Review of Tax Uncomplicated / U.S. Expat Taxes in Korea

I've written reviews about tax accountants before. First in 2012, I wrote about Greenback Tax Services and then in 2013 I wrote about Taxes for Expats. I never used Taxes for Expats for my tax returns due to the dodgy feeling I got from them. I used Greenback Tax Services from 2011-2014. In 2015, I decided to try a different accountant. The two people who ran this service were Americans who had lived in Korea for years. They're called Tax Uncomplicated and their Facebook group is called U.S. Expat Taxes in Korea. I figured they would have a different prospective on things.Tax Uncomplicated is the American headquarters and Klemsen Consulting is the Korean branch.

I exchanged messaged with Wayne Allen Pfeister over Facebook. They put their prices on their website. However, as I mentioned before I don't just have one income from one country, so that complicates things. I knew I wasn't going to be paying the basic fee, but that's fine with me. I was quoted 235,000 KRW, which is about $200. That's about half of what I was paying with Greenback Tax Services and I liked the fact that they had lived in Korea, so were familiar with that aspect of it.

Speed: 4
Wayne was pretty good at answering my questions very quickly, often within the same day. There were some lags, but I think that was because we were in different time zones.

Communication: 5
Absolutely fantastic. He answered all my questions and gave me all the information I needed. Their Facebook group is called U.S. Expat Taxes in Korea, is also great for getting information.

Price: 5
Looking at what other accountants charge for expat taxes, Tax Uncomplicated is very, very affordable. I paid less than I had before and got more back. However, getting more back could be due to re-marrying. Nonetheless, it's a fantastic deal. I also like the fact that since I live in Korea and make money in Korea, I could pay in Korean currency into a Korean bank account. No need to worry about exchange rates.

Quality: 5
Wonderful. He asked for my past returns and looked them over to see what Greenback Tax Services had done. Tax laws are always changing and he's on top of it and knows how to get the most money back. Their website is very simple and easy to navigate. There's something to be said about the fact that it's not confusing to find out what you need.

Professionalism: 5
Great. I was always treated with respect and in a professional manner. I never felt like any of the questions I asked were stupid.

Overall Review: 4.8
Tax Uncomplicated is great, especially for expats living in Korea. Working with accountants who know about Korea and can allow you to pay via Korean bank transfer makes everything so convenient. The one issue that people might have is that information is sent using email or Facebook. I know with Greenback Tax Services, they had a special encrypted client area. That might be something that they could look at for the future. However, I think Tax Uncomplicated targets a different niche: teachers in Korea. And unfortunately, let's face it, we're certainly not rolling in it.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Top 5 Tax Tips for Self-Employed US Expats

The following post is from a guest blogger from Greenback Tax Services.

Self-employment can be tricky as a US expat. It’s difficult to know who the IRS actually considers self-employed and if you are classified as such, how will you be taxed? Expats often have slightly unique situations—such as working a full-time job and earning additional money ‘on the side’. So let’s take a closer look at the top 5 things you need to know if you are (or may be!) a self-employed American living overseas.

1. What is a self-employed individual? 
As a general rule, you are not treated as self-employed for US tax purposes if you are categorized as an employee. So this means that if you work for a foreign or US employer and are considered an employee, you are not self-employed and you do not need to pay self-employment tax. If you are self-employed, you must file a US tax return if your income exceeds $400 (yes, you read that right—only $400!).

2. What is self-employment tax? 
Essentially, self-employment tax is your Social Security and Medicare payments to the US. The current rate is 15.3% and you can pay these taxes at the time taxes are due or pay estimated quarterly payments throughout the year. Remember that if you are paying at the end of the tax year, you must pay any taxes owed by April 15th, (not the expat tax deadline of June 15th), as this is when penalties and interest begin to accrue.

3. Where do I make my Social Security payments? 
No matter how you earn your income, Social Security payments must always be paid to someone! You may actually be subjected to the dreaded dual taxation—meaning, you pay Social Security taxes to both the US and your host country.

To prevent this, the US has entered into agreements with 24 countries that determine which country you pay Social Security to—so it is important to know if your host country has such an agreement and t also check the fine print!

For example, the US-UK agreement says that if you’re self-employed and you only want to pay into the UK national insurance system, you actually have to volunteer or opt out of the US Social Security system. If you don’t do that, you’re still required to pay into both systems.

However, in general, if you’re self-employed and working overseas you’ll pay into the US Social Security system. If you work primarily for a foreign employer, you’ll most likely pay into the system of your country of residence.

4. What if I earn money on the side? 
As noted above, if you are a regular employee overseas, you will not be taxed as self-employed. But that doesn’t mean your additional earnings are tax-free! While additional income doesn’t automatically classify you self-employed in the eyes of the US, you will still need to be report it on your Form 1040. And as you may have guessed, it is taxable in the US!

5. Can I exclude my additional income from taxation? 
The good news here is that your additional income will be included in your foreign sourced income, which may be excluded from US tax liability. Using the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, you can exclude up to $100,800 from US taxes (in 2015). So as long as your total income doesn’t exceed the $100,800 threshold, you will not owe any taxes on the additional income you earn. Remember that in order to be eligible to use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, you must qualify as a US expat by passing one of two residency tests: the Physical Presence test or the Bona Fide Residence test.

Any additional money earned in the US or from a US source is not ‘foreign earned’ and therefore cannot be excluded with the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.

If you have any questions about your income, how to report it or what taxes you will be required to pay, we highly recommend that you speak to an expat tax professional.

Failure to pay US taxes can result in steep penalties and excessive interest!

This post was written by David McKeegan, co-founder of Greenback Expat Tax Services. Greenback specializes in the preparation of US expat taxes for Americans living abroad. Greenback offers straightforward pricing, a simple, hassle-free process, and CPAs and IRS Enrolled Agents who have extensive experience in the field of expat tax preparation. 

For more information about Greenback Expat Tax Services or your US expat tax obligations, please contact us or visit www.greenbacktaxservices.com.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Business 101: Teachers, Don't Compete on Price

I double majored in Art and Business Management. Polar opposites, I know, but they both really suited me and helped me as a teacher. One of the topics that I'm passionate about is teachers' pay. When asked if teachers are paid fairly, they all unanimously said no. Salaries are going down, benefits are decreasing while responsibilities are increasing and so is the cost of living. But what can you do? It's you against them.

While that is true, there are still issues that you have control over, private lessons are one of them. Teachers who teach private students quickly learn what the going rate is and most of the time start at the lower end or in the middle. What they're trying to do is make their lessons as cheap as or cheaper than other teachers. There are a number of reasons why this is a bad choice and I'm going to discuss them below.

From http://www.business2community.com/customer-experience/dont-compete-on-price-compete-on-value-0157016

Why You Should Not Compete on Price

1. Someone will always beat you. They will. Just watch and see. Before you know it you'll have a pricewar on your hands. You'll lose. It'll become a consumers' market and as a teacher you'll have to accept a lower and lower price per hour.
2. You'll feel undervalued and underappreciated. There's more than just teaching that goes into private lessons. You may have to travel to get to them. You'll have to prep your lesson plans. Before you know it your one hour private lesson has expanded to three hours, however, you're only getting paid for one.
3. People associate cost with worth. You get what you pay for. So if you charge less per hour than other teachers, students may think you're a worse teacher.
4. Price is only one thing. There are other things out there, such as value, customer satisfaction, student test results, and innovative teaching methods, just to name a few. 

Why You Should Charge More

1. People like status symbols. Diamonds, Ferraris, Mansions. They're all very expensive. There are much cheaper options out there, but people choose to get expensive items. They're status symbols that people like to show off. Similarly, there are people who will brag about being able to afford $100 an hour private lessons. Don't be followed into thinking that everyone wants the cheapest option out there.
2. You'll make more money. If you increase your prices by 20% then that means you can make 20% more than before.
3. You can work less. If you increase your prices by 20%, then you can work 20% less and still make what you made before. The more you charge, the more you make.
4. You'll deal with higher quality people. If you don't want to deal with people who will nickle and dime you and always fight over price, you need to charge more. By doing this you will end up dealing people of a higher caliber. People who believe that money isn't the end all and are willing to pay for a good lesson.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

How to Get a Bachelor Degree Online

Updated 23 September 2016

This information was originally posted at the end of the article is a degree necessary to teach English abroad? I decided to copy and paste it here in order to make it easier to find.

More and more places are requiring a college degree. Gone are the days of the backpacker teacher where you could waltz into a language school and get a job. Places are requiring degrees, transcripts, criminal background checks, and more paperwork than before.

Having a degree will open up more doors for you as well. In addition, you're more likely to get a good paying job with great benefits. However, time and money are an issue, especially if you're older and / or have a family. The information below will help you finish your degree as quickly and cheaply as possible. The universities below are accredited and cater to mature students. Most of them are U.S. universities, but there are also ones from the U.K., Canada, and for people living in Asia and Europe.

Free courses are available online at Academic Earth, Class-Central, Coursera, EdX, Lynda, Skill Crush, U of People, Udemy, and Udacity.

How to Get a College Degree
If you plan to make teaching English your career and would like to be able to save for retirement you will probably need a degree. Distance study and courses for mature students are making it easier for everyone to get a college education. The US Department of Education has recently released a study that shows that students who study online perform better. If money's an issues, check out the Art of Manliness, which has some good info about Testing Out: How to "Moneyball" Your Way to a Debt-Free College Degree.

• Outside credit by examination. You can take tests such as ACE, ECE, and CLEP.
• The college's credit by examination. Each college might have exams that you can take.
• AP. Theses courses are studied during high school but you don't have to be in high school to take the exams.
• DANTES (DSST). These are usually for people in the military.
• Subject specific exams. Criminal Justice/Police Proficiency Examinations, and Medical Terminology Examination are some examples. Wilbur Wright College is one college that accepts these.
• Applicable certifications. Military credits, Foreign credentials, Certified Child Development Credentials, Emergency Medical Services (paramedic certification), and Licensed/Practical Nursing certifications are just a few that may be accepted.
• Life experience. Some schools will give you college credit if you have documented work or volunteer. You may have to create a portfolio to document your experience.

If money's an issue you could go through a community college for two years, then transfer. Try Clovis Community College, New Mexico. In the USA, regional accrediation usually is better than national, though not always.  Here are some that you might want to look at.

• Athabasca, Canada
• Bowie State with the University of Maryland for people in Japan
• Chadron State College
• Eastern Oregon University
• Excelsior
• Fort Hays State University
• Open University, U.K.
• University of Maryland Asia
• University of Maryland Europe
• University of Maryland Online
• University of St. Mary

On-campus Programs Aimed Towards Mature Students
In addition to the colleges and universities above, try these.

• Colombia University School of Special Studies
• Georgetown Center for Continuing and Professional Education  
• Harvard Extension School
• Penn State Liberal and Professional Studies
• Thomas Edison State College
• Yale College Programs of Study 

Other Useful Sites Mainly for the USA

• Campus Internships
• College Answer
• College Scholarships 
• eCampus Tours 
• FastWeb
• Fulbright
• Publication 970 from the IRS
• Student Aid
• Tuition U
• Webster University has good internships
• Work-Study

Famous People Without a Degree
There are plenty of people who have been able to become successful despite the fact that they don't have a degree. Keep in mind that there are also plenty of underemployed, jobless, unsuccessful people who don't have a degree as well.

• Alexander Graham Bell
• Barbra Streisand
• Ben Franklin
• Bob Dylan
• Bill Gates
• Dave Thomas
• David Ben Gurion 
• David Sarnoff (NBC mogul)
• Debbie Fields
• Dustin Hoffman
• Eleanor Roosevelt
• Ellen DeGeneres
• Ernest Hemingway
• Frank Lloyd Wright 
• Helena Rubenstein
• Henry Ford
• Jane Fonda
• Jesse Ventura 
• John D. Rockefeller
• Larry Ellison (Oracle's founder)
• Leonardo DiCaprio
• Madonna
• Malcolm X
• Mark Zuckerberg
• Michael Dell
• Peter Jennings
• Ray Kroc (McDonald's founder)
• Richard Leakey
• Robert Redford
• Rosie O'Donnell
• Rush Limbaugh 
• Steve Jobs
• Thomas Edison
• Thomas Watson (IMB founder)
• Tom Hanks 
• Walt Disney
• Walter Cronkite
• Warren Beatty
• Woody Allen
• Wright Brothers

Writing a Cover Letter for a Job that Requires a BA
I found this in Cool Careers For Dummies. While in some cases you won't get hired without a degree, for example, it's an immigration requirement, in other cases your experience might outweight the fact that you don't have a degree. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Dear Ms. Hirer,

When you’re inundated with applications, it’s tempting to weed out those without a degree, but I believe I’m worth a look precisely because I don’t have a degree.

I considered getting a BA, but after talking with a number of BA holders and examining the courses I would have to take and their relevance to becoming a good software marketing manager, I concluded that four years could be more profitably spent.

I contacted directors of marketing at leading Silicon Valley software companies and offered to work for them for free in exchange for their mentoring. I figured that was cheap tuition for the on-target learning I would receive. A marketing manager at HP took me on. After three months, I felt I had learned about as much from him as I could, whereupon I made a similar arrangement with a director of marketing at Cisco Systems.

In these apprenticeships, I was deeply involved in a number of projects similar to those mentioned in your ad, specifically internet marketing and managing a national consumer branding campaign. In addition, I attend American Marketing Association conferences, read the best articles and books recommended by the AMA, and spend much of my commute time listening to relevant books on DC. To get the bigger picture, I even read a couple of books by leading academics.

But now comes the moment of truth. In choosing a self-directed education over a traditional one, I believe I prioritized substance over form. Now the question is: Will you interview me?

I hope that you’ll appreciate my having developed an outside-the-box learning plan, that I was assertive enough to make it happen, and persistent enough to see it through to completeion without a professor and deadlines forcing me to do so. Perhaps more important, in working at the right handof top software marketing executive, I learned a tremendous amount about how to do the job well.

I recently discussed my self-education with a BA holder from Stanford and he said that I probably learned more of real-value than he did.

I’m hoping you will call me for an interview, but as with any good employee, I won’t just wait passively. If I haven’t heard from you in a week, I will take the liberty of phoning to follow up. I’m enclosing samples of the deliverables I produced during my work at HP and cisco. Thankyou for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Christopher Wah

Also published in the Turkish University Press.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

6 Tips for Teaching Intermediate Students

There seem to be a lot of tips out there for beginners and advanced students, but few for intermediate students. It's a shame, because intermediate students hit a plateau and can get easily discouraged. Below you will find some tips for helping your intermediate students and keeping them motivated.

1. Teach your students how they can improve their English. Students tend to get stuck in a rut and not try new ideas. Show them what else they can do. 
2. Have students keep track of their goals. They should look at them regularly and cross of the goals they've achieved and think about what they can do to reach the other goals. 
3. Try recording students regularly. A simple tape recorder will do, though videos are better. Students can watch  themselves and see how much progress they've made.
4. Portfolios are great as well. Students should save their work and look back to see what they've achieved.
5. Try new activities. ESL About has tips for teachers and students. You can also find a lot of links in the lesson planning article.
6. Have more advanced students come in and talk about their language learning experience. They can give tips on overcoming the intermediate plateau as well.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Quitting a Teaching Job

Updated 2 February 2015

Sometimes things don't turn out according to plan and you come to a point when you want to quit your job. Forbes has written about the top 5 reasons employees quit in 2013: stability, compensation, respect, health benefits, and work-life balance. However, before quitting, there are a couple things you should consider. Research says that between 40-50% of teachers will leave the classroom within their first 5 years of teaching.


Things to Think About
If you've just started your job, give it a chance and wait a bit. It can take time to get used to a new boss, new country, and new way of doing things. If you're near the end of your contract, it might be worth your while to finish the contract, especially if you get a completion bonuses, airfare, or other perks.

You might want to talk to your co-workers or boss and tell them how you're feeling. They might be able to give you suggestions on how to get used to the school or help you with any problems you might have.

Time to Leave?
However, sometimes circumstances make it impossible to finish a contract. You might have a family emergency back home or your boss might have broken a lot of promises. If this is the case, you need to do some research before quitting.

If you plan on staying in country and want to get another job, find out what kind of paperwork you need in order to transfer your visa. You might need a release letter in order to get another job. You should also get a certificate of employment. It's not a reference letter per se, but it will state your name, job title, and dates you have worked. It should be on official letterhead and signed by your boss.

Legalities
Find out how many days in advance you need to give notice. Check your contract. Most employers state that you have to give 30 days notice. Make sure you give written notice. Make two copies, which both you and your boss sign. Keep one copy and give the other to your boss.

Ask about housing as well. You should be able to stay in the housing until you leave. Some employers will try to make you leave early or will move the new teacher in with you. Let them know that that's not acceptable.

Get what's due to you as far as benefits and money go. Some places will give you half your airfare if you stay at least 6 months. Others will pay you for unused vacation days. Each place is different, so check your contract.


Moving On
Lastly, don't bad mouth the school. It can be easy to rant and rave and say how horrible your boss was. Don't do it. Whether at an interview or on a forum, be careful what you say. Keep it simple and say something like you and your boss didn't agree on things or promises weren't kept. There's no need to go into detail.

Remember, if you quit it's not the end of the world. Most employers are good, but there are some unscrupulous ones out there. If you didn't do a lot of research before accepting this job, try to do more when you accept your next job. If you did lots of research but things simply didn't go according to plan that's ok, it happens to everyone. Remember to keep your chin up and next time you should be able to find a better job.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Sending Money Home

Updated 12 November 2014

Many people go overseas with the intention of saving money to pay off debts and bills back home. How you send money can make a big different. Some ways are expensive and others are cheap. Some are fast and some are slow. Below you can find some of the most popular ways to send money back home.


Before You Send Money
Check the fees. Bank drafts and debit cards seem to have the cheapest fees. If your fees tend to be high, try to only send home large amounts of money a couple times a year. You'll have to consider exchange rates as well. Though to be honest, unless you're sending home HUGE amounts of money, it probably won't matter that much. Here are 8 ways to send money home.

1. Bank Drafts / Cashiers Cheques / Money Orders from Banks
2. Bank Transfers to Different Banks
3. Bank Transfers to the Same Bank
4. Debit Cards
5. Money Orders
6. Paypal
7. Traveller's Cheques
8. Country Specific information

1. Bank Drafts, Cashiers Cheques, Money Orders
tttompatz from Dave's ESL Cafe suggests money orders: the cheapest way to send money is to get a money order from a bank. It's available at most banks that offer foreign exchange and available in most "global" currencies" (dollars, pounds, euros). Fees are lower than bank transfers.

This is also known as a bank draft, demand draft, or cashiers check. You make it payable to yourself. Then mail it to your home account with the endorsement "payable to the account of the payee only #xxx-xx-xxx-xxxx". JoeKing has instructions for how to do this. It is still safe and secure but will take 1-2 weeks to get to your account and your bank may hold the funds for up to 30 days pending clearance of the money order.

You might be able to do this on your phone as well. It's called remote deposit or remote capture. All the big banks and credit unions have this feature.

Canadian, UK, and US banks will treat it the same as any other check for deposit in regards to fees. Some banks will not even wait for it to clear (if it is drawn on a US bank). They will credit your account as soon as it is deposited. It is the same as a certified check but issued from the bank and not from a personal account.

2. Bank Transfers to Different Banks
You usually need to have residency in the country you're living in in order to send bank transfers, though laws vary. In order to send bank transfers, you will need to know your home bank's information (SWIFT number, routing number, account number, address, phone, and fax of your bank). Fees vary and often you'll be charged by the bank you're sending money from and your home bank. It's fast and secure, but often expensive, and can be about $20 to $50.

Some banks often regular bank transfers (often called overseas remittance, plus or premimum accounts) at reduced prices. You often have to pay a monthly fee (about $10) to set up the account overseas and then your home bank will charge you a fee (about $20, depending on the bank) to receive the money.

3. Bank Transfers to the Same Bank
If you're lucky to be able to open a bank such as Scotiabank or HSBC that has branches all over the world, then you could cut down on fees. Make sure you can open an account in the country you're going to. While it was easy to open an HSBC account back home, in Korea I was told I needed half a million dollars. In order to send bank transfers, you will need to know your home bank's information (SWIFT number, routing number, account number, address, phone, and fax of your bank).

4. Debit Cards
Open a bank account in the country where you're living. Get a debit card that can be used overseas. Send that card to someone you trust back home. Once they get it, then activate it. Sometimes you can't do this and need to activate it in the country that you're living in.

If you do this than make sure you send it via secure post or don't have any money in the account before you send it. Deposit money into that account, then have the person you trust take out the money back home. You'll probably be charged about $3 to $5 for each withdrawal, but it's cheaper than doing a bank transfer.

5. Money Orders
Western Union, Moneygram, and Xoom are commonly used to send money. The money gets there fast, but fees are on the high side. You'll also need someone back home to pick up the money and deposit it in your account.

6. Paypal
Set up a Paypal account in the country you'll be living in. You'll need to link your overseas and home bank accounts. Check fees (they're usually about 2.9%) and exchange rates since they tend to be low. If your bank charges a flat fee it can be better to send a large amount through the bank rather than Paypal.






7. Traveller's Cheques
Buy traveller's cheques and make them out to someone back home. You sign in both places, but state that it's for deposit only, that an ID is required, and it's non-transferable.  Mail it back home via registered mail.


8. Country Specific
China: With only your passport you can exchange up to $500 a day. Foreigners who want to exchange more than this will have to bring docs such as their passports, contracts, and letters from their employers. You can create a bank account for foreign currency and then exchange up to $500 a day and put it in that account, then transfer all of it at once back home. ABC (Agricultural Bank of China) and CUP (China Union Pay) seems to have less restrictions. 

Some people use Western Union even though it costs more but is less hassle. 

China Post is even better since it costs less than Western Union. 

Other people use their Chinese ATM cards back home to get money out. Be aware that legally only up to 70% of your salary can be converted to foreign currency. 

Chinese have less restrictions than foreigner, so if you have a chunk of change to exchange and don't want to jump through the hoops, ask a Chinese friend to help you. You should be able to send up to $50,000 without a Chinese ID. You can find more info at this post on Dave's.



Japan: Get a GoLlloyds account. It's quick, easy, and cheap. You can do it at the ATM or in the bank.You could also send money through Japan Post's international money orders. They have great exchange rates and only charge 2,000 JPY. With the post office you will have to fill out a form and wait about a week. Plus, you need someone back home to deposit the money order. 

Another option is through Remit. It made Gaijinpot news so seems to be a good deal. 

The Paypal option works in Japan too.

Korea: In Korea you can get an automatic overseas remittance through KEB. They set up an account for you, separate from your main account. You can access them through the bank, ATMs, or online. Any money transferred into this special overseas remittance account will be sent to the overseas account of your choice at the end of the business day. Fees are lower if you do this. Keep in mind that in Korea, you can only use ONE bank for overseas services, such as bank transfers or ATMs. KEB is the best one.

Mexico: The Paypal option works in Mexico too. (Thanks go to Samantha from Dave's ESL Cafe for this info). Open a Paypal account referencing your Mexican bank account. Then after your Mexican bank account is verified, add a US bank account to your same Paypal account. After that account is verified you should be free to upload money to your Paypal account from Mexico and withdraw it to your US account. You will have to do a bit of reading and research on the Paypal site if you aren't familiar with it. They will need your 18 digit CLABE from your bank.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Getting Your First Job

Updated 8 December 2014

There are many different ways to get into TEFLing. Some people start directly out of university, others pursue a different career and then get into teaching, and still others retire and decide to teach. Whatever your case, there are some important things to know about getting your first job. Below are some common questions.

• What if I already have teaching experience? If you have teaching experience and want to get into TEFLing, try reading international schools, teaching exchanges and making a career out of TEFL.
• Is my age an issue? Some people's ages are an issue. Find out if that's true for you by reading too old to teach? and too young to teach? 
• Can I teach without a degree? Some countries will let you teach without a university degree. Find out which ones will by reading no degree.
• Can I teach if I'm not a native speaker? There are still jobs out there for you. Find out where you can teach by reading not a native speaker.
• How do I write a cover letter and CV? Now that you've decided to start teaching, you'll need a cover letter and CV specific to teaching. Find out how to write these in teaching cover letters and teaching CVs.
• Where should I go? With so many choices out there it's hard to choose a country. Read what's the best country? to find out more. 
• Do you have any interview and demo lesson tips?Interviews and demo lessons can be stressful. Read tips on how to do well at interview and demo lesson.

TEFL Courses
Many people decide to take a TEFL course before they start teaching. With online, on-campus, and blended learning options out there, it's easy to find the right one. CCELT is a 100-hour online TEFL certificate. The University of Toronto has 100, 120, and 150 hour online certificates.

Read choosing a TEFL course to find out which one is the right one for you. If you choose to do an on-site course, you'll have to decide whether to take it at home or abroad. Find out which is best for you at doing an intensive TEFL cert at home vs. abroad. Others decide not to take a TEFL course right away. Find out the pros and cons of doing this at the article, No TEFL cert. There are other ways to learn about teaching besides taking a TEFL course. Find out how in learning about TEFLing and teaching.


Internships, Teaching Practices, Short-term Jobs, and Working Holiday Visas
Some TEFL courses might be able to help you get an internship. If your course provider doesn't do that, you could find one on your own. You might also want to check out internships teaching English in China. Looking for a job for only a couple weeks? Or interesting in working holiday options? Try read working holiday visas and short-term jobs. Want to exchange teaching English for housing or free language lessons? Read free housing and classes for more info.

Once You Get a Job Offer
You'll have to decide whether or not to take it. Look at accepting or rejecting a job offer to decide if the job is good or not. After accepting a job, it's time to start lesson planning. Learn about the most popular lesson planning sites at sites for lesson planning. Try also looking at these teaching tips.

Moving Abroad
Now that you've accepted a job, there are some more things that you'll have to worry about. Costs can be an issue, try reading budgeting and costs of living to find out more.
Packing your life into a suitcase or two can be tough, learn about what to keep and what to toss at your life in a suitcase.

Knowing about culture shock ahead of time will greatly help you out. You should also try reading moving to another country and living in another country. Learning the language, even a little bit, will help you out in more ways than you can imagine.

Last but not least, look into paying taxes in your own country. Americans, for example, have to file taxes even if they live abroad. Teaching English is a wonderful experience and it allows you to experience different cultures and learn about different customs firsthand and not from a tourist's perspective. If you're looking for more info, here are a lot of resources for teaching English abroad. Best of luck and enjoy!

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Top US Expat Tax Myths Exposed, Explained and Debunked!

The following post is from a guest blogger. You might also be interested in reading my review of Greenback Taxes.

Americans are required to file a US tax return every year, regardless of where they live. Millions of expats are unaware of this filing obligation and millions more are confused about what is true and what is not. So we are going to set the record straight and explain the top 5 myths about US expat taxes!

Myth #1: I don’t need to file a US expat tax return once I move abroad.

This is untrue! There are approximately 7 million Americans living abroad and only about half actually file their US taxes each year, so many expats believe this myth is true! The US requires you to report your worldwide income every year. Assuming you earn enough money to be required to file in the US, you will need to file while living abroad. You need to file a US expat tax return if:

• You are self-employed with income over $400 per year (yes, only $400…) 
• You are single with income over $10,000 per year 
• You are married filing jointly with income over $20,000 per year 
• You are head of household with income over $12,850 per year You may also need to file if you have distributions from tax-favored accounts, such as IRAs or other pensions, or health or medical savings accounts. 

Myth #2: I can make $100,000 abroad and it’s tax-free! 

Well, this one may not be entirely a myth! If you qualify as an expat, you are eligible for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, which allows you to exclude up to $97,600 of your income (in 2013) from your US taxes. So technically you can exclude much, if not all, of your earned income from your US tax liability. Earned income includes salary, wages, commissions and royalties, but does not include interest, dividends, retirement benefits, alimony, child support or rental income.

To qualify as an expat, you simply have to pass one of the 2 determining residency tests: the Physical Presence test or the Bona Fide Residence test. To qualify via the Physical Presence test, you need to have foreign-sourced income and be outside of the US for 330 of any 365-day period. (Most expats qualify this way.) To qualify via the Bona Fide Residence test, you must reside outside of the US for at least one year and have no intentions of returning to the US.

Remember that if you are self-employed you will still be responsible for Social Security/Payroll taxes, which is 15.3% for all self-employed individuals.


Myth #3: I am invisible to the tax man: They can’t find me! 

Until recently, this wasn’t entirely a myth. But now it is! The US has launched a full-scale effort to uncover tax evaders who hide money in offshore accounts. In 2014, FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) goes into effect and individuals are required to report their offshore assets if they exceed certain thresholds (see below). In additional to individual reporting requirements, the US has signed agreements with dozens of countries whereby foreign financial institutions will be required to report on the accounts of their American clients.

What does this mean? Well, if your assets exceed the threshold yet you fail to report it, your bank likely will. You can’t hide.

The types of assets that must be reported are:

• Savings, deposit, checking, and brokerage accounts held with a bank or broker-dealer 
• Stock or securities issued by a foreign corporation 
• A note, bond or debenture issued by a foreign person 
• A partnership interest in a foreign partnership 
• An interest in a foreign retirement plan or deferred compensation plan 
• An interest in a foreign estate 
• Any interest in a foreign-issued insurance contract or annuity with a cash-surrender value 

The thresholds for filing FATCA Form 8938 are as follows:

• Filing single and your balance was over $200,000 on the last day of the year or over $300,000 on any day during the year. 
• Filing jointly and your balance was over $400,000 on the last day of the year or over $600,000 on any day during the year. 

In addition, if you have $10,000 in foreign bank accounts at any point during the year you are required to file the FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report) Form FinCEN 114. This is yet another IRS tool to ensure taxpayers aren’t hiding their money overseas.

Penalties for failing to file Form 8938 or FinCEN 114 when you are required to do so can be steep (including criminal prosecution!), so if you have any questions about your personal reporting requirements, consult an expat tax professional.


Myth #4: I’m an expat so Obamacare definitely won’t impact me. 

It MIGHT.

Obamacare (or the Affordable Care Act) went into effect in 2014 and expats around the world are wondering how they may be impacted. Obamacare requires that every American holds the minimum essential healthcare coverage or pay a penalty tax (which is assessed on your tax return the following year).

Expats who qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion are exempt from Obamacare provisions. If you don’t qualify, nor do you have a qualifying US expatriate health policy, then you may be forced to pay the Obamacare tax.

Some expats are expected to hold a US insurance policy, but since you are required to reside in a US state in order to purchase a policy, it’s not an option. So unfortunately, you may be caught in this gap- living overseas and unable to obtain US health care coverage, but not overseas long enough to be exempt from Obamacare.

The penalty tax for 2014 is the greater of $95 per person ($47.50 per child) or 1% of your income. If you return to the US, you have 60 days to obtain coverage without penalty.


Myth #5: If I file now, I might get arrested on my next trip to the US. 

For most expats, this is a myth.

The IRS is unlikely to punish you if you come forward and voluntarily file your back taxes. Like we said, millions of Americans are in this situation and are behind on their US tax obligations. There are no guarantees that you won’t incur penalties for the delinquent returns, but it’s highly unlikely that you will be arrested. Ty Warner, founder of Beanie Babies stuffed animals was recently ordered to pay over $60 million in back taxes and penalties and he got probation—so don’t let your fear keep you from coming forward and getting caught up!

This post was written by David McKeegan, co-founder of Greenback Expat Tax Services. Greenback specializes in the preparation of US expat taxes for Americans living abroad. Greenback offers straightforward pricing, a simple, hassle-free process, and CPAs and IRS Enrolled Agents who have extensive experience in the field of expat tax preparation. If you’d like Greenback to prepare your individual US expat tax return, simply click here to get started. 

For more information about Greenback Expat Tax Services or your US expat tax obligations, please contact us or visit www.greenbacktaxservices.com.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

How to Choose the Right TEFL Course for You

The following is a guest post from Teach Away and an explanation of their online TEFL cert from the University of Toronto.

TEFL vs. TESL - What’s the difference? 
TESL stands for Teaching English as a Second Language. If you are teaching English in a country where English is the official language, your students will be learning English as a second language.

TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. If you are teaching English as a foreign language, you are teaching English in a non-English speaking country; for instance, teaching in Vietnam.

Not All Certificates Are Created Equal
A TEFL course is ideal for teachers planning on teaching English overseas. Courses can vary from a 20 hour course all the way up to a Masters degree in TEFL. Regardless of the type of course you enrol in, a good one will give you the strategies necessary to run a well organized and effective class, and prepare you to plan lessons and work with your students.

There are some key things to look out for when selecting your TEFL certification. We’ve put together some guidelines to help you to identify a Great TEFL course as well as a Not-So-Great TEFL course.

A Great TEFL Course
Here are some thing a great TEFL course should have.

From teflonline.teachaway.com

Course Length

• 100 hours or more - courses of less than 100 hours are not usually recognized by schools looking for teachers

Reputation

• Recognized worldwide 
• Reputable Educational institution providing and promoting the course (ie. University or College) 
• Follows a curriculum written by professionals in English language education 

Course Work

• Broken down into modules; students have a clear idea of what they will be learning in each lesson 
• Students submit assignments for assessment, and write tests or quizzes before they can complete course modules, ensuring that they have a complete understanding of the material before moving on.

Feedback and Communication

• Assistance is provided with any potential technical issues.
• There is a number you can call, an email address, and/or Skype ID. Someone should get back to you within 24 hours
• The course provides plenty of information prior to enrollment - for example, representatives hold webinars or information sessions, or provide detailed information on the course on their website or brochure. 

Documentation

• Students receive a certificate with a seal of authenticity from the developer of the course The certificate is professional-looking and can be shown to employers as proof of TEFL certification 

Job Assistance

• Assistance with overseas job placement provided after you graduate 

From teckgeek.com.au

A Not-So-Great TEFL Course
Here are some warning signs of a not-so-great TEFL course.

Course Length

• 20 hours, 40 hours, 86 hours (anything less than 100 + hours) 

Reputation

• They have a nice looking website 
• An English speaker wrote the course material 

Course Work

• Is a click through of web pages 
• No assessed assignments or tests, students can finish the course as long as they can use a mouse and keyboard 

Feedback and Communication

• Technical support is provided … maybe (if you can find contact information) 
• You’re told, “The best way to learn more about the course is to take the course!” 

Documentation

• Students receive a certificate of completion without a seal of authenticity
• Employers question whether you made the certificate yourself. 

Job Assistance

• Good luck! 

From teflonline.teachaway.com

The University of Toronto and Teach Away
The University of Toronto has partnered with Teach Away to provide the 100 and 120 hour TEFL Online course. The University of Toronto is a top 20 university in Canada. Their partners at Teach Away have been recruiting educators since 2003 for educational institutions all over the world.

The University of Toronto’s TEFL Online 100 hour course covers the six core modules - touching on classroom management, lesson planning and the pedagogical principles of ESL teaching. Their 120 hour course includes two additional units of specialization (depending on your area of interest). Teaching English to young learners? To Arabic speakers? Test Preparation courses? You can find these specializations within the University of Toronto course.

If you are interested in finding out more information, TEFL Online regularly hosts webinars, and you are always able to call and speak with a representative. As well - during the course, if you hit any snags, TEFL’s friendly full time web team will be able to assist you.

When you are finished the course, TEFL Online’s relationship with Teach Away works to your benefit - happy to provide placement assistance to TEFL grads, they will help you to explore your employment options as a new TEFL teacher.

Click here to find out more information.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Poll Results September 2013: How many lessons do you prepare a week?

September's poll was "How many lessons do you prepare a week?" Here are the results.

From rmsbunderblog.wordpress.com

• 1: 7.14% with 1 vote
• 2-3: 21.43%% with 3 votes
• 4-5: 35.71% with 5 votes
• 6-8:7.14% with 1 vote
• 9-10: 7.14% with 1 vote
• 10+: 21.43%% with 3 votes

 Be sure to vote in this month's poll: "When will you go home?"

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

10 More Exam Tips for Teachers

From teacherplus.org

A couple years ago I wrote 10 tips for assessing students. Since then I have thought of 10 more tips, so here you are!

1. Schedule students: if you're giving oral exams, don't just tell the whole class to show up at 9am. Give them a specific time. That way they won't waste time waiting nor will they make tons of noise in the hallway. 
2. Have a waiting room: it's annoying for both the teacher and the student when other students are in the hallway making noise.
3. Bring exta materials: white out, pens, pencils, and erasers.
4. Have different exams: give exam A to one row of students and exam B to another row. It'll cut down on cheating.
5. Use rubrics: especially if you have a subjective exam.
6. Walk around the room: before you give the test make sure there are no answers on the desk, walls, chairs, etc. Walk around during the exam to cut down on cheating and afterwards to make sure no one forgot anything.
7. Have a place for their stuff: since backpacks, coats, books, etc aren't allowed at desks you need to provide a space where students can put them.
8. Don't use names: if you have a subjective test you might favour students you know. Have them use their student ID instead.
9. Write new tests: don't re-use old tests, you're just asking for trouble.
10. Make sure students leave: there's no reason they need to linger outside the classroom when they finish. If they want to wait, send them to the waiting room. 

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Cancelling a Teaching Contract After You've Signed But Before You've Started Working

This is a sticky topic and you'd better have a good reason for getting out of a contract after you've signed. If there's a real family emergency, that's one thing, but if you want to get out of a contract and take a better job that's another. If you give enough notice it might be easier on the school than if you try to get out of a contract last minute.

Many schools have you sign letter of intents and then offer you a contract later. If you've signed the contract there are usually two situations: you're in country or you're not.Here are what some people have said at ISR about getting out of contracts. Most people say that it's ok to back out of a contract.Some people say that if you used a recruiter or went to a job fair you will have to pay for the school to find a replacement and might be blacklisted.

In Country

• If you're in country and plan on accepting another job in country, make sure there are no legal issues involved. Some employers might threaten to take you to court. Find out if they can do this. You're better off trying to talk to your employer and get out of the contract without problems.
• If you're in country and planning on accepting a job in another country, you should have less problems.
• If they've started getting you a visa or have already gotten you a visa, call immigration and ask what to do. Some countries require a letter of release or permission from the employer to leave the country.

Not In Country

• If you're not in country, there's probably little they can do. You might have issues in the future getting a visa from that country though. Contact the consulate or embassy for more information.

Blacklists

• Some people say they exist, others deny it. To be sure, administrators talk to each other, so be careful about pitting schools against one another in hopes of getting a better job. You wouldn't like if a school suddenly backed out of a contract, so try not to do that to a school.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Learning Styles: Dunn and Dunn

From learnabledkids.com

In 1967 Dunn and Dunn they presented a learning styles model that focused on five categories: environmental, emotional, social, physiological, and psychological. They believe that learning styles change and develop over time.

Dunn and Dunn stated that teachers need to help students and make changes so that all students can learn. Changing the layout of the classroom or how students work are just a couple of examples. They use "contract activity packages" to make this work.

If you're interested in learning more about this, there are a number of good books written about Dunn and Dunn's learning styles. You might also be interested in . . .

• Dale's Cone of Experience: best ways to learn
  
• Gardner: multiple intelligences theory
• Gregorc: abstract, concrete, random, sequential 
• Honey and Mumford: activist, reflector, theorist, pragmatist
• How boys and girls learn differently: different ways of thinking between genders 
• Learning Pyramid: how teaching methods affect how much you learn
• Kolb: converger, accomodator, assimilator, diverger
• Meyers-Briggs: sensation, intuition, feeling, thinking
• VAK: visual, audio, kinesthetic

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Learning Styles: Gregorc

Gregorc started his work in 1969 and found there are four ways that people learn

From di-ice.wikispaces.com

• Concrete means that you use your five senses
• Abstract means that you look for hidden meanings
• Sequential means that you like order
• Random means that you look at the whole picture 

Each learner type preference a certain way of learning. 

From browningwrite.home.comcast.net

If you're interested in reading more about learning styles, there are a number of good books out there that can shed some light on the subject. You might also be interested in...

• Dale's Cone of Experience: best ways to learn
  
• Dunn and Dunn: environmental, emotional, social, physiological, psychological
• Gardner: multiple intelligences theory
• Honey and Mumford: activist, reflector, theorist, pragmatist
• How boys and girls learn differently: different ways of thinking between genders
• Learning Pyramid: how teaching methods affect how much you learn  
• Kolb: converger, accomodator, assimilator, diverger
• Meyers-Briggs: sensation, intuition, feeling, thinking

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Learning Styles: Honey and Mumford

From 24point0.com

Based on Kolb's work, Honey and Mumford created their own model of learning styles. Rather than being based on the classroom, like many learning styles are, their model was based on the decision making process that managers go through.

Their four steps are having, reviewing, and concluding an experience, and planning the next steps. From this they found out that people are activists, reflectors, theorists, or pragmatists. Their model is still widely used among government workers in the UK.

If you're interested in learning more about Honey and Mumford's learning styles, you should check out these books. You might also be interested in . . .

• Dale's Cone of Experience: best ways to learn 
• Dunn and Dunn: environmental, emotional, social, physiological, psychological
• Gardner: multiple intelligences theory
• Gregorc: abstract, concrete, random, sequential 
• How boys and girls learn differently: different ways of thinking between genders
• Learning Pyramid: how teaching methods affect how much you learn  
• Kolb: converger, accomodator, assimilator, diverger
• Meyers-Briggs: sensation, intuition, feeling, thinking
• VAK: visual, audio, kinesthetic

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Learning Styles: Gardner

Updated 18 May 2013

I wrote about different learning styles previously and this post will talk about one of the most well-known research about learning styles was done by Dr. Howard Gardner about Multiple Intelligences.

I got this information from a conference I went to a couple of years ago in Piura, Peru. Unfortunately the presenter didn't put their name on the worksheet, so I don't know exactly who to give credit to.

Linguistically: They think in words.

• They enjoy reading, writing, telling stories, and playing word games.
• They need books, CDs, writing material, paper, diaries, dialogues, discussion, debate, and stories.

Logically-Mathematically: They use reasoning.

• They enjoy experimenting, questioning, logical puzzles, and calculating.
• They need things to explore and think about.
• They like science materials, manipulatives, trips to planetariums or science museums.

Spatially: They think in images and pictures.

• They enjoy designing, drawing, and visualising.
• They need art, legos, videos, movies, slides, imagination games, puzzles, illustrated books.
• They like trips to art galleries and museums.

Bodily-Kinesthetically: They learn by moving.

• They enjoy dancing, running, building, touching, and gesturing.
• They need role plays, drama, things to build, sports, tactile experiences, and hands-on learning.

Musically: They think in rhythms and melodies.

• They need music and instruments.
• They enjoy singing, whistling, humming, tapping their hands and feet, and listening.

Interpersonally: They learn by talking with other people.

• They enjoy leading, organising, relating, manipulating, and talking.
• They need friends, group games, community events, clubs, and mentors.

Intrapersonally: They learn by thinking alone.

• They enjoy setting goals, meditating, dreaming, being quiet, and planning.
• They need time alone, self paced projects, and choices. 

If you want to learn more, there are a number of books written about Multiple Intelligences. You might also be interested in . . .

• Dale's Cone of Experience: best ways to learn 
• Dunn and Dunn: environmental, emotional, social, physiological, psychological
• Gregorc: abstract, concrete, random, sequential
• Honey and Mumford: activist, reflector, theorist, pragmatist
• How boys and girls learn differently: different ways of thinking between genders
• Learning Pyramid: how teaching methods affect how much you learn  
• Kolb: converger, accomodator, assimilator, diverger
• Meyers-Briggs: sensation, intuition, feeling, thinking
• VAK: visual, audio, kinesthetic

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Learning Styles: Meyers-Briggs and Keirsey

The mother-daughter team spent decades developing their ideas. A Meyers-Briggs test can only be done by a certified tester, however, you can take the Keirsey Temperament Test online. It is found that ideal jobs and careers for people can be suggested based  on the results of this test.

They state that preferences can be strong or weak. They are as follows:

Extraversion (E) –	(I) Introversion
Sensing (S) –	(N) Intuition
Thinking (T) –	(F) Feeling
Judging (J) –	(P) Perception

If you'd like to learn more about Meyers-Briggs, there are a number of good books out there that can help you out. You might also be interested in. . .

• Dale's Cone of Experience: best ways to learn 
• Dunn and Dunn: environmental, emotional, social, physiological, psychological
• Gardner: multiple intelligences theory
• Gregorc: abstract, concrete, random, sequential 
• Honey and Mumford: activist, reflector, theorist, pragmatist
• How boys and girls learn differently: different ways of thinking between genders
• Learning Pyramid: how teaching methods affect how much you learn  
• Kolb: converger, accomodator, assimilator, diverger
• VAK: visual, audio, kinesthetic

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement