How Students can cope with Life around the Coronavirus Outbreak Pandemic

As COVID-19 continues to spread around the globe, the World Health Organization has labeled the outbreak a pandemic. And governments are taking proactive measures to protect their citizenry from this disease.

One of these measures is closing down schools. Millions of students in different parts of the world are sitting at home wondering what the future holds. The longer they stay at home, the further behind they fall in coursework.

Most affected students probably consider their current situation a huge disadvantage, but they must not lose sight of the fact that the decision to close down schools came from a good place. Coronavirus is an airborne disease. Considering the communal arrangement of most schools, if an infected student or teacher were to show up, practically the entire school would soon become affected.

Governments and international bodies are coming together to fight this virus. Hopefully, their collective efforts will bear fruit before long so that schools become reopened. In the meantime, these are some of the precautions students must take for their safety.

Minimize Exposure/Spread of Germs

The disease-causing pathogens are typically transmitted by air and they can lodge just about anywhere. Thus, if you come into contact with a surface or an individual that carries these pathogens, your chances of infection significantly go up. To successfully limit the spread of germs, you have to exert deliberate efforts.

Wash your hands: always clean your hands after being in a public area or after interacting with foreign objects. Use liberal amounts of soap and water, and in their absence, use a reputable hand sanitizer. Also, restrain from rubbing your eyes, digging into your nose, or biting your fingernails, because these parts are major entry points for disease-causing pathogens. If you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or cough into your sleeve, not your open hands.

Avoid close contact with infected people: but you must not do it with spite. If an affected person seeks your audience, you may have to keep your distance while talking to them, or use an alternative medium of communication, but it would not be fair to shut them out. In the same vein, limit your interaction with an infected person.

Stay at home if you are affected: as mentioned earlier, there’s nobody too high or too low for Coronavirus. If you come down with the virus, first put the word out so that you get medical assistance, and stay at home for most of the time. This limits the spread of the virus, improves your treatment, and speeds up recovery.

Embrace Online Studies

School is one of the most significant launch pads for successful careers. Unless you are one of those funny students who hate school, you must be disappointed at the shutdown, and would be interested in an alternative means of learning. The Internet is a great resource.

Numerous online teaching companies provide tuition in a wide range of disciplines. You are supposed to first research before you sign up. There are numerous review websites you can check for ratings. One of the main advantages of online learning is that it is far cheaper than traditional schools. Also, students stand to gain greater knowledge from personalized training.

Signing up for these online learning programs takes money, and for some reason, not every parent might be in a position to raise the tuition fees. Still, that’s no excuse for the student to throw care to the wind as far as their studies go. There are numerous free resources a student might download or subscribe to that are related to their coursework.

Stay Informed

Don’t assume that Coronavirus is everyone’s business but you. Ensure that you are in the know about the latest developments. It will help you allegorically stay one step ahead.

Posted on | 3/30/2020 | Shan S.Haider

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Practical Tips for Setting Up Online Learning Platforms

As schools close down amid COVID-19, remote learning is set to become the popular alternative for traditional classroom teaching. Many schools are setting up online learning centers to ensure that students carry on with their studies.

Various factors need to be assessed before launching an online learning program. For one, schools must ensure that students have access to the tools that make online learning a reality. If a school caters to students in a poverty-ridden area, this idea would be misplaced.

The following are some key strategies that schools may have to implement to ensure that their online education platforms become successful.

1. Research students’ background

This move is inspired by the need to understand what percentage of students can take to online learning without much of an inconvenience. We live in a modern world where technology has penetrated all corners of the world. But even though there’s a computer in the living room, that’s no guarantee that a student would have an easy time using it for their online studies; maybe they are a big family and everybody is planning to use it! However, if all students seem to have a device, and easy access to the internet, that’s a great start.

2. Practice

Schools that equip their students with digital learning experience are galaxies ahead. As the virus spreads, more schools are going to be closed, and if they are planning to shift to online platforms, they had better practice. This ensures that both students and teachers are on the same page. Teachers with little to no experience in online teaching benefit from practicing beforehand on how to execute their lessons via the internet.

3. Provide clear guidelines

The role of communication in successful online learning cannot be overstated. Students, teachers, and parents, are coming from a place of curiosity and anxiety. There ought to be a comprehensive guide that explains the whole online learning model. Students should read the guide and have not a single question lingering in their minds. The FAQ section should address the concerns that students, teachers, or parents might have. Having a comprehensive guide ensures that resources are preserved, students are comfortable, but most importantly, it helps schools achieve their end goal: making progress as far as the academic calendar.

4. Plan

Creating a smooth-running online platform is not something you can accomplish at the snap of a finger. It takes tremendous work and the cooperation of different entities. Thus, the upper-level management must come together and make a watertight plan that promises a solid online learning platform. Also, planning ensures that resources are not wasted.

5. Emphasize robust learning

Teachers must desist from dumping loads of information on the students. Learning via the internet is not the same as sitting in a classroom. There are numerous distractions with the internet, and so teachers must deliver concise material, and ensure that their lectures are on the shorter side. It also helps to inject lessons with humor and personality to boost students’ motivation.

6. Set goals

The online coursework must be bound by short-term goals. This is for helping teachers understand whether or not they are making progress. Setting goals also helps teachers frame their lessons in a manner that caters to their students’ needs.

7. Use the right tools

High production standards boost engagement. If students were to log in to the online learning center and their teachers were hardly recognizable from the poor-quality video and sound, their optimism would diminish. Online learning platforms must be supported by tools that ensure superior-quality production. It makes learning fun. There are both paid and free tools.

Posted on | 3/26/2020 | Shan S.Haider

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What Students Must Know About COVID-19 and How It Affects Them

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Wuhan, China in December 2019. A few months later, the virus is causing panic in all corners of the world.

Governments have reacted by placing restrictions on human movement and interaction. The two common orders are: closing down institutions and self-quarantines.

Of course, these restrictions come from a good place, but then again, they have caused tremendous challenges. Students are some of the most affected.

About 100 governments have ordered educational facilities to be shut down, thus millions of students are currently sitting at home.

Students are being encouraged to learn more about the Coronavirus so that they may reduce their chances of acquiring the disease. And in the unfortunate event that they become infected, they’ll be able to handle themselves appropriately.

Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19

The Coronavirus reportedly has similar symptoms to the Flu. But these symptoms are influenced by different factors like an individual’s health and their age. Some of the common symptoms include:

  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath

Senior citizens and people with conditions like diabetes and asthma are at far greater risk of becoming exceedingly ill or even losing their life.

Common Ways that Coronavirus Spreads

The fact that Coronavirus is airborne makes it so dangerous. There are numerous ways you could become infected with the virus. But the most common method is by coming into close contact with an affected person; they might sneeze or cough, and the pathogens would jump into your mouth or eyes, or you could breathe them into your lungs. If the pathogens are lodged on a surface, e.g. a chair or a table, and you touch that surface, and then bring your hand to your eyes or mouth, you could very well get infected too.

How is Coronavirus Treated

There is no medication designated for COVID-19 because it only came up recently. But surprisingly, some people who had been infected with the virus have become well again thanks to quality healthcare. The secret of recovering from the Coronavirus appears to be seeking medical assistance as soon as you discover you are infected. The earlier you detect this disease the higher your chances of recovery.

Initially, there had been speculation that the Flu medication would be effective against the Coronavirus considering that both diseases have somewhat parallel symptoms. This claim has been refuted. But it’s safe to bet that the medicine overlords are working on the Coronavirus drugs.

What Can Students Do To Minimize Their Risk of Getting Infected?

Keep high standards of hygiene: ensure that you clean your hands thoroughly after being in a public space; you might have touched objects, surfaces, or shook hands with an individual carrying the Coronavirus pathogens. If your budget allows, buy disinfectants too.

Avoid close contact with infected people: do I mean that you deride them? By no means! But you have to keep your distance from an infected person to ensure that you don’t swallow the pathogens. Also, isolating an ill person allows for better assessment of their recovery.

Avoid crowded places: there tends to be mayhem in crowded areas. You never know the background of every person and what if someone has the Coronavirus? Staying away from crowds means you are not exposed to potentially affected people or contaminated surfaces.

What’s the Longterm Impact of the Coronavirus?

It’s difficult to tell what the Coronavirus-situation will be like in the future. We can only hope that scientists will get rid of it.

How to Cope with Schools Being Closed?

You might want to turn to the internet. If you can afford it, sign up for an online learning program. If you have no funds, you can still search out free internet resources for your studies.

Posted on | 3/25/2020 | Shan S.Haider

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Online Teaching Tips for Inexperienced Teachers

As governments around the globe step up their efforts to fight COVID-19, the education sector has been greatly affected, thanks to nationwide or localized school closures.

Many institutions have been forced to set up internet-based education programs so that their students may continue learning. Most teachers who only have experience in traditional teaching arrangements might not be bubbly about this new development. But here are some practical tips to help teachers make the transition from teaching in classrooms to being comfortable teaching via the internet.

1. Record your lectures

This is particularly redeeming if you have no experience whatsoever. In a recorded lecture, you supply all the materials, and you ensure that the package and delivery is on point. But when it comes to live streaming, there are several factors out of your control that could potentially take away from your lecture. Recorded sessions also allow for future reference. Supposing a student falls ill and cannot tune in as expected, they could always go back to watch the lecture at their convenience. As your expertise increases, you will find yourself wanting to try live streaming too.

2. Show your face

For some reason, some educators present learning materials via narrated slideshows and auxiliary media. But it’s advisable to show your face in your lectures. Students are likely to be motivated to take their studies seriously if they can still see their teacher’s visage as opposed to just seeing slideshows. Learning must not be strictly academic lingua. There are certain nuances and light moments that teachers ought to incorporate to make their sessions lively. And the delivery is greatly dependent on the teacher’s facial expressions.

3. Keep lectures short

In a classroom setting, there aren’t many external factors to distract students, which allows teachers to go up to even an hour. But with the internet, notifications are buzzing in every few minutes, and the students might be tempted to drift off to some other websites. To ensure maximum knowledge retention, teachers are advised to keep their lectures on the short side, ideally 15 minutes. If you have more material to share, you may have to turn it into a series.

4. Use video resources

One of the ways to increase motivation in your students is by ensuring that the quality of your videos is top-notch. If you are not tech-savvy, this can be quite a challenge. Thankfully, there are numerous online resources that content creators can use to publish great videos. You can choose to subscribe or even use free platforms. If you are aiming for the highest standards possible, you may have to hire a video expert. It eliminates various issues like wrong formats, poor sound, and aspect ratio.

5. Highlight the key parts

Considering that students are likely to have waning attention as they learn via the internet, it is best to seed the important knowledge as quickly as possible. Ensure that the important parts of the video stand out. Also, you have to use concise language and cut out fluff. At the subconscious level, students take the emphasized parts much more seriously.

6. Make plans for interactive activities

You don’t want to approach your students as if they were only a tank that needs to be filled. Provide interactive activities, particularly quizzes, to gauge if they are coming along well. As mentioned earlier, you might have to employ video resources to create interactive activities.

7. Solicit feedback

In a classroom setting, it is easy for a teacher to “read” the environment and make an accurate deduction. But when you are teaching kids via the internet, you have no idea what is going on. Make sure to reach out to your students and encourage them to share with you. The more you understand the psychological leanings of your students, the easier it becomes to teach them.

Posted on | 3/24/2020 | Shan S.Haider

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How Schools Can Safeguard the Wellbeing of Both Students and Educators during Coronavirus

The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all sectors of the economy. According to UNESCO, governments in 100 countries have decreed a nationwide or localized shutdown of learning institutions to mitigate the rapid spread of COVID-19.

If a solution is not found against the spread of this virus at the earliest possible time, millions of students are bound to contend with serious challenges. The primary concern is that staying at home for so long will cause students to get so far behind in coursework and disrupt their academic calendar.

As students sit at home, it means that teachers are out of work. Teachers in private schools are likely staring at tough economic times because private institutions rely on fee payment to provide salaries.

Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, schools ought to step up their efforts to safeguard the wellbeing of both their students and educators. The following are some of the strategies they may have to implement:

Create an Online Learning Portal

Not every learning facility has the resources to create such a project. But setting up an online learning portal, and allowing students to access it, is perhaps the best solution against school shutdown. The success of this program would hinge on the cooperation between teachers, students, and the administration. Teachers may log in at the designated time and carry on with their sessions while students follow on the other end with their devices. There are numerous web applications for live streaming.

Pay Salaries

Teaching is one of those professions that necessitate passion. Teachers operate within a set of ethical principles and take the initiative to comprehend the psychology of their students. But, at the end of the day, teachers have to pay bills like everyone else, and if their teaching jobs cannot help them pay bills, they might be forced to look the other way. As the Coronavirus leaves a trail of destruction in its wake, the economic ramifications are rippling out to the education sector. This is a time when school administration bodies are put to the test as far as handling draining resources. To help students continue to learn, the school management must prioritize the payment of teachers’ salaries. Depending on the institution’s income flow, teachers might have to agree to pay cuts.

Create a Resource Center

Schools also have the responsibility of informing their students (and teachers) about important developments in regards to COVID-19. Since the entire world is fixated on this pandemic, the information is pouring down in torrents. And this scenario allows for misinformation to cover a lot of ground. Schools must take on the role of sifting the news and relaying accurate information to their students. This ensures that everyone is on the same page. Also, the more informed students are, the easier it becomes to protect themselves from the disease, or handling the situation appropriately in the unfortunate event that one comes down with the illness.

Establish Open Communication Channels

Schools don’t only exist for academic purposes. Students are supposed to finish school as well-rounded individuals. One of the ways to ensure this is through establishing open channels of communication. Most schools have departments that cater to students’ external issues which makes it easy to solve their existential problems. But, with the current Coronavirus pandemic, students are stuck at home, and they may not feel as free to disclose their issues to their guardians as they would to their teachers. Schools may establish online communication channels through which students may contact teachers and receive guidance. Schools have a great role to play in uplifting their students.

Posted on | 3/23/2020 | Shan S.Haider

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Co-op Canada Program

Some people cannot tell the difference between an internship and a co-op program. Internships are short-term opportunities sought by students and fresh graduates, typically during summer, for purposes of acquiring relevant work experience. Internships can either be full-time or part-time; paid or unpaid. But a co-op program requires a student to alternate at least three semesters between going to school and reporting for work in a certain company. Co-op programs are full-time and participants are compensated.

Teacherix is offering an opportunity for co-op programs through its affiliated colleges and universities in Canada. Teacherix is looking to partner with even more colleges and universities so that they may cater to a wide range of disciplines.

The length of the co-op program is dependent upon your field of study. For instance, certificate programs come with one semester of work/study, but diploma programs have two semesters.

Students in co-op programs are compensated for their work terms. Schools typically help students get opportunities, but there’s nothing stopping a student from looking for one on their own, but then the co-op department must assess whether the job agrees with the co-op program.

If you have a bachelor’s degree, or Master’s degree, you are qualified to apply for the work/study program. In some cases, one might qualify with only a high school education. You also must have passed the International English Language Testing System. If you need any assistance, you are welcome to speak with a Teacherix consultant.

Undertaking a co-op program is no guarantee that you have a job, but it significantly boosts your chances of getting one, because first, you have had an opportunity to network, and the relevant work experience makes you desirable.

The cost of the co-op program depends on the field of study, course duration, and location. The ballpark figure for the cost of tuition in one year is between $10000 and $15000 CAD.  Students also pay for their lodging and meals.

The Canada co-op program accommodates diverse fields of studies: Business, Hospitality, International Trade, Project Management, IT, Healthcare, Supply Chain, Social Media etc.

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to study at renowned Canadian institutions, get work opportunities while still studying, and enjoy a comfortable stay in the students’ residence.

Benefits of Co-op Programs

Acquire practical work experience: it is one thing to be intellectually aware of how an activity must be performed, and it’s another thing to actually perform the activity. For instance, being an excellent journalist is much more than having perfect writing skills. You need to familiarize yourself with different tones and ensure that you communicate the intended message. Rising up to this level you have to have practical experience. Human resource managers are aware of this truth and that’s why they move up resumes that indicate relevant work experience. For a student, taking a co-op program is the cleverest way of acquiring work experience. Employers take a liking to job seekers with relevant work experience because they won’t incur expenses in the form of additional training. Also, when you have work experience you tend to be more confident in executing your new job, which earns you respect and admiration.

Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses: they say that we are the sum of our choices. But our choices are invariably tied to our self-perception. If we think we are good at something, we never hold back when an opportunity arises, and the vice-versa is true. Receiving an education might awaken you to the person that you are, but it is until when you are put in a real work environment that you truly understand both your strengths and weaknesses. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is focusing so much on their strengths and being in denial over their weaknesses. Recognizing your weaknesses helps you adjust your beliefs, but more importantly, it lays the foundation for turning yourself around. It’s not like weaknesses are eternal cages; they can be undone. For instance, if you are an IT student, and you are placed at an IT company in the health industry, where you have to deal with countless people each day, what if you realize you are not good with people? By accepting that you have a problem handling people, you are compelled to seek ways of improving your people skills, thus solving your problem. But what if you deny that you are horrible with people and insist that “they” are the ones at fault? You are likely to be looked at as a mediocre worker.

Being in a work environment also helps you learn about your hidden strengths and talents. And depending on the resources around you, you have a perfect opportunity to capitalize on them.

Become more responsible: human resource managers understand that each worker must play their role for the common good. In a company, the finished product typically goes through many stages, but if one stage is subpar, it affects the quality of the entire product, thus risking the company’s profitability. Irresponsible people are always shown the door. During the co-op program, that’s your opportunity to make yourself a more responsible person, by learning to take initiative and sharpen your proficiencies. The more responsible you are the much of a great asset you become to your employer. Also, remember that being responsible at work translates into being responsible elsewhere. In that vein, you are likely to have a much more fulfilling life beyond the confines of your office. Success is not down to just your professional life but it also encompasses your family, friends, and lifestyle.

Gain knowledge: when you get paid opportunities during a co-op program, one thing is sure; the company will not sleep on you. Managers will want to see you performing your duties and becoming a great team player, even if for a while. This means you have an opportunity to interact with both colleagues and high-placed officials. And considering that they have been at it for quite some time, or even for a long time, their extensive knowledge should rub off you. It doesn’t have to be orchestrated by you. It should flow naturally. For instance, watching an experienced hand perform a task, you get to know what to do and not to do. Knowledge spurs creativity. The more you know, the more angles that your mind can shoot off, which helps you level up your capacity to solve problems. And remember, folks, it’s all about solving problems!

Analyze your career decisions: when you were a kid, did you want to grow up to be a doctor? That’s fine; kids are innocent and always want to help those who are in a world of pain. More than likely, your dream changed, and now you are gunning for a career far removed from medicine. But here’s the thing; you could still change your mind again. Co-op programs not only give you an opportunity to see how jobs in your field are performed, but you also have a front-row viewing of their impacts. Maybe what you thought was a glamorous career is not so much glamorous anymore when you see how it manufactures victims. Or maybe the career that you wanted might suddenly look boring, and you are not sure whether you want to dive into that. Co-op programs can push you to make changes in regards to the line of work that you want. And this is a good thing. You want to be certain that you’ll enjoy the work that you’ll be doing probably for the rest of your life. One of the factors that people greatly consider when selecting a career is… drum roll please… the money! Sadly, some people are usually misinformed about careers with complex earning models, and they end up finding out what they once thought was a money-hole-career, can actually pay less than they could have ever thought. The acting career is a perfect example. I mean, for every rich movie star, there are a million starving actors walking about Los Angeles.

Networking opportunity: a job is not promised after completion of your co-op program. But, the co-op program can make it easy for you to land a job. I mean, you have access to people who have connections in the industry. It’s only a question of starting good relationships with them. When it comes to growing your network, it is not so much your technical skills as your personality that is more important. I mean, your technical skills only allow you to put your foot in the door, but your charm and charisma go a long way. In order to take full advantage of the networking potential that a co-op program provides, make sure that you are in good terms with most company employees, both juniors and seniors. But then you have to let them know that you are looking for career-starting opportunities. Building networks is an art. Of course, you don’t meet someone and unload all your heart burdens within 30 minutes; they’d be freaked! But once you learn to get along with other employees, the networking potential becomes tremendous.

Increase motivation: co-op programs also spur motivation. As human beings, one of our primal instincts is to compete. If you see someone doing well, you are supposed to be motivated, not envious. The co-op program puts you in the same space with visibly successful individuals. When you see people excelling in your field, you become hungry for success. Motivation goes hand in hand with hard work. But you also have to have integrity. Simply because you are motivated to succeed doesn’t mean that you must use even dirty tricks. But when you are motivated, you are less likely to waste time, and you start taking responsibility for your life. When you share the same physical environment with successful people, you learn their habits, which are practically the fuel for evergreen motivation.

Feedback and follow-up: have you ever come across an unpublished writer whose manuscripts get rejected a lot? They usually feel that the world is against them. It is not uncommon for a person to overestimate their capabilities. In a co-op program, your seniors will examine your work, and give feedback. This is a great opportunity to learn about your weak spots. The feedback is not always positive, but it comes from a good place, and you should have a good attitude. If the manager is extremely responsible, they will follow up to see whether you have corrected your faults. As a co-op program participant, managers will go easy on you, and you should take advantage of this treatment to hone perfect skills. In a real job, incompetency and ineffectiveness are met with swift punishment.

You get paid: students apply for co-op programs for the primary reason of gaining work experience, but getting paid sweetens the deal. If you have a bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree, you have the technical knowledge, and the company will make use of your skills. Surely, it’s only fair that they pay you. The payment packages differ from one company to the next, but of course, the payment is not on the same level as permanent employees. Getting paid is a great motivation to show up for work and put in some effort. It also makes your time at school more enjoyable. The Canada co-op program will have students staying at the residence and enjoying various amenities that are easily accessible. Having some money couldn’t hurt.

Interpersonal skills: they refer to an individual’s capacity to engage people either one-on-one or as a group. Employees have to have good interpersonal skills for it helps save resources and accomplish goals much quicker. In the modern era, the comforts that have come with tech advancement have made it quite hard to develop interpersonal skills. I mean, computers and video games can easily lead someone down the path of an individualistic lifestyle, so that they are unable to work with other people. Of course, this is not to mean that anyone who embraces technology has poor interpersonal skills, because it all comes down to moderation.

A co-op program will allow you to meet different people and learn to get along with them. This experience sharpens your interpersonal skills and makes you a team player. Successful companies encourage the team player spirit, not isolation.

Training by industry professionals: co-op programs are paid; hence the company is much more serious about utilizing your skills. There are industry professionals to train co-op students to ensure that their work is of great quality. It never stops at training. The professionals evaluate the student’s work and provide feedback. The feedback is aimed at helping students realize both their strong and weak points and work on making themselves even better. The training helps co-op program participants to increase their skills and become much more resourceful. No matter what your field of study, university professors don’t tackle relevant materials exhaustively, and there is always room for additional training.

Leadership skills: it is one of the most important factors for success. It doesn’t matter your technical skills and capabilities, but you have to show leadership to achieve success. It stretches back to the fact that success is only ever acquired through a team, not solo efforts. A good leader understands their position, and they are always looking around to see whether everybody else is falling into step. Having great leadership skills means that you can project future outcomes. It also means that you can come up with solutions pretty fast. The co-op program gives you an opportunity to strengthen your leadership skills. With powerful leadership skills, you not only become a resourceful employee, but you also get to enjoy tremendous success in your personal life. The thing about leadership is that you have to keep on practicing, and the skill becomes ingrained in due course.

Experience other cultures: when you apply for a co-op program, you might have to travel far away, which is great because it gives you an opportunity to enjoy different settings. Being able to meet different people and experience different cultures, your mind expands, and you are able to bring into perspective different aspects of life. The co-op program also increases your self-reliance. Since you are staying at the residence, and resources might sometimes be tight, you learn to prioritize your needs, and make the best decisions. Also, it’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on your life so far, and make strong your resolve what kind of life you intend to have.

Higher starting salary after graduation: students sign up for co-op programs because they are great for gathering work experience. But did you know that completing a co-op program can actually help you get your first job at a higher salary? Human resource managers understand that someone with work experience will hit the ground running, unlike someone without, who might actually cost the company. Also, your resume will carry a lot of weight.

Applying for a co-op program is akin to setting up a strong foundation for career success. It grants you skills, experience, and makes you desirable to employers.

Posted on | 3/09/2020 | Shan S.Haider

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Acquire Practical Skills with a Summer Internship in Prague

In the current labor market, employers look at the relevant work history of a potential hire before moving forward with them. And so, practical experience counts for much when you’re competing with other job seekers for scarce work positions.

But here’s the thing; you just completed university the other day, or you are in the final stages, so it’s more than likely you have no practical experience. What to do?

Seeking an internship is the best course of action. Actually, most universities require that their students undergo an internship before they graduate. But depending on your course, and your geographical location, internships might be hard to come by.

Career Development Europe Program

Teacherix is offering students and recent graduates an opportunity for a summer internship in Prague. This internship will see you fly away in Europe to gain practical experience in your field. You get to work with professionals who are interested in helping you climb to the next level.

Internships are priceless in that they help fresh graduates stand out when applying for their first job. It doesn’t matter what field you are in, getting a lucrative job is often an uphill task, and only the best come out tops.

So, make use of this Career Development Europe Program to land an international internship, and increase your prospects of landing a plum job by a hundredfold.

The amazing thing about this program is that the company that you work for as an intern might actually take you in as their new employee.

There’s no guarantee that a job will be extended to you, but be sure that some managers keep an eye on interns, searching for excellence and rewarding it.

As an intern, you should make yourself out to be hardworking, reliable, respectful, but most especially, great with people. By attracting the attention of managers and forming a good relationship with them ensures that you are first to be considered when a job comes up.

Apart from the work experience that you earn through the summer internship in Prague, there are other several benefits:

– Front row access to economic opportunities with top companies

– Strengthen your self-reliance skills by living away from mummy and daddy

– Widen your network from an international pool of students and managers

– Strengthen your communication skills

– Obtain a work reference letter at the end of your internship

Ensure You Have Fulfilled These Requirements before Applying

1. You must be upper-intermediate in English

2. You must be enrolled in an accredited tertiary institution

3. You must have graduated within the past two years and working in the related field

4. You must provide an updated CV along with a recent photo

5. You must be comfortable with a video call interview by ECCE if required

Fees

The fees are dependent upon your field of study. The internship is available to people with a background in law, architecture, international business and engineering:

Field of Study Approximate Fee Fee W/Accommodation
Law €3500 €5000
Architecture €2000 €3500
Int’l Business & Engineering €2500 €4000

Benefits of an Internship

Sharpening your skills: an indisputable fact about all successful companies; they are run by skilled workers. This is true even for companies that deal with “dirty money”. When you finally land a job, your skills will determine whether you’ll rise through the ranks, or whether you are going to be fired. At the end of the day, managers follow numbers, not the heart, and if you are not performing, you are more than likely to be let go. An internship offers the best opportunity to hone your skills. You should stretch the limits of your creativity. The more skills you acquire, the more resourceful you become. In most internship programs, the pay is little to non-existent, and this usually causes the interns to lose motivation. Ensure that you go against such an impulse and that you give your best. By working hard to sharpen your skills you also attract the attention of your managers. And managers are smart enough to see who is motivated and who’s not, and should an opportunity open up, they won’t be mistaken about whom to give the job.

Chance to analyze different work roles: maybe you have always wanted to be a CEO. There’s nothing wrong with that wish. You probably read somewhere that CEOs earn millions every year and their lives are flamboyant and you figured you want that too. But when you get into an environment that allows you to see what their job entails, you might develop second thoughts. For instance, witnessing media attacks take a toll on the CEO might make you stop to want to be one. Certain types of people are suited for different roles in a company. For instance, to be a great CEO, you have to have great people skills, because you are managing the greatest capital; human resource. You must always set the best example for your workers to ape. And you must recognize when they are performing or not performing. To be a great Chief Technology Officer (CTO), you don’t necessarily have to have people skills, but then you must be an artist with a sharp taste for design and functionality, and you must be innovative. The company will look to you for technological solutions. Being in an environment where you get to see people in lofty positions go about their work gives you an opportunity to revisit your dreams. For some reason, you might come to the realization that a certain job is not as glamorous as you once thought.

Gain an awareness of how businesses work: as an intern, you are typically not privy to the company’s sensitive business interests. But then, you can be within earshot when business matters are getting discussed by other employees, which gives you an insight into how the company, and by extension, the industry, operates. Looking in from outside, you never see the difficult parts, but once you are part of the company, you get to see the various gaps and weaknesses that make the company vulnerable. Being aware of all these factors helps you connect your actions with the end result. For instance, if you are an intern in a publishing company, and the company is on the rocks financially, you will know better than to waste time. Employees ought to view themselves as part of a whole. And in order that a company succeeds, every last one of its employees must put in their share. Being an intern opens your eyes to company politics. And such developments should strengthen your critical thinking skills.

Opportunity to expand your network: they say that your network is your net worth. Most jobs are never announced in the media. People use their networks to fill out a job opening. When you become part of a company, even in a minor role as an intern, you have access to a great many resourceful people. And so, you must not isolate yourself, too scared to speak with the employees. You should instead walk up to them and socialize. The employees have connections in your field and they could give you job leads. The most important thing when it comes to networking is not even your technical skills. It’s all about your personality. You have to be easy to talk to. You have to have a great attitude. And you have to be someone that gets along with others. Developing your personality so that you become lovable ensures that people look out for you. But if you are a nasty individual, the employees will be impatient as they wait for your internship to end, and then they will bid you adios without so much as a fake smile. The awesome thing is that personality is not down to your genetics. You can take on various exercises and create a charismatic personality.

Work reference letter: when looking for a job, submitting a reference letter from the senior management of the company you interned for comes in handy. As long as you are in good terms with the management at the completion of your internship, you will receive a reference letter. This letter emphasizes your strong areas and the management discloses that you are a resourceful person. Human resource managers are very well connected, and sometimes if they want to find about someone, it’s as easy as lifting the phone. And that’s precisely why you should approach your internship with great care. If you reduce your opportunity to a joke, you may find it extremely difficult to get started in your career, thanks to having a bad reputation. However, it’s important that the work reference letter tells the truth mostly. Nothing would be more unfortunate – and embarrassing – than getting a job that you are not skilled at.

Opportunity to launch your innovative ideas: it’s as simple as walking to the company’s Chief Technology Officer and revealing your idea. But the amusing thing is that people with an extremely high IQ seldom believe in themselves. If the Heavens have gifted you a great intelligence, so much so you can solve a problem in your field, you should always make your ideas known to your superiors. If you look at all successful companies, you will realize one thing; they are all solving a problem. And so, if your idea can solve a problem, the management will consider you resourceful, and it’s almost guaranteed they will extend a job to you. The truth is that most innovative ideas don’t shine too bright in the beginning. And it’s so easy to rubbish an idea just because some aspects of it seem conflicting. Being an intern, you don’t have so much to lose, and not even the embarrassment of a potentially stupid idea should hold you back from making yourself heard. As long as there’s the conviction that you are solving a problem, then go for it.

Different settings from school environment: when you have been attending classes at the same university for years, you sort of become bored with the physical environment. An internship is very much an escape from this boredom. That’s why interns are normally excited. Being in a different physical environment than what you have been used to usually boosts your inspiration and causes you to become a much more productive person. Additionally, getting an internship pushes you to take yourself more seriously. Negative thinking patterns are commonplace among fresh graduates, especially after a few rejections. But an internship may help them to develop positive thoughts about their future.

Opportunity to learn more about oneself: the best thing about working is that you encounter challenges. A challenge is the truest test of character. An internship might not come with huge monetary compensation, but it is work nonetheless. Once you get started with an internship, you are tasked with various assignments, and they help you develop a keener understanding of the person that you are. And this is why being an intern you are supposed to have the mindset of working hard. As a fresh graduate, you don’t have sufficient experience, and you are likely to run into challenges that overwhelm you more often. But you must learn to forgive yourself. In order to develop a profound sense of self, you need to be a little more forgiving of yourself, but start over with a can-do attitude.

Build confidence: the lack of confidence among people is one of the major existential problems. They might appear tall and imposing, with the build of a mountain, but deep down they hold certain insecurities that cause them to exhibit self-inhibiting behaviors. A person of mediocre capabilities but highly-confident can achieve far more than an individual with high capabilities but low self-confidence. It’s a tough world out there. You have to reinforce yourself so as to be taken seriously. In order to fight for what you believe you have to have confidence. It’s a skill that comes of practice. An internship offers the perfect opportunity to put your skills into work and build confidence in the process.

Increase motivation: the lack of motivation causes many people with great potential to waste away. Being self-motivated is a type of super-power. A motivated person doesn’t wait to be asked to do something. They don’t quit when the going gets tough. Being an intern is a perfect opportunity to boost your self-motivation. The intern doesn’t want a manager to be on their back trying to get them to do something that is obviously their responsibility. An intern usually exhibits great behavior and comes off as hard working. In as much as it may not always come from a sincere place, the tendency of taking initiative can spur self-motivation.

Discover new places: being an intern commonly opens up an opportunity for travel. If you are really lucky, you may land an international internship, which carries more weight than a domestic internship. The bottom line is that these opportunities will have you travel to a different town, city, or country, and get to experience different cultures. Thus, internships are not vital for just career growth, but they play a key role in the holistic development of a human. At the end of the day, your character is heavily influenced by your experiences, and the more exposed you are, the more refined your character.

Acquire new interests: a human being is nothing more than an explorer. The more you experience new things, the more your creative mind glows, sending you off to lines of thought you never once thought possible. Yes, internships can have you acquiring new interests, by virtue of the fact that they offer you novel experiences. For instance, during the internship, you might make the acquaintance of someone with a unique philosophy to life, and this could spark a new interest for you. As a fresh graduate, you are typically a young person, and not yet fully formed in terms of what holds your interest.

Improve your interpersonal skills: one of the most underrated skills is the ability to interact with other people both at an individual and group level. No man ever makes it alone. But to get others involved, we must have strong interpersonal skills, so that we can establish good relations with them. An internship is a perfect ground for developing interpersonal skills. You are surrounded by employees of the company. You have an opportunity to walk up to them and strike conversations. Building interpersonal skills can only happen in the context of an individual actually practicing, not just theorizing.

Increase responsibility: being responsible is not merely the ability to not break a porcelain saucer. It’s down to thinking about the effects of your actions on other people. An internship offers you the opportunity to do something that is part of a larger whole. In that sense, the entire team depends on your truth and effectiveness, and so do you.   

This opportunity for a summer internship in Prague is extremely valuable. Not many graduates can boast of international internships. It’s the equivalent of a super-boost when looking for a job.

Posted on | 3/04/2020 | Shan S.Haider

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Benefits of Attending Teacher Training in Canada

Teacherix has always been at the forefront of leveling up the capabilities of language educators. In the coming Teacher Training in Canada, teachers will receive a powerful training that will increase their proficiencies. This training is geared to arm teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and skills necessary to execute their work in classrooms and society. The training is divided into two programs, but both are designed to be hands-on. Experts will walk teachers along practical application of these skills. Some of the aspects of this training include:

– Materials development

– Paying visits to educational and cultural sites

– Assessment

– Course planning

– Codes of language learning

– Social events

Who Can Attend this Training?

The goal of Teacherix is to ensure that as many teachers are sufficiently equipped to carry out their duties. Thus, they have made the training accessible to teachers in a wide range of backgrounds.

– Tesol and CLIL teachers

– K-12 teachers with experience

– Recent graduates

– Students at an advanced stage in their education studies

– People with an interesting in becoming English teachers

– Teachers with an interest in bringing their skills to Canada

– Heads of departments, curriculum developers, and teacher trainers

– English teachers with non-native students

The Appeal of Professional Development Courses

Most teachers are happy to sign up for professional development training because it increases their teaching proficiencies and gives them a tremendous networking opportunity. Professional development training adheres to a philosophy of being practical as opposed to presenting theories alone. The training is led by education experts who have no trouble imparting skills to the participants. There are various social engagements that run side by side with the training enabling participants to network with Canadian and international educators; a tremendous opportunity for career growth. The selection of Canada for this training is very much deliberate, considering that the country has a rich multicultural history, and that it promotes extensive research on multilingual education. With the training held in Ottawa, participants will enjoy a tranquil environment, as well as countless touristic sites that the city offers.

Why Is Professional Development Important for Teachers?

As the years pass, the roles of learning centers are changing, and so are the duties of teachers. Some of the trends coming up are making it obligatory for teachers to seek professional development. Some of these developments include:

– Teaching multicultural classrooms

– Integrating children with special needs

– Utilizing new communication tools for effective learning

– Mitigating the effects of technology among students

– Reversing parents disinterest in their kids’ education

The college training that teachers receive is essential to begin work, but it by no means prepares them to handle the broad challenges they will experience throughout their teaching career. Thus, education agencies create opportunities for professional development, which is what keeps teachers up to the task no matter the challenges. Professional development is not a one-time thing; it’s supposed to grow with the participant. Training is the principal thing, but there needs to be practice and review, and follow-up too. The best training programs put teachers in simulated learning environments so that their proficiency might become second nature.

Updating Teachers’ Knowledge: let’s say you got your Bachelor of Education in the 80s; between then and now, probably there have been numerous changes in the curriculum. Curriculum developers are always scanning courses to see where improvements must be made. And so, in order to keep up with these changes, it is necessary that a teacher seeks professional development. When a teacher cares enough to update their knowledge on the subjects that they teach it means they are passionate about their work, but more importantly, it enables them to impart accurate knowledge to their students. When the teacher’s knowledge is updated, they have the inspiration to bring out the relevance of their subjects.

Improving Teachers’ Attitudes: being a great teacher is not just about dispensing technical knowledge and asking your students to score straight A’s. There’s one intangible quality that determines whether students will warm up to your teaching style: your attitude. If you have a great attitude, students will subconsciously develop a great liking to you, and this will drive them into working hard so as not to disappoint you. But having a poor attitude might cause students to shut off, and those who are not self-driven will likely lose interest in the subject. A great attitude is in many ways tied to situational awareness and the capacity to take control. The fact is students in a classroom are drawn from many backgrounds. And whatever is going on in their private lives will influence how they act even in class. Thus, it is important that teachers have the capability to diagnose dysfunctional attributes in students and handle them in the best approach. It not only makes teachers respectable but it might actually invite change into the student’s life. Professional development training equips teachers with these essential skills.

New Teaching Techniques: in a great many ways, teaching is an art. And just like any other art form, there’s always room for becoming better. The basic training that a teacher undergoes in college lays the foundation, but as the years pass, new teaching techniques come up, and it’s great that a teacher should tap into them. The following are some of the emergent techniques:

1. Integrated learning

It’s simply merging education with technology. For the longest time, it used to be textbooks alone, but now students can use textbooks along with audio-visual content that will stimulate their minds like never before. Integrated learning is especially appealing to students who may not have a strong semantic memory but have a strong photographic memory.

2. Personalized learning

This technique is aimed at treating students based on their strengths and weaknesses as opposed to using a standard approach. For instance, dyslexic students may be allowed to use audiobooks considering that reading from a book poses a significant challenge.

3. Bite-sized learning

Teachers have always considered this to be a huge problem: having students who are easily distracted. And now more than ever, kids are surrounded by distractions, which makes the situation even worse. Bite-sized learning encourages teachers to utilize small interactive sessions for maximum knowledge retention.

Nurturing Talents: every teacher understands one thing: their students are going to take different paths after school; they won’t all become surgeons. And that’s okay. Success in life has much more to do with exploiting one’s capabilities. Thus, it is incredibly necessary that the teacher has the mind to spot a good journalist, a good writer, a doctor, a musician, a filmmaker, but more importantly, make it known to their student what they think of them and give them an opportunity to grow their talent. For instance, if a teacher notices a student with well-developed leadership skills, it’s nice to offer them opportunities to mobilize other students and lead teams. When a teacher undertakes professional development training, they are better placed to analyze a student and connect the dots in regards to their talents.

Networking Purposes: professional development courses bring together likeminded people. This is a perfect opportunity for teachers to not only share vital information but also network. The bigger your network, the more access you have to lucrative opportunities, which should boost your career growth. At the coming up Teacherix Teacher Training in Canada, there are several social events tied to the training, which is a deliberate effort to get teachers to interact and build networks.

Helping Weaker Teachers Become Excellent: unfortunately, not every teacher performs their work flawlessly. And that’s fine because no one is ever perfect. But what makes the difference is their willingness to transform themselves. One of the ways that a teacher might move from being mediocre into a great instructor is by attending professional development training. The training opens them up to different strategies on how to become better, but more importantly, they receive hands-on experience, which makes the transformation much easier.

Setting Professional Development Goals: sometimes being a teacher you might have to care so much about others that you end up neglecting your professional goals. But teaching is your profession, and it’s only fair that you set goals for yourself, so that you may create a lasting legacy. As a teacher, there are many opportunities to rise through the ranks and extend your influence from students to society and possibly even the country. But then you need to set goals for yourself and have a clear sense of direction. The experts that lead professional development courses will help you understand how to set goals.

Handling Students: if you are not good at handling students, it might make you distressed, and possibly make you hate your job. As long as you are dealing with students there will always be cases of indiscipline. You might want to handle such cases extremely well so that you cement your authority. Kids love pushing buttons to see the reaction. The bottom line is that indiscipline should be met with punishment. It seems obvious, but there are many teachers who become overwhelmed when dealing with “difficult” kids. Professional development courses help teachers understand how to react to indiscipline and the appropriate punishment.

Legal Aspects of the Job: every job has a legal side to it. And without a doubt, there are numerous issues that teachers must be sensitized on as far as the legal side. This helps teachers to exercise care as they go on about their work. For instance, it is necessary to know your rights when engaging with employers. Some of the important legal aspects to keep in mind are:

– Upholding students’ rights

– Safety measures

– Intellectual property rights

Relationship-building Skills: teachers have a great opportunity to mold young impressionable minds. But then teachers would have to build relationships with their students for this to happen. It comes down to communication skills and empathy. In a classroom, teachers ought to show leadership, inspire their students, so that they become trusting of their teacher. This sets a great foundation for mutual respect. It creates a medium for the flow of information and thus teachers are able to gain deeper insight as to what is going on with their students.

Challenge Curriculum Developers: are you a sharp and analytical thinker who scrutinizes the curriculum and come with questions. The perfect time to raise these questions is during professional development courses. When you come across a curriculum expert you should take the opportunity to ask away your concerns. Most people hold back from challenging other people they consider their superiors because of embarrassment. But it should not be like that. If you have a unique way of thinking, it’s only fair that you shine light upon perceived errors, and make way for improvements. However, you must not attend professional development courses with your sole intent being to challenge curriculum developers as though you want to prove a point.

Understanding student psychology: it’s important that a teacher understands their students’ psychology, for it enables them to handle students appropriately. Professional development courses are led by education experts, commonly people who have “seen it all”. Drawing from their extensive experience they must have a keen insight upon student psychology. It’s always necessary to decode the verbal and non-verbal actions of your students. They allow you to be one step ahead of them and to always stay in control. Understanding student psychology also helps you get answers to their behaviors.

Developing self-confidence: not every teacher walks into a classroom and feels comfortable. And in such scenarios, students can sense it, and they are quick to take away the teacher’s power. It is absolutely necessary that a teacher is confident at all times. Whether it be adjusting to new environments, or communicating exactly what’s in their mind, teachers must learn to be confident at all times. Any teacher who doesn’t feel comfortable standing before a classroom would do well to undertake a professional development course. They will gain hands-on training on how to command respect.

Engaging Parents: parents play an important role in how their children perform at school. Irresponsible parents will more than likely have their kids fail. Involved parents will have their kids want to succeed. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. But teachers need to engage parents for the benefit of the student. When a teacher plays their role, and the parent plays their role too, there’s no guarantee that the child will excel, but at least increases the odds of the child becoming successful, not only academically but in a holistic sense. It is incredibly important that teachers have a good relationship with the parents of their students.

Fundamentals of Effective Professional Development

Emphasis on Content: successful professional development courses have to be centered on strong themes content-wise. It ensures that the training is thorough. Instead of touching upon many different things, it is far more beneficial to focus on just one thing per course.

Practical learning: professional development courses must create room for participation, allowing teachers to direct themselves, solve problems, and develop mastery. A hands-on approach is far better than having an expert stand before teachers, just theorizing. For instance, if a course is aimed at helping teachers develop super confidence, it is not enough to tell them “maintain eye contact,” “stand erect,” etc. However, they should be put in a simulated class and try to awaken their confidence. Practical learning is what helps a person retain their skills and become the best version of themselves.

Coach and support: successful professional development courses encourage the involvement of coaching and support. The idea is to have a supervisor follow the participant and help them tie up the loose ends. This approach ensures that the participant gets everything right. It helps them become more in sync with what they must do. The coaching aspect is the most important because it helps the teacher to use that feedback to achieve perfection. If they have a problem, they only have to reach out to their coach, who will provide an answer.

Follow-up: think of it like learning to play a piano under a teacher. Sometimes, you make great progress, and then somewhere down the road, you experience difficulties. In order that a skill is retained, it must be used many times over, and so, it is not enough that a teacher learns of a skill and puts it into use just one time. The coach must follow up to see that indeed the skill has become ingrained. Going back to the confidence practice; the teacher’s progress must be tracked, in order to ensure that they are 100% confident in class.

Technology: we are lucky to live an era of technological advancement. In a great many ways, technology has changed our world for the better, not made it worse. Professional Development courses ought to take advantage of the technological tools available to improve the efficiency of the training.

Teachers should feel obligated to seek professional development training. It ensures that the workforce maintains high-standards. But more importantly, it tremendously improves the quality of education that students receive.

If you’re looking to join this excellent opportunity in March or July session, you can apply here. Seats are limited!

Posted on | 3/03/2020 | Shan S.Haider

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Should You Hang Out with Your Students After School?

There is a very sacred relationship that exists between a teacher and a student. It will directly affect the progress of students, their interests in the school activities and their motivation for the studies and finally it will also affect their social life.

 If the relationship of a teacher student will be good enough then it will help the students in accepting the rules and regulations of their institutions and less disciplinary violations can be seen in the school premises. A healthy relationship between the teacher and student will also enhance interest of students in extra co-curricular activities. They will take more interest in learning. Teachers should try creating a positive bond with their students by trying to spend time with them casually outside the classroom such as at a book café, or a group brunch etc. These are simple yet effective ways of developing a good relationship with the students.

Positive Points

Following are some of the advantages that a relationship of student and a teacher outside the school can bring in the life of a student.

  • It is experienced all around the world that students who are creating a strong bond with their teachers are performing comparatively better than those who don’t have a strong bondage. This thing is enhancing the academic performance of the students.
  • All students in the class will not be same. They will be from different social and financial backgrounds. The students with weak background will be in inferiority complex. The students like these can minimize their complexes and they can enhance their performance with the strong establishment of their relationship with students.
  • The most effective thing that this relationship can brought in the students is their interpersonal communication skills. The students can learn to cope with the problems that they will face in the outside world.

There is a very sacred relationship that exists between a teacher and a student. It will directly affect the progress of students, their interests in the school activities and their motivation for the studies and finally it will also affect their social life.

 If the relationship of a teacher student will be good enough then it will help the students in accepting the rules and regulations of their institutions and less disciplinary violations can be seen in the school premises. A healthy relationship between the teacher and student will also enhance interest of students in extra co-curricular activities. They will take more interest in learning. Teachers should try creating a positive bond with their students by trying to spend time with them casually outside the classroom such as at a book café, or a group brunch etc. These are simple yet effective ways of developing a good relationship with the students.

Negative Points

Following are some of the disadvantages that a relationship of student and a teacher outside the school can be seen.

  • The first and foremost thing that can be very dangerous for the life of a student is the sexual harassment. We have heard about so many incidents like these around us. It all depends upon the mala fide intentions of the teacher. If a female student is meeting her teacher outside the school premises and they are hanging out or going to party then a teacher with bad intentions can take advantage of the situation. These types of incidents can bring devastating psychological implications in the life of students.
  • Meeting teachers after school hours and hanging out with them will also create a feeling of dependency in students. The students will be unable to take prompt decisions in difficult times. They will look up to their teachers.

There is no harm for teachers to hang out with their students if it leads to mentorship. However, teachers should not cross the line between professional help and plain friends for the sake of solely friendship.

Posted on | 10/21/2019 | Shan S.Haider

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An Estimate of Average Salary of ESL Instructors

The teachers who are teaching English as second language around the world are getting different salary packages. There are multiple factors that can affect the salary package like the qualification of the teacher, the country in which he/she is applying for teaching, the experience of teacher etc. The salary packages are directly proportional to these factors. Usually the teachers of ESL are getting salaries in dollars, as it is universally acceptable. You can’t measure the packages just in monthly salaries because the cost of living is a massive factor that will affect the credibility of your salary package. Supposedly you are getting $1,000/month in London and the same amount in Peru, the cost of living is entirely different in both the countries.

Europe and Latin America

The salaries of English instructors in these regions who are coming from different countries is good enough. They can afford to live easily in their reasonable apartments. With their salaries they are able to afford their monthly expenses regarding food, travelling from apartment to the job vice versa. You can also have some extra money in which you can spend for your personal interests like gym, sports etc. The average salary in this region will be in the range of $500 – $1,100 USD per month. The maximum paying countries in the region of Latin America are Argentina and Chile. The teachers can also earn in these regions by giving coaching classes to private institutions which will add some extra money in their wallets.

Asia

In the continent of Asia the demand of ESL instructors is massively increasing. This region is giving you an opportunity to save 30-50 % of your salary after paying for all your mandatory expenses. This means that you can save within the range of $200 – $1,000 per month. The country which is giving you an opportunity of maximum saving is South Korea. The range of monthly salary in this region is $1,250 – $2,850 USD per month. The country which will pay you maximum will be South Korea.

Middle East

This is the region in which English teachers can have maximum salary in the world. The Persian Gulf countries like UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will pay you maximum. The range of salary in these states will be $1,500 – $4,000 USD per month. Additionally, you will also get so many fringe benefits like accommodation, return tickets, conveyance and health facilities. The schools in these regions are demanding qualified and experienced teachers. Your salary package is directly proportional to your certifications and experience. The country which will pay you maximum in this region will be Qatar. Many schools will offer you health insurance and you can also get paid vacations.

If you are planning to teach English language abroad and you want to earn and save money then it is highly recommendable to check the cost of living in that area which will definitely affect your decision.

Posted on | 10/14/2019 | Shan S.Haider

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Popular Curriculums taught by an ESL teacher

A curriculum can be defined as the experiences of a student that he will face throughout the educational process. It is a well-planned and properly defined sequence of instructions. You can say that a curriculum is a set of learning goals that a student can achieve in different grades. Many countries in the world have their national curriculum. Some under developed countries have dissimilarity in their curriculum. The elite class schools are teaching a different organized one and low-grade schools are teaching their students a substandard curriculum. This disparity cannot be seen in developed countries. Under mentioned are some of the most popular curriculums that are accepted worldwide.

IGCSE

IGCSE is an abbreviation of International General Certificate of Secondary Education. This system of curriculum was introduced some twenty-five years ago. The core purpose of its introduction was to facilitate the students who are not from English speaking countries. Those students were eligible to take this exam. IGCSE is giving a wide list of subjects to students from which they can choose the subjects of their own choice. There are multiple foreign languages that can be opted as a subject. There is a minimum and maximum paper limit for the students in which they can take exam.

IB (Diploma)

IB is an abbreviation of International Baccalaureate. It is like an alternative to A-levels and is offering by the independent schools. They are taking examinations twice a year. This system was introduced by the Switzerland in 1968. They are offering a diploma program which is very much effective for the students competing in this professional and highly competitive world. It will develop students in all aspects like emotionally, intellectually and socially. The course is designed in such a way that it will prepare you for the next step of higher education. There are five groups of subjects from which you are required to select 1 subject (each group).

AP

AP is an abbreviation of Advanced Placement and it is a program run by the College Board. The advance placement program will give you an introduction of college while you are still in high school. It is helping you getting college credits. They are offering the students 38 subjects. The students are required to the chose the subjects of their choice from these 38 subjects. The AP program is allowing students to show their interests in certain subjects. You can take any AP specialized subject exam and by passing it you can improve your profile. It will show the college selection board that you are taking serious interest in the respective subject. The program is also assisting students in improving their college applications. You can easily get registration of advance placement program through you school. You can also find AP coordinators in some schools for the facilitation of students.

Posted on | 10/07/2019 | Shan S.Haider

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Teaching ESL in a Foreign Country

English as a second language commonly known as (ESL) is a certification in which instructors are teaching English language to the foreigners whose first language is not English. The teacher will teach you the English language in reading, writing, listening and speaking. The seasoned professionals who are teaching this are also commonly called as English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) teachers. If you are interested in becoming an ESL instructor and want to teach this language abroad then the most important trait that you need to possess is patience. There will be number of students in your class who will get frustrated by learning this language as this is not their first language. The teachers of English as a second language will try to approach the English language proficiency from practical perspective. The instructor will try to focus on conversational and job-related communication skills of the students. If you are interested to teach this language abroad, then following are some of the important factors that need to be considered.

Bachelor’s degree

For the ESL teachers the minimum requirement is the bachelor’s degree. The teachers are required to earn their degrees in the field of education, English language; English writing or it should be in teaching English as a second language. There is a particular coursework that is required in your bachelor’s degree like the usage of technology in teaching English, coping with learning disabilities; you need to learn diverse cultures and you should learn the ways to develop lesson plans.

ESL Training

After the completion of your bachelor’s degree the ESL teaching aspirants are required to complete an ESL training program. In this stage the instructors will get a lesson about assessing language skills of students, they will learn the ways of teaching grammar lessons and other practical conversational skills.

Receiving a License

After the completion of ESL training the teachers are required to get a license which is also known as a certification from the department which will allow them to work as a professional teacher. The eligibility criteria for induction of ESL teachers will be different in almost every country. So, it is highly advisable to check the steps that are necessary in the respective geographical area. There are some common requirements which are almost similar in every other country. Those common requirements are holding a graduation degree and the completion of training program. Some countries around the world are demanding a license from the teaching aspirants. The interested candidates who want to teach English as a second language abroad must have a clear background; they must not have any criminal background.

The basic crux of the discussion is that the potential aspirants who research well about the eligibility criteria of the country in which they are interested to go. If teaching English as a second language is your passion, then you must try to improve your skills and certifications. You must not leave any stone unturned for your induction in the respective country.

Posted on | 10/02/2019 | Shan S.Haider

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British teachers find lifestyles more attractive in exotic locations

In the UK, teacher numbers have fallen, with official statistics showing a sharp decline of almost 20,000 teachers between 2010 and 2017. Targets set by the UK government have been missed for five successive years as a result of less students choosing teaching or the inability to keep teachers in the profession. UK schools are now hiring educated migrants on Tier 5 visas, instead of Tier 2 visa. The Tier 5 Youth mobility scheme which applies to migrants aged 18-30, who are allowed to work in the UK for 2 years is a cheaper option to bring educators into the UK, than the Tier 2. This is helping to fill some of the teaching shortage positions around the country, even if it is for a shorter period of time. These teachers are teaching in much need subject specialism areas such as Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. However, this is not a sustainable solution due to the short time span of the visa. Nor is it a solution to keeping UK teachers in their roles.

On average, around 15000 teachers leave UK schools each year to teach abroad, according to Council of British International Schools. In the UK, teaching has become a demanding profession, one which requires many hours of work leading to an uneven work life balance. Extra time is given to meetings after schools, extra curricular events, revision sessions and preparing resources for class, all excessive demands on the teacher. This has led to more time dedicated to school life but no extra pay is rewarded.  Paperwork has also become overwhelming, and demands have left teachers stressed, with health concerns and unable to perform at their best. Teaching aboard has the answers to many problems. Excellent teaching conditions, adequate resources and facilities, work life balance, better weather and luxurious living conditions can be experienced in many cases, all of which are appealing to the tired stressed teachers of the UK.

At Prudential First, we are experience professionals who work with teachers and match them with the school that best fits their needs. We work with selective schools to provide the best working conditions for our teachers, attractive salaries, health insurance and many benefits to bring out their talents. We provide a reliable, high quality and personalised service for teachers, ensuring they can experience excellent teaching conditions in exotic locations. We also keep intouch once we have placed a teacher in a school, to provide support, guidance and care, throughout the year. Come have a look at the vast range of over 100 jobs on our website https://prudentialfirst.com, our testimonials, FAQs and be prepared to envision yourself working in a stress free environment, finding the enjoyment in the profession that you once loved.

Please keep in mind that getting accepted with British schools takes a lot of work. All documentations should be in order. Every school has their own hiring criteria and requirements must be met before an offer can be issued. The blog merely discusses the legal requirements of getting a work visa for educators. Do get legal advice before thinking to apply at British independent schools.

Posted on | 9/24/2019 | Shan S.Haider

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Can I work on my residence permit?

Residence permits are issued to people that want to stay beyond their allowed visa stay period for the purpose of touring the beautiful places Turkey has to offer.

All the rules that apply to a visit visa applies to your residence permit – including no employment.

You should never work anywhere without a work permit, no matter the offered wages.

If you’re caught working anywhere without a work permit, you’ll be arrested and deported with an entry ban. The ban could vary from 3 months up to 5 years. It’ll be at the discretion of the duty officer at your departure gate.

Just because you have a work permit to work at a school does not mean you can work at another school or a language center in the evenings or on the weekends.

Work permits are company/school specific. It is issued to you to ONLY work at the school that applied for your work permit. If you want to change your school, you need to get your work permit transferred to your new school. Usually, the HR will take on the task of doing this for you.

The law is very clear that you should have your work permit in hand and ready for inspection by a ministry inspector before you start working at a school. Even if your work permit is in the process of being approved, you cannot legally work. When your work permit is approved in the system, a SMS notification will be sent to your phone by the Ministry of Labor. Normally, the permit will be at your home/school address within 3 days after the confirmation SMS.

Posted on | 26/08/2018 | Shan S.Haider

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Online degree without education!

Having a fake degree/diploma in your possession is one thing, but to defraud a school, an education ministry and a labor ministry by getting a work permit issued using your fake degree is a punishable crime.

Yes, we know some teachers get away with using fake degrees/diplomas; however, sooner or later it’ll catch up with you. We routinely check the teachers that apply for a job through us and if a teacher is found to be using a fake degree/diploma, we make sure that all authorities are notified immediately.

You’re better off coming clean with your educational achievements. There are many countries that hire teachers without a bachelor’s degree. In Turkey, you can get a work permit with your high school diploma and a teaching certificate.

No benefit in taking the risk of using a fake degree!

Posted on | 27/08/2018 | Shan S.Haider

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Do You Know Your Foreign Employees?

How much confidence do you place in your intuition when selecting a new employee?
Are you more thorough when you select a candidate to work with children?
Are you comfortable with your hiring process in regards to your own children?

If you don’t like your answers (or the questions), it might be time to reevaluate.

Western countries have created a standard operating procedure for hiring new staff. The protocol includes orientation, drug screenings and criminal background checks. In general, the only criteria foreigners are expected to meet is whether or not their resumes display the required skills and if they appear pleasant in a photograph or a Skype interview.

Please don’t allow the tone of this article to color yourself unnecessarily worried. I have no desire to promote or practice xenophobia. I am a foreigner and once upon a time, someone took a chance on me. The gains with a global economy and cultural impact of intercontinental transmigration certainly speak forthemselves. I am simply suggesting we utilize all available resources to research and protect your investment.

Employees are an investment and a substantial one. Reviewing resumes takes time as does interviewing. Money is spent on candidates that are not selected in the hopes the perfect person will be found. An offer will be extended and accepted.

The vast majority of teachers seeking to teach abroad both love the subject matter they teach and are seeking a way to see the world. As an underappreciated and underpaid profession, travelling simply for leisure can be expensive and teaching offers a unique opportunity to experience other cultures and see the world. As honorable and enviable as the aforementioned desire is, teachers are still employees and assurances need to be made about reliability.

Foreigners presumably demand a higher salary due to the transglobal move and the cost of establishing a new residence. Residence permits and work visas should be included as incentives (no one wants to pay to work for you). After all of these steps, imagine starting again because your selection is unemployable.

Teaching poses the biggest challenge for character and integrity. Since education is my business, I take the risks and rewards of the right teacher very seriously. Characters of ill-repute are attracted to the vulnerabilities of the innocent, we all know this to be true. What you may not know is there are 48 countries where a criminal record is not a deterrent for hiring since background checks are not a condition of employment.

The digital age ushered in a new and vast talent pool but also brought in the perils of amazing forged documents. Watermarks help, but certifications and even diplomas can be purchased or created with the right program. Leading questions can be revelatory, but a person willing to lie on a resume is probably comfortable lying in an interview. Criminal background can reveal all sorts of infractions. Driving penalties are less serious than felonies or assaultive incidents, but an incomplete history places responsibility on the employer.

As a responsible manager, we cannot be party to anything that jeopardizes or otherwise places students in harm’s way. It also shows a discourtesy to the assembled team to obligate the trusted members of your workforce, those making your day-to-day operations a success, with an unsavory personality or even just a disengenuine person as a coworker. When a colored history is revealed, trust is broken both with the employer and the other employees affected.

An incident with precedent opens up an institution to litigious action. A simple cost/benefit analysis of a background check makes the expense incurred an additional investment and nominal compared to the expense of a lawsuit, not to mention the moral weight of feeling responsible for a crime occuring. To a lesser extent, an unqualified employee is likely incapable of performing the tasks required by the position and thusly damages the reputation of the institution.

How does a company delicately introduce background checks where none existed previously? Don’t. Make a declaration and allow a discussion from your team. Examine priorities and determine the need for delicacy. The negatives are outweighed by the positives. Introduce background checks immediately and let all current and future employees learn of your practice.

Creating the best possible environment with skilled people of integrity is every company’s best marketing plan. Labor is already the primary expense associated with running a business.

Pride in daily operations exudes confidence for administators, teachers, students and their parents. Becoming an enviable school with reputable programs comes from an overachieving educational staff. The students and parents need to trust they are in a safe environment with the transparency established by the school to see whom is responsible for teaching.

In short, there is no logical reason not to conduct at least cursory background checks. This is the cost of doing business in the 21st century and an obligation of management. If you contract for hiring, require your talent pipeline to perform the task.

No prospective employee worth hiring will refuse to submit to investigation unless they are concealing something damaging. Knowing that every school and large company in the United States and the United Kingdom requires clearance should raise red flags for anyone leaving those countries and balking at the expectation.

When criminal background checks and educational history is consistently and universally verified, some of the stress of hiring will be alleviated. Take advantage of benefits of the digital age while insulating your organization for the pitfalls associated with it. You and all of your team will be glad you went the extra mile and you will reap the rewards of the long and short-term benefits.

Posted on | 02/01/2017 | Shan S.Haider

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The Value of a Good Interview

The interview is the final stage before being hired. Your resume got you in the door (or remotely on camera). You will be judged on your mannerisms, your choice of clothes, your poise, your confidence, your rate of speech, your tone of voice, eye contact, handshake, et cetera. Feel the pressure mount? If not, there is a panel interview, where 3, 4, 5 managers will place simultaneous values on all of the aforementioned.

Public speaking is nervewracking even for the saavy, so many factors can affect the outcome. Let’s start with the basics and build some confidence. Home to almost 80 million, Turkey commits to speaking English in order to compete on a global stage with the preferred language of commerce. Medicine, business and travel all require English and your students want to learn; as a former teacher, this reporter cannot undervalue this unique characteristic.

Crucial importance – make sure your resume is up to date. This seems as though it is best left unsaid, but the interview doesn’t happen without it. When you like the look of your resume or you’ve updated often, which I recommend, the oft overlooked section is your contact information.

Current mailing address, email address and phone number must be included. If your resume has lapsed and you submitted it, you may never know of an interview you missed. Interviewing remotely or, dependent upon profession, may require your comfort with digital communications. Include your Skype handle. If you don’t have a Skype account, open one, at least a professional profile. (While you are at it, clean up your social media presence. If you aren’t comfortable with what content your boss would see if he looked at your Facebook page, how do you think a potential manager will view it?) Now that you can be found; when you are contacted for an interview, research the organization. A basic interview question is: ‘Why do you want to work here?’

If you don’t know anything about the institution, this will be a difficult question to answer. Doing your homework shows initiative. You did work without being told to or paid and they will notice. Start simply, become familiar with the mission statement. Find an inception date and read the topics displayed on the website. Working in education, school officials know they will not retire wealthy and careful consideration must be made to why they do what they do. A mission statement is an announcement to the world of an overall goal. It is pored over and reviewed before it is posted, but then it appears in all aspects of policies and procedures along with communication for parents, students, faculty and regulatory agencies. If you know it, you are ahead of the curve. The stories on the website are events or programs a school wants to celebrate. At the very least, familiarity will help you generate questions. Asking questions shows engagement and interest and is a good skill to develop. ‘If you could be any kind of tree, what kind of tree would you be and why?’

These types of questions were once en vogue, but have since been abandoned. Human Resources all over adopted the idea pop psychology was a sound way to get to know an applicant. Luckily, conventional wisdom has given way to a more direct line of questions. Be prepared to talk about yourself. Be honest, but aware of the impression you leave. This is not a place for self-deprecating humor. You are sincerely looking for work and they want to know why them. ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses?’

This question might seem cliché, but it originates in a good place and will be asked in 95% of your interviews. I ask to determine your self-awareness and to hear your answer. Making a weakness into strength is good tool only if used correctly. If used incorrectly it comes across as dishonest and does more harm than good. E.g. My weaknesses: Well, I’m a workaholic. I come early and stay late because I can’t get enough. I’m a perfectionist. I’m not satisfied unless I’ve given the absolute best. (Remember the judgments, here’s one.) If you don’t see a problem with these examples, you’re a big phony and I don’t want to hire you.

The passion or interest that brought you to the field is your strength. Look at it and practice expounding upon it for an audience. Find a real weakness and make it relatable. If the fault you identify is a detriment, couple your example with how you’ve addressed it. i.e. I take mistakes personally and feel bad about a poor performance. Preparation helps and learning from my mistake helps me make better decisions the next time. Remember, the topic of the interview is you and your skill set. You are the expert on yourself and confidence in your background is the best study tip you can receive. There are, of course, other factors to consider, particularly when working abroad.

Cultural differences can make seemingly innocuous behaviors seem to be poor manners or cast the appearance of over-confidence. Tone of voice or clothing accessories can be misinterpreted. Aside from a close familiarity with the expected etiquette of every civilization the world over, I’m going to pare it down to the essential: Be polite and dress professionally. Be slightly more formal than you expect the interviewer(s) to be. Mannerisms are cultural and one of the many benefits of hiring an individual from outside your culture is the different views, experiences and perspective he/she brings along. ‘Do you have any questions before we wrap up?’ The only wrong answer is, “No.” Ask at least one question about the position you just interviewed for. Taking notes during the meeting helps nervous hands and might be a spark for a query. Thank them for their time. Shake hands. Ask when you can expect a decision and remember to smile (your best accessory).

Posted on | 08/03/2017 | Shan S.Haider

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Sell Yourself in One Page

Resume writing is a tricky business. On one hand, affording the opportunity to determine precisely the best first impression is invaluable. On the other hand, a single page to make an impression is an anxiety-driven exercise in frustration. [Please do not make your resume multiple pages. Ten years of experience is sufficient and a desired position with have a hundred resumes; you’ll move to the bottom of the pile.] Be disciplined and follow these straighforward tips to get every job you apply for, guaranteed. (Editor’s Note: This publication does not support this guarantee and thinks there are far too many factors to determine anything like this with even remote certainty.)
I will let you in on a few secrets:

  • The perfect resume is unattainable.
  • An attractive resume will not guarantee an interview.
  • Resume writing is, like most endeavors, more Sisyphus than we would like to admit.

Don’t surrender, there are still ways to make it easier and, for secrets one and two, less daunting. As for your own personal boulder, you will have to choose how many times you want to climb the hill… Relavent work experience coupled with education/training fleshes out a resume very well. Some encourage embellishment to create the veneer of the perfect candidate, but I think it is unnecessary and dishonest. If you don’t speak Cantonese, don’t say you studied the language for four years. Besides, a good hiring manager will see through a facade during the interview and the position will go to someone qualified. Without a large amount of relavent work experience, a relavent skill set can be emphasized. I have a section of Professional Skills I utilize in my resume. You can point out attributes you possess making you attractive to employers. If you don’t know your professional skills, self-examination is important. You will be asked similar questions in most interviews.

Another focused section to fill out a sparse or meandering resume is a Career Objective. Stating what you are looking for and why at the very top of the page can get right to the point in the way a flashy resume cannot. In addition, the section may be the only complete sentence on your resume. Communication will always be a an envied skill and displaying an abilty to write well is a opportunity you would be remiss to pass up. Having the perfect resume with background and training may still be a hinderance (i.e. Secret #2). The perfect candidate might appear transient and likely to move on to a different position sooner or too expensive for the planned budget of the position. If a hiring manager views you as overqualified, you might be passed over for the interview. This may seem silly, but it happens.

Enthusiasm and a willingness to adopt the policies and procedures of your new company is as valuable if not more valuable than a track record of displaying skills for several places. Youth relies on this truism, but a recent change in fields can offer the same opportunity. Putting yourself out there for the first time or for the first time in a long time takes courage. You showed courage, now take the recognition for it. If you are looking for a new job or plan to look in the near future, you have not written your resume.

Resumes should be catered to a job (at least a little). The resume you turn in for one company should be altered for the next company and so on and so forth. Downloading the CV or resume templates from Microsoft Word should only serve as a jumping off point. If it was easy to create, it will show and effort matters, especially for the next potential career. If you don’t have time to create a wow-factor resume, you don’t really want a new job. Keep the sections which always impress as your resume evolves and it will be easier to turn on the wow when you need to.Most of the time, the job description is written by the hiring manager, except in cases of talent pipelining (truly an honorable endeavor and the future of hiring). Knowing this, it is smart to borrow language from the job description and integrate it directly into your resume. e.g.

Seeking a personable teacher, well-versed in Economics with a passion for students….School Mission: We are an equal-opportunity school with a foundation for teachers. We are expanding and seeking a team to grow with us.Under Professional Skills, you can write: Passionate about education As a Career Objective, you can right: Seeking a school with a strong foundation and the potential to grow with a team of like-minded teachers.

Simple, direct and subtle psychological tricks that tell the interviewer during the review, you are the type of candidate they should meet with. If you’re thinking I am above embellishment but not aboving inspiring projection, you’re right. The psychological shifts attention where it belongs – on how amazing you are. The embellishment puts focus on things you wish were you or what you think they want. I, like your mother, believe you are talented and deserve every oppurtunity to show how capable you are. Now, type to your heart’s content and practice answering interview questions in the mirror. You’re going to be great!

Posted on | 04/04/2017 | Shan S.Haider

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Is a college degree a must?

For the most part, yes. It all depends on the school. Very, very few schools do not require you to have a Bachelor’s Degree.

Schools in Turkey almost always require you to have at least two things: a Bachelor’s Degree and a native accent (At the end of the day, private schools are expensive and the parents want their children to be taught by competent natives).

If you have a degree in education, you are a native, and you have experience, you are pretty much the cream of the crop. Most schools have a pay scale depending on your education level, field, and experience.

The more education/experience you have, the higher your paycheck will be.

Schools will always inquire into your CV. If you don’t have a Bachelor’s Degree at least, it is not a good idea to move here and try to work in the education field.

Language schools or language centers will gladly hire you but do not expect to make any money. Most of them pay per hour and you monthly income will depend on hours you’ve worked. 99% of the language schools/centers will not bother to file for your work permits. It is too costly for them and since they rely on temporary help, the investment on their part is not worth it.

You’re also required to have a teaching certificate if your bachelor’s degree is not in the education field. A teaching certificate plus a bachelor’s degree qualifies a foreign worker to obtain a work permit in Turkey.

Are there any exceptions? There always are. However, this is the normal practice.

Posted on | 06/06/2017 | Shan S.Haider

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Why work with a recruiting agency

So many reasons, So many. And here is a list, because we love lists.

  1. Recruiting agencies (RAs) know and have access to all the good schools.
  2. RAs will protect your rights as a foreign worker so that you can receive the pay/benefits you deserve.
  3. RAs will protect your rights as a foreign worker so that you can receive the pay/benefits you deserve.
  4. RAs work on request and are paid by their clients (other companies). Therefore, there are no costs for you as a candidate. You are getting help for free!
  5. RAs have access to jobs that you as a job seeker often cannot see (yet). Through many years of partnership with clients, agencies are often the first to hear about profiles that are needed.
  6. You will enjoy the security of a permanent contract and the variety of different projects.
  7. RAs only post real jobs, so that you are not showing up at scam interviews.
  8. RAs know the “foreigner” scene.
  9. RAs know how to sort out your government paperwork (residence/work permits) and they will help you.
  10. RAs know the supply/demand ratio and they will recruit you straight from your country if they need to.
  11. RAs will help you rent an apartment.
  12. RAs will help you open a bank account.
  13. RAs will help you create competitive résumé.
  14. You will save time.
  15. You will have peace of mind.

Posted on | 04/07/2017 | Rita Ikinci

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Would my phone work in Turkey?

The short answer is yes. And now for the long answer.

When you enter Turkey for the first time, you will receive a text message from the Department of Communications stating that you have 120 days (the length of a standard tourist visa) to register your phone.

So here’s a list of things you need to keep you phone working:

  1. A passport with your date of entry stamped into it.
  2. A bank account
  3. A working sim card from a Turkish carrier
  4. A bank account from Deniz Bank, Garanti Bank, or Türkiye İş Bank with online bank access
  5. 149,20 Turkish Lira in your bank account
  6. A password from e-devlet (which you can get with your residence/work permit)

After you have acquired these (and you have 120 days to do it), here is what you need to do:

  1. Sign on to e-devlet (e-devlet is an online portal where you can get get stuff like this done). USE THIS LINK : https://www.turkiye.gov.tr/btk-imei-kaydet?asama=1
  2. After you click continue, you will be taken to a page where you can select which bank you will pay with.
  3. After you select your bank, you will be taken to your bank’s homepage. Sign onto your bank account. After your sign in, the transfer page with all the information will come up. In the “Notes” section, enter your IMEI number.
  4. After you have completed your transfer, keep clicking continue until you are done.
  5. It’s always a good idea to ask for help.

Warning, you can only register a phone every two years.

Posted on | 08/08/2017 | Ryan Tidd

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Life in Turkey – social life and work life

Given it’s history, sheer size and the importance of faith and culture it is not surprising that Turkey seems to draw people from all cultures and backgrounds. I have travelled extensively across most of the World’s continents but have yet to experience anywhere that can rival Turkey as a destination.

Whether you are interested in politics, history, spirituality, shopping, studying or partying you are sure to find what you are searching for. The magic of this county is that it has a way of drawing you in and teaching you things you never even dreamed you wanted to learn.
It was the teal and cerulean waters and golden sanded beaches that originally enticed me to Turkey. In a time when all I wanted was to sunbathe all day and party all night. The beaches are unrivalled as are the hospitality and the warmth and charm of the locals.

Now as a -sometimes- ESL Teacher, a writer and an energy healer I find myself spellbound by Istanbul. If you are able to accept that working here is not like working “at home”; that the hours may be longer,that contracts seem to be decorative rather than legally binding and that boundaries as you may be used to them are almost non existent then Istanbul truly is the land of opportunity for foreigners.

Universities, Schools, Language Centres offer teaching jobs where you can choose to work as little or as much as you choose. Most of these, once you have earned their trust will connect you to private students giving you the option to earn additional cash.

If you happen to speak an additional language it is easy to pick up work translating or even working for local businesses.

If you have been living in the United Kingdom, The United States or just about anywhere else you will be amazed at how cheap life is here and how you can afford a home and a social life on a fraction of what you are used to. You can easily enjoy a night out with good food and drinks for less than $20 and if you are not looking for something special you can eat a decent meal for about the price of a cup of coffee “back home”.

Turkish people and those who have chosen to make Turkey their home are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. It is easy to make friends here and being so proud of their culture and heritage Turkish people will always advise you on the best restaurants, coffee shops, museums, festivals etc to visit with great enthusiasm.

For those of you who may be wondering; I’m a single woman living here alone. I have never felt anything but safe. I do not take any special precautions. I travel late at night. I eat out alone. I use public transport and I feel as safe here, if

Posted on | 12/07/2018 | Julie Lachtay

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Spending weekends in Istanbul

Having spent close to eighteen months in Istanbul the main difference worth noting is maybe an obvious one. Istanbul at weekends is crowded. Crowded like Trafalgar Square or Times Square on New Year’s Eve at midnight.

If you like crowds you are in for a treat and can find endless ways to amuse yourself. Shopping malls open late and stay late;usually until ten o’clock. Many of the bigger malls on the European side house Cinemas showing movies in English with Turkish subtitles. A heads up; they have an interval here during the movie. The first time I went I thought something had gone wrong and only half the movie was being shown. It gives you plenty time to get a snack, a cup of coffee and use the bathroom. If you have an attention span like mine it also allows you to forget most of what has happened.

Istanbul does not wake early. If friends invite you for breakfast “early in the morning” this means around two o’clock so you need not worry about setting your alarm. Of course the flip side is that everything opens later than you may be used to. You can find somewhere to eat or to get coffee until well after midnight. Bars, clubs and restaurants open until the early hours. The only time I’ve seen a club close was at 4am on a Monday morning.

If you want to escape the crowds there are numerous gorgeous parks across the city or you can even just take a boat trip along the Bosphorus which is an amazing way to see this city is all it’s splendour. A basic ninety minute tour will cost you around fifteen lira and will give you a chance to look around but no explore. From Sirkeci or Besiktas you can find half day or full day tours that often include lunch and give the option to get off at various points and look around.

Despite being warned to avoid the Princes Islands at weekends I’ve never found them overly crowded but the ferries can feel a bit like an early morning city commute so leave early -before eleven o’clock if you can.

Personally I’m not a huge fan of crowds or shopping but should you wish to check out the main attractions such as The Blue Mosque and The Grand Bizarre without being jostled like goats go as late in the day as you can. There are always plenty of places to take refuge for cay or coffee.

If you have had enough of the heat check out the Basilica Sistern the original underground water supply system for Istanbul. Underground and beautiful. You can even dress up as a Sultan and be photographed with your harem should you choose.

Step aside New York. I believe Istanbul is the new “city that never sleeps” so just enjoy everything this wondrous city has to offer.

Posted on | 14/07/2018 | Julie Lachtay

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London V Istanbul

Why would anyone leave London for Istanbul? I was asked this so many times when I announced I was doing exactly that. In my humble opinion which you are of course welcome to ignore, Istanbul delivers all that London promises but never quite does.

I lived in London for roughly thirty-five years on and off. I never knew a single neighbour. I never had a shop keeper greet me by name. I never had anyone run out of a shop to chase after me because I’d forgotten my shopping, my change or my mobile.

I’ve lived in Istanbul for less than eighteen months and all of these things happen routinely. I’ve moved half a dozen times and met most of my neighbours. My last landlord even offered to help me move when the time came and regularly brought me back Italian coffee, Marmite and other goodies when he went on business trips to London (and I got my deposit back!)

The cost of living is almost unbelievable if you’re earning a vaguely decent salary or coming with a stash of those beautiful pounds. You can rent a beautiful, spacious two bedroom furnished apartment here for around a third of the price a studio flat in London.

If you’re living alone it’s literally cheaper to eat out than to fuss with supermarkets and cooking. Okay, so I may not be claiming you can eat gourmet food seven days a week but you can get a basic every day meal for less than the price of a dodgy sandwich and a bottle of water from Boots.

Of course, should you decide to go and buy food you can head to one of the numerous fresh markets throughout the city and haggle. There is something strangely satisfying about “arguing” about how much something costs and feeling like you’ve come away with a bargain. This is not like the end of the day quibble over the price in Green Lanes. Haggling in markets here is fun, it’s expected and it helps you form relationships with your local fruit and vegetable sellers. Before you know it they’ll give you a good price, thrown in an extra few tomatoes and offer you a cup of tea.

That’s the good news. I’m not here to lie to you. If you want to buy clothes or shoes this is not the place you dream of. Until I lived in Istanbul I didn’t know it was possible to spend the day shoe shopping and come home sad and empty handed. Stock up on what you need before you come or accept you will be settling for clothes you don’t hate and wearing polyester when it’s 45 degrees.

Oh, and forget ice cream. I’ve searched the city for something passable but I can’t think of a single thing that would make me return to London.

Posted on | 21/07/2018 | Julie Lachtay

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Money needed until Payday!

This is a very difficult question as everyone has their own lifestyle and spending limits.

As a rule of thumb, you should have enough money to survive at least 90-120 days if you’re coming to Turkey without a job offer.

If you have a job offer/contract, then two month’s spending money plus rent deposit should be enough until you get paid.

Between $2000 t0 $3000 should be about enough for you to survive until you get your first pay. You’ll need to pay a deposit to your landlord for the apartment. You might need to pay deposit to have the electricity and water turned on. You’ll probably need money to get internet setup and a local SIM card.

Eating is not expensive in Turkey. You can eat for as low as 15-20 TL for lunch or dinner. Transport cards can be topped at 200 TL with unlimited travel on bus/train/ferry/tram.

Rest deposits depend on the apartment and your monthly rent depends on the location. We always advise teachers to choose a location close to the school where they will be working. Traffic is INSANE in Istanbul and it’s not worth spending a total of 3-4 hours commuting. It’ll drain you of the energy that you need to work.

It is not difficult to find a roommate if you do not want to bear the burden of rent alone. There are many websites where you can search for roommates, but we recommend sharing with a fellow teacher or someone professional.

Be ready to spend approximately 2500 TL per month if you plan on staying on your own and roughly around 1500 TL per month if you resort to sharing the apartment with a roommate. The estimates include all utilities, but it could vary depending on the area.

Favorites and central spots for foreigners are Kadikoy, Taksim, Sisli/Mecidekoy, Levent and Besiktas. The transportation system is excellent in Istanbul – as long as you factor in the wait and transfer time.

Clothing and apparel are relatively cheap. There are many malls with the usual shops and some quality Turkish labels, too. Most foreign food brands are available in Istanbul and if you can’t find what you are looking for, then be sure to visit the grocery store called Macro Center. They even carry my favorite Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies!

Posted on | 26/08/2018 | Shan S.Haider

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Making friends and meeting people – How and where?

I arrived in Istanbul just over a year ago knowing nobody. Now I have the sort of friends who have invited me to stay with them for months at a time when I haven’t been working and who I know I could ring day or night if I needed help and know it would be given.

I lived in London for roughly thirty years and could not claim the same. Making friends here is so easy when I was first given this topic to right I almost laughed. There are endless Facebook groups you can join and connect with people. There are MEETUP groups, Internations. I have to admit from my experience their reputation for being a bit of a “pick-up” club rather than for friendship is justified. That’s just my experience, not a warning not to try it for yourself.

You can join Couch Surfers which I was surprised to find is not just for finding a bed for the night but also runs events. If you want to kill two birds with one stone you can find casual work at one of the many English Speaking cafés and meet all kinds of interesting people you might not otherwise cross paths with as an ESL Teacher. I met a lawyer, a computer engineer and a jewellery maker while I was doing this who remain good friends.
If you speak Turkish-or another language- you can post flyers in local coffee shops offering to swap language lessons and not only get to meet new people but learn about their cultures at the same time.

Turkish people are by nature friendly and welcoming and genuinely enjoy connecting with foreigners. As weird and crazy as this may seem to us foreigners you can actually just talk to people here and they’ll talk to you. I met a really good friend of mine in my local Starbucks. In much the same way five year Wolds make friends in the playground. He said “Excuse me. Is this seat taken?” and I said “No”. He said “Oh- you speak English!” and voilà; friends.

There is a very good chance the other foreigners here arrived knowing nobody and remember what the first few weeks were like so they seem to have shaken off the Western reserve about talking to strangers and won’t shut you down if you approach them.

I know this is hardly original advice but, join a class to learn something new. One of my closest friends here started as my Belly Dancing teacher. I am a terrible dancer and gave up after three lessons but she’s like a sister to me now.

Fortune favours the brave. If you hear someone speaking English, say hello. What is the worse that can happen? You meet someone you wouldn’t want to be friends with anyway.

Posted on | 11/07/2018 | Julie Lachtay

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Should You Give Anyone Your Diploma

Simply speaking, no one but yourself should be in possession of your original diploma- or in fact any other important document.

Your documents can be translated by a “yeminli tercüman” (official translator)

After that, you must have them notarized by a notary. Notary offices are plenty and you can find them all over. You may then give your school these notarized copies.

Translation and notary services are often found in the same building or the same block. You can expect to spend around 350-400 TL (currently less than $50)

You must take your passport and the original document that you want processed with you.

Prudential First can help you determine which documents need to be translated and notarized; and direct you to the most convenient translators and notary offices.

Warning: Some schools will want to just see the original document. This is fine, as long as they don’t keep it. In recent years, some schools have been taking documents such as diplomas and passports and holding them hostage when employees express interest leaving. This is absolutely illegal and should be reported to the authorities.

Posted on | 27/06/2018 | Beril Akıncı

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Beautiful holiday place, Trakya

Located just to the west of Istanbul, lies Trakya, the piece of land that connects Turkey to the continent of Europe.
Wine has been produced in this region for hundreds of years and the investment in this region is the largest step taken in the name of wine production in Turkey. Although Turkey is not yet really globally recognized for wines, three hours outside of Istanbul lies the Trakya Vineyard Route.

Most of the vineyards straddle the Sea of Marmara and the Gallipoli Straight; however, a few can be found inland as well.

Open from spring to the end of autumn, the vineyards in Trakya are ideal for those who want to combine their love of nature with their obsession for new flavors. All of the vineyards are boutique producers and some of them even have guest houses for those who want to stay the weekend.

Since the wine market is a still a growing venture, the vineyards are very eager to offer tours on their properties. They will walk you through all the steps from the planting of the grapes to the bottling and storing of the final product.

They also offer daily tastings. Almost all of the vineyards employ professional chefs who offer local tastes with a twist.
One hour northeast of the vineyards, you can find the Forest of Longoz. There are plenty of stops along the winding roads to eat and rest. Don’t forget to check out Dupnisa cave, located in the forest. After exploring the cave, buy a cone of ice cream and enjoy the surrounding meadows.


How to get there: Rent a car! (seriously, don’t even try anything else)
When to go: Mid-spring to late

Posted on | 26/06/2018 | Beril Akıncı

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Which side to live in Istanbul?

Like most major cities divided by water which side to live on is a dilemma if you’ve just arrived and have no idea which to choose or what each side has to offer. There are few things more personal than where you choose to live so I apologise in advance if this is a somewhat biased view.

Aside from location you need to consider what made you leave home and why you chose Istanbul. I left London because I had had enough of the stress, tension and anxiety that seemed to sit on the air I breathed. I could virtually see it coming at me like fog when I walked down the street.

The European side feels too much like London for me to want to be there. That said, it is where most of the schools and language centres seem to be based. All the major tourist attractions are there. If you thrive on the hustle and bustle. If you want five star restaurants. Night clubs and shopping centres the size of small villages then the European side is for you.

Places like Ortakoy and Bebek along the Bosphorus are pricey but breathtaking. Even if your budget doesn’t stretch to living there I’d encourage you to visit. You can find that urban inner city vibe further from the Bosphorus or slightly more relaxed around Besiktas with it’s winding streets lined with endless cafés, bars and markets.

From Besiktas you can easily get anywhere using the ferry system, tram, buses or endless dolmus services.

If you want something more authentically Turkish yet relaxed, less conservative and bohemian the Asian side is where it’s at for you. I warned you I may be biased but Kadikoy gets my vote. Sitting on the Marmara Sea it’s stunningly beautiful. You can spend hours wondering it’s cobbled streets peeking into boutiques and quirky shops. I’m quite sure there are more coffee shops in Kadikoy than the whole of London.

There’s a coffee shop for everyone. From the Starbucks in the centre with it’s roof terrace ;perfect for watching the sunset to the numerous artisan shops where you are always welcome to linger.

Kadikoy is home to art shops, music shops, and even an Opera House and has amazing transport links to the rest of the city. Away from the seafront you can find almost anything you could ever want on Bagdat Caddesi; Istanbul’s answer to Oxford Street or Fifth Avenue.

Further along you reach Uskudar where you can settle yourself on the Sahil and watch the sunset over the famous Maiden’s Tower restaurant.

Like most areas, you need to shop around and see what you get for your money should you choose to live on either side but there are always places to suit every budget.

The choice is yours. Europe or Asia? Where else can you access both in one city?Posted on | 11/06/2018 | Julie Lachtay

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Work and Residence Permits explained!

Yes, the system sounds confusing but I’ll try to make it easier for you to understand. At times, most schools do not completely understand the procedure of hiring a foreign teacher.

There are two ways of hiring a foreign worker under Turkish law:

  • A foreign worker who is residing in his home country
  • A foreign worker who is already in Turkey at the time of hiring

Within the country: More than likely a foreigner is on a 30-day or 90-day visa, depending on his/her nationality. Canadian, British, and American citizens get a 90-day visa whereas a South African citizen gets 30 days visa.

A person must first obtain a residence permit. A residence permit can be obtained by making an appointment on the government website before the expiration date on the visit visa. (It must be made before the last day of the visa or else your application will not be accepted, and you’ll be asked to leave the country within 10 days)

No one can apply for your residence permit. It is something you need to do for yourself.

 You’ll need to have a health insurance.

 You’ll need to have approximately $6,000 deposited in a Turkish bank,

 You’ll need to have a rental contract for 12 months showing the place you reside in Turkey.

 If you can obtain these documents, then you should not have any issues getting your residence permit.

 Once you receive your pink card (residence permit), a school can file for your work permit with the Ministry of Education to get your credentials approved. After that, they will file with the Minisrty of Labor to get your white/blue work permit card.

 A residence permit is called a touristic residence permit. You file it yourself. You do not need anyone to help you. No one can enter the residence permit office with you but an attorney (optional) that you have hired.

 Work permits can only be filed by your employer. The whole process is done by the school and normally schools pay the fee.

You’ll require three things to be translated in Turkish and notarized by a Turkish notary.

  1. Passport
  2. Degree
  3. Teaching Certificate

You can do this at any public notary (noter). They usually have a translation (tercüman) office in the same building or on the same block. The approximate cost for getting all three documents will cost you around 500 TL.

You do NOT need these for Residence permit. You’ll only require the translation and notarized document for work permit. Usually, the school will ask you for these documents.

Outside of the country (You’re in your home country): In this case you do not need a residence permit. Your work permit will double as the work/residence permit.

This is called the consulate/embassy processing of your work permit.

The school will explain the process to you. You’ll make an appointment at the nearest Turkish Embassy/Consulate in your home country. The school will send you signed/sealed/stamped contracts in English and Turkish. (The Embassy/Consulate will only accept the original signed/stamped contract and not emailed ones) You’ll take this contract to the consulate with you on your appointment date along with your passport, degree, and teaching certificate.

The consulate will then issue you a reference code. The school will process your visa through the ministry in Turkey. Once all the process is done, the consulate will contact you to bring your passport for visa stamping. This will be your work visa (not Tourist visa). The cost will be around $200- $250 USD.

The process takes anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks.

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