Mario R. J. Corbin's Blog

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

What I find most fascinating about sight is that we don't 'need' sight to see the world in the same way our foreign neighbours do! How things are described, how they are drawn or painted differs from person to person. Even more fascinating are those individuals in the world who do not have sight at all.

This week we look at how we can teach our students English to see more than with their eyes and begin to grasp English as Second language holistically.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Using your noses has never been so easy nor as taken for granted as any other sense we posses. It is as simple as having your students smell a flower that just might be thr trick to helping them relate their new found English vocabulary to their native one.

We make the mistake too often of assuming that our students don't understand basic English concepts when it is in fact the language, not the concepts that they are struggling with. After all, every culture, indeed, mostly every language has a vocabulary dedicated to concepts that are identical to English.

By helping your students access this information in a different way you are empowering them by helping thema ssociate the two together.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

So pull out the Playdough, bring out the sand and get their hands wet and dirty with a bit of soil and water! Whether your making figurines, sand castles or mud pies having your students actively participate in class is a great way to teach them concepts and English Vocabulary.

There are hundreds of activities for you to do with touch so why not try some today and see your students become aware that there is more to English than simply words written down on paper!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

It's time for you and your class to get down and dirty, with cooking that is! Think it of it as a way of giving yourself a break by getting inventive in the kitchen, or the classroom, by having your students find out how delicious English can be!

English will never have tasted so good with a few clever activities that are sure winners for all ages alike. It is also an opportunity to get to taste some of the cuisine in your new country by having your students bring food in and describing them in English!

Whatever you do, don't be shy and beware of potential food fights!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

You just have to look at what is at your disposal starting with the way we experience the world! The way we see, feel, taste, smell and hear play an important part in helping us develop our understanding of not only what the world is like to our senses but as well how we relate to them.

Over the course of the next few weeks we will take time to look at these differen't aspects and in the process discover interesting ways in engaging our foriegn students so that they too can learn English from a differnt perspective!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

... and whether you have children, teach English or have had the unfortunate experience of having an inattentive spouse or friend we have all experienced it!

You're sitting there talking away and despite the fact that the person supposedly hearing you and making the appropriate nods and vocal Q's you soon realize that their mind is elsewhere and they haven't actually listened to a word you were saying!

Unlike inattentive friends and spouses simply getting upset and walking away is'nt a luxury that you can do when your standing in front of 12 students learning English! This week we look at the ways in which you can accentuate hearing in yoru class through some activities that are bound to grab your students attention.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Education is a serious business. After all, without a proper education students are unsuccessful as adults in not only procuring employment but just as importantly they lack a healthy self-esteem.

Teaching English is one such tool that needs to belearned for students who are particularly interested in a career in business. Even for the wayward student it is an opportunity to help build their own self-confidence for it empowers them with the ability to do something that perhaps not everyone can do where they are from.

Whatever the case may be a theme we have looked at time and time again is the way with which we teach our classes. Positive reinforcement expands beyond the realm of rewarding a student for good behaviour. It encompasses the way with which we even discipline our students both privately or in front of the class.

This week we take a look at this idea and in so doing I hope to hear from anyone and everyone about there thoughts on the topic matter.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

It is one thing to teach an adolescent or adult who has no experience in English but who can at least relate to what you're doing and saying by your body language and your in class books and tools at your disposal. It is another thing altogether when your pupil is none other than a three year old child who can't understand why you are looking at them as blankly as they are at you when they are trying to explain to you in their native tongue that they need to go to the bathroom!

Undoubtedly the most challenging of all aspects of teaching English as a Foreign Language, Kindergarten is unchartered territory for many new ESL teachers who should be so lucky, or unlucky depending on how you see it, to find themselves in this very unique role.

Your little pupils are completely dependant on you for their very first understanding of what English is, let alone how to converse in it. What they take away from your class will stay with them for the rest of their lives and believe it or not, will determine how well they succeed in future English classes.

Scared? Don't be! This week our special guest, Jennifer Fawcett walks you through the various steps and activities that you can do to help your students get started on the right foot!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

It is a skill that doesn't come easy to all of us. However, undertaking a career in ESL implies that some level and degree of organization is necessary to successfully undertake your daily schedules.

Whether it is your first real job or you simply managed to slip through the cracks and never learn this important skill chances are the school you're working at is going to demand nothing less of you.

It may seem more difficult than it really is at first, but by taking the time to understand what it is you are doing wrong and by rectifying it on time, you will find yourself not only better able to cope with your daily routine but just as importantly you will finally find the time you need to ease into your days with more confidence and less worries.

Thus, the final installment in this month's four part series ends with steps in helping you become better organized!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Your employer is on you to finish your reports, despite not even having had a single moment to yourself all day and despite the fact that you skipped your lunch break to finish correcting your students' English exams.

With six months left to your contract and no time off in the foreseeable future you just might be starting to feel the overwhelming sensation to throw everything up into the air and walk out.

Unless you're willing to take the consequences that would inevitably follow such actions there may be a more feasible alternative!

This week we take a look at the therapeutic advantages of having extra curricular activities to help take our minds off the unpleasantries of work.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

We give them nearly every day to our students for misbehaving. Time Outs allows for children to reflect on their behaviour and to help them socially behave in an acceptable way.

However, taking them ourselves for even just five minutes between classes is also an excellent way for you, the ESL teacher to catch your breath and prepare yourself for the next round.

This week we take a look at the importance of taking those brief but necessary moments during the day to pamper ourselves. After all, if you don't take care of yourself, who will?

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Lately have you been feeling rundown, overworked, irritable and maybe even starting to think that teaching English isn't all that is cracked up to be?

If so than maybe it is time that you took a step back and looked at the overall picture before making any rush decisions that could affect your career.

It's no secret that teaching is perhaps one of the most difficult professions, let alone when you are teaching a group of individuals who may not have a clue as to what your saying on a daily basis. Starting from scratch, both as a student and as a teacher is a difficult process that takes up an enormous amount of your energy from the very first day you step into your class and begin teaching.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

What we often take for granted is our own ideas and values behind what shapes our understanding of the world, or rather, the Western World. Assuming that what seems logical in New York when it comes to either teaching methodology or the basis of a contract between you and your employer may turn out to be overtly frustrating when attempting to apply what you think you know to a foreign culture with totally different concepts of what is logical and what is not.

This week we look at how cultural biases about another culture can lead to havoc in your new working environment in Overcoming Misconceptions.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out in Teaching English Abroad, there is never enough you can learn to help yourself avoid possible problems when working abroad. Aside from cultural misunderstanding there is a universal truth when it comes to social harassment, be it sexual or otherwise in any part of the world.

Knowing your rights and what you can do to help yourself prevent becoming a victim of social deviance of any kind is the key to ensuring the best possible chances for a successful and happy life in any country you decide to give a try as an English Teacher.

This weeks article, 'Blinded by Fear?' discusses what you can do to help make your choice of country a positive one.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

... or begin a new adventure abroad?!

Whatever the case may be, we will be looking at the both the pros and cons of teaching English Abroad. Using South Korea as our example, particularly Kids' College in Yunhee-Dong, Seoul, we'll examine not only the need to read between the lines regarding our contracts, but most importantly, what you can expect generally if you decide to work in Seoul.

So take this opportunity to ask away any questions and concerns you might have. The next two weeks we will look at different aspects of working in South Korea, but just as importantly, I hope to help answer many of those questions that may be on your mind.

Article Featured This Week: A Watchful Eye (Part 1)

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Keeping in mind that every teacher has his or her own style of teaching, it can be said that whatever your style may be, the values, indeed, the skills presented here can be effectively upheld regardless.

This weeks article summarizes theses tools of our trade and hopefully reminds us all that no matter what, we all have a responsibility in providing the best quality possible each and every time we step into our classroom.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

... is an excellent way of encouraging your students to actively take control of their learning process. Over the course of the last year I often found that when working with students who had no previous experience in speaking English the use of pictures helped students associate English words with Korean counterparts.

Being artistic doesn't mean you have to know how to draw or create sculptures of immense beauty. Often times you need nothing more than some Playdough or some scraps of paper and a keen sense of humor with the willingness to experiment with your students' sense of adventure.

This week we look at how you can be an artistic linguist!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

...it not only makes for a far more enjoyable class but just as importantly it helps both parties to gain valuable insight into not only the subject area being taught, but into each others understanding of the material.

Far too often pupils will hesitate to speak up in class for fear of sounding less than perfect in front of their peers. Equally, some teachers may feel defensive if what they are teaching is questioned by a pupil. Both aspects stem not only from fear, but from a lack of confidence.

You can overcome this by creating an environment in your classroom that nurtures open discussions as oppose traditional means, such as note copying and regurgitation of text book answers.

This weeks article looks more in depth at the ways which both student and teacher can increase their participation in class.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

The power to take control of our lives, the power to obtain the needs and wants of our desires, even the power to form healthy and long lasting relationships. Unfortunately, the notion of power is far too often misunderstood by both teacher and pupil.

Power struggles are far to common in the classroom as a result of both struggling to test boundaries and to instill a sense of order be it in the classroom. However, all is not lost as an understanding of this term needs to come to light and it is the role of the teacher not only to come to terms with it, but to help instill a greater sense of this topic in their students.

The power to succeed is in everyone's hands, but with your help, your students can learn to take control of their own destiny in your class and succeed. This week's article looks at the notion of Power and what you can do to impart it to your students.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

In Ireland the pressure to succeed academically his heightened by the fact that the media publicizes both the successes and the failures of students tending to their leaving cert. So great is the stress that on average, that about one in five students can be heard tearfully trying to overcome their disappointment over both the national radio and television.

In South Korea, children as young as ten years old have committed suicide as a result of failing examinations whilst others still feel shamed at not achieving the grade that both they and their parents expected them to obtain.

This week's article looks at performance and the different ways it can be measured without necessarily making life so stressful for those students entrusted into your care.

After all, a need for understanding that simply because a student may not be able to excel in your class doesn't mean that he or she can not excel at something which is of greater interests to the child and adolescent; fact that educational institutions have forgotten over the decades.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Respect is perhaps one of the most difficult things attributes one can hope to obtain. It is fraught with difficulty for often it entails one to place their own emotions aside in a mature fashion whilst ensuring as to not intrude upon a peer's own feelings in a hurtful way.

It entails us to voice our own displeasure in such a way that is productive rather than destructive. Flipping off your boss may not be the best way to get that promotion you have always wanted. However, sitting down with him or her and discussing your feelings, past, present and future productivity as an employee may be the step in the right direction.

It's easy to preach but so hard to follow precisely because while you're biting your lip not to say something to hurt someone else, that same person may be tearing into you. It is an ideal, one more so important when working with youth. This weeks article looks at some ways which you can not only use yourself when dealing with your colleagues, but hopefully try and instill in your students.

After all, there may be a time when flipping someone off may feel good and bring momentary satisfaction.... but it could also lead to your looking in the want ads for a new career.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

It takes more than brains to successfully teach. It takes compassion and a sincere desire to learn more than what is taught to us in university. Whether you are teaching ESL in a foreign country, teaching in an elementary or high school in North America or home schooling your own children the next few weeks we take a look at 6 areas; Empathy, Respect, Participation, Power, Performance, and Responsibility; that children and adolescents alike can benefit from learning from you, their teacher.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

... until of course fear starts to set in as you realize that your going to have to actually present yourself in an interview!

The interview is nothing if not taxing on one's emotions. So much seems to be riding on the outcome of one simple spot in time devoted to picking your brain and judging whether you are the right person for the job or not.

Sounds scary... and it is of course. But let's be realistic, after all, even the boss had to start somewhere. Employers are not the big scary people we tend to see them as when going to an interview. They're just like you only a little further ahead in their careers than you are.

Having the right attitude is essential when preparing for an interview. Preparation, self-confidence and perhaps a little humor are all necessary when undertaking an interview. So go on, take a deep breath, just remember to exhale!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Employers have joined the band wagon over the course of the last ten years validating both the potential and importance of internet use world wide. As a result, whether you are looking to send your curriculum vitae for a job to teach English in Asia or a job right there in your home city in a totally different line of work, sending the right image out in cyber space is as important as it is when attending a face to face interview.

Email, like snail mail is a means of not only keeping in touch with friends and family but also for finding new employment opportunities. This weeks article, TheRightLook@soso.com looks at how important it is to clean up not only your image via an appropriate email address, but ensuring too that proper punctuation and spelling are adhered to.

After all, the first impression is often the deal maker or breaker and opening an email from a potential employee just to find that you're re-reading it twice because of needless mistakes or lack of clarity is not only annoying some but rather disappointing to your potential employer.

Read more in this week's: article!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

The answer lies within your willingness to do nothing less than your best each and every time you sit down to prepare for the days work. It is no easy task to effectively create a proper lesson plan. Often, it takes more time to plan one lesson than it actually takes to teach a class.

This may seem discouraging to prospective teachers, especially those with little to no previous experience. However, no one said that creativity couldn't be incorporated into your classes. Don't be put off by the thought of arduous hours trying to make the perfect lesson plan.

Instead, try to make each lesson as fun as possible. There are ways, indeed resources available to you for just that purpose alone. It takes more than a perfectionist to make learning fun. It takes someone who isn't afraid to laugh at themselves and who can turn a simple straightforward class into something original, quirky and far more interesting than your kids could have hoped for.

Make lesson planning something to look forward to instead of just being a necessity.

For more, see my article, Lesson Planning

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Your willingness to not only give it your all but be as prepared as you possible can comes into play the moment you step into the classroom. Whether your teaching children or adolescents or even adults; be it privately or in groups from 4 to 15 people at a time knowing what to expect of each and every one of your students as well as making it clear to them what they can expect from you as their teacher is critical not only to their development in learning English, but to your becoming an effective instructor as well.

Not every student learns at the same pace. Some may have difficulty grasping seemingly simple concepts that, as native English speakers we take for granted. Perhaps some students are even impaired with a learning disability such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Whatever the case, don't allow what could seem like an impossible task from keeping you becoming a proactive and responsive teacher.

This week's article, Nurturing Creative Learning, takes a look at teaching special needs students and the resources available to anyone who wants to make not only their experience but their students experience a positive one in and outside of the classroom.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

However, what happens when you actually get that "dream job" that you have been looking forward to? Many people dream of visiting Ireland. Its culture and vibrancy has left the world in awe, especially after the Celtic Tiger. James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and W. B. Yeats have filled our imaginations with rolling hills, political and social strife and most of all has left us with a curiosity for the little emerald island we have grown to love by its reputation for being friendly, beautiful and entertaining.

This week's article, Aftermath of the Celtic Tiger, is brought to you by Patrick Fawcett. Born in Zimbabwe, Patrick has lived the last eight years in Ireland with his mother, father and two sisters. Despite being 15 years of age, I felt what better way to get an idea of what it would be like to teach in Ireland other than to hear it from a student himself. His insight into many of the issues revolving around learning in Ireland may help prospective teachers gain insight into the pros and cons of teaching in Ireland.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Courses seem to be sprouting up everywhere. With them come promises of better career opportunities and job placement services. However, what they neglect to mention is whether or not their course will adequately prepare you for the job at hand.

Choosing the right TEFL or CELTA course has never been more important as employers, especially in Europe and South America, are looking for specific qualifications. Qualifications that heed to a set minimum requirement of time that a student has to commit too before he or she is even considered.

This weeks article talks more about the need for higher standards in certification courses and what is expected of new graduates.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

... it is good to be back home! I wasn't certain about how I would feel about leaving South Korea after spending a year there. Especially since so many important things happened for me whilst I was living in South Korea.

From teaching English to being engaged on Christmas day to finally having my marriage notarized in Seoul just a few days before my wife and I returned home. My time in South Korea was an emotional one to say the very least.

I couldn't help but reflect further on my time in South Korea and share with you my reflections in this week's

article.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Many of us over 25 years of age may still recall how being put over the teacher's lap and spanked, having your knuckles hit with a ruler, or being led to the principal's office by your ear were all part of the consequences for misbehaving in school. Corporal punishment has all but disappeared in North America. Radical changes have empowered youth to where even a disgruntled prolonged stare could result in your own behaviour being questioned by school authorities!

From one extreme to another, whether you agree with it or not, one thing is for certain. Anyone thinking of undertaking a career in ESL teaching abroad must consider this aspect of the job carefully and in so doing, question whether your own morals and beliefs can coincide with another culture's understanding of the same.

This week's article Corporal Punishment looks at South Korea as an example of some of the methods used in disciplining and whether or not working here is right for you.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

It goes without saying that it is hard to make a concise decision when accepting a position overseas. Without a face to face interview, both potential employer and employee are left to making a decision to hire or accept an ESL position by what little information they have. Taking this leap of faith is often the cause of anxiety, uncertainty and maybe even fear. All of these feelings are natural and are good. These feelings will keep you from making a mistake. Having had plenty of phone interviews myself my gut has been right most times.

The decision you make to accept any position must be yours at the end of the day. Part of teaching ESL overseas is the excitement and adventure of the unknown. Strive to make every experience a positive one.

ESL Job Finder:

Anyone looking to find an ESL position will be thrilled to know that NOW is the time to be searching for work! ESL jobs all over the world are opening up and the following websites are where employers are advertising!

Dave's ESL Café:

www.daveseslcafe.com

ESL Employment

www.eslemployment.com

Teacher Mex Connect

www.teachermexconnect.com

Jobs UK

www.jobs.ac.uk

Monster Inc.

www.monster.com

These are but a few of the websites that will be sure to be helpful in your search. Remember, what you lack in practical experience you can make up for by having great email etiquette and a pleasant personality! How you write, the way with which you speak, the level of enthusiasm in your voice during an interview, all of these are make or break points for employers when interviewing potential ESL teachers.

I recommend that you write your emails out first on a word document, for although you may already have a cover letter, a poorly written email requesting to be considered for an employment opportunity doesn't bold well for you. Don't use idioms, or break words down into abbreviations. Employers in a foreign country may not understand and may decide you are not qualified to be teaching English.

The order of the day is your best English! So dust off your thesaurus and dictionary and make sure that you are writing clearly and concisely. Nothing speaks more, either positively or negatively, than how a person writes and speaks.

Good luck!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

I was shocked when I heard the news. I had just arrived and was preparing my lesson plans for the day when a coworker told me. At first I couldn't be certain if it was true or not, but the look in my Korean co-worker's eyes told me otherwise. A young boy took his own life in Seoul. Having failed an exam the burden and shame he felt drove him to commit an act that seems impossible to us for a child to undertake.

Teaching English in South Korea could be more than you bargained for. ESL is a multi-million dollar industry in South Korea. One which the owners of these private schools as well as the parents who send their kids to them take very seriously.

The pressure to succeed academically is so intense that children are unable to cope. This week we take a solemn look at ESL teaching in South Korea and what, as ESL teachers we can do to bring relief to an otherwise tense academic environment.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

So you're thinking of teaching ESL abroad and are looking forward to all that extra money you will have at the end of the year. After all, how hard could it be to teach English, you ARE English! There's only one catch...just because you are English doesn't automatically qualify you to teach English, if at all. The growing trend to 'get smart quick' seems to be at an all time high as South Korea has issued a clamp down on anyone possessing fake degrees.

If you find yourself wondering if it would be worth it to buy one of these university degrees, keep in mind, they arrive in your junk folder for a reason, because they are just that!

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Your working and living it up in a foreign country and you find yourself not wanting to dip into your savings. So you think, why not teach a few private lessons. After all, locals are coming up to you asking if you would teach them English.

What you may not know is that teaching private lessons could be considered illegal in some countries, South Korea being no exception. What started out innocently enough could land you in jail being pinned with a fine, let alone the inevitable deportation.

Not for the light hearted, working under the table seems to have its drawbacks more than its advantages. What are the chances of being caught? This week's article, Teaching ESL Illegally!, explores just that.

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

A new advertisement on Dave's ESL café lets you see firsthand what teaching online would entail.

GLEWeb. Corp. LTD is currently hiring ESL teacher's and in the process offering potential employees and students alike the opportunity to see first hand a pre-recorded class in progress. Starting salary is US $12 an hour! For further information check out the following website: www.pvtenglish.com

All you need to know is here and you can contact GLEWeb directly at: info@pvtenglish.com

Let me know what you think!

Mario R.J. Corbin

ESLLanguageSchools@suite101.com

The above advertisement was originally found on www.daveseslcafe.com

Posted by Mario R. J. Corbin

Advertisements for making money from home have bombarded us incessantly for as long as we can remember. Make money quick schemes seem to know no end. However, recent developments in educational tools have promised to change the way in which we think of work at home opportunities. Companies and schools alike have begun offering courses online, even whole degrees. What we forget, however, is that there needs to be someone teaching these courses at the other end of the email and video conferencing.

If you're interested in perhaps undertaking such a position, you may have a chance yet as advertisements are presently being displayed on websites, like that of Dave's ESL café, for anyone with the right qualifications and skills. Think about it, Monday mornings may just never be the same.

Here is an Excellent site for anyone looking for an ESL career:

Dave's ESL café offers a multitude of teaching positions, from teaching online to teaching in Asia. As well, South America, Eastern and Western Europe and occasionally even North America advertise for ESL teachers. Having used this website myself, I have found it more than adequate for anyone interested in looking at the opportunities out there.

Should you have any questions or comments please don't hesitate to contact me. I am here to help and answer all of your questions. Bye for now.