I teach in an International School in Bangkok. The “internationality” of the school is an interesting term, as there really are two languages spoken here — English and Thai — and not necessarily in that order. There used to be signs posted around the school saying, “Proud to be an English-speaking only school,” but when [...]
Posts under ‘Stories from the Front Lines of EFL’
Teaching English at a Japanese Academic High School (by Tomo Wakui)
My teaching History Hello. My name is Tomoe Wakui. Please call me Tomo. I am a high school English teacher in Niigata, Japan. I am very happy to have this opportunity to introduce myself here in Teaching Village. Let me explain my teaching history briefly. I became an English teacher in 1989. I worked at [...]
Teaching in a Small Village in Poland (by Anita Kwiatkowska)
In September 2003 I got a phone call from my former primary school teacher offering me a part time job in the old primary school I started my education in. I felt extremely excited! It was my first real job offer and I was supposed to work with teachers who had taught me the alphabet [...]
When Did I Become a Teacher? (by Conchi Martínez de Tejada)
It’s difficult to pinpoint the precise moment when you become a professional in your area. Some will say it’s when you start your degree, others when you finish it still others will say it’s when you start working. Even more people feel that they need years of experience in order to consider themselves a so-called professional. In my [...]
My Teaching ‘Journey’ in Greece (by Christina Markoulaki)
Imagine a persistent traveller who suddenly sees an ominous mountain in front of her obstructing her way. Determined to arrive to her destination, she climbs up the steep slope, ignoring the surrounding thorns and other invisible dangers. What is her eventual reward? She has reached the peak right on time to feel the calming effect [...]
Lion Tamers and Circus Clowns (by Troy Nahumko)
At any moment between 4:30 and 8pm here in Spain, thousands of unqualified people are standing in front of children pretending to be teachers. This, however, is not a game of make believe played by kids with bits of chalk in their hands, but an extremely lucrative industry spread throughout every town and village [...]
Teaching middle school students in South Korea (by Dayle Major)
I teach in a rural area of South Korea at a couple of middle schools: one is located about 10 minutes about outside the city and has about 190 students whom I see three days a week; the other school is in the countryside (it’s adjacent to a rice field) and has about 32 students [...]
Teaching Kindergarteners in Turkey:Enjoying Every Minute of It (by Özge Karaoğlu)
“To teach is to touch lives forever.” Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be an English teacher! It was because my mum was my kindergarten teacher. She was so creative, engaging and inspiring that I wanted to be a teacher just like her. I had my own chalkboard at home and [...]
I’ll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours (by Steven Herder)
Committed to learning After 20 years in the EFL classroom, I still learn new things all the time. Certainly, here in Japan, the students are completely different than they were back in 1989; in those days, they all sat up straight, had their hair braided back and always made an effort (or pretended to, anyways) [...]
The Treasures of Teaching (by Joanne Sato)
Hi. I’m a British woman who has been living and teaching in Japan for thirteen years. I have lived in Fukushima (yes, THAT Fukushima) city for the last ten of those and work at a women’s college. I have an MA in TEFL from the University of Birmingham, England. I am currently days away from [...]
