refer to here.

By Spencer McCall

ATELFC first ever teachers conference

Teachers in China are welcome to the ATELFC first ever teachers conference. Hundreds of EFL professionals are expected to be gathering in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province South East China at the Fountains International Community Center (http://www.thefountains.cn/index.html). ATELFC is the Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language in China, a group of professional teachers dedicated to improve the quality of English education in China. The workshop intends to focus on issues such as teacher preparation, classroom techniques, learning management, student assessment, culture awareness/shock and other related issues. ATEFLC is searching for Speakers to present at the 2008 regional conference. If you wish to partake in the event or require further information, contact Josie Roberts at josie.ateflc@gmail.com by April 5, 2008.

ESL Jobs: When To Go Where? (Part 2)

By Spencer McCall

ESL Jobs: When To Go Where? (Part 1)

In Part 1, I provided you with some general timelines of when you should apply for jobs in certain countries in Asia . In Part 2, I am offering some complimentary advice on two more things you should be aware of when searching for a job in Asia . Again, please feel free to comment on anything you read, whether it is to provide further advice based on your experiences or if you have found this article to be of any help to you.

International Schools: These schools can be a good option for qualified teachers or someone with a Bachelor’s of Education. But don’t judge a book by its cover. These schools are sometimes nothing more than glorified private academies. Although International schools pay higher salaries on average than most private academies and boast prestige because of their “international” staff, they also require longer hours and more work that is often times incommensurate with their salaries. International schools can be affiliated with Universities as well as government-run programs, but this is not always the case. Bottom line, do your research and don’t assume from the title of the school that you will be working for a reputable company. In terms of the best times to teach at one of these institutions, their semesters follow the same pattern as most Universities. January and September are the months when most new teachers are hired. That means teachers should apply at least a month before, in December and August.

Countries: Every country in Asia has at least a few International schools. If you are interested in working for them, try directly contacting someone at the school if possible. Don’t rely on what a recruiter has to say.

Calendars: If you were planning on teaching in Asia , it would be wise to consult a lunar calendar as most holidays that affect ESL hiring dates are based upon it. It’s a good idea to always check out a local calendar of the country in which you intend to teach for special events and festivals. All of them are available from government and tourist homepages.

If Asia is not the place for you, please stay in touch in the coming weeks as we will also be covering the best times to teach in Europe and South America .