Bringing the World Closer

First Assignment!

Hello everyone! Congratulations on completing your first task: successfully logging in to the MyTeachingHouse.com site!

We are presently developing Generation 2 of the MyTeachingHouse site. It’s a great resource both on the course and after the course (in finding work and keeping up with friends you’ve made during the course). As this site is under development, we’d appreciate any feedback or suggestions that you have.

I have a few more tasks for you to complete—it may take about an hour or two. Please read the instructions below and complete it before Monday.

Directions: All written answers must be posted on this thread (First Assignment) within the discussion forum in your course group. Since there are many of you, it's important to post only on this thread (click "Reply to This" at the bottom) so that we can keep the forum from getting full and messy-looking. However, if you have any other comments or questions you are welcome to start a new thread.

1. If you haven’t already, edit your profile with your current location, status and photo

2. Browse through our international directory of English language schools (hover over "RESOURCES" in the toolbar at the top of the page and click "SCHOOL DIRECTORY" ). Post the name of a school that you think you might be interested in applying to after the course, and (briefly) why you liked that school.

3. Go to Course Forms and find a word from one of the glossaries that you do not know.

4. Post one idea or recommendation for MyTeachingHouse.com.

5. Post a personal goal related to taking our Teaching House CELTA course.

6. Post a comment about someone else’s comments, for example, “Lizzy, I agree with your comment about the job listings section…” or “Abby, I saw that you wanted to work in Paris. I was thinking about that myself—is it hard to find work in France?” If you're one of the first people to post, come back later with a comment after your peers have caught up.

Good luck and keep coming back to My Teaching House!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by N. Anta James on June 1, 2013 at 4:03pm

1- Profile updated with pic.
2- British Council of Doha, Qatar. I have experienced the quality and credibility of the British Council growing up in Senegal. It offers a wide array of potential students who are usually motivated with specific goals and a purpose for learning the language. This school would be a great place for me to teach while being immersed in an Arabic-speaking country.
3- "Cloze" Exercise is definitely a new term for me!
4- Online live career fairs would be an amazing opportunity.
5- I am taking the CELTA in hopes that it would become an asset for me as I look to venture to the Middle East. I want to immerse myself and improve my Arabic and being an English teacher could be a plus on many levels (interaction, lots of career opportunities, fulfilling and fun work).

Permalink Reply by Kellie Dixon on June 2, 2013 at 6:00pm

Anta I also am hoping the CELTA will be an asset for me. I am impressed on how you are hoping to use your certification. I am bilingual in Spanish and had not thought about looking at countries where I could work on my Spanish while also teaching English. Food for thought.

Permalink Reply by Kellie Dixon on June 2, 2013 at 6:02pm

1. I would like to apply to the British School of Brussels. I was able to study in Belgium for a few months and grew to enjoy the diversity of cultures that the institutions of the EU and NATO brought to Brussels. The British School of Brussels caters to a wide variety of students with differing reasons for learning a new language. This school would give me an opportunity to teach not just young adults but also young children and to also further explorer a country and its many cultures I have grown to love.

2. There are several terms that I didn’t know because I haven’t formally taught before. Finger Highlighting would be one that still puzzles me.

3. I think a brief orientation on site prior to classes would be a good idea. It would help us to get oriented with the schools location and how the program will flow. A Q&A or meet and greet would also be nice.

4. I am taking the CELTA course in hopes that it will make more opportunities available to me to teach a variety of students overseas. I also hope that it will prepare me to teach formally. As well as to help me come up with new and creative ways to make learning not just fun, but also to give students the optimum capability of retaining what is taught.

Permalink Reply by N. Anta James on June 2, 2013 at 6:59pm

Hi Kellie! I love the idea of an onsite orientation prior to the course. I must say that, in a way, I am still not sure what to expect tomorrow and for the next four weeks, but I am certainly excited! I took four weeks off work to focus on this course. I look forward to meeting you tomorrow :)

Permalink Reply by Allison Kerley on June 4, 2013 at 7:15pm

Hi Kellie! I spent a semester living in Brussels, as well! Experiencing the diverse culture is what sparked my interest in living abroad. I would love to find out more about teaching English in Brussels.

Permalink Reply by Regina Blais Santamaria on June 3, 2013 at 6:53pm

Finally, I'm in! :)
1. Done
2. Wow, there are almost 300 schools in Argentina, which is where I will be going, so I have no idea even where to start...
3. back-chaining
4. I could have used some signage outside when looking for the school. Fortunately, I went by Sunday, but it took me 30 minutes to find it!
5.My goal is to graduate with an "A" (since I'm already a teacher, I will be ashamed if I don't!) and to get a job in Buenos Aires teaching English. I will have 4 weeks to accomplish that goal, starting July 17.
6. Kellie, I like your #1. How cool to have been able to study in Brussels! I like your goals too! :)

Permalink Reply by Allison Kerley on June 4, 2013 at 7:14pm

1. Done.

2. I would be interested in applying to K. International School Tokyo. This school stood out to me because I have a passion for teaching children and it has a diverse population of students. I also like that it is located in the fascinating city of Tokyo.

3. I have not heard of the term “Freer Practice” before.

4. It would be helpful to connect with someone who recently took this course to get a first-hand account of the experience.

5. My goal is to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to be an effective and creative English teacher abroad.