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December 2006 ESL Newsletter

Teacher of the Month: Alexander Merigan (Sasha)

ESL Teacher Sasha & Students Sasha with his Taiwanese friends

If you had asked me last year what I'd be doing a year from now, the answer certainly wouldn't have been teaching English in Taiwan. Going on this adventure is definitely the best, as well as most surprising decision I've made in a long time. After graduating from college I did what every new graduate is supposed to do: look for a job. While I was looking I came upon the idea of going abroad to teach English. It seemed like a bold idea, but it definitely interested me more than selling insurance to people I don't know with my degree in economics.

Teaching is, very simply, a lot of fun. The students are eager and energetic and getting to know them is a great way to get to know and understand the Taiwanese culture. I teach adults in Taipei. Every one of them has a very good reason to be learning English, whether it's to help their career, give them extra practice outside of high school or university, or just let them speak with foreigners and travel. Being able to see the progress they're making is a rewarding experience and makes me understand why people become teachers in the first place.

My time in Taiwan has definitely been a learning experience. It is impossible to really understand what it means to live in a different culture without actually doing it. The transition was difficult at first, but once I learned to communicate enough to order food and get around it became fun to try to explore new and different areas. The thing that surprised me the most was how willing other foreigners are to help you when you're new in town. There were definitely times when I was lost or confused and a complete stranger helped me find my way. For instance a complete stranger I met in a coffee shop took me to buy my first cell phone SIM card. All foreigners have been new and in need of guidance at some point in their lives. That shared experience makes for a tight-knit foreign community, and it is very easy to make friends.

At first I was dead set on staying one year and heading home, but I quickly adjusted that number to two years and maybe more. I have really made this place my home and wouldn't want to leave it until I've done everything I want to do. I've decided that I need to learn Chinese before I head home and, though I've traveled quite a bit since I've been here, there's still a lot more to see. I will go back to the US eventually but, for now, I'm happy where I am.

Monthly Events

ESL Abroad

January 2007 Dinner Party
Ever feel like you don't have someone to properly introduce you to Taiwanese dishes? In 2007, Reach To Teach is going to start a monthly dinner club. We'll check out all sorts of different Taiwanese and International restaurants. Once a month, we'll try something new. To start with, we are going to have a Taiwanese seafood feast. If you haven't been to one of these seafood restaurants yet, you are missing out! Join us on Saturday the 13th, for a great Taiwanese seafood meal, with over 10 courses!

English Teaching Abroad

Please note: Because of the large number of people attending, we will need you to RSVP and pay in advance.

Date: 2007-01-13 (Saturday)
Time: 8PM
Location: 鮮定味 Xien-Ding-Wei
Address: 台北市長安東路一段67號 Chang-An East Rd. Sec1 #67
Tel: 02-2567-3331

Transportation - BUS: 49,202,527 get off at 正守公園 Zheng-Shou Park / MRT: ShanDao Temple Station Exit: 1 or 6
Cost - 500NT each (YOU WILL NEED TO PAY IN ADVANCE)

Menu:

  • Lobster
  • Sashimi
  • Over 10 other different Taiwanese dishes
  • Taiwan Beer 70NT each / Asahi 70NT each (not included)
  • Heineken 100NT each / Carlsberg 100NT each (not included)
Dinner Map - ESL Abroad

Teach hard, Play hard!

Every Sunday Reach To Teach fields a team in a local flag football league! All games are at Taipei Junior High School on the corner of Nanjing and Dun Hua. Whether you want to play, or just want to watch and support the team, it's a good time!

For more information contact Captain/ RTT Recruitment Coordinator Alex at: alexlynkjustice@yahoo.com

MRT: Nanjin East Rd. (Brown Line) Exit 1

Congratulations!!
To the Reach To Teach team for winning the Football Championship! Also, congratulations to Captain Alex Justice for winning the playoff MVP award. Also, congratulations to Dhruva Mikkelson for finishing runner up in the overall MVP award.

For further details on the Reach To Teach team's Championship, see this link: taffablog.blogspot.com/

Belly Dancing

Francy Collazo, a Reach To Teach teacher, will be teaching belly dancing classes starting this month. She would like to invite all interested Reach To Teachers to join her.

The information from Francy is included below. For more information, contact Francy at Francy.Collazo@gmail.com

"I am running belly dance workshops starting on Tuesday, December 19th in Banchiao. Class is from 10:30 to12 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will pay for 10 classes at a rate of $2500NT. Anyone who is interested can email me and we can all arrange to meet and go to the studio together. It's a 10 minute walk from Banchiao station and any interested teachers can email me for the exact address.

I will hopefully be starting another class in Ximen on January 5th. It will be Saturday and Sunday mornings. I'll provide more information to everyone as I have it."

Are you a Reach To Teach teacher with an event you would like to list here?
Contact us and we'll put it in the next issue!

Teaching Tip of the Month

"Getting to Know Your Students"
One of the most effective ways to engage your students and build trust is to get to know them. As we all know, this can be difficult to do in Taiwan! Students here can be particularly shy and they aren't used to being asked for their opinions. Here are a few methods which may help tap into your student's creative side:

1) Ask for their opinions:
Spend five minutes at the end of each class asking your students what they think. The age/level of the students isn't important. You can ask about a complex question about a current events topic or how a question as simple as, "How was lunch today?". Ask them how they feel about something. It may not be a question they hear very often. It can take a couple weeks before they fully open up to your questions. Once they do, you may find a tidal wave of opinions! In this way, you are helping them not only with their English, but to think as individuals.

2) Occasionally, spend five minutes after class chatting with them!
We know, when class is over you can't wait to leave! However, spending a few minutes talking to your students after class will help you on several levels. First, it will help you get to know them better which should help you create a more effective learning environment. Second, you can hopefully get some informal feedback from them. Third, and perhaps most important, it will be obvious to your students that you CARE. Students can tell when their teachers are making an extra effort and they will respond accordingly.

3) Find out what they are interested in and work it into the lesson plan
Remember back to High School when your teacher said something that sounded so OLD!! They may have asked about the Atari video game system when Nintendo was the new big thing! Didn't that them seem a bit silly and out of touch to you!? That's how kids are and Taiwanese students are no different. Find out the new cool thing and work it into your lesson plan.

Show your students they can relate to you. Developing that connection with your students can many times work wonders toward earning their respect and attention in class.

2007 New Year Countdown Event Listing

City Name of Event Time Location Address English Address
Taipei 台北市 2007跨年晚會 1900-0100 市民廣場
Civic Plaza		 台北市市府路1號 Near Taipei 101
Shi Fu Rd. #1, Taipei City
Taipei 2007 跨年煙火 搖滾演唱會 2000-0030 美麗華購物廣場
1F 水舞廣場		 台北市中山區敬業三路20號 Miramar Shopping Mall 1F
Banqiao 幸福、美麗 鼓動2007 1930-0100 臺北縣縣民廣場
Citizen Plaza		 板橋市縣民大道2段22號 BanQiao City, Xien Ming Blvd. Sec2 #22
Keelung 基隆 Fun 電．熱力無限 1800-0015 台肥六合停車場
Tai Fei Lio He Parking		 基隆市東明路 六合路口 Keelung City, Dong Ming Rd. & Liu He Rd. intersection
Taoyuan 希望起飛 桃園go!go!go! 1800-0100 中正藝文園區預定地
Zhong Zhen Yi Wen Qu		 桃園縣中正藝文園區 (南平路中正路口) Taoyuan County, NanPing Rd. & ZhongZheng Rd.
Tainan 二○○七愛與希望跨年晚會 1800-0030 永康創意設計園區
永康市大橋國中旁		 永康市大橋2街 東橋5路口 Yungkang City, Da Qiao 2 street & Dong Qiao 5 Rd. intersection
Taichung 幸福城市．樂活台中 1900-0030 台中市立體育場
Taichung Stadium		 台中市力行路271號(雙十路與力行路口) Taichung City, LiXing Rd. #271
(Xuang Shi Rd & Li Xing Rd)
Kaohsiung 2007 最愛高雄 海洋之星
跨年晚會		 1400-0200 高雄 海洋之星
Ocean Star		 高雄市新光路底 成功路口 Kaohsiung City, Xing Kuang Rd. (end) & Cheng Kong Rd. intersection
Hsinchu 金豬.報喜.百福來 2000-0030 縣府前廣場
County Plaza		 新竹市光明六路10號 Hsinchu City, Kuang Ming Rd. #10
Hualien 2007跨年晚會 1830-0130 六期重劃區
Liochi Chong Hua Qu		 花蓮市重慶街和中山路口 Hualien City, Tzong Qing Street & Zhong Shan Rd. intersection
Yunlin 2007跨年晚會 1900-0100 斗六市人文公園
Do Lio City Ren Wen Park		 斗六市大學路3段 中山路口
雲林科技大學對面		 Dou Liu City, Da Shui Rd. Sec3 & Zhong Shan Rd. intersection
Yunling University of Technology
Chiayi 2007跨年晚會 1930-1230 嘉義市市立體育場
City Stadium		 嘉義市體育路2號 Chiayi City, Ti Yu Rd. #2
Taidong 台東 2007迎曙光 演唱會 2000-0100 台東國立台灣史前文化博物館側空地
History Museum		 台東市博物館路1號 Taidong City, Bo Wu Kuan Rd. #1

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