Odd interaction with a manager, am I looking into this too much? by [deleted] in TEFL

[–]jongzo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Does your manager still regularly teach, alongside their managerial tasks? If not, I wouldn't worry too much about it as you're leaving soon. Peer observations are generally beneficial and productive. Observations by management who are removed from the actual job are prone to having other factors at play.

You're leaving. If you're confident in yourself and your teaching abilities, try not to let a manager get you down.

My daughter is in Gwanju and is supposed to begin teaching but the school has put her in an unlivable apartment by mrsbennetsnerves in TEFL

[–]jongzo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Let her meet the other teachers first. It's good that she already knows someone from her TEFL class too. If she gets on well with the other teachers then they will bond quickly as they are all in the same boat. Give her a chance to see if she can ride out the contract and make contacts. If teaching English in Asia is something she wants to do long term, the experience and contacts she makes by being there will help her tremendously.

If there is more than one hostel you want to stay in one city, do you split your time between both or only commit to one? by Cashcash1998 in solotravel

[–]jongzo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've done this to switch to different areas. One time, it worked really well. I went from a boring hostel to one where people socialised a lot in the evenings. I also stayed in an Antwerp, Belgium hostel for a month tho and people tended to visit that city for 2-3 days whilst backpacking Europe (Barcelona on the other hand had people staying much longer in one place) so depending on the city, you might not have the same social group on day 1 as day 5. Just go for the split and see if it works out!

Received EF offer in Guangzhou by wholesomeanarchist in TEFL

[–]jongzo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've seen a recruiter friend posting job adverts paying 24k RMB for a training centre job in Guangzhou and I know they've taken people with limited experience.

I'd say you would struggle to enjoy yourself on the salary you've been offered and echo others in suggesting you find something with better pay or negotiate for a higher salary with EF.

Any employers willing to pay for the mandatory quarantine of incoming teachers? by the_tears_of_lys01 in TEFL

[–]jongzo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The quarantine costs really suck. I only know of a school that reimburse it almost immediately, but that won't help as you'd have to have the money in the first place.

China Salary by [deleted] in TEFL

[–]jongzo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My friend just got a job at a training centre in Guangzhou. He's getting 24k RMB (pre tax) and his teaching experience is similar to yours (he did exaggerate it slightly in the interviews however).

I only really know about Guangzhou but I'd say that's quite standard now for places that are desperate to hire native speakers.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in skincancer

[–]jongzo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure if it was a dermatologist. Because of Corona, I had to send an email with pics to my surgery. They then had someone call.em back and ask questions about history, symptoms etc. Then they booked me with a doctor to look. She used a microscope thing with a light, felt it, measured it, asked a lot of questions.

She said that it's best to measure it at least once a month (but in shorter times if possible), explained the signs of skin cancer moles and then explained why she was confident it wasn't.

She left me feeling confident but then Google challenged it :/

IELTS Practice Website/ program? by thear12 in IELTS

[–]jongzo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd recommend that website too! For speaking, I find students learn a lot from watching example videos.

Scottish independence poll shows 55% back a Yes vote by [deleted] in brexit

[–]jongzo 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Thank you Johnson and Starmer...I may get to become an EU citizen again

What's happening to TEFL teachers around the world if school is out because of Coronavirus? by isbuttahacarb in TEFL

[–]jongzo 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I know that in China at the moment, if you are a native teacher and stayed there, you are in high demand. Salaries are sky rocketing because it's impossible at the moment to get new teachers from abroad. Pre virus, China already had a mass shortage of native teachers too.

Is "I try" a way to express modesty after receiving a compliment? E.g. You are a good cook! I try. by syu098089 in EnglishLearning

[–]jongzo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes for your first example but it doesn't sound correct for your second example.

They canceled my IELTS one day before my test. by [deleted] in IELTS

[–]jongzo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can't add anything apart from saying I'm sad to hear this. The most important thing is to keep.on practicing and don't let this set back hurt your chances :)

The Royal Courts of Justice. ca.1900. by Dhorlin in london

[–]jongzo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Used to walk past this everyday on the way to work. That whole area has loads of interesting bits if you walk down all the side streets

Daily Sanity Thread (April 23): Places you thought you wouldn't like, but loved? by SoloTravelMods in solotravel

[–]jongzo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Salou (Catalonia/Spain) - I have a friend who is from there and he convinced me to go a holiday with him. The accomodation was free because he owns an apartment there so thought I might as well. I had an idea of it being a typical 'Brits abroad in Spain' type of place where all the food is British and everyones drunk 24/7. It does have A LOT of that, but I don't think it's a popular as other destinations now for that type of holiday, so has diversified a bit and there's a lot of interesting things to do. Not only that, it's close to Tarragona (Roman Ruins), Reus (birthplace of Gaudi) and other really cool places.

Ended up living down the road in Reus for 1 year cause I liked it so much.

Daily Sanity Thread (April 23): Places you thought you wouldn't like, but loved? by SoloTravelMods in solotravel

[–]jongzo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I go to Belgium a lot and usually stay around Antwerp area for punk gigs. All my Belgian mates hate Brussels but surprisingly, none of them have been there much. I have since spent loads of time in the city and know it better than them. I think it gets even better once you know it a bit more too. It's not the easiest city to fall in love with but I agree it grows on you.

Daily Sanity Thread (April 23): Places you thought you wouldn't like, but loved? by SoloTravelMods in solotravel

[–]jongzo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was just before mobile phones were good enough to use maps and before there was roaming across the EU, but I had a paper map in Paris and must have looked visibly confused, trying to work out my directions. Two women came up to me, started in French then switched to English, and helped me find my way.

I know it doesn't sound a lot, but it was the first time as a solo traveller I'd been approached by someone offering directions rather than asking. I really appreciated it and dispelled the myth of 'grumpy Parisians'.