Learning the Local Lingo

Updated 18 February 2012

When moving to another country, learning the language can mean adjusting to the lifestyle or remaining an outsider.

Things that Impact Language Learning

1. Language difficulty: Here are the world's most difficult languages. The Foreign Service has also ranked them. Here's language ranked according to difficulty for native English speakers.
2. Necessity: What do you do in those countries and are you likely to encounter English speakers?
3. Location: If you're in a big city with people who speak English, you will have less motivation to learn the local language.
4. Personal reasons: Can range from length of stay, to motivation, to relationships, etc.

From bucultureshock.com

Media for Language Learning
Assimil, Fluenz, How to Learn Any Language, Memrise, Michel Thomas, Pimsleur, and Rosetta Stone are popular.

• Watching TV or movies is very useful. Put on closed captioning so you can listening and read at the same time.
• Listening to the radio will also help you get more accustomed to the language and its accents.
• Emailing, forums, and chatting are also good.
• Reading helps a lot. You can learn grammar and vocab as well as useful expressions.

Language Partners
These are a great way to meet the locals or you could find another foreigner and just spend the entire time trying to talk in the target language. You can talk about family, local news, or just practise reading aloud. You can find language partners on Conversation Exchange and italki.


More Language Learning Tips

• Post-its. Putting up little notes can help you learn about things around you.
• Practise, Practise, Practise. Don’t give up.
• Use different learning styles. 
• Read aloud. Just looking at the words won’t help you when you have to have a conversation. After a while, you’ll notice that the words come out faster, you’ll have less of an accent, and it will increase your grammar and vocabulary.
• Stop translating. Although it may seem easier to think in English and then translate to the target language, it’s way too confusion, takes a long time, and some things simply don’t translate. Make a point of thinking in the language you’re using.
• Read more about learning languages in learning the local language while teaching ESL and all Japanese all the time. Although it's geared towards Japanese, it still has tons of language learning tips.
• Read part 2 of this series: learning the local lingo while teaching ESL.

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

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Working Holiday Visas and Short-term Jobs

Updated 12 September 2014  
Au Pairs/Nannies: Transitions Abroad Au Pair and Transitions Abroad Au Pair in Europe are good places to start getting information about au pair and nanny jobs. The French Embassy has information for non EU citizens applying for Au Pair Visas. Nannies and governesses are often taken on vacation as well. Just think about being paid to go skiing in Chamberyl.

• AIFS
• Au Pair in Spain
• Au Pair World
• The Best Au Pair
• Bonne International (Russia). Ty contacting kazachka on Dave's.
• Duke and Duchess International
• Eden Nannies
• Easy Au Pair
• EU Au Pair
• Find Au Pair
• French American Center
• Governeur International (Russia)
• Great Au Pair
• Great British Nannies
• Great Nannies
• House Carers
• International Au Pair
• International Au Pair Association
• JCR Aus
• Ms Poppins
• Nanny Agency
• Nanny Jobs
• New Au Pair
• Planet Au Pair
• Royal Nannies(UK)
• Simply Angelic (UK)
• Wind Connections (Switzerland)
• Valday Service (Russia)

Camp Instructors: Summer and winter camps are also an option in Asia as well as the UK, Ireland, Spain and Italy. Summer and winter camps also has good info. Ask about salary, accommodations, teaching materials, air conditioning, number of children per class, days off, and airfare.

Cruise ship work: It can be grueling and the hours are long but you'll get a chance to take a free cruise. Sixth Star and Peace Boat have good reputations. You can find more info on the Lonely Planet forum.

Farm work/picking fruit: It's hard work but you'll build muscles. You can find your own work or try going through an organisation such as WWOOF.

Governess: See above for au pair/nannying. Many of those companies also place governesses.

Sports instructor: Meditation and martial arts are popular so if you practice these you might be able to find a job.

Teacher: China, Japan, and Korea often have short contracts. Footprints Recruiting and Interexchange have short-term positions all over the world. Some companies such as Language Solutions in the UK, Qatar Aeronautical College in Qatar, Bell Libya in Libya, any contractors for Qatar Petroleum, and Westgate in Japan offer short contracts. If you'd like to head to Europe read Europe for non-EU passport holders. You might also look into teaching a foreign language. 

Tour guide:You'll have to do a bit of research ahead of time but you could also freelance easily.

Tutor: See above for au pair/nannying. Many of those companies also place tutors.

Waitress / Waiter: Be aware that some countries don't encourage tipping and others have a kitty system.


How to get a Working Holiday Visa (WHV)
Laws about work visas change often so be sure to check with the embassy of the country you want to work in as well. If you've got a passport from the EU you should be able to work in other EU countries. Please see the official EU expansion website for more info.

You're not going to get rich doing this. It's a chance to experience the culture and language while being able to work legally. Some countries have tax exemptions for working holiday visa holders. Expect to earn about $700 to $1000 in Europe and about $1000 to $2500 in Asia.

You usually have to be between 18 and 35 and you might also have to be a student or have graduated recently. Working holiday visas don't entitle you to take any independents with you. Most programmes require you to apply in your home country and prove that you have enough money to support yourself. WHVs are usually good for 3 to 24 months. They usually they have an application fee between $500 to $1500 usd. Some WHV programmes only allow you to participate again if you go home for a certain amount of time. WHVs are for people who can't get easily get permission to work in a specific country.

Recommended Programmes and Articles

• Europe for non-EU passport holders.
• Visa help: CIEE, Find A Gap, Gap Year , Gap-Year, i-to-i Travel, World Teach, and WHV Makers .
• Forums: Boots N All, Expatica.Gap Year, The Student Room
• AIESEC offers internships from 6 weeks to 18 months in various countries around the world.
• Any Work Anywhere has information about working holiday visas and what choices are available to you.
• BUNAC has WHV and internship programmes.
  
• Gap Year 365 is a good place to search for a programme.
• Geovisions has placement for volunteer, conversation, teaching and au pair / nanny positions.
• Live Work Play has info about working holiday visas.
• Season Workers has a variety of seasonal jobs available.
• SWAP is for Canadians wanting to go abroad.
• Working Abroad's placement fees are high. It's not worth paying the fee for the teaching English jobs.
• Youth.Gc.Ca is for Canadians wanting to go abroad.

Where To Go

• Americans can work in Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, and Singapore.
• Australians can work in Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and the US.
• Britons can work in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, and the US.
• Canadians can work in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the US, and the UK.
• Irish can work in Canada, Korea, and New Zealand.
• New Zealanders can work in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the UK, and Uruguay.
• South Africans can work in Canada.

Country Specific Programmes

• Finland offers Americans the chance to teach English or do an internship if you're over 21 and either a college junior, senior, or have graduated in the past two years. Australians can also work there.
• France offers assistant teaching positions for a variety of nationalities. Look at the French embassy in Washington. Those from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and Korea can also work there.
• Japan has working holiday exchanges for people from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, Germany, the UK, Ireland and Denmark who are between 18 and 30.
• Korea has a programme for those from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, and the US to work there. You should also look at the Mofat website.
• Spain has teaching assistant programmes for a variety of nationalities. Applications start in November and run until April. They also allow those with passports from Canada and New Zealand to work there.
• The UK allows those with passports from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the US to work there. The UK has a youth mobility scheme which is part of the Points-Based Immigration System.

This article has also been featured in the ELT Times.

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3 Tips for Moving to Another Country

Updated 22 October 2013

1. Bring Enough Money

From bulcultureshock.com

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. This article has been featured in the ELT Times.

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How to Teach Mixed Level Classes

Updated 18 January 2012 

Most classes have mixed level students. Knowing how to teach mixed level classes can make all the difference in the world. Below you can find some tips to help you get started. 

• 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 to 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.

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Tips for Dealing With Culture Shock

Updated 19 February 2012

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. 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.

From bucultureshock.com

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.

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