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May 2009 ESL Newsletter

May 2009 ESL Newsletter

Hello ESL Teachers!

We hope everyone has been enjoying the fantastic weather we have been having recently. It is a great time to get outside, enjoy a bike ride or a day at the beach. This month we have some travel ideas for those trying to escape the city, some fun teaching tips and another new restaurant to try in Taipei. Enjoy!

The Reach To Teach Team

Explore Taipei

With such great weather recently, a weekend get-a-away might just be what you need to enjoy the outdoors here in Taiwan. Unsure what to do or where to go? Read on and discover what fun activities lie just outside of Taipei.

Biking in Danshui

Biking in Taipei
Taipei has excellent bike trails along the Danshui River all the way down to Xindian. Don't have a bike? Take the MRT to Danshui where you can find a number of bike rental shops. From there you can explore the Danshui area or take a day trip all the way down to Xindian! Quite the adventure and a fun way to explore the city.

Baishawan Beach, Taiwan

Baishawan Beach
Literally meaning 'White Sands Beach,' Baishawan is one of the most popular beaches in the Taipei area. Located along the northern cape of Taiwan the beach is easily accessed by a bus from Danshui MRT. The beach is clean, lifeguard patrolled and there is decent surf if the wind picks up. There is also cheap accomodation in the area for those wishing to make a weekend trip.

Juifen, Taiwan

Juifen
Jiufen is a small town loacted on Taiwan's upper east peninsula, just north of Keelung. Half a century ago the town was a prosperous gold mine, but when the mine close the area transformed itself into a popular tourist destination for Taipei residents. Today you can come enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Ocean while sipping on some of the best tea in Taiwan. There is a direct bus that leaves from Zhongxian Fuxing MRT, exit 1.

Wulai Waterfall

Wulai
Wulai is a very popular destination located in the mountains south of Taipei. The area is famous for hiking and breathtaking waterfalls. There is also a great selection of local speciality food that attracts visitors from all over Taiwan. The area can be accessed via bus from Xindian MRT, but it also makes a great destination if you want to take a scooter trip out of the city.

Teaching Tips - Having Fun

ESL Teacher Amanda

Having fun in the classroom is definitely one of the many perks of being an English teacher here in Asia. But finding new ways to bring fun and excitement into the classroom is also equally challenging for an ESL teacher. Here are some fun ways to bring you and your students closer together in a fun learning environment!

Offbeat humor is something all children can appreciate. Who amongst us did not enjoy a fart joke when they were young? Enjoy these fun tips to have your students begging for more!

1) Put a sticker somewhere on your body. The first child to spot it when you walk in the class gets to keep it.

2) Walk into class with your coat on backwards, or socks on your hands. Tell the students you are handing out pens for writing and hand out licorice instead. When the students tell you it's a sunny day put on your coat and shiver.

3) Ask silly questions. If you show a picture of a rhino, ask if it is a dog. Kids love this. It makes them feel confident when they understand a situation well enough in another language to laugh. If you show a picture of a fridge, pretend to open the door and take out a glass of milk. Offer it to a nearby student.

Tastes of Taipei

Spanish Tapas in Taipei

El Toro's Spanish owner/chef Daniel Negreira Bercero prepares tasty cuisine and labels his restaurant as a place where Taiwanese patrons can savor an authentic Spanish dining experience. Daniel moved here after marrying his Taiwanese wife, but was quite a celebrity back home, having won numerous culinary awards. "I hope to introduce true traditional Spanish cuisine, as well as creative dishes to my customers in Taiwan," he says. His passion for cooking means daily visits to local markets, where he selects fresh ingredients that are incorporated into that day's dishes. Thanks to the fact that he personally handles every order, the Spanish food variety here is almost limitless. Diners can place advance orders for custom-made dishes, priced according to ingredient cost. On Friday and Saturday nights, you can enjoy magic shows, Flamenco dancing, and violin and singing performances.

Address: 508-2, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Section 5
Phone: (02) 2726-4902
Open Hours: 12-2 pm, 6-9 pm (closed on Monday night)

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