MAP Languages

Dear Readers,

I write you today with some unfortunate news. We are going to have to put the MAP Languages blog on hold for just a little while. Things are getting crazy at the MAP offices, and we need to focus our energy, for the short-term at least, on some pressing matters. But don’t you worry about us, things are evolving for the better, and I’ll be back blogging about teaching English abroad in no time.

In the meantime, there are lots of things you can do. Feel free to read through our blog’s older posts, you just might find some pearls of wisdom. And don’t forget that we also have a magazine dedicated entirely to Madrid, one of Europe’s greatest cities. Check out MAP Magazine for interesting cultural articles or to find out what’s going on in Madrid. We have a new and improved events calendar, which should be helpful in planning your free time.

For my part, I will miss you all terribly, but I will carry on knowing that someday soon we shall reunite and talk shop. Until then…

Take care,

Justine Bayod Espoz

In a couple of last week’s blog entries, I used the circus as a metaphor for teaching English. The English teacher is the ringmaster who has to keep the circus under control, while the lions are the part of the circus family that most suitably symbolize English students. The ringmaster has to train the lions not only to pay attention to him, but also has to teach them the tricks they are to perform. In this case, the trick is speaking a foreign language.

If the ringmaster can’t keep the lions focused and interested, they will clean themselves, sleep, roll around, bat at imaginary objects with their large paws and possibly even turn violent. So the ringmaster must be the ultimate problem solver. As a ringmaster/teacher, you have to be quick on your toes and constantly think of new ways to keep your lessons dynamic and your students interested.

Remember that both circus work and teaching are seasonal jobs. As a teacher, you will have to work long hours during the Spring and Fall semesters in order to have sufficient money saved up to carry you through the summer and winter holiday season. However, when considering how many teaching hours to take on, you must remember that work isn’t limited to the classroom. You will need at least a couple of hours per week to prepare a lesson plan and activities for each class. Don’t make the mistake of taking on so many classes that you don’t have time to prepare for them. A teacher who steps into the ring unprepared is just asking to get eaten.

-Justine Bayod Espoz

Blog Sponsor: TtMadrid TEFL Course - Official TEFL course of MAPLanguages.com

Warning: This post is not for the timid or the easily offended.

Today’s Zuiikin clip struck a chord. I, like little Maiko, know what it’s like to want to disappear into the background when sleazy guys strike up “conversations” in public places. Even though on Zuiikin all of the sleazy guys happen to be white and native English speakers, sleaze abounds in all shapes, colors and nationalities, and in Spain, they tend to frequent the bar scene.

Over the past two and a half months, two men in Madrid bars have asked me if I would perform fellatio on them, only using far more vulgar terminology. The first asked in English as he overheard me speaking to my friend in English, and the other asked me in Spanish as he overheard me speaking to my friend in Spanish.

Note to native English speaking women: This kind of behavior from Spanish men is NOT acceptable. So if it happens to you, do not write it off as some colorful, if not offensive, cultural peculiarity.

Note to native English speaking men: Spanish women do not respond kindly to sex talk if they’ve known you for less than five minutes and, in most cases, even if they’ve known you for longer.

Although Spanish society is fairly open when it comes to issues of sex, that does not mean that propriety is non-existent. Unfortunately, foreign women will most likely be a more common target for sexual harassment because some (not all) locals live under the misconception that A) foreign women won’t understand the disgusting things they say or B) will enjoy the disgusting things they say. The best thing to do in these situations is to simply walk away.

-Justine Bayod Espoz

Blog Sponsor: TtMadrid TEFL Course - Official TEFL course of MAPLanguages.com

Happy Valentines Day! Although for a lot of us, it’s probably Unhappy Valentine’s Day. Boo! I have to admit that I didn’t even remember it was Valentine’s until my friend, who lives in the US, brought it to my attention. As with just about every other holiday of the year, Valentine’s Day is commercialized to death in the US. Advertising for flowers chocolates and every object you could ever make in the shape of a heart abounds. No wonder every single person in the United States gets depressed on V-Day, it’s a constant and unwavering barrage of judgment. Apparently, if you don’t have a person to regularly have sweet and sacred sex with, you’re feelings are not worthy of celebration. Well, that’s just a load of poop in an already dirty diaper.

Chances are that if you are considering moving abroad to teach English or otherwise you are romantically unattached. I can’t imagine any joined-at-the-hip, smoochy-faced couples contemplating a trans-oceanic relationship. The truth of the matter is that not being in a relationship gives you boundless freedom, a gift equally as precious as finding “the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

The heart wants what the heart wants, and because we’re human, the heart wants a lot of things. My heart wanted to move to Spain, and here it is, in the middle of Madrid. Surely that’s worth just as much if not more than finding a boyfriend back home.

-Justine Bayod Espoz

Blog Sponsor: TtMadrid TEFL Course - Official TEFL course of MAPLanguages.com

Yesterday we were talking about what an English teacher has to do before setting foot in a classroom, and I believe we came to the conclusion that you can never be too prepared. Aside from teaching research that you can do on your own with books and the Internet, it is also highly recommended that new teachers take a TEFL course. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and TEFL courses offer intensive English teacher training. Although pricey, these courses are extremely thorough and will not only review the ins and outs of the English language with teachers, but also explain how to get students interested and how to handle different classroom situations. Teachers who complete the course are certified, which often helps when it comes to finding jobs, as it signifies that you take your job/career seriously enough to learn how to do it well. Many an English teacher has claimed not only to find better paid work thanks to completing a TEFL course, but also to walk into their first class with a lot more confidence.

But regardless of your TEFL certification and how much you prep, there are just some things you won’t learn about until you’ve lived them. Teachers often become the student, learning more about their profession while on the job. Maybe it’s that element of surprise that keeps career English teachers interested and invested in teaching. You never know what could happen in your next class.

-Justine Bayod Espoz

Blog Sponsor: TtMadrid TEFL Course - Official TEFL course of MAPLanguages.com

Before setting foot in his or her first class, an English teacher must get organized. Remember, as the teacher, YOU ARE THE BOSS. You are the ringmaster in what at times might seem like a giant circus, so it’s good to keep in mind that if you lose control of the show, the clowns and animals will own the big top.

Ok, enough of the circus metaphor. What I mean to say is that in order to keep control of your class and actually teach your students English, you have to be prepared. Don’t go in completely clueless or the lions will rip you to shreds (hee, hee I guess I wasn’t done after all).

The very least you can do for pre-teaching prep is read up on the subject you’ll be teaching and how to teach it. Start off with an English grammar book. Yes, we all know you speak proper English, but it’s good to brush up on the names of all of those tenses you bandy about so casually in everyday conversation. Next pick up How to Teach English by Jeremy Harmer. It’s always good to get a basic idea of how everybody else is teaching the language, even if your private methodology will evolve with time and may turn out to be even more successful than Harmer’s. And you should also get your hands on an English text book to see what kinds of things you’ll be forcing your students to read and the kinds of written assignments you’ll be doling out class after class.

As some of you may have noticed, I’ve grown quite fond of multi-part posts. This post proves no exception to the trend. So visit the site tomorrow for more info on how to prepare for your first class.

-Justine Bayod Espoz

Blog Sponsor: TtMadrid TEFL Course - Official TEFL course of MAPLanguages.com

Starting us off this lovely Monday is the third and final installment of MAP’s Chinese New Year and Teach English in China homage. Above you’ll find yet another video celebrating last week’s arrival of the Chinese New Year, and here once again with tips on how to get by as an English teacher in China is Smitha Murthy.

When looking into places to work, payment and living arrangements are two topics English teachers never forget to ask about. However, Murthy believes that teachers in China should also make a point of asking about other foreign teachers and English speaking staff. “When my International Officer suddenly left my school,” she explains, “I was in a sorry situation where communication with the school’s Chinese-speaking “leaders” turned out to be virtually impossible! Such a big difference these little details make.”

When it comes to teaching your Chinese students, Murthy says that teachers should “insist on co-workers or Chinese teaching assistants to be present for your classes at least during the initial period. If you are walking into a classroom full of running, scampering, and screeching kids alone, then good luck!” She also recommends studying books on teaching conversational English before setting foot in the classroom.

“Most classes are generally unstructured, and as the ‘foreign expert’ you are given a lot of independence in the framing of your lessons. Some schools might provide you with instructional material. Even so be innovative. The Internet is a wonderful storehouse of lessons,” says Murthy. And right she is! MAP Languages is just one of those many digital storehouses of teaching know how, so stay tuned for more informative material.

-Justine Bayod Espoz

Blog Sponsor: TtMadrid TEFL Course - Official TEFL course of MAPLanguages.com

TGIZF – That stands for Thank Goodness it’s Zuiikin Friday, and boy do we have a doozy for you today. This week’s clip begins in you “normal” business office, but as anyone familiar with Zuiikin knows, nothing about this now defunct TV program is normal.

Let’s start with the slimy and grossly greasy boss. I’ve worked from some pretty horrid people in my time, but I’ve never had someone wag their fingers in my face like this guy. Good old shoulder length looks like a 1940’s European dictator ordering around his minions. And doesn’t the guy look like a sexual harassment law suit waiting to happen?

In this clip we are also introduced to a few new Zuiikin boys, who exercise their way into a working knowledge of English. Luckily they are more decently attired than the Zuiikin girls. I’d take sports jerseys over 80’s print spandex any day.

And what the hell is up with that “Nice American Joke”?

A young woman said in a crowded subway, “I wish that good-looking man would give me his seat.”

Punch line (in case you missed it): Five men stood up.

That joke is offensive to Americans, not because of its content, but because it’s being credited to Americans. I don’t think any nationality in the world would take credit for that stink bomb.

-Justine Bayod Espoz

Blog Sponsor: TtMadrid TEFL Course - Official TEFL course of MAPLanguages.com

As the Chinese New Year progresses, so does MAP’s coverage of teaching English in China. Teacher Smitha Murthy stresses that a Z-Visa, not a tourist visa, is necessary for work in China and believes that a work contract is a teacher’s “lifeline.” She advises to “make sure you have the original stamped contract with you before you even set foot on these shores. The sign of authenticity in China is the red stamp on the contract. Make sure your contract states the pay, the number of hours to be taught, and the airfare reimbursement…all the little details.” She also insists that teachers clarify “anything and everything,” including whether weekends are free and holidays paid.

When it comes to taking a job, Murthy says that teachers shouldn’t settle for anything less than RMB 4000. “A school or university which offers you less than this is really trying to cut corners and should be avoided. Don’t be persuaded by glib claims that the average salary of the Chinese teacher is only half of yours.” You are not a local; you are a native English speaker and that makes you more valuable.

Money isn’t the only thing to keep in mind when discussing working arrangements. Living conditions should also be a point of negotiation. “Does your apartment have heating or an air conditioner? Small matter, but considering that I nearly froze to death in winter when the school decided to switch off the heating, you would feel cozier if you know these details.”

For more of Murthy’s helpful tips, tune in Monday. Tomorrow we’ll take a brief break from Chinese New Year to celebrate Zuiikin Friday.

-Justine Bayod Espoz

Blog Sponsor: TtMadrid TEFL Course - Official TEFL course of MAPLanguages.com

In honor of the Chinese New Year (today), let’s talk about teaching English in China. As one of the world’s largest countries with an enormous population and ever increasing political and economic power, living and working in China is without a doubt a unique experience. With such a vastly different culture, English teachers will most certainly find that in China they are often the student, learning new customs and habits.

Upon the conclusion of a ten-month teaching stint in East China, English teacher Smitha Murthy shared some of her tips for native English speakers interested in teaching in China. One of the first things Murthy mentions is location, a very important factor. “There is more to China than Beijing and Shanghai. A fair number of cities are quite well-developed and can certainly provide you with a wonderful peek into the heart of China.” She does, however, warn to steer clear of lesser developed Northwestern China, “unless you are really looking to rough it.”

Murthy also advises to really research the school with which you choose to work, as issues with legality may arise and could lead to an unpleasant experience. She recalls her own negative experience as a warning. “I taught in China’s biggest education group, which runs more than nine boarding schools all over the country and still had to face an initial harrowing time with visas and bogus work permits that the concerned school conveniently chose to pass off as its own. In reality it had no license to hire foreign teachers.”

Murthy stresses that it is imperative to arm yourself with facts and to “check, double-check, and verify the credentials of the school, university or institute that you are considering. The Internet is a wonderful source for such information, a few hours on the Web would always land you with someone who knows someone who knows someone who was teaching there.”

More on Murthy’s tips and experiences tomorrow…

-Justine Bayod Espoz

Blog Sponsor: TtMadrid TEFL Course - Official TEFL course of MAPLanguages.com