The summer has come and gone and we now find ourselves mentally recharged for another year of education. Thousands of teachers will be teaching overseas through Teach Away and as usual we have prepared a short curriculum of helpful information for teachers to make the most of their time abroad.
In this month’s issue of Teach Away Telegram we will be we looking at How to Effectively Balance Work with Play, which will allow you to make the most of your teaching contract both fiscally and experientially. In a similar organizational vein, we’ll embrace the potential smart technology has for teaching with a focus on the Top 5 iPhone applications for ESL Teachers. Lastly we will take a look at our country spotlight for September, Chile.
How to Balance Work and Play While Living Abroad
You want to start the new year off on the right foot, and for those teachers who will be teaching abroad—either for the first time, or returning for more action—one of the primary balancing acts in your life will be between work and play. After all, why live abroad if you are not going to be out there exploring all that the locale has to offer? Likewise, why try to do too much, too fast, and get burned out on travelling before your teaching contract has even gotten under way?
By utilizing the following tips you will be able to effortlessly walk the line between hedonism and resolution, and there will be no stopping your international travel momentum.
#1 – Visualize the Balance — The first point may seem rather simple, but it should always be remembered for it’s effectiveness: simply keep your eyes on the goal. That is, work hard and use the fact that you will be playing hard as motivation to keep going strong. Complete tasks in a linear fashion and get straight to the point with your own planning methods and you will find that your classroom planning will take care of itself. Then reap the rewards you bestow upon yourself. The beautiful thing about this approach is that the harder you work, the more time you have, and the more time you will consequently have to play.
#2 – Take a Break — Contrary to the belief of some, filling every minute of your day with work is not the most effective way to be the most productive. You will find if you take a 10-minute break each day (or a few times throughout) to simply clear your mind and allow for a quick meditation you will re-acquire a mental clarity that can be diminished by the ambient noise of a classroom full of people.
#3 – Don’t Give Up — Don’t be so easily discouraged. You have traveled across vast oceans and sprawling mountain ranges to reach your destination, and if you can overcome those odds, then what is a bit of a delay, a little bit of rain, an unexpected detour, or an unexpected anything compared to the guilt of looking back wishing that you wouldn’t have let it stop you? Stay strong and always follow through on your travel goals once they’ve been made.
#4 – Don’t Imitate Bad Student Behavior — In particular, don’t leave your work for the last minute. The only thing worse than the disappointment in the child who has clearly left the exercise to the last minute is the acute irony in being at 4am the night before the grades must be completed, trying to do them.
# 5 – When Playtime is Over, it’s Over —We come to the final point: when playtime is over accept that fact. Don’t wallow around; start completing the necessary goals required to make it to the next play period. Work, play, work, play It sounds like a repetitious life recipe but the space between allows for a universe of creativity, and all fulfillment comes from juxtaposing genuine hard work with the rewards that ensue.
Top 5 iPhone Apps for ESL Teachers
Technology moves fast; only a couple years ago there was no such thing as a smartphone, and now they have established themselves as invaluable tools for many different professional applications such as medicine, engineering, and yes, teaching as well. So without further adieu, let’s dive into the top 5 iOS apps for ESL teachers (Android fans don’t have to worry – the list of apps for Android will be in next month’s Telegram).
Attendance (2) — Depending on your phone’s operating system, you may need to run Attendance 1, or 2, but either version delivers the same result: the ability to take, and record attendance on your smartphone. Gone are the days of smudged check marks or overlapping circles. Not only that, but Attendance also features the ability to export data from online resources like Blackboard so even if you didn’t start off using the application, you can still start easily enough.
Click for the application.
eClicker — Simply put, eClicker gives teachers the ability to instantly poll their classroom on any topic. If the students have any web-enabled device—be it a smartphone, tablet, or simply access to a computer—then they can participate. eClicker also allows for pictures and various other extras. Try it out and put that antiquated projector back on the shelf where it belongs.
Click for the application.
Smart Dot — This isn’t 1998; put that AA-powered laser pointer away and try out smart dot. With this simple application you can turn any iDevice into a laser pointer. It also allows for presentation software, so you can proceed to the next power point slide and point to a bullet point without having to switch between tools.
Click for the application.
Grade Book for Professors — This application allows teachers to take advantage of Google Spreadsheets in order to more efficiently organize and track grades. Keep all the information in your gmail account for access at any time, so you don’t need to worry about whether or not the computer you are using has Excel on it.
Click for the application.
Voice Recorder/iTalk Recorder — As the name implies, this is a way to make permanent records of lectures without clogging up your pockets or purse with an extra device. Amalgamate it all into your phone.
Click for application.
As was said, stay tuned for next week when we’ll have the complete list of the top applications for the Android operating system.
Country Spotlight: Chile
Chile is one of the most fascinating countries in the world geographically. Stretching from the equator to Antarctica, is is the longest country in the world north to south. In addition, the entire country is only (at max) 240 km (150 miles) wide, which means that no matter where a teacher is, they are always within range of stunning mountainous regions and one of the most scenic coastlines in the world.
Climate
Chile’s climate ranges from hot desert to frigid ice-caps, and everything in between. The Atacama Desert in the North has seen more then 40 years between rainfall before, and the Patagonian South is one of the closest points to Antarctica. The Andes Mountains can represent everything in between through a variety of “micro climates” that allow for a wide range of dramatic weather changes within a short distance.
Culture
With a bustling economy. world-renowned fashion, and an active nightlife, Chile is as beautiful as it is engaging. Generally teaching in Chile will see teachers in the rural areas, and this is an opportunity to experience first-hand the food and wine that has established Chile as in international force in cuisine.
