3 Tips for Moving to Another Country

1. Bring Enough Money
Make sure you have enough start-up cash. Some places will provide everything you while other might make you pay rent, buy furniture, food, and pay for transport. Remember you don't need to bring everything with you, for packing tips check out Goodhouse Keeping's packing list.

2. Learn How to Adjust
Making friends helps a lot and don't forget to keep in touch with people back home. Moving is stressful enough, but when you move to another country you can feel overwhelmed. 30 days to move abroad is a great book that makes moving overseas a breeze. Knowing about culture shock and how it'll affect you will help you as well.



3. Learn the Language
Try to take some classes before you leave. You can find out how by reading learning the local lingo. Learning the language can mean adjusting to the lifestyle or remaining an outsider. Learning the language isn't as hard as you may think it is. Take a look at the language hacking guide by Benny the Irish Polyglot.

Also published in . . .
This article has been featured in the ELT Times.

Updated 22 January 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

How to Teach Mixed Level Classes

• Go online. You can find lots of material for lesson plans online.
• Pair weaker students with stronger students. Both students benefit in this situation.
• Do research. Check out ebooks which will help you get started.
• Call on everyone. Give the weaker students a chance to participate as well.
• Keep silent. By keeping silent after asking questions you’ll give students a chance to put together their answer.
• Projects. Not only will they get the chance to meet other people, but they will also learn valuable group working skills.
• Routines. They make students comfortable and will lessen the need for explanations.
• Have sequential material. Make different questions according to the levels.
• Give students choices. Offer students a choice whether for homework or projects. By giving students choices, they take responsibility for their learning and can choose the activity that will challenge them the most.
• Use students to help. Students can pass out papers and even help explain exercises.
• Create activity corners. Think of a couple of activities that students can do on their own or with a small group. You could have listening, speaking, problem solving, a game, a song, in different areas around the room etc.
• Divide the class. When presenting a new topic some students might understand very quickly. After presenting send those who understand to the back to work on exercises. You can give more examples to those who don't.

Also published in . . .
This article has also been published in the ELT Times.

Updated 18 January 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

Tips for Dealing With Culture Shock

The best thing to do is to be aware of culture shock and how to deal with it. If you’re prepared for what to expect it will make overcoming culture shock much easier. Having pictures from home, talking to people in your native language, talking a walk in the park, or even sleeping can all help with culture shock. Overseas-Exile has some interesting statistics about expats who leave foreign countries before their contracts are up. It seems like the more different that culture is from yours, the more likely you are to leave.

Learning the language is probably one of the most important steps you can take to getting accustomed to your host country. Learning the language isn't as hard as you may think it is. Take a look at the language hacking guide by Benny the Irish Polyglot. If people speak English where you work, you’ll probably face less problems. You will still have to deal with cultural issues, such as greetings, time, personal space, or dealing with co-workers and management.

Paperwork is often less organised in other countries. If you have to get a work visa, be prepared to run around to lots of different places to get notarisations, legalisations, and translations. You’ll have to be a patient person to deal with all this paper pushing, though it may help to think that all this paperwork allows someone to feed their family. Be patient, smile, and bring something to do to pass the time. If you’re nice to those who are helping you, they’ll be nice to you and more likely to help you out.


You can, change the way you dress, act and speak. Tank tops, shorts, flip-flops, cargo pants, swishy pants, tennis shoes, hats, and sunglasses might not be the best things to wear in some countries. The way you act is also important. Don’t try to call attention to yourself. If you don’t speak the language of the host country, that’s fine, but try to make an effort to at least learn the basics. If you have to speak English, don’t shout or speak to people like they’re stupid. Use simple words and gestures. You can red more about fitting in at respectful travel.


Also published in . . .
This article has been published in the Turkish University Press.
Updated 19 February 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.