Best TEFL Tales of 2011

As 2011 draws to a close, the gang at i-to-i have been looking back over the past year. We’ve loved all your blogs - they’ve made us laugh and smile lots! So we thought we would put together some of our favourites from 2011 – check ‘em out!

 I’m a Legal Alien by Elizabeth Taverner

“I can't believe how fast the time's going! I'm now officially registered as an "alien" which means I can do things like set up a bank account to get paid :) so that's cool. Now can't get that Sting song "I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien" out of my head though! "I'm an Englishwoman in Jeju". Maybe not quite so catchy”

Manager of Mexican National Cricket Team by Jack Little

“I've just been appointed as manager of the Mexican national cricket team. I'll be heading over to Costa Rica in 2 weeks for an ICC Americas Division 3 Tournament... It's not quite the cricket world cup but I'm thrilled to bits :)”

The Truth Behind the Infatuation by Sophie Roberts

“Right, so I've been here a full seven months now and I think it's about time to fess up about my on going crush on practically every guy I have come across here in Korea. Whether it's on the subway, walking down the street, in a restaurant or in a jimjilbang I've literally struggled to function in my day to day life due to all the Korean hotties out there.” 

Korean Oddities by Elizabeth Taverner

“A lot of people have been asking me about the reality of teaching in South Korea. This probably isn't the most useful information to start off with, but I thought I'd share a few of the wonderful and bizarre things people experience living here.”

•    “Couples love to match; you see them holding hands wearing identical outfits and you can buy matching undies! Cute/disturbing.”

•    “Rat-sized, Paris Hilton-style dogs are pretty popular here. Women dress them up and do their hair and I actually saw one with blusher on the other day, as in pink circles painted on its cheeks! This one's wearing a Burberry skirt, a velvet top and a bow in its pigtails. V.creepy.”

It Just Gets More Interesting by Kate Fennell 

“Well in the space of a few months I've gone from being a teacher to a Professor and now a TV star apparently. I was asked to judge the Provincial Final of the CCTV Outlook English Talent show which I was happy to do in the interests of promoting the English language. Unbeknown to me it was being filmed and my students saw me on CCTV!!!!!”

I’ve Got Seoul But I’m Not a Soldier by Waiyee Hui
“Yep, I'm going to SEOUL baby!!! WOO HOO!!!! I am over the moon! The past 3 weeks felt like 3 months, and everyday I kept refreshing my email lol but yeah.... I'm actually going to go to Seoul! I can't believe it.... 17th August.”

Miss Sawfie You Beautiful But So Slow by Sophie Wong

“This morning I went into school to meet my class. They are still on summer camp and the semester doesn’t actually start until next week so no planning was needed, I was just instructed to “get to know and love them”.  Well, let me tell you that took place within about 30 seconds. I learned all their names within about half an hour (I have a weird talent for remembering names) and when I attempted to teach them ‘heads, shoulders, knees and toes’ they speeded up, overtook me and then laughed their heads off. “Miss Sawfie, you beautiful but so slow” a 2ft cutie told me.”

 

Stretch, Scratch, Scoot, Summit, Snap by Elizabeth Taverner

“May's been an action-packed month and I feel like the old Liz is making a comeback! For a start I'm getting back into yoga, which I feel a lot better for. Somebody told me about this yogi here who is an absolute legend! He's this tiny, little, old Korean man with a long, wispy black beard who can do the craziest things with his body. For example, putting his palms flat on the ground, with his hands facing towards him, bending his elbows and lifting up his whole body. Mental.” 

God Why Do You Always Pick on Me! by Sophie Roberts
“I was standing in the airport waiting for my rucksack to come round on the conveyer belt. I finally spot it and pick it up when I notice it’s got a massive tear in it. The entire front pocket has been torn off and is flapping down. I'm really annoyed about my broken bag. Then it dawns on me...my friggin UNDERWEAR was in this front pocket! And it's not here anymore! So I'm like WHERE is all my underwear!! I'm frantically searching around to try and see if its been put in a separate bag on the conveyer belt or if its in the main section of my bag” Want to know where Sophie’s underwear got to – read this blog!

My Time on The China Internship so Far by Denise McLeary

“Where else would you get the opportunity to have fun, be creative and inventive, see another country and get paid a decent living wage for it? On the whole the kids are fantastic too. Sometimes I think my hand will drop off at the number of times I have to wave at students shouting 'Hello Teacher' - and that's just walking to class! Or walking into a classroom two weeks after teaching them 'Yellow Submarine' and have them sing it as you walk in? Or have students laugh so much because your drawing of a panda is so bad? I love these kids!”

Kate’s Chinese Adventures! by Kate Fennell
“It is so hard to believe that I have now been living and working in China for over a year....13 1/2 months now to be precise! Where has the time gone......as I sit and contemplate all that has happened in the last year it is with joy and happiness.....this just confirms my thoughts that making this big move was the best thing I've ever done!”

My First Buzz as a TEFL Teacher by Barry O’Leary

“They made special graduation hats and gave me one. Watching them perform in front of the director and other teachers was great and presenting them with their certificates was a proud moment. That was my first buzz as a teacher, and when I knew I’d made the right decision to enter the world of TEFL.”

We’ve loved all your blogs in 2011, let’s keep them coming in 2012!

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• teaching English abroad
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