Techsavvy Tips for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

There are literally hundreds of articles about BYOD in the classroom, so I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring and share my experiences with you. As a paperless educator, BYODs are the common core for my flipped ESL classrooms as they are already common use and practice in the business world both domestic and foreign.  Employees of big companies and adult learners carry their personal devices into the boardroom and the classroom.  BYODs were first shunned from big companies and businesses for the obvious lack of control and security issues, but as more and more companies are taking advantage of secured cloud storage; school systems public and private are beginning to accept the idea that students can be responsible for their own devices and conduct in the classroom. Though the most popular BYOD is the smart phone, laptops and even the handheld gaming console are also popular BYOD devices.

I first employed BYOD when I was expected to deliver quality ESL material to a large group of students with very little or no technology.  During my interview with my first ESL company, they boasted to me about their use of technology in their classrooms. They even showed me a room with a whiteboard and overhead projector; only to find out that was their ONLY room with a whiteboard and projector and you had to reserve the room a week in advance.  I also got tired of standing in long lines to use the crowded copy machine or have my printed documents disappear into thin air after I sent them to the printer.

Though I have successfully managed to flip my classroom by way of BYOD, it doesn't mean that I haven't been met with obstacles along the way.  I have been met with resistance by both administration and my own students when I first implemented using smart phones in class.  I had challenges trying to share information to all students with different devices.  Poor Internet connection always ruined my day. And you can only imagine how I felt when a student just forgot to bring their device to class.  

So if you are thinking about starting your own BYOD classroom, or already have started yours, here are a few tips I would like to share with you from my experience.

1. Slowly impliment BYOD into class. Sure, your excited  about BYOD, but not everyone else is. You'll be suprised to see how your  admin, co workers, and students will show resistance towards BYOD.   You'll definatly want to be ready to answer a bunch of questions and face criticisms. Your best bet is to create a policy for BYOD in your classroom, register your students for a Google account if they don't already have one, and create a classroom circle for your students in your Google Hangouts account for sharing.  
2. Create your own BYOD policy for your classroom. I'm very liberal with the use of BYOD in my classrooms, but establishing a policy for using BYOD, like a class syllabus, makes it clear and cut what is expected/tolerated of the students use of BYOD. If you don't already have one of your own, here is a link to a nice list of sample BYOD policies. 11 Sample Education BYOT Policies To Help You Create Your Own
3. Use cross platform sharing applications. Cross platforms are ideal for sharing links, documents, audios, videos, and messaging. Apps for phones like Viber, Tango and Whatsapp are popular with smart phones, but not compatible with many pads, notebooks, and laptops.  Your best bet is to utilize Google. Not only is its messaging system, "Hangouts" available on Apple and Android products, you do not require your student's personal phone number to register. You simply use their Gmail address.
4. Take advantage of cloud storage accounts. Once again, Google folks! Cloud storage systems like Google (Drive) and Dropbox allow your students to pull their work from any device and free themselves of hefty laptops and those easy to lose jump drives.  
5. Don't be afraid to use social media. Social media outlets like FB, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, and Glide are great tools for creative assignments and finding resources outside of the box. Use blogs as a place to display student writings.  Share or make YouTube videos to help students understand grammar points,  Have your students create a survey with their FB friends. Use Glide for a one-on-one video debate. Use Google Hangouts for a video conversation and then make it a YouTube video on your YouTube page. There are so many ways you can use Social Media in your BYOD classroom. Get creative. Here's a link to my current class blog via Blogger.  EF Atlanta B2.1
6. Be ready for things to go wrong. With technology, things WILL go wrong. Sometimes,  emails won't get delivered. Some devices just won't be compatible no matter what you do.  Internet connection will be slow. And yes, some of your students will spend more time on their own social media sites rather than their classwork. Be prepared by using alternative resources, and if worse comes to worse, there's nothing wrong with making paper copies of resources before class starts if you can foresee the problem ahead of time. 
7. Be consistent.  Start with one aspect of BYOD and stick with it.  The worst thing you can do to your class is start them out with the idea of BYOD and then two weeks later, bring them back to paper and pencil.  Pace yourself and stay consistent. You as the instructor are their key to success. No computer, smart phone, or Mobile device can replace the leadership of an instructor.

Best,

#mrford#techsavvyteacher

APP ALERT!! ESL PODCAST

     Are you a student looking for a great way to enhance your ESL/EFL listening skills? Are you an ESL Instructor who needs a quick listening activity to fill that missing gap in your syllabus? Check out my good friends Dr. Jeff and Dr. Lucy out in LA. ESL Podcast is the leader in podcasting for ESL/EFL students and instructors. Their podcasts are among the most popular and readily available online and on NOW your smart phone! 


     A lot of people are unfamiliar with podcasting.  Podcasting is basically a recorded dialogue that is intended to help enhance listening and reading comprehension skills.  They rely on a large variety of topics and many of these podcasts contain videos. A short quiz is usually given or listeners are asked to write a brief summary following the listening to test their comprehension. 

     I currently use this app in my Level 5 course at my institute as an instructor.  After playing the podcast via my phone and speakers, I ususally distibute a self generated worksheet that asks seven to ten questions and a brief summary of the listening.  I also request that my students download the app so that they can read along the second time the podcast is played for revision.

     Go to your Google Play Store and download the app today.  Let me know how it works for you.

                                                         


Best,
#mr.ford

How to Work LEGALLY as an F-1 Student!!

     The U.S. Government takes working illegally very seriously. If you as a student are caught working here illegally, you will face jail time and have to immediately leave the U.S. In some cases you will be able to return, however, repeat offenders and large profile cases will definitely be banned from the U.S. 

    Last week, a local ESL institute here in Georgia was shut down by ICE. Several students who were found either working or having their own businesses were arrested and now face deportation and possible fines.  

    As stricter immigration reform starts to take places across the United States, DHS, SEVP and ICE are tightening down on all ESL Institutes and investigations are ongoing. 

"How can I work if I have an F (student) Visa #mr.ford?"

    You're not supposed to.  But, if you must; there are two ways in which students on F-1 Visas can legally work here in the U.S. The first is applying for an on-campus job. However, there are some limitations here. You can only work a maximum of 20 hours a week and must remain in Active status. Once you've started working, you will get letter from your from your employer and an approval letter from your school's Designated School Officer or DSO. Use both letters to get yourself a social security number. With a social security number you can get a bank account and be eligible for other benefits that come with having a social security number.  On-Campus jobs work better in major colleges and universities better than small private schools and institutes where the need for on-campus jobs is significantly less.

    The second option is to apply for off-campus employment a year after you start studying in the U.S. A special authorization from United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) must be given to you in order to work. You must be recommended by your DSO and file a form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization.  After USCIS approves your application (8-10 week wait), you will receive a form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You may not work unit you receive your EAD. Just as with the first option above, you are limited to only 20 hours a week for work.

    As a reminder, if you are here to study English as an F1 Visa student, work is not your priority here in the U.S. However, the U.S. government does realize that students need income to support them while they are in school.  Students are also eligible for government benefits if they qualify.

   For more go to: www.http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/resources/working

 Best,

#mr.ford

     

Paperless I-94s Starting April 30th!

Current I-94 will be replaced by Automated I-94 by May 21, 2013

 

     If you've ever used your passport then you know that an I-94 is that little white form that your flight attendant asks you to fill out about 15 minutes before you land in your designated country. For those who are 'Coming to America', it's basically a form for Homeland Security and the U.S. Government to receive general information about you and your purpose of entering the country; including your flight number and place you intend on staying while here. 

 

     By May 21st, all people who enter the U.S. through an active seaport or airport will receive Automated I-94s.

 

     Starting April 30th, your I-94 will be collected by the airlines prior to your departure.  If you should need to access your admission number you will be able to do so online at CBP.gov/I94. You will need your passport number, date of birth, name, country of citizenship, and class of admission. 

     For nonimmigrant students, their I-94 number is necessary to change nonimmigrant status to another visa status or for an extension of nonimmigrant status. For more information...

https://www.help.cbs.gov
www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel

Best,
#mr.ford

Saturday's Atlanta Arab Festival was a BLAST!

    This Saturday's 8th Annual Atlanta Arab Festival was a BLAST! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed myself.  I got a chance to enjoy some deeelicious food, a live concert, group dance, and conversation with members of the local Arab Community at Atlanta's Alif Institute.  I missed the Opening Flag Ceremony, but was just in time to listen to a little Oud Music and get my hands on some gyros, grilled chicken, pita bread and hummus dressing from Mediterranean Grill of Decatur, GA.  If you have never eaten at Mediterranean Grill, you have got to do yourself a favor and swing by one of their three Atlanta locations and thank me later.

    Moving on, the costume fashion show was very fun to watch.  There was no male clothing fashion, but the Arabic female clothing fashion models were very beautiful if I might say ;)! As the day went on, I ran across coworkers, students, FB friends, close friends I invited, and people who were in general very nice to me.  The live dance was exciting too. If you know me, you know I'll get a party started out of nowhere, so when someone gestured me to join in a circle dance, I didn't hesitate a second brothers and sisters. I jumped in with my friends and students trying to hold me back by the shoulders. "Mr. Ford come back--" they screamed. LOL.  Soon I was holding other peoples' hands and had Arabic rhythm under my feet.  Everybody was laughing and smiling as we all moved to the right in a big circle.  And just as I turned my neck to see where my 'crew' was, I had those same fools that were holding me back earlier dancing and clapping their hands too. It was Awesome, I did however have one moment where I suffered a little bit of a culture clash...

    I had brought my Saudi Arabian flag with me to the festival and kept it in my back pocket. During an intermission of one of the performances, I pulled my Saudi flag out of my pocket and waved it in the air. My students ran up to me and asked to take photos with it. Soon, I had like 12 people wanting to take a picture with the flag.  One person was a nice older Arabic lady who spoke no English.  She took the flag from me and gave me her phone to take a picture. After two snaps, a younger man who I assumed to be her son or nephew asked me in English to take a picture of him, the flag, and the old lady. After I snapped the photo with his phone I gave it back to him and he thanked me and gave me a hug. Cool. As I turn and give the old woman her phone, I reach out for a hand shake and she QUICKLY drew her hand from me and crossed her arms. For small second I felt embarrassed and looked down at the ground as if I was going to slam my head in the concrete and bury it there. I had forgotten that Arabic women are not permitted to touch men who are not family members. I apologized to both of them and told the English speaking sir that I meant no disrespect at all. He said Ok. I apologized to the gentleman again and told him that I was just one of those silly Americans who loves to go around hugging everybody he comes across when he's having a good time. He told me not to worry and that there was no harm done. Then he said, "Here," reaching out and giving me another hug. "I give you another one since you like hug so much." :)


     The market this year was much bigger than last year's and it was great to see some local ESL Institutes with their booths recruiting students.  BBT had a nice presence and so did Coca-Cola. There were all kinds of cloth, jewelry, oils, and artwork to buy from friendly faces. Henna and face painting were available for the kids. There was also a pony ride, moonwalker and two big plastic bubbles that were more or less oversized inflatable hamster wheels.    

         

 

 

                                                                         

    As the evening wined down and the white tents in the market started to fall apart, I took a tour of the inside of Alif Institute and took some photos of my favorite room inside the learning center. It's a shame that I only come here once a year I thought to myself. The volunteer tour guide was very friendly and permitted me to take photos so long as I didn't ask her to be in one. Inside there was everything from brass and wood cooking instruments to little dolls dressed in very rich and detailed clothing. 
  
    Around 6:20 in the evening, I finally called it quits and made my way to the parking lot with a couple of free t-shirts and other goodies.  A couple of people asked me if I would be back the next day and I told them that if I wasn't, then I would definetly return next year. 

    As I close, after 5 and half hours at the festival, I spent a total of $10; that includes the $2 admission fee. I also LOST $20 in change at the festival and it was found and returned to me 4 hours after I reported it missing.

     If you are ever in the International Village area of Atlanta and have a chance, swing by the Alif Institute and tell them #mr.ford sent you!

  Best,
#mr.ford

Alif Institute
3288 Marjan Drive
Atlanta, GA 30340
(770) 936-8770
www.alifinstitute.org
http://www.alifinstitute.org
Like them on Facebook:
ALIF Institute
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

VETO SB-160 in Georgia!

Tonna Harris-Bosselmann

Dear Derek Ford and www.allthingsesl.blogspot.com,

The following message is from Tonna Harris-Bosselmann, the GATESOL Sociopolitical Concerns Interest Section Chair and GATESOL Member-at-Large:

Even though the 2013 legislative session was more benign for our immigrant students than some in years past, a horrible bill got through at the last minute.

SB 160 is flawed in many ways, but perhaps the worse aspect for our students is that it contains a provision that passports alone will no longer be accepted as valid ID in Georgia. SB 160 demands that the passport be accompanied by a list of documents that many people don't have and cannot get. This will be a disaster for families on many levels and could prevent parents from registering their CITIZEN children in school or getting them services such as medicaid or food stamps that they legally qualify for.

Call to Action: Implore Governor Deal to Veto SB 160! Call the Governor at 404-656-1776, send him letter, and email him on his website: http://gov.georgia.gov/webform/contact-governor-domestic-form. His address his 206 Washington Street, Suite 203, State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334.

Please act quickly and thank you!

Please direct further questions to tonnajane@gmail.com

 

How to Register for the TOEFL Test!

    

     On my weekends here in Atlanta, I am a TOEFL Test Administrator at my institution. For those who don't know or are curious to know, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is pretty much mandatory entrance exam for all non-native speakers to be accepted into a North American College or University.  It doesn't matter how good the speaker speaks English. If the speaker is non-native, they must take the TOEFL. So as an administrator, I am asked constantly by students how to register or sign-up for the TOEFL Test.  It's very easy to register and costs anywhere between $160-250 depending on where and when the student takes it. It is also important to note that there is no prerequisite for the TOEFL. Anyone can sign-up and there is no need to take classes or courses to register and take the test. Below you will find a video that will demonstrate step-by-step how to register ONLINE for the TOEFL. 

Best as always,
#mr.ford

 

 

TOEFL

http://www.stuff.co.uk/toefl.htm 

     The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures the ability of non-native speakers of English to use and understand North American English as it is spoken, written and heard in college and university settings.

     You have 20 minutes to do 20 questions. When you have completed the test you will get a score and you can review your answer to each question.

     Most people who take the TOEFL test are planning to study at colleges and universities where instruction is in English. In addition, many government agencies, scholarship programs, and licensing/certification agencies use TOEFL scores to evaluate English proficiency.
The TOEFL® Internet-based test has four sections. It is approximately four hours long. All four sections can be taken on one day. Note-taking is allowed throughout the test to help test takers answer the questions.

Reading
Three to five academic reading passages followed by comprehension questions

Listening
Two conversations that include two or more speakers in each
Four lectures, which include classroom dialogue

Speaking
6 questions, where you have to speak about something you have heard or read.

Writing
Two writing tasks, one involves reading and listening.

Atlanta Arab Festival 2013 at Alif Institute!

    
     I went last year and had so much fun meeting the local Arab community. I ate good and spent a lot of time inside the Institute. I will def. be there again this weekened and am bringing some students with me! www.alifinstitute.org if you want to find out more!

Best,
#mr.ford

Black and Abroad; Spelman Graduate in Spain!

     Last summer I had the oppourtunity to mentee the beautiful Nye Scott before she headed to the other side of the world to teach English as a Second Language. A graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, Nye has been teaching for several months now and was recently cool enough to share her experiences of living and teaching English in Malaga, Spain.

    

Nye Scott is from Atlanta, GA and currently teaches ESL in Southern Spain.

 

     As I closed one chapter in my life, another immediately began to unfold. Receiving my undergraduate degree from Spelman College signified the closing of one chapter, but boarding the plane to Andalusia was the start to a new beginning.  I packed my life up into a suitcase and decided to dedicate the next ten months of my life immersing in the flamenco dancing, tapa eating Andalusian culture of Spain

     Typically, most recent graduates decide to further their education in higher learning upon graduation, but I knew immersing in a different culture could teach and challenge me in a way a book wouldn’t be able to fulfill.  Although I was a little terrified, I knew my life was going to be enriched.

     As a participant of the CIEE Teach Abroad in Spain Program, I was assigned to dedicate ten months as a primary English teacher in Malaga, Spain (Andalusia). As a result, I had to spend about one month in Seville for orientation and preparation to immerse in a Spanish-speaking culture. All participants were required to live with a Spanish family during their time spent in Seville. I was very nervous about this transition because not only were they complete strangers, but we spoke different languages. I was also concerned about how my new family would receive me as a young woman of color. Now that I think about my initial fear, I feel both ashamed and guilty. My family and I bonded very well, regardless of our differences. I attended all the special occasions and we ate every meal together. We try to communicate to one another to the best of our ability, regardless of the challenge due to the language barrier. However when it was time to depart from Seville and move to Malaga, I was very emotional and did not realize how attached I had become. 

 

      Independent from both my Spanish family and the CIEE assistants, I was challenged to find a place to live and settle in to my daily routine. I fell in love with Malaga as soon as I arrived. Although Seville had beautiful, historical buildings, the beach sold me in Malaga. After finding a place of living and introducing myself to both my pupils and colleagues, I was able to sit back and analyze what I just did. Everything happening so fast, I did not realize that I actually found the courage enough to graduate from college, where I always had the comfort of my parents living down 75 South (Atlanta, Georgia), and move to another country where I could only rely on myself.

 

     There were a few adjustments, I had to make while living in the Spanish culture. In case you were unaware, much of the world believes all Americans are overweight and have poor eating habits. I found myself almost unsatisfied when breakfast consisted of toast and coffee and dinner being served in tapa portions. My eating habits adjusted and I eat much healthier which is known as the Mediterranean diet. I was also in quite surprise when I was informed that siesta (nap) time is from 2 pm till 5 pm in the afternoon. The whole city is shut down to take a break, eat with family, and most importantly to siesta before returning back to work. Lastly, the obvious adjustment was speaking to the locals in their native language, Spanish.

     In reference to my job, I absolutely love my school. I have the best children and co-workers who really strive to learn and teach English effectively. My students are always curious about my background and culture which encourages them to speak English in order to build a close relationship with me. However, my students aren’t the only ones who are fascinated with the American culture and the idea of the American dream.

     It seems like everyone in Spain loves the American culture. Everyone sports their American flag attire and sings what they believe to be the latest hits in the States. However, when I share with locals that I am an American they almost look in disbelief. But they always seemed more intrigued and welcoming. Malaga has recently experienced a lot of migration particularly from Nigeria and Morocco. Because Andalusia is not highly diversified, the Andalusian people may still be trying to adjust and react positively to the new changes. However, most of the locals have received me well (especially when they are knowledgeable about where I am from) and also because I hold the magic. The magic is English. With the economy being horrible, everyone wants to learn English to seek better opportunities for employment.

     Overall, I am very satisfied with my choice of living in the southern part of Spain. I have been able to travel to Paris (France), Amsterdam/Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and Dublin/Killarney/Cork (Ireland). I plan to travel to Morocco, Rome, and London before my departure. 

     Of course, I miss my family and wish I could be home for special occasions. But the love for my students and the welcoming culture has always been my encouragement to finish out strong. My experience has been wonderful and it was the best decision I could have made after college. My time is now running down (2 more months), but one thing I have learned is to always have and keep an open mind.  I have also found a greater appreciation for the culture and lifestyle of the American people. We are truly a blessed country which provides an ample amount of opportunities. However, sometimes it takes traveling and immersing in a different culture to realize one's privileges. I am returning with a new frame of mind and a love for the Spanish people.

-Nye Scott

Use Your Samsug Smartphone to Give Class Lectures and Presentations Via Your TV!

Samsung's Allshare Cast "Dongle" $99

 

 

     Imagine giving ESL PowerPoint Presentations or lectures to students wirelessly via your Galaxy S3. Samsung's Allshare Cast "Dongle" lets you connect your Allshare Cast enabled device wirelessly to any HDTV or HDMI! So what does all that mean? The hub mirrors your phone screen on the display allowing you to share pictures, videos, games, presentations, YouTube Videos, Netflix and more while controlling all of the action from your Samsung phone. This device is compatible with Galaxy S3 and S4 as well as Note2; sorry iphone users:(

 

   Sure, $99 is a little expensive, but it's TOTALLY worth not having to move all those wires around. As someone who gives constant presentations, trust me when I tell you that this device is a GO!! Extremely light and small, it hides perfect behind a TV or your PC.  

 

     Installation is easy as 1, 2, 3.  Plug the adapter in to your wireless device, turn on the Allshare Cast option in your settings and BOOM; you're set!  The screen will even rotate with your Samsung phone or tablet. As a side bonus, the hub's charger doubles a phone charger! If you are a tech savvy teacher like me, then this device is a great addition to your aresenal. Check the video below to see how it all works!

 

Best,

#mr.ford

APP ALERT!!! Quizmo

    












     There are only a hand few of multiple choice Quiz Creating apps in Google Play for tech savvy teachers, and Quizmo is the newest.  Quizmo has only been out for two months, but already has 1000+ downloads in Google Play thanks to its ability to easily incorporate personal photos into your quiz via your camera or image gallery.  Quizmo also lightens you up on having to type all possible answers for your questions as the answers are taken randomly from other questions in the quiz (this saves HELLA time). If you are like me, you use the text to speech option and damn near never have to type a thing except minor mistakes made by Google Voice.

     The ability to create multiple choice quizzes and share them via smartphones is not new, but in the past, it has been very difficult to connect photos to your multiple choice questions without risking the coding when sending them via email to your students. When compared to similar apps like Quiz 'n Poll, Quizmo definitely looks better, but is not as simple to share.  Sending your students a quiz on their phones using Quiz 'n Poll is much simpler and doesn't require you to memorize any codes and enter them. Though the concept seems easy, it is really annoying when having to deliver your quiz in class.   For more on Quizmo, check out my review in Google Play and see if it's right for you.

Best,
#mr.ford

The S Pen. WTF is it for?

 



 

     Up to a few weeks ago, I, like most everybody else, thought Smartphones and pens were a lame combination; especially in a now more than ever "touch screen" society. I really didn't see a point to them at all. The last time I owned a Smartphone with a pen was when I lived in China. And even then, I rarely used the accompanying pen to the tune of losing it only a month and a half after purchasing the Smartphone.

     Pens in the past have been unsuccessful with Smartphone for the most part because the screens were too small to write on. But boasting a 5.5 inch screen, the Samsung Galaxy Note series makes jotting down notes or sharing a document in real time with a pen feel as natural as if you were scribbling on a large index card.

     So why should everyone be excited about a pen? Well, they shouldn't. If you are like most Smartphone users, you use your phone to make and receive calls, check your email, snap photos, listen to music, and surf Facebook. In other words, you use your Smartphone for mainly convenient pleasure and are probably not taking full advantage of what your Smartphone offers you. But for business people and educators, we seek a little more than just entertainment from our phones. We need our phones to be able to record meetings, share documents, take notes, scan and fax documents, create and read QR codes, etc. We need full usage and more storage space than the average user.  So naturally, a pen in hand is always one and the same with business and educator peoples.  If you are interested in what the S Pen can really do with the Samsung Note 2, check out this cool video below by pocketnowvideo. If you like what you see, go ahead and subscibe to their page.

Best,
#mr.ford  



A Black Single Mom Abroad by Rakysha Raysor

 

 

As a single mom, I get so many surprised looks when I tell people that I taught English in Spain last year and I actually brought my  two children along with me. As soon as they hear about my experience I always get the same two questions:

 

First, why would I leave a pretty stable life to do something like this? It was the right time in my life, my kids were at a great age(11 and 9) and I had a career that I could come back to, so I decided to go for it.  However, I think the most important deciding factor was that we all really wanted it. I have always wanted to live abroad and my kids were up for the adventure.

 

Secondly, how did I do it?. To start, I simply Googled “single mom teaching English abroad” and went from there. I had to weed  through a lot dead-ends and roadblocks but I just kept going. I finally found a program through the Ministry of Education in Spain that didn't restrict bringing children along. However,  they didn't provide any additional assistance for bringing children and I had to do all the visa paperwork,  register my kids in school  and find housing myself, so it was a lot of work. Also, I had to have all of my custody papers and agreements in order, that is a dealbreaker, you can't get a visa without it.

 

Despite all the challenges, I can say without a doubt, it was worth it. I loved teaching and working with the kids there. It was an amazing life changing experience.  We traveled all over Europe and got to see life from a different point of view. My kids got to see firsthand that different doesn't equal wrong, for that alone, I would do it again in minute.

 

To any parents who are interested in teaching abroad, having kids does not mean the end of your dream; if anything bringing them a long will only enhance it. Don't be discouraged by the logistics. If it's something you're passionate about, go for it!

 

 

 

TEFL Scams

    

     If you've been in the TEFL game long enough, chances are you've either been scammed or ran across a scam at least once in your career. Truth is, scams for TEFL are just as common as with anyother online industry. 

    So how do you know if your dream job is a scam or not? Well, first of all, if it sounds to good to be true it probably is.  I once had a job offer in England to privately teach an engineer and his family in exchange for free housing, a NICE salary, and a car of my own to drive.  I was so hungry for work, I didn't think things through clearly and almost lost $1,200 in a scam had it not been for my loving cousin who checked the resources of my offer.  Remember, if it sounds to good to be true than it most definatley is.

    Second, if a possible employee asks for any kinds of money up front beware!  Many scamsters will ask for money during your interview process. For me, after sending copies of my passport, visa, and a contract reimbursement document, my interviewer asked for $1,200 that would be given back to me upon arrival to prove to the governemnt that I would not be a 'burden' on it's society if I became jobless.  Remember, you are going there to make money, NOT give it away.


     Thirdly, never trust an employer who only contacts you solely via email.  Some scammers are very shy when confornting their scammees that they refuse to speak via phone.   If you can't even hear a voice, why would you trust them with your financial well being?

    Do your homework on the company and check their website, or Google them.  A great source of  reliable information for legit TEFL companies is available at Daves ESL Cafe. Also, Craigslist is a good source for international jobs, but beware that there are several scam artists lurking in it's corners as well.  Jobs usually posted on Craigslist are for teachers already in that country who already have a working class visa.  Jobs on Craigslist usually don't do visa sponsprships of any kind. I hope this helps.

Best,
#mr.ford