Students from outside Europe (that is, students from countries other than the 27 countries of the European Economic Zone, plus Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, San Marino, and the Vatican) must obtain a long-term visa marked étudiant if they intend to study in France for more than 6 months.
After the first year of study, visas are automatically renewed, provided the student holding the visa is able to produce the required documentation.
Three Points to Retain
1 - A tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa in France or in any other country of the European Union.
2- If you plan to complete two programs in succession (such as a program in French as a foreign language, followed by an academic program), obtain admission to both programs before applying for your visa so that your visa will be valid for the duration of your period of study. French visas can not be extended in France.
3- A special visa exists for prospective students. The so-called étudiant-concours visa is granted for stays of no more than 90 days for the purpose of taking an entrance examination or visiting institutions of higher education. Prospective students who pass their examination receive a full student visa without returning to their country of origin. The prospective student visa also may be granted to students whose admission to a higher education institution is contingent upon their completion of a short course of remedial or refresher work.
To obtain a visa, visit the French consulate in your place of residence or the visa office of the French embassy.
Don’t Forget
•Under no circumstances may a tourist visa be converted into a student visa. This is true throughout the European Union.
•International students of all nationalities intending to stay in France for more than 3 months must obtain a student identification card.
What documentation do I need to get a visa?
- A Passport
The passport must be valid for the entire period of validity of the visa.
- Proof of enrollment
The following documents will be accepted as proof:
• An offer of preliminary admission
• A statement of preregistration in a public or private institution of higher education. The document must specify the level of study and the student's subject. If the institution is private, the statement must indicate the number of course hours and state that registration fees have been been paid in full.
- Proof of financial resources
Each French embassy sets the level of financial resources to be demonstrated by prospective students from that country. The amount is about 500 euros for each month to be spent in France.
•Students receiving scholarship grants must produce a statement indicating the amount and duration of their grant on the letterhead of the granting organization.
•If the required resources are guaranteed by an individual residing in France the student must produce a signed statement of financial responsibility, a photocopy of the national identity card of the guarantor, and proof of the guarantor's own financial resources (such as the guarantor's three most recent pay stubs and most recent tax return).
•If the resources come from abroad, the student must demonstrate that a bank account has been opened into which the necessary funds will be deposited and produce a promise of payment, translated into French and bearing the authenticated signature of the individual responsible for making the payments, or a statement of payment of funds from the authorities of the student's country of origin.
- Proof of insurance coverage
Proof of insurance must be provided by students over 28 who are nationals of a country that does not have a reciprocity agreement with France or who are enrolled in an institution that is not recognized by the French government to participate in the student health insurance plan.
- Parental authorization
Minors (individuals under 18 years of age) must furnish proof of consent by the person or persons having parental authority.
- Required vaccinations
In some cases, the consulate may require proof of vaccination (e.g., against yellow fever, cholera…) before a visa will be issued.
International students of all nationalities residing in France for more than 3 months must obtain a student residency permit (which is distinct from a visa), within two months of their arrival in France
Complying with legal requirements once in France
As soon as you arrive in France, you'll want to take two important steps to comply with French immigration regulations. The sooner you get these formalities out of the way, the smoother and more pleasant your stay will be.
1 - Report to your new university or school and register for classes.
2 - Apply for a student residency permit (if you will be staying for longer than 3 months.
Pay close attention to the documents that you will have to present. Originals are often required. All students must report and register each year. The procedure is the same in all universities. In nonuniversity institutions of higher education it differs from institution to institution.
Your Residency Permit
The second thing you'll have to do once you arrive is apply for your residency permit. All international students must obtain such a permit, even those who are entitled to reside in France without a visa.
International students who intend to study in France for more than 3 months must visit the préfecture (or government center) for their area to obtain a temporary residency permit showing their student status. The temporary residency permit is valid until the expiration date of the applicant's passport or until the date of completion of the applicant's academic program, whichever comes first. The permit must be renewed annually.
TESOL/TEFL Guide
- TESOL a guide towards a Teaching English Career -
TESOL is the abbreviated form of an internationally acknowledged diploma course.The full form is Teaching English To Speakers of Other Languages. This degree will enable you to become a teacher to the mass whose native tongue is not English. This course will train you in the basic approaches; prime teaching methods and learning techniques to teach English effectively to foreign pupils with diverse student profiles and dissimilar requirements.
TEFL and TESOL
The acronyms TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) can often be confusing. Both terms are used interchangeably and effectively mean the same thing. In both cases, the aim is teaching English to those whose first language is not English, worldwide.
A TESOL Qualification adds to your worth
Most countries consider a TESOL certification a prerequisite to securing a job as a teacher in the English language.
The TESOL training program familiarizes you with systematic lesson plans,effective classroom management and efficient teaching techniques.
Your fundamental knowledge of the language and grammar skills is furtherstrengthened before facing a classroom of learners.
The program brings out your best teaching skills, and the training imparted givesyou hands on teaching experience.
There is a great demand worldwide for TESOL teachers and this opens a whole newvista of career opportunities.
Teaching Prospects after TESOL
Many primary schools, high schools, colleges and universities require qualifiedEnglish language instructor. Having a TESOL certificate can brighten up yourprospect as an English teacher around the globe.
The best career option for a new TESOL pass out is in the domain of a privateschool where you can teach both grown ups and kids usually through conversation.
You may even get lucky as a teacher in a business house. Here you only have totoil for one to two hours each week.
Private tuition is another option if you can set up a group of students. Here youhave to interact with your students directly.
The icing on the cake is that you can travel and see the world while you earn.The countries that you can visit and teach English with your TESOL qualificationinclude Japan, Vietnam, South Korea , China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan in Asia;Turkey, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland in Europe; and Chile, Peru, Brazil andArgentina in South America, amongst others.
Other TESOL Advantages
The vital reward is your right to use the available information, seek aid andassistance even after finishing your graduation long ago. You are admitted to enterthe worldwide job databases, seek information about recruitments, and look forguides to different countries and more. You can benefit from discussion forums, canshare concepts and ideas or seek help through Internet chat rooms. You can make yourclasses better by downloading array of resources and ideas for ensuing lessons
Will you be a Happy Expatriate?
There are certain personality characteristics that are inherent in people who live abroad successfully and happily. Do you already possess some of these traits?
Courageous
It takes a certain amount of courage to leave your home country, a place you are familiar with, and go off to live in a country/countries where you have never lived. There is no way around this. You must be capable of taking that great leap into the unknown or else your dream of living abroad will remain just that- a dream.
Adaptable
There will be many things that happen in your host country which are done differently than in your home country. Know that you cannot change a culture. However things may done and whether or not you approve, in order to exists comfortably, you must follow both the spoken and unspoken rules that exist in your host country. If you keep an open mind and a willingness to adapt to your surroundings, you will succeed.
Perseverance
You are going to have setbacks during your quest. This is normal for anything we want to accomplish in life if its worth having. However, living abroad will sometimes test your determination even more because you will be outside of your comfort zone- by possibly not speaking the language, not yet having friends, undergoing the stress that goes along with worrying about money or finding a place to live. Therefore you will have to be able to talk to yourself positively and keep after the goal. Know that you will receive rejection so expect it, learn from it and be prepared to move on and continue until you get what you want.
Resourceful
Finding a job and a place to live in a foreign country requires a well-rounded repertoire of resources. This may include the prospects you turned up in your research before you left home, as well as any opportunities you may have discovered once you arrive. The best resources are personal contacts and references, local newspapers, local residents, and especially the internet. But having the information is not enough; what counts is how fully you exhaust and utilize those resources. Therefore, it is essential that you do your homework, keep very thorough and organized notes, follow up on every lead, and don’t overlook any possibility.
Social
The best way to thrive in a foreign destination is to develop a strong network of friends and acquaintances. Not only will they provide you with companionship, but also with information on the city and the culture, valuable survival tips, and emotional support through difficult times. And the friendships you form on your travels will last you a lifetime.
Independent
There’s nothing more reassuring than the comfort and support of a close-knit family. But once you’re traveling in the world, you’ll need to become more self-reliant. You’ll need to be able to make your own decisions without seeking the advice of your parents, siblings or friends. You must be capable of spending at least some time by yourself and even enjoying life, sometimes, on your own. Also, you’ll have to get used to taking care of life’s basic necessities on your own.
Adventurous
Theoretically, the whole point of wanting to spend time abroad is to experience life from a different point of view and live a life that is different from the life you already know. So if we can assume that that is one of the goals, then you have to be ready to embrace the differences that you will certainly encounter. Some will be pleasing and some not so much but you must be willing to try new things. There will be different food, a different language, different ways of doing things, different pastimes and different ways of thinking. So jump in and explore what your new home has to offer and partake. In fact you should look forward to trying new things as opposed to seeking out the closest thing that resembles home.
A True Traveler
So this should seem obvious, but yes if you want to live abroad, you should actually enjoy the act of traveling and by that I mean the process. The process includes; planning the trip, actually heading to the target country and travelling around the destination country and its neighboring countries.
A Desire to Live Life to Its Fullest
Living abroad can be one of the most personally enlightening and enriching experiences that life has to offer. But to thrive in a new and unfamiliar culture, and to get the full benefit from the time you spend there, you must have a broad sense of perspective and an unconditional willingness to let go of your expectations and immerse yourself in the experience. Live the lifestyle, eat the food, and get to know the people, their history, their language and their culture. Make friends, make money, and yes, make mistakes. But whatever you do, make the most of it!
If you don't already have some of these qualities, its doesnt mean that you're not cut out for living abroad. You can always develop and improve these traits as long as you have a willingness to change which there again would lend itself to living abroad.
Preparing for your TEFL Course
So you've registered for your on-site TEFL training. You've got your plane tickets and housing is arranged. Now what? You think you're finished? No, you havent even begun. You still have to take the course which is actually work. So here are some things you can do to prepare yourself for the course.
1. All TEFL, TESOL, CELTA programs have a healthy dose of English grammar. This is because your students will have grammar questions and they will expect you, the English expert, to answer them. Technically, you don't really need to study grammar before you arrive to the course as everything should be provided. However, if the thought of grammar terrifies you then you should, at least mentally prepare yourself for these sessions. The best advice I can give for this is purchasing either: Jeremy Harmer (2001) The Practice of English Language Teaching 3rd edition (Longman) or Scott Thornbury (1997) About Language (CUP) Read at least one of them just to get your head around the idea of English grammar.
2. You will be expected to read and write in English. There will be many opportunities where you must write correctly in English:)) After all, if you want to teach English then you must have mastered it, in theory anyway. Be prepared to write often during the course.
3. Any reputable program has teaching practice. This means, you must plan lessons and then stand up and teach them in front of students. That also implies that you will be expected to present and execute your lesson plan in the hopes that some of your students will learn some English at least some of the time during your class. Teacher practice is usually one of the most valued segments for TEFL graduates of our courses so I recommend you look forward to it and embrace it. Most often the students of English who participate as volunteers are very appreciative and look forward to the lessons prepared.
4. While most TEFL courses should be able to provide job advice, I suggest before you arrive, that you have a rough idea of where you would like to teach and starting when. Have a plan before the course. The more detailed your plan is, the more resources you'll be able to access. This also makes it easier for the trainers at your center to help you and get you started. 5. At the start, plan to have an open mind and be flexible. You are about to embark on a fantastic experience and the more open you are, the more likely you will be prepared to receive all the possibly wonderful opportunities that surround you abroad.
Curriculum Vitae & Cover Letter in the E.U.
The Basic Steps for Writing a Cover Letter
As a rule of thumb, cover letters should be laid out in 3 basic paragraphs. The main idea of the first paragraph is to state what you want. As a cover letter is used to express interest in a job, the first paragraph should clearly state what specific job position you are looking for and highlight one or two relevant qualifications that you have for that said position. Don’t be vague on the job position you are seeking. If you are, in the hopes of keeping all possibilities open, you could lose out if it’s a big company with many different job openings as they may not know where to direct your CV and cover letter. The second paragraph should mention what you are currently doing now and/or why you would be a good fit for the company or the desired job position. If you just completed training mention that and how you have benefited. If you are about to leave a current job position mention that and say how it has enhanced your professional career as well as how you are seeking new challenges that the target company could potentially offer. Also mention what you could do for them. The third paragraph which is also the closing paragraph must be clear as to when you would be available for an interview, when you would be available to start working and how to contact you. If you are not currently in the country at the time of applying for positions, it is imperative to state the three items above. If you leave this vague, you most likely won’t get a response back because it may seem too involved for the interviewer to access you when it’s possibly easy enough just to select from those already living in the country. For those already living or located in the country of choice, make it clear that you are there now and are at the interviewer’s disposition.
The Curriculum Vitae(CV) or Resume
As the EU now has 27 member countries, in their attempts to streamline many procedures, they have created a standard EU CV. While it applies to those who wish to work in the EU, I think it’s a good template to follow as a standard international CV so I am suggesting you use the template as a start even if you do not plan to work in the EU territory. A link to this CV can be found on the website Europass.
Things to consider when sending your CV and Cover Letter
So your cover letter and CV are ready to go out. How should you deliver these important documents? Yes, most likely you will send them by email. But first convert both documents into PDF files. This is the only universal format available where you can be sure that no matter where in the world you are sending to, when they open the document it will look exactly like what you intended it to look like. Next attach both documents to the email. Do not copy/ paste the body of the cover letter in the email space. You want the person who opens the email to be able to print out the documents so that both can be filed in their appropriate place together. In the actual email space, write a brief summary of your cover letter. Basically, state what you want; a specific job position, and when you would be available. Then mention that all of your qualifications can be found in the attachments provided. Once sending out the cover letter and CV, its fine to do a follow-up call approximately one or two weeks after to first, insure that it was received and second to see if they are indeed looking for new hires and/or find out more about the job market in the immediate region.
Teaching English in France, Is it Right for You? Part 2
France is not the country to live and work in if you want to spontaneously show up and immediately earn cash. You need a game plan. The first component is; where in France do you want to be based? While some may see France as a small country, even still it is very diverse and the lifestyle differs from region to region.
If you want an ESL job, it means you must choose a city where there is a demand for English. Unfortunately, the small romantic village in the middle of the country, where most of us would love to live, has a population with an average age of 60. That means a low demand for work, let alone English teaching. You want to be based in or live near a large to medium size city. Solely on the basis of finding work, Paris is ideal as it offers by far the most options for jobs. However, the high cost of living may outweigh the benefits of finding a job rapidly. What’s more, many people don’t want to live in such a large city as France is a drop-dead gorgeous country. Outside of Paris, here is the criteria for choosing a workable city (not a village) in France or anywhere in Europe.
1. It has a university. University towns equate with young adults who might need English for their studies, for a semester abroad, for finding a job abroad or just because they enjoy speaking with foreigners. Young adults equate with a desire to learn new things as well as an openness for ideas coming from outside their home country.
2. It has an economic center that depends on an international community. Cities with office parks for technology or transportation, for example, are good because it insures a base of young professionals who need English for their job. Any industry that needs to do business internationally will have a need for English. Now more than ever before, this is almost any industry. For better or worse globalization has fueled the voracious demand for English.
3. It is a dynamic city. Cities that are/and promote a cosmopolitan attitude are best because ultimately our potential clients are people who are interested in foreigners or foreign things. Cities or towns where there are already a lot of foreigners and where there is constant change for improvement are ideal. This is indeed linked with items #1 and #2 above as all three concepts worked together in creating the ideal backdrop for a city with a real future for English, hence more jobs.
Once you’ve chosen the city or region where you’re interested, arm yourself with the appropriate qualifications. As a general rule, ESL employers look for a university degree of any discipline and a TEFL/TESOL certificate. Yes while there are exceptions, lacking one or both of these items makes your task more difficult. For those of you who already have qualifications for teaching in main stream education in your home country, French employers typically disregard them unless said qualifications were obtained in France. It’s not fair but the only solution around this is to get a TEFL/TESOL certificate.
With credentials obtained, you would next incorporate them in a C.V.(or resume) ideally written in French. Therefore it’s suggested that you have a C.V. and cover letter professionally translated if you are not fluent in French. In most other countries in the world where English is in demand, this is not necessary... a C.V. in English would be suitable. And, as the European Union is working to streamline many procedures it is now possible to input all of your past experiences in a “European formatted” C.V./Resume. So as things gradually change, a French C.V. may be slowly weeded out but, not yet at 100%. Despite this, know that any interviews for an English speaking post would be conducted in English. To emphasize, you do not need to speak French to obtain a job as an English teacher because only English should be spoken in class. It’s occasionally the preliminaries of getting in the door that may require the local language and for that again just a simple translator will do.
Lastly, get the English language school addresses for your target town or city and send them out. Now it’s super easy to look up the French Yellow Pages online at www.pagesjaunes.fr to find English language schools in your desired city. Once you see how many schools operate in your target location; this as well will give you an idea as to the demand for English in that particular city. If you only see 5 English language schools, that may be a hint that you should cast your net out a bit farther for finding work. Lastly, hiring times are early September, January, late March/early April. Forget looking for a job in the summer, as that is vacation time in France and everyone takes off. Ahhh, now that’s why we all want to live in France!
Teaching English in France, Is it Right for You?
Paris is just one city in France. Explore your options.
Being an English teacher in France may not necessarily be for everyone. There are certain characteristics and motivations that might suggest whether or not you’d enjoy living and teaching in France. Decide for yourself how many of the following statements apply to you to discover if teaching in France is right for you.
1. You enjoy or you are curious to learn and discover French culture.
Being an English teacher in France is ideal if you want to study French, join a wine club, learn about the typical local French cuisine and/or read classic French literature with discussion groups. Teaching here, you have the free time to do so as well as it’s these things and much more that make France shine. It many ways it is still the “Old World” here but it’s because of that that France has maintained its old heritage which one can still enjoy today.
2. Earning a lot of money quickly is not your primary motivation.
If you want or need to earn a lot of money fast, then France is not the right country for you. The best countries with high earning potential are the United Arab Emirates and other wealthy Middle East countries. While you can definitely earn a decent living with enough money to do some side travelling, you will not become rich doing so here. That said, the cost of living is reasonable and health care is provided so this all depends on what’s most important to you. And that also leads back to point number one; to live and teach in France is not about the money but the quality of life.
3. You are willing to be flexible and patient as it concerns getting things done; notably thru the government.
In this case, this statement applies to living in almost any country as a foreigner for longer than a few months. You will have to wade thru some government bureaucracy if you want to live and work in a foreign country long term. Also as you won’t be in your home country, almost everything will take longer at first because you’re not yet familiar with how things work in your host country.
4. You desire to speak and/or study French.
It doesn’t matter whether or not you speak French as soon as you show up. Most of us expatriates didn’t when we arrived. What matters is that you have a willingness to try as well as ultimately speak/learn the language. There are some countries where this is not a huge deal; the locals are more flexible and accommodating to English speaking expats- south East Asia comes to mind in this case. In France, however, if you plan to live here, the locals will expect an effort on your part as it concerns communication. And indeed, you should want to acquire French if you plan to live here long term. It’s only through language that one discovers the richness a culture has to offer.
5. You enjoy the small face to face interactions throughout the day that may slow things down.
So this may not necessarily apply to Paris but most elsewhere in France, it’s the small exchanges throughout the day that indeed make the day enjoyable. So yes, when standing in a line at your neighborhood fish shop, the owner or one of his employees will stop and chat with each of the clients, he already knows while serving them. The time adds up by the way; it will take longer than if he or she just asked what you wanted and gave it to you. Some expats detests this sort of thing but it’s not going to change so therefore decide, if this very normal type of situation is something you can appreciate on a daily basis.
6. You have the patience and are willing to follow the process of finding a teaching position.
Finding an ESL teaching position in France is not the same as in many other countries. This is not the country to live and work in if you want to spontaneously show up and immediately earn cash in two weeks. You need a game plan. Initially this requires more rigor during the job search and some money for start-up costs. That said, despite France's high unemployment rate, it’s becoming easier and easier to secure a job.
If the majority of the items mentioned above suits your disposition then you already have the right mindset for living in France. If many of the items mentioned above turned you off, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try France but it does mean you should question your motivations for wanting to be in France as well as be willing and prepared to change your mindset. One person cannot change a culture or a country; it is you who will have to change.
The “game plan” mentioned above in number 6 will be covered in more detail for finding work in France in the next article.
The Language House Summer Testimonials 2019
I learned so much during my four weeks at The language House Montpellier. I have confidence now to teach English and really feel like I have the tools now to succeed in this profession.
Nathalie
I have enjoyed the international training, working with young international trainees and a true leader who shared so much of herself. This has been a great experience as well teaching my first English classes to wonderful ladies.
Sylvie
I have learned a lot about grammar, phonology and lesson planning. I really enjoyed the course. Gyl was very friendly, knowledgeable and supportive. Everything was taught clearly and was built upon previous knowledge taught.
Robin
The course was stimulating, insightful and I know it will be very useful. I had read comments saying the work is quite intensive but in my opinion it’s a good level of workload. Homework wasn’t too stressful and we had a lot of fun while learning. The four weeks passes so quickly. I highly recommend this course!
Jana
The Language House Testimonials Spring 2019
This course was really intense with hard work but a really great experience. To discover my own language and explore all the ways I can make it fun and interesting to learn. Having a small class has made it very helpful to see each others progress and help each other. It’s been really good to get a lot of teacher practice and observe each other’s classes as well as give and receive feedback. Thank you Gyl!
Dido
The course was a bit stressful since it required a lot of work but it was also a lot of fun getting teacher practice and good feedback. A very good challenge and definitely worth it in the end! Good, clean environment with kind positive people.
Tara
I found the experience fascinating, intense and fun. I was warned that it would be intense so I was expecting it but I didn’t anticipate how much joy I’d get out of it. I really bonded with the other TEFL students, my teacher and the ladies we taught English. This made the intense and challenging parts all the more easy.
I was really fascinated with the learning process- from the grammar of my own language which I’d always questioned but also learning about people- how people learn, respond to questions and topics and how as a teacher I need to adapt to this.
Cara
The teachers were very kind and the atmosphere was good. I think writing the journal and case study was rather long but it helped me make progress in writing and analyzing how I could improve my way of teaching.
Christine
Fantastic Course! Fantastic Teachers! I thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
Maggie
All round an awesome experience. The group size was perfect and allowed us to create a good dynamic. The course materials were very useful. It was fairly intense with a lot of material to cove and was delivered with humor and professionalism.
Jeff
Becoming Culturally Savvy
I stumbled downstairs, after a long flight, to my first breakfast with the nurses at the Krankenhause Schüle in St. Polten, Austria. Brown bread, butter and jam and the thickest and most delicious yogurt with Müesli. “Guten Morgan“, I shyly mumbled in my American accent.” Jet lag, a new language and a new culture all rolled into one. My task wasn’t going to be easy after 6 months of informal language learning …I needed to be ready to welcome 150 youth to the city in one month– find beds and food for each person and a facility to put on the musical theater performance.
For me, my time in Austria marked the conscious beginning to cultural learning and adaptation. Our whole lives we do this, but at a certain point, it’s helpful to reflect on what makes these experiences really successful. What are the elements or actions that help a person learn and grow in a new culture and feel at home or, at least, comfortable and functional?
According to recent research, there are a few prerequisites for this thing we’ll call intercultural development or being culturally savvy. In her model, Deardorff (2006) cites a number of attitudes that are essential for laying the groundwork for this type of learning. Ask yourself the following questions:
Are you curious to learn about other cultures? Can you handle ambiguity in your everyday life or even social interactions? Do you respect people from other cultures? Can you interact with others while withholding judgment? Are you open?
What did you find out? Hopefully you are a curious person that is open to new ideas, people and cultures, if not, stop reading here! If you’ve got the groundwork for being culturally savvy, then there are a few things that you can do as you live abroad to help accelerate your leaning and adaptation.
Stick with the Natives
When I first arrived in Chile to the university campus, I was fumbling around looking for the “teléfonos azules” which at that time allowed you to make international phone calls given enough peso coins shoved into the little slot. A short man with dark hair and a kind face approached me and offered to help. He spoke to me in English and directed me to the nearest blue phone where I called my mother. My Spanish was so poor, and particularly my Chilean Spanish, that I was grateful for his help, even though something inside of me told me that I shouldn’t be speaking English during my study abroad semester. Well, never mind – the great thing was that he was Chilean and I was quickly introduced to all of his friends and incorporated into lots of social events!
As I walked through campus, I noticed a cluster of Americans chatting away together about last night’s events or their studies. What was I missing? – They only had an outsider’s view on Chile. I was lucky to be on the inside. Through those six months, I traveled with my Chilean friends, fell in love, visited families, ate diverse food, danced and had lots of reflective conversations about culture and values. Sticking with the natives helped me have an authentic experience of the Chilean culture and, well to this day, I’m still returning every other year to my in-laws house in Santiago and chatting about, “in the States, 7 O’clock means 7 O’clock…” or “in the United States, we usually do things like this…. ”
Have Time Out
It’s important to know where your priorities lie in terms of hanging out with the natives, but all of us need a break from time to time. Research shows that a combination of support and challenge is vital to a successful experience abroad (Van Berg, 2009). If we have too much support, like in the case I described where all of the Americans were moving around in an American blob all of the time, then we don’t learn. Conversely, if we’re pushing ourselves too much and we’re only around the natives all of the time, we can feel so fatigued that we eventually withdraw completely from the culture. While you’re abroad, find a little group or a person to check in with from time to time. It’s healthy to talk about the host culture with someone that can understand and support you.
Read About and Read from
My husband got his hands on the book, “Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t be Wrong” by Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow, by the first year that we were living in France. Soon, we uncovered the mysteries of the famous, “fonctionnaire” and what was the “prefecture” anyway – is it the embassy? Is it the town hall? What the heck? We quickly read chapter after chapter and had conversations like, “oh, right, I remember in the chapter about the terroirs, that’s why Champagne is from Champagne…. Blaa blaa blaa” What a relief to have some light shed on so many things that either we didn’t understand, or in fact, hadn’t yet come to our attention.
Additionally, as our French reading proficiency increased throughout our time, we started to read some academic work and even novels written by French authors. Surrounding ourselves and immersing ourselves in the culture, we started to make observations and reflections which in turn has aided in our cultural acceptance and adaptation to the culture.
Get Involved
Sometimes I say that I’m shy, just to justify the reasons why I don’t get involved. It’s so hard to sign up for the tennis club or get involved in a volunteer program in another country. It takes tons of will power, but just doing it the first time makes it all the easier for the second and third times! I just signed up for a CSA (Community supported agriculture) share last Tuesday; my neighbor introduced me to the gardener…and puff, so easy! All of a sudden, I know that I will be invited to a dinner at the gardener’s farm at the end of June; what a fantastic way to meet people, to get involved with my community. And, for me, who grew up with lots of fresh veggies every summer, it’s a way to get back to something that has been important all of my life!
So, think about either things that are important to you in your everyday life in your home country or perhaps something in the new culture that really catches your interest. Find out about it and take the leap. Be aware that there are activities that will give you more or less contact with locals! So join the local choir, run in the marathon or take parenting classes; sign up for a wine making class, a music lesson or learn a handcraft of the area. Put a smile on your face and go for it!
Observe
I have a very good friend who lives far away, but we still talk on the phone from time to time about observation and reflection. He’s a family counselor and it seems that our thoughts cross as we both deal in different areas, but with some fundamentally similar material – humans solving problems and adapting to changing environments.
In our lives as we encounter new experiences, our identities change – as I went from not a mother to a mother status, my outlook on life completely shifted. As I moved from a small town of 60,000 to a huge city of 2 million, my identity changed and my perspective on life changed. As we evolve throughout our lives, so do entire cultures; I visited Tokyo in 1997, and I haven’t been back since. What has changed, I wonder?
What I’ve just described are two moving objects - me and the culture - that are continuously evolving and changing in time. How can we adapt? Are there moments in time when I feel very in-tuned with myself and the culture I’m living in? Are there moments that I feel very disconnected? Absolutely – this is the normal human condition.
My counselor friend describes an activity that he does with new groups that come to see him. He hands out a raisin to each person and asks them to hold it in their hand. Then he asks them to describe how it feels… little, light, insignificant. Then he asks the group to bring their raisins up to their noses and smell it. Note the sensation. Now, they bring it to their mouths. Note what happens in the mouth… He goes on a bit and eventually, as you can guess, the participants get to eat their raisin. The point of the exercise is, in fact, pure observation in the moment. This act of observing how our body feels, acts, what happens in our mind aids the participant in - participating in her life if only for just a moment – being completely in the here and now without judgment.
This act of being present is a key force in your cultural learning. When you encounter a new situation, can you step back and just observe your reactions, what your mind is saying. Do you have the same dialogue in your mind in certain circumstances? How does it make you feel – good? Bad? The more you practice the art of observing, the more you become an author of those experiences. You can find the ones you like, and choose to repeat those, and for those you find unpleasant, you may discover upon further reflection ways to accept what you cannot change in the culture.
So… after one month of living in St. Polten, Austria, not only had I played my part in finding host families, food and doing marketing for the big show, I had also made lifelong friends with a family I met at the lake one lazy afternoon strumming my guitar. And that very experience thrust me forward into a great curiosity and love for the discovery of new cultures that I still carry today.
Choosing a Country to Live in
My husband and I laid out a huge world map on our cool marble floor in Guayaquil one sunny afternoon after a delicious lunch of pan-fried fish, plantains, salad, beans and rice. Life had been full of sun, iguanas, trips to the beach and delicious food in Ecuador, but now we were ready for a new adventure… something different. We longed for cups of tea, rainy Sunday afternoons, climbing snowy peaked mountains and the smell of pine and wet earth. Where should we go next?
The two years we had spent in Ecuador had just been by chance really – we were all set to go to Korea when we found out just weeks before leaving that there was a problem with my husband’s visa. We quickly abandoned ship and looked elsewhere, and that’s when we came across a post for jobs at an elite University in Guayaquil, Ecuador. In three weeks we were on a plane to a destination neither of us had ever been! Since that move, we’ve become much more strategic in making decision. Let’s take a look at some of the things you may want to consider when choosing a destination.
Weather: After living in hot and muggy Ecuador, weather was a primary factor in our next move decision. We had no concept of what 34%C and 99% humidity felt like on a daily basis to someone who’s body was not accustomed to it. But we found out quickly that it meant that we would have continuous rings of sweat before during and after teaching for at least 9 months until our bodies got used to the extreme heat. Yikes! On flip side, what does 201 cloudy days feel like? Does this affect your mood or outlook on life? If you’re planning on staying in a location for more than 6 months to a year, weather is a very important consideration.
Pay/cost of living: What’s important – the wage, the job, the maid you can afford, the cultural events around, the security….? When looking for a job and considering a location you may find yourself lured by a great salary in Qatar or befuddled by the low salary in France. Now, when looking at this you have to consider what your purposes are – do you want to save or are you looking for a distinct experience? I will say, in those places where you can make a lot of money, often you’ll find yourself either spending a lot in the country, or needing to escape on a vacation somewhere else (which also causes you to spend money). Those who are disciplined, unlike myself, are able to save! Some jobs in counties in Africa, or in China, won’t offer you a great wage, but may offer other benefits like lodging or airfare once a year. These are benefits to take into consideration as you make this decision.
Type of Position vs. certification: In developing countries, you can find great jobs with a TEFL certification with room for lots of professional growth. In developed countries, your certificate will get you a job, but it won’t necessarily get you promoted unless you get more education. In Ecuador after one year of teaching experience and with a Master’s degree I was promoted to the head of the language department at a prestigious university. However, being the head of a language department in countries like Norway or Germany requires a PhD and years of teaching experience.
Language: Should I learn Korean, Arabic or Spanish? Language can be a major factor in your decision to move to a certain country. I would hope that you’d be interested in learning the language of the country that you’d be moving to – so why not make it something you’re already interested in? Remember, even a one-year plan can turn into a lifetime as perhaps you find yourself in a romantic relationship! If your plan to move is a still a few months or years in the future, it’s advisable to take a beginner course in the language of the country – remember you can also find a language buddy that may be willing to swop English conversation with Arabic instruction on a weekly basis.
Moving with Children: We moved to France with our first child when he was 5 months old. People had always talked about how kid-friendly it was, but we never really knew until we experienced it first hand: free daycare, free school, playgrounds in every neighborhood, tons of free family activities, parents enjoying happy hour as kids sipped on a juice, smiles and winks from French people in trains…the list goes on and on. Over the past years, because of Europe’s ageing population, France has created incentives for families to expand. It’s worthwhile to jump on the Internet and see what people are saying about the country that you’re moving to – with children – day care, schools etc. Even just having family-friendly activities available makes a world of difference for your social life in a new country. You don’t want to find yourself isolated in a new country just because you have kids.
Leisure Activities: What makes you happy? The beach, the mountains, great cultural events? What can you not live without? When I lived in Chile, the scenery was breathtaking – mountains, beach, rivers…nature was everywhere and it fed my eyes. It was a stark contrast to living in a highly cemented city of 2 million people in Ecuador where it took at least 45 minutes in car to get out of town. However, the nightlife was fantastic – bars, dancing, music, and great food! Research your location well to make sure it contains the components that are important to you.
Security: Six months after arriving in Ecuador, my husband and I had decided that the buses were not for us. We had just taken a nine-hour bus ride from the sierra (mountains) to the coast and on the way we had seen two buses that had just fallen over into the ravine. My husband claims that we saw body parts hanging out of the windows and I have apparently completely blocked it out as I only remember the horrifying news cast we watched upon entering our house that night – 24 killed, 16 injured.
Traffic accidents in many parts of the world kill thousands of people every year. I’m sure that my experiences in taxis and buses were mild compared with other major cities where traffic rules are just suggestions and it’s the pedestrian’s fault if they get hit. This is just one danger to consider in your country move. As we stayed for a couple of years, we knew people who had been kidnapped, robbed in their homes, taken by gunpoint to withdraw money and even shot at. If you do choose to live in a city or country that is considered dangerous, do some research about what it is exactly that is dangerous – especially for foreigners and then seek advice from ex-pats who live there. They know best. I would have to say that many dangerous events can be avoided by a few things: don’t go out at night by yourself in certain areas of town, be careful who you spend time with, make friends with locals to get to know what is dangerous and how to avoid it.
Hours per job: When you apply to a job and get that interview, it’s important to consider how many hours you’ll be teaching per week. As a new teacher, it’s a great idea to work quite a few hours per week as the learning curve will speed up for you. A heavy workload can really intensify an experience, but can also be great for learning. I’ve had assignments from anywhere to 26 contact hours per week with children to 16 contact hours per week at a university. Teaching is not the same as a 9-5 job so you can’t have 35 or 40 hours of contact hours with your students, this would be far too much!
Apparent Cultural Affinity: After living in Latin America and in my home country of the United States, I though it would be interesting to give France a try – it was, according to me, a semi-Latin country with, what I was hoping was, a little of each culture in it that I loved. I knew it wouldn’t be completely foreign like going to a place like Saudi Arabia, but at the same time the French were famous for their “socialism” and I was interested. Besides, I had a kid now and I wanted something that wouldn’t be too foreign to me. Years ago I lived in Japan and I had always thought of returning, there is so much I still don’t understand and want to learn…perhaps! Consider your own personal feelings about the culture and your interests!
Proximity to Home Country: As a single person, I was happy to fly far away from my home and I always knew I’d be back. As a married person, I had a travel companion, so it was great to continue my adventures…and now as a family person I feel the weight of needing to come home more frequently to let grama and grampa dote on their sweet little grand kids. Who are you? What are your family needs? Are you connected to your family? Are you connected to your culture? How frequently will you come back home? Will your salary/budget allow that?
Timetable: Depending on what hemisphere you’re in, summer may start January or in June…. This, of course affects the general hiring times and vacation times of the year. This can either be to your advantage or disadvantage depending on what you’re looking for – pay attention!
So as my husband and I looked at that big world map, we decided to go back to something known… for a while, to take a break from the developing world and to head back to my home country of the United States, but this time to a small town in the beautiful Puget sound region in Northwestern United States – a place where you can drink a hot cup of tea 200 days of the year and enjoy long hikes through the temperate rain forest or see seals while kayaking near the San Juan Islands. We knew that new adventures were still out there in world, but for the moment we were happy to take a break.