| If you can arrange to get your TEFL certification in the | | | | tidbitso catalogues - another great source of teaching |
| USA, Canada or the UK before going abroad, you'll be | | | | support materialso CD ROMs - if you're interested in it |
| able to work in most foreign countries almost as soon | | | | they'll be tooo Videos - in English with NO subtitles in |
| as you get there since the schools will be contacted | | | | the foreign languageo recordings of local radio and TV |
| by you or your certifying institution when you | | | | stations - you'll use these for years, without a doubt. I'm |
| successfully complete your CELTA or TEFL | | | | still teaching from 1993 TV videoso board games - |
| certificate course. The certifying institution will also | | | | interesting and fun for all ages of learnerso puzzles - |
| provide you with letters of reference and an invaluable | | | | buy 'em at a dollar store, use 'em forevero magazines |
| list of referrals to further smooth your way into your | | | | - locally-focused ones will be impossible to get abroado |
| first English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching | | | | music - bring your favorites, children's songs, and lots |
| position. | | | | of them tooo movies - DVD is becoming the media of |
| Also, doing a CELTA or TESOL certifying course in | | | | choice, no "pirated" DVDs pleaseo pictures - clippings |
| the US, Canada or UK will allow you to assemble a | | | | from newspapers will do you over and overo comic |
| good "CARE" package of English-language materials | | | | strips - clip your favorites and make a large collectiono |
| to take with you when you leave the country. In most | | | | photos - of family, friends, local events - you name it, |
| countries the selection of available English language | | | | they'll love ito audio cassettes - these are virtually |
| materials can be anywhere from abysmal to truly | | | | unheard of in many foreign countries ... |
| sparse. For example, there are no English language | | | | ... and a "Mongolian horde" of other authentic English |
| newspapers in Colombia, the country where I now | | | | language and cultural materials, which are mere child's |
| teach. | | | | play to get anywhere in an English-language-speaking |
| Some highly useful English language materials that will | | | | (L1) country like the US, Canada or the UK, are only a |
| seem a godsend once you begin teaching EFL on | | | | distant dream in many overseas locales. The local free |
| foreign soil include most, if not all, of the following | | | | public library in "Jerkwater, USA" is often several light |
| resources.o Maps - include city street maps, state and | | | | years ahead of anything you'd find even in some of |
| tourist site mapso Brochures - these serve well for | | | | the largest foreign cities. |
| business English classeso Flyers - these contain useful | | | | I hope this helps those of you who are considering |
| slogans, expressions and vocabularyo classified ads - | | | | teaching English as a foreign language in Colombia or |
| a priceless resource with a myriad of useso postcards | | | | any other foreign country. Please let me know if |
| - remember, your hometown is an "exotic location"o | | | | there's anything else I can do for you. |
| tourist info - contains facts, figures and interesting | | | | |