Blogs

You’re stuck.

You’ve been learning a new language for about a year; you’ve taken classes, done the home work, and traveled in the country of your target language. You show up on time, you grind out grammar structures, and your language exchange partner is now one of your closest friends; yet you’re not getting any better.

It would seem you have hit a language plateau.

Have you thought of volunteering as a TEFL teacher?  Read on to hear about the wonderful UBELONG organisation's work in Merida Mexico…

Finding where UBELONG

About an hour ago I finished the interview with the American volunteer for the organisation UBELONG. Without sounding dramatic - though I think too often we suppress just how poetic and deeply we are feeling for fear of sounding dramatic - I feel as though so many things that I have been missing, desperately, though I didn't quite know it, I have been reminded of. Let me share the experience of the last few hours with you.

There is something about arriving in a new place that is addictive. I think it is one of the reasons why I love travelling and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. To be uncertain of what exactly is about to be unleashed on you, who you will meet, what you will do, see, eat, hear, be, and how you will FEEL about it all is certainly thrilling. In the end, I always like the idea of moving on. It makes room for the new stuff to come through. 

Read on to find out more about Lucy's experiences in Guadalajara, Mexico…

Christmas is almost here!  When we walk around the shops at this time of year we are bombarded with images of jolly Santas, reindeers, mistletoe, wise men and words such as Yule tide and Noel.  teflhub thought it would be interesting to look at the etymology of some Christmas phrases and the origins of certain traditions. 

Lucy sends us her latest views and news about her time in Cuzco, the gateway to the Inca capital of Machu Picchu.  What would it be like to live and work there?  Find out by reading on…

Have you ever considered volunteering as a TEFL teacher?  Then you should consider the beautiful and friendly country of Chile.  The Chilean Ministry-of-Education-run English Open Doors Program offers you the opportunity to work with a professional organisation which really cares about the people involved and its aims.  Read on and find out about Lucy's experience in the north of Chile…

On the morning of the 25th anniversary of completing my introduction to TEFL course, I got one of those new email things from someone who’d been on the course with me and with whom I’d kept in occasional touch.

Congratulations!  You’ve been teaching for a quarter of a century!

A nice enough message but in context rather perplexing and I wrote back ‘You too!?!’ only to be corrected: ‘No, I’ve taught one year twenty five times.

After getting to know Santiago for a week I was ready to move onto Valparasío. I had already heard a whole lot about it as a place - it sounded like a cool, slightly edgy beach city. Something I was really looking forward to after a week in a busy capital. As a city Valparaíso certainly possesses something special. Much of it is on a hill, blessing the city with breathtaking, captivating views. With a similar climate to Santiago - hot in the sun and cold everywhere else - I spent an idyllic few days exploring the city and admiring its street art, quirky streets, it’s famous port, and its neighbouring sister city, Viña del Mar. ‘Viña’, as the locals call it, is just a 15-minute bus ride, visible across the sea from Valparaiso. This is where most of the English schools are located.

I awoke with a jolt and realised the plane had finally began its descent into Santiago. What I saw through the window will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was 8am in Santiago. The sun had risen, glistening over us and the Andes, showering us both with its light and warmth. It is hard to describe the beauty of the Andes in their entirety, but maybe it will help to mention that I was covered in goosebumps with blood pumping quickly through my body.