Reports from the Field

Interview with a Costa Rica TEFL-teacher

Getting a TEFL-certificate is hard work. But if you get it in the right place, it can also be a fantastic adventure and career-enhancing journey. Earlier this year, Emmanuelle Allongue took the opportunity to leave the cold Canadian winter behind and travel to Costa Rica for two months of intensive learning – and a spot of surfing! We asked what the experience has meant to her and her career:

How did you first hear about the project?

“I first heard about the Costa Rica TEFL project on McGill University’s CAPS (career planning services) website. I had been looking for something to do after graduating early in December, and wanted to find an opportunity that would let me travel, but also gain a valuable skill. I looked into the project some more and started chatting with Elisabeth from Global Nomadic and Kerri from the project. Speaking with both of them solidified my interest in the project, they were so helpful and passionate about it.”

What made you decide to join this project?

“I would have to say that what really made me decide on doing my TEFL in Costa Rica was hearing ONLY positive things when I asked people about the country. I knew I wanted to get my TEFL in a spanish-speaking country so that I would have the opportunity to improve my spanish, but I chose Costa Rica because of its reputation for being absolutely beautiful and having the friendliest people (so true). I also really wanted to get away from the Canadian/Washington winter and be by the beach!”

What was the most memorable part of the course for you/what did you enjoy most?

“The most memorable part of the course was definitely the people: my fellow TEFL girls, Jacq and Kerri, Thai and Aly, and all the students I was fortunate enough to practice my teaching skills on. Although all the teaching theories and methods were super interesting, and I learned a lot, the best part about the course was learning/memorizing it with Kathleen and Julia (my TEFL girls), and lesson planning and bouncing ideas off of each other. Interacting with the students was effortless and so much fun because they were all so nice, and seeing them reach target objectives was extremely rewarding. Talking about lessons and getting feedback afterwards from Jacqueline and Kerri was also both super helpful and really enjoyable.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the “pura vida” way of life. Being somewhat of a high-stress person at times, it was really enlightening to see how laid-back and anxiety-free people were; they just enjoyed life and didn’t worry too much about the rest of it because things just have a way of working out. I loved being able to go surf in the mornings or go for a run on the beach with the other TEFLs without stressing out about not having lesson planned for the day ahead. I definitely learned when and how to relax and that stress is something I put on myself more often than I should.”

What aspects of taking part in this project do you think will benefit you in your future? (How did your confidence grow as a teacher during the training and how well prepared did you feel for taking on job interviews?

“I think all aspects of the project will benefit me in my future. From the teaching skills I learned, to the self-awareness I gained, and the connections I made with people, my Costa Rica experience will impact me forever.

As I got more and more practice, I felt a lot more comfortable and that contributed to feeling confident in front of a class. Getting feedback regularly and being able to discuss class material or classroom management with Jacqueline and Kerri also built up my confidence because I was able to learn from my experiences and be better equipped for ones to come.

I felt extremely prepared for job interviews because I knew I had been trained well and thoroughly. I knew I had both the knowledge and the practice to make a qualified ESL teacher candidate. I also knew I could count on Kerri and Jacqueline to be solid references because they had helped me improve on my weak points and know what I am capable of. I went in to job interviews being fully confident that I deserved the position I was applying for because of the training, feedback, and teaching opportunities I had received, and it paid off!! I’m currently working as an ESL teacher in Washington, D.C. at a company called English Language Services and I love it so much.

Overall I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this Costa Rica TEFL program to anyone who is interested in teaching ESL!!!”

Learn more about the TEFL-course in Costa Rica and sign up for your own stint of paradise. It could change the rest of your life.

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Emmanuelle Allongue
Posted on: 26 Jun 2015

Culinary Nomad – The 4 Best Kept Travel Food Secrets

Everybody eats. Almost everybody loves doing so. For many people, food is a true passion. Wherever you fall on the scale, food is clearly a hugely important topic. Of course, here at Global Nomadic, we’re passionate about travel. We’re always looking for new ways to help you travel and fulfil your potential with internship placements and volunteer experiences. But we also love food!

There’s no denying that food & travel go together perfectly. Food is certainly one of the biggest attractions when travelling. New places present diverse flavours, interesting cooking methods and totally different dining cultures. The opportunity to try something different is always there. Equally, your established favourites often taste better with a change of venue (or even country). It can be a lot of fun to keep one favourite dish in mind and try it wherever the opportunity arises. Seeking out perfection could take a colossal amount of time, but somebody has to do it.

Given how big a topic travel food has become, there is a huge variety of information available out there. Some of it is great. Much of it is not. Many blog posts aim to educate you about saving money. Others deal with getting the best food and drink experience. Then there are the omnipresent posts on healthy eating. Of course, all of these categories are important, but the secrets they talk about are often obvious.

What is obvious is that you deserve better. So we’ll take a look at 4 common “secrets” and dig a little deeper to get to the good stuff…

1) Do As The Locals Do

This is perhaps the most obvious tip ever written about. In Venice, the most expensive place to eat is St. Mark’s Square. You know this. Wherever you go, the places with the highest concentrations of tourists typically play host to bars and restaurants that charge over the odds, or offer sub-standard food and drink. In the worst cases, they do both.

So the standard tip is to watch the locals. Look for crowds of them queuing and you can be sure of a quality meal at a decent price. Venture further afield and seek out the less touristy places. Then observe what locals eat and copy that.

Really though, the thing to do is talk to the locals. Learning even the tiniest amount of their language and adopting a friendly and open attitude will often get you everywhere. Make friends. Not only will you learn about the classic dishes of the region, but you may even get an invite to their home for a true taste of the local cuisine. These friendships will prove invaluable in loads of other areas too.

2) Stay Somewhere With Cooking Facilities

A relatively modern tip that only tells you half the story. You don’t eat out every day at home (or maybe you do, in which case I’m jealous). So make sure you have access to a kitchen whilst travelling. That way you can hit the supermarket and save money.

Having access to a kitchen is, of course, worthwhile. But a supermarket? In almost every top tourist destination on the planet, there are local markets. These vary in quality from 100% genuine, local produce used by little old ladies to feed their grandkids, to tourism-based, tat-filled emporiums design to rip you off.

Finding the right market can sometimes be as easy as a quick online search. Other times it might talk some investigation. Either way, once you’ve found it, you’ll be enjoying the finest food and for little money.

If you’re really lucky, you’ll encounter a friendly local who makes a special “secret ingredient” for use at home. Then you can really get cooking…

3) Street Food

Another classic and deservedly so. Street food is fantastic. Most tips tend to focus on South East Asia and value for money. This make a lot of sense, given SE Asia is renowned as a cheap destination for backpackers and budget travellers. However, it’s hardly a secret and certainly not the full story.

Street food can be anything from one man and his wok, to a gourmet food truck. However, it’s not just about value. Quality is important too. In many cheaper destinations, you’ll often find that good street food will taste better (and be healthier) than what’s on offer in lower-end hotels and restaurants. Many countries display some of their most famous, signature dishes on the street. In Denmark, pølser (hot dogs) are everywhere. Colombia fills the streets of its cities with the smell of empanadas.

Wherever you’re heading, the trick is to do plenty of research before you go. That way, you’ll know what to look for. Then when you get there, the real secret is just to follow your nose…

4) Avoid Alcohol

This one is widely talked about for two reasons. The first is cost. The second is health. Apparently, avoiding alcohol will make your travels cheaper and healthier. And that’s a top travel secret? Really?

Aside from being blinding obvious, that statement also does a disservice to specialist drinks producers all over the world. Archaeologists have found evidence of alcoholic drinks from as far back as Neolithic times. So with at least 10,000 years of practice, the human race has become adept at producing a wonderful variety of alcoholic drinks.

As part of the social fabric of society in many cultures, a drink or two can not only allow you to join in with the locals, but add something extra to your culinary experience. Wine, beer and spirits all have their place at dining tables worldwide.

The key to enjoying your culinary travels? Experience and intuition

When you travel abroad, the key thing to remember about food is don’t be swayed by what other people say. Use your intuition and seek out both the things you know you enjoy and the ones you want to try.

The more experience you gain, the more you’ll know what to look for. You’ll also come away with some great stories. Enjoy.

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Jeremy Freedman
Posted on: 12 Jun 2015

The Surprising Truth About Why You’re Not Ready to Move Abroad

As I went through the sliding doors and onward to the outside world, the first thing I noticed was the heat. It was really warm. Especially given it was mid-March. I paused to reassess my grip of my two suitcases. As I did, I began to take in more than just the ambient temperature

Chaos. There were people everywhere. Taxis and buses were coming and going. Then a bit further away there were palm trees. Like a big, natural sign, welcoming travellers to their sub-tropical destination. Beyond them, mountains could be glimpsed in the distance. All framed by a huge, blue sky with not a single cloud. All around, the sweet sound of the Spanish language completed the scene. So exciting to finally arrive, but massively overwhelming.

I had just emerged from the airport on the island of Lanzarote. It was to be my home for the next 10 months. The plan had always been to deliberately make quite a big change. I had thought I was ready. I wasn’t. But not in the way you might expect…

Challenges

Spain was an obvious choice as a first destination. The warmth of the climate and the people are well known. And as a Brit, at times it’s easy to find your home country lacking in both of those. So it’s easy to think that a change of scenery is a great idea. Of course, there is a lot more to it than that. Challenges are everywhere, from adapting to a new culture to missing your friends and family.

But if you know there are going to be challenges, you can plan accordingly, right?

Planning

When you decide to move abroad for the first time, you plan. A lot. There’s a lot to consider. Maybe this is just for a month. Or perhaps you’re thinking about a longer stint. The length of the trip, destination and reason for travel all factor into your planning.

You pack every conceivable item of clothing. Then there are all of the electronics and travel gadgets. Phrasebooks and guidebooks are important, not to mention fun to shop for. Of course, after endless hours of Internet research, there’s always something new that you haven’t considered before.

And that’s before you’ve discussed your awesome plan with all your friends and family until you’re blue in the face. Some of them think you’re crazy, others offer support without really understanding. If you’re really lucky, you’ll come across someone who has already travelled and might offer some good advice.

After all of this, you’re convinced you’ve planned for every eventuality and you set off out the door on your very own adventure.

Change

So turns out you did a pretty good job in the planning stage. Nice work. The guidebook(s) you bought help you make the most of your time and find all the coolest places to go and see. You make new friends, explore new places and discover all kinds of new food and drink.

Bit by bit, you start to change. And you don’t even notice.

That language that seemed complicated when you first arrived becomes more familiar. It starts with the easy stuff you hear every day. Hi, bye, please and thank you soon become second nature. If you keep practicing and learning, you’re able to give strangers directions in no time. Then of course, once you’ve had a drink or two, you’re practically fluent. (Trust me, we’ve all been there).

learning the correct customs in your new country will go a long way!

So, you’re overcome the language barrier. The next big change most people worry about is connecting with people from different cultures. How will you relate to them? What if you do or say the wrong thing? Well, turns out pretty much everybody you meet abroad is looking forward to meeting you. As you realise this for yourself, you’re likely to find yourself making friends left, right and centre. These people will expand your outlook faster than you can drink your new favourite cocktail.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? All that planning worked out well. You were ready. You have overcome the challenges of living abroad. In fact, you’ve had a great time. However, there’s one thing you didn’t think about. And that one thing is the reason you’re not ready to move abroad.

Returning Home

However long you move abroad for, you’re likely to do all kinds of new things. You’ll meet plenty of people, learn new skills and probably be confused on several occasions. But that’s just all part of your fun adventure. What nobody tells you is, that will all change when you head home.

The first day or two is usually just loads of rest and catching up with family. You’re exhausted. It’s been a long journey. Then it’s time to start meeting up with friends to tell them all about your adventure. After a few days, you’ll start to check Facebook waaay too often. Looking at pictures of memories you made along the way and hoping to stay in touch with friends you left behind.

Then finally, after a week or two, it hits you. You’ve changed. You didn’t realise it whilst you were there, but it was quietly happening along the way and now it’s smacked you in the face. Sure, it was nice to see everybody. You haven’t had to concentrate to have a conversation in English. Still, you tried to order coffee/wine/food and not only was it stupidly expensive, it just wasn’t the same as what you’re used to.

Guess what though? With time, you’ll figure it out. And this new person you’ve become is more capable than the one that left on an adventure.

The Surprising Truth

You’re not ready to move abroad yet, because it will change you in ways you can’t even imagine right now. And nobody is ready for that when they start out. But that’s the whole point. However ready you are now, you won’t know what can you achieve if you don’t make a start.

You’ll be forced into situations that you’ll have no idea how to deal with. You’ll have immense difficulty explaining things to people. You’ll probably end up being embarrassed on at least a couple of occasions.

But the surprising truth is that you’ll adapt to all of that and have an incredible time doing it. You may come home a different person, but that’s the whole point. You’ll also have the most fun you’ve ever had.

And of course, that’s exactly why you should start planning right now. Living abroad will fundamentally alter your life in the most amazing ways. If you don’t do it, you’ll never know what you’re capable of.

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!