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June 2009 ESL Newsletter

June 2009 ESL Newsletter

Hello ESL Teachers!

Welcome to another great month in Asia! As the school year winds down some of you are gearing up to travel and explore the rest of Asia, returning home after your year abroad or just arriving to start a new adventure. In whichever direction your life is going, we at Reach To Teach wish you the best of luck!

This month we are featuring Gillian Benjamin as ESL teacher of the month, teaching tips to help motivate your students, and another edition of Tastes of Taipei. Enjoy!

The Reach To Teach Team

Teacher Profile - Gillian Benjamin

ESL Teacher Gillain Profile Picture

"Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived." - Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Ship Enterprise. (And really, who knows more about traveling to foreign lands then the greatest spaceship captain of all time!)

I'm not sure when the first thought about living in another country came into my head. I grew up just outside a very small village of 500 people in Nova Scotia, Canada. It was not culturally diverse at all. When I went to university however, I started to see things a bit differently. I majored in Journalism and Human Rights. The latter gave me the opportunity to meet so many people from different places, and I think that's when I really decided that living in another country was something I wanted to do.

When I first arrived in Taiwan I was terrified. My family is very large, and I have a lot of close friends back home, so leaving their comfort was definitely scary. I stepped out of the airport and all I could think was, I have either made the best decision of my life or the biggest mistake. That morning I wandered around the streets in a complete daze. I was like a child discovering the world all over again. Every taste, smell and feeling was a mix of complete euphoria and nausea.

ESL Teacher Gillain Profile Picture

Working with children is an energizing and amazing experience. There are many great challenges and rewards to being a teacher here. Seeing the kids faces light up when they understand what you're saying or even when they are playing a simple game you've made for them is an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. I had only planned to stay here for a year, but now I'm staying for at least two and who knows how many more!

I am a person whose life philosophy is just to ride the waves. I like to take whatever comes at me and look at it as a new adventure or lesson. On any given day in Taipei you could find me at a local restaurant trying a new food, going to the beach, climbing a mountain, exploring the streets or having conversations with the interesting people here.

Gillian Benjamin

Teaching Tips - Motivation

ESL Teaching Tips - Motivation

Showing a genuine interest in your students can help motivation. One of the best ways to show your interest is to come well prepared. Throwing a lesson plan together a few minutes before class shows contempt for your work, and consequently your students.

Be likeable. Be warm. Consider the following: When adults like you they want to speak to you. Little children are no different. Try to have the sort of class where students really want to tell you what is their favorite animal or how many brothers and sisters they have. Use humor and show enthusiasm. Play with the intonation of your voice. Make your voice crack when you begin to speak.

Young children can also often be motivated with treats or rewards. Every teacher must decide for themselves when the line is crossed between motivation and bribery. Treats can be stickers, stamps and coins, but also stories, songs, videos, trips outside, and PE games.

Tastes of Taipei

Tastes of Taipei

Looking for a one-stop location to fulfill your Western food cravings? Look no further than what I will dub to be 'Western Alley,' conveniently located near Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT on the blue line. Almost all in a row are four fantastic restaurants to try, Alleycats, Toasteria, Mary's Hamburger and Yuma Southwestern Grill.

Many of you might already be familiar with Alleycats, a long-standing pizzeria here in Taipei with a number of different locations. I highly recommend ordering the calzone for any first timers, but the restaurant offers a full selection of pizza's that will certainly have you coming back for more.

Toasteria is great if you are looking for something a little lighter, offering a number of great sandwiches and salads. There is also a great selection of wines here if you are interested in enjoying some vino with your meal.

Mary's Hamburger is a traditional favorite and home to some great American style hamburgers, complete with french-fries and a coke. Enough said and definitely worth a visit (or two!)

Lastly, Yuma's Southwestern Grill will certianly satisfy any cravings you have for Tex-Mex here in Taiwan. The family sized servings are large and intended to be shared with whoever is lucky enough to be eating dinner with you. The grilled chicken is the fan-favorite but the porkribs are definitely worth a try as well.

Address: ZhongXiao E. Rd, Lane 248, Section 4
Getting There: Take the MRT to Zhongxiao Dunhua on the Blue Line. Leave from exit 3 and walk straight. You will pass a McDonalds and then take the next right.Almost immeditaly you will run into all four restaurants.

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