Posted by Kevin Morgan on Mon, Jul 19, 2010
I’m Kevin Morgan, GeoVisions CEO. I’m travelling now through Asia ... meeting with our English language tutors, future Work and Travel students, and leaders in education and exchange. I’m also reading the region’s newspapers and websites. There are so many stories I read, and conversations I have that stress the importance of people in Asia learning to speak better English … and there is a role for you.
“If you speak English, you can teach English.” Okay, maybe not the intricacies and nuances of dangling participles and conjugation of verbs. You see, our tutors teach people how to speak better, by talking with them, making them more comfortable with day-to-day conversation. We give you tools to help you coach others along, and as much support as you need, but, if you like to talk with people, and have a bit of self-confidence, you can help people learn to be better English speakers.
Why is this important in Asia? Here are some things I learned in just the past week:
- Reuter’s News Service reported that in Japan, some of the biggest retailers announced they would start testing employees for English proficiency. Even Toyota and Nissan have announced moves to make English more common in the workplace.
- In Beijing, where it was recently announced that English will be taught in China starting in kindergarten, the government announced plans to have every public employee to know more than 100 basic English sentences. 80% of police officers will be required to pass English tests starting in 2015.
- In Bangkok, a survey of business people uncovered trends in English training that call for more practical and specialized language training in Thailand. Language coaching and conversation specific to a person’s needs are becoming as important as the basics learned in formal classroom teaching.
- In Singapore, there is a growing need for English teachers and Conversation assistants. Why, you ask? Don’t Singaporeans speak English already? Yes, but thousands of mainland China students are flocking to Singapore to learn English and still be comfortable in this city/state with a rich Chinese heritage (and maybe some relatives with whom they can live!)
All the above reinforces the need for English speakers to come to Asia (or anywhere in the world for that matter). On our Conversation Corps and Conversation Partner program you can come to exciting world capitals or provincial villages, spend 15-25 hours a week “talking (as a tutor/coach)” and travel and get to know people in your free time. As Asia develops its global leadership skills, you can see what drives these economies and these people … and you’ll have a great time.
Do you speak English? Think about becoming a conversation tutor! GeoVisions offers Conversation Corps and Conversation Partner programs in over 15 countries, with more new countries like Korea, Japan and Singapore coming on board every week.
Posted by Kevin Morgan on Tue, Jul 06, 2010
It's always great to see positive results, especially when you're involved in projects that can really help people. This weekend I returned to Asia and attended an event with some of our teachers and volunteers, and ... even better ... some of the students we work with from the "Children's Village" orphanage in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. A vanload of children from this unique educational community, complete with their Thai traditional instruments, came to Bangkok and entertained us ... actually wowed us with their self-confidence, their charm, and their English skills.
These
are children of poverty, children of neglect, and children of abuse. They learn from volunteers on our programs. It is great to have engaging conversations (in English) with 11-14 year olds that many people would have given little chance to develop skills to succeed ... but these students are making giant strides.
Moo Baan Dek ("Children's Village") is a very special place. The children are active members of the community. They participate in decision-making, rule-making, even discipline when necessary. It's self-described as "experimental", and "alternative". I describe it as "wonderful"!
You don't need to be a specialist, an educator, have teaching credentials to be a successful volunteer on a GeoVisions program like this. You just need to care, and be ready to give of yourself. One thing that was all our volunteers agreed on -- you get back a lot more than you give!
GeoVisions has many opportunities in Thailand for you to give of yourself. You may want to work on one of our Volunteer Projects or teach conversational English to a family or a business or community group on our Conversation Corps and Conversation Partner Programs.
The photos on this page were taken by Phillip Chappell, who coordinates our programs in Thailand. We thank him for his photos and the help he gives to all of our volunteers and teachers in Thailand. More pictures can be found on the Moo Baan Dek Facebook group page.
Posted by Randy LeGrant on Thu, Jul 01, 2010
This is the time of year we see new programs hit our site. Within the next 4 weeks you will see GeoVisions add 20+ new programs, and we'll announce each one via this Blog. As you can see below, we're "switching it up" a little.
I am highlighting our three newest programs: one volunteer program, one Work and Travel Internship and one Au Pair. We like a wide variety of programs to offer people. We don't want to be "type-cast" so we stretch out a little.
But also, GeoVisions is a U.S. State Department designated Work/Travel organization. We have partner sites in 30 different countries. That translates into a great network of interesting program content.
Conversation Partner-Mexico
I know...we already have Conversation Partner-Mexico. But wait...we have an entirely new and very unique way of seeing Mexico: Through the eyes and ears of local tourist officials!
That's right! Expanding on our current Conversation Partner program in Mexico tutoring staff and students in select language schools, there is now a unique opportunity to kick it up a notch by working directly with local tourism officials and speaking conversational English with the tourism staff.
Where would you be tutoring? Mainly in local tourism kiosks in resort and high tourist areas of Mexico. The kiosks can be on the street (handy for tourists) or at airports as tourists arrive into Mexico. Local tourism officials are there to provide local information to tourists and they are eager to learn conversational English to make it easier to communicate with the tourists entering Mexico.
Can you imagine? Be a Conversation Partner with a tourist official. They learn conversational English and you find out the really great places to visit and enhance your stay in Mexico.
This new project is really a very unique way to learn about Mexican culture, how tourists are viewed by the locals, and to assist the tourism officials in becoming better conversationalists with tourists.
Work and Travel Internship
Internships in a Work and Travel office abroad are nothing but fun. Our newest is in Lima, Peru. Earn $300 per month plus receive free accommodation by interviewing college students headed to the U.S. on the J-1 Work and Travel program.
The Work and Travel program in the U.S. allows college students from other countries to travel to the U.S., work legally during their summer break, and then travel for a month before returning to their home country. Those students need to be interviewed about what it is like to live and work in the U.S. and also for their English language ability and skills.
The minimum stay for this Internship in Lima, Peru is 3 months and the maximum stay is 10 months. There is an interview process after you make your application.
Focused on fun and interviewing Peruvian college students, the benefits include $300/month and free accommodation. There are Internships and then there are Work and Travel Internships. Availability now in Argentina, China, Turkey, Chile and Peru.
Au Pair Spain
If you are a female, U.S. citizen, and between the age of 18 and 30 with
at least a high school diploma, (I already know what you're thinking...) you can become an Au Pair in Spain.
If you want to stay more than 3 months, a student visa will be issued to you. All you then have to do is take 15 hours of Spanish language classes each week.
What makes this Au Pair program unique is you can choose how many hours a week you work. Depending on the hours you choose to Au Pair, you can earn more or you can earn less. Earn €70/week if you work 25 hours each week plus 2 evenings. Earn €95/week if you work 35 hours per week plus 3 evenings. And for every six months you work, you receive a week's paid vacation.
The minimum stay is 2 months, maximum 10 months.
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So there you are. Do you have program ideas we should consider? Places we don't currently serve? Please use the Comments section and let us know. We are always interested in what our readers have to say.
Posted by Randy LeGrant on Tue, May 18, 2010
Conversation Partners and members of the Conversation Corps teach conversational English. Over time, we have found that organizations requesting GeoVisions Conversation Partners are more interested in conversational English than formal English or grammar.
That of course makes it impossible to stay away from Colloquialisms--those informal (almost slang) phrases we take for granted in the U.S. If you are having a meal with your host family you might just blurt out, "That meal was great but we're going to need a lot of elbow grease to clean the plates." Your hosts may look at you as if you have 12 heads.
Language in many other countries is more formal and sometimes have a lot of usage rules. In English (especially conversational English) native speakers will easily lapse into informal English, and that is when the fun begins.
Sometimes Colloquialisms are geographical in the U.S. In the Northeast we "take" someone to the movies. In some places in the south they "carry" that same person to the movies.
We thought it would be fun to list the Colloquialisms our tutors have written to us about, which have created the most laughter at a family dinner table or in an informal class. We would love for you to add your own in our comments section below. As you read the Colloquialisms below (highlighted in red) imagine people listening to you who have no knowledge of these everyday, informal phrases and imagine the look on their faces when they hear:
- I guess we'll have to browbeat you to go with us.
- I just dumped my sweetheart.
- I just got a serious tongue-lashing.
- Don't buy him a beer, he's a hothead.
- When I looked out they were necking at the front door.
- I just don't want her to badmouth me.
- I just had a brainstorm.
- Wow! What a brownnose.
- He is very headstrong.
- Can you believe that egghead? (knucklehead, numbskull)
- What a great belly laugh.
- I think she just gave me the evil eye.
- We're going to have to knuckle under.
- Her hope chest is large.
- Have you ever seen a one-armed bandit?
- Keep a stiff upper lip.
- People are different in this neck of the woods.
- She's a bleeding heart.
- You're skin and bones.
- Give me a little elbow room, will ya?
- It happened in the blink of an eye.
- Now I have to go face the music.
- You are going to have to toe the line.
- I'd rather meet face to face.
- We went toe-to-toe over that.
- That stone is like a baby's bottom.
- When they questioned us, I got fingered.
- She broke my heart. (She must have a heart of stone.)
- You are a sight for sore eyes.
- Just made it by the skin of my teeth.
- You are the apple of my eye.
- He has no stomach for it.
- I'm having a bad hair day.
- Zip your lip.
- Just eyeball it.
- Can I have that last ear of corn?
Language is fun. And using Colloquialisms can lead to some great lessons around a dinner table or in a classroom. And a lot of laughter. As a former teacher, I found when you combine laughter and a lesson...the lesson is rarely forgotten.
So what do you say? Don't get all up in arms about it. That new Colloquialism is right on the tip of your tongue. You can write it in a comment box in the blink of an eye. Go ahead, I've got your back.
Posted by Randy LeGrant on Sat, May 15, 2010
The video embedded in this Blog post is by the great Italian actor, Adriano Celentano. Also a song writer and singer, Celentano wrote this song entirely in gibberish to show English speakers what English sounds like to non-English speakers.
As a member of the Conversation Corps, you are called upon to speak "conversational" English and we thought you would enjoy hearing what that sounds like to your "students."
GeoVisions does provide our own text, "A Tutor's Guide: Teaching English To Families And Children." We also provide an online source to provide English flash cards and worksheets. And let's not forget a 24/7 email hot line for personalized assistance and ideas.
Originally, this video did not contain the subtitles, but after searching around we found the official subtitles for you and we think they help make the point even further. So enjoy the video and remember, "My eyes smile senseless and we got some growing diesel, alright?"
Posted by Kevin Morgan on Mon, Apr 12, 2010
Splash!
Happy New Year! It's Songkran. April 13-15. The Thai New Year. We have GeoVisions teachers, volunteers and staff in Thailand now.
In Bangkok there is political turmoil. Red shirts trying to bring down the government. Red shirts being manipulated by an outside force.
But ... it's New Year. Songkran. The Water Festival.
The water will wash away past transgressions.
The sprinkling of water on friends and visitors is a way to appeal to the higher powers to bring water to the fields for a new rice crop. The sprinkling has turned into splashing. The splashing has turned into dousing. In Thailand ... at New Year ... you are going to get VERY wet. Thais will spread a floury paste on your face ... on your neck ... it wards away evil.
The fun of the New Year lasts for three or four days. How wet can you get?
Happy New Year. It's 2553! Come to Thailand. Teach. Volunteer. Discover. LIVE!
GeoVisions in Thailand includes Teaching, Volunteering, Conversation Tutoring in a Classroom or with a Family. Join us.
Posted by Randy LeGrant on Tue, Jan 26, 2010
Last week I wrote a Blog post about our new programs in Lebanon and then found a fantastic article about Beirut on USA Today. Right now we have Conversation Corps-Lebanon available if you want to live with a family in Lebanon and volunteer to teach them English. We also have openings for Conversation Partners in our Work and Travel office in Beirut. Be a cultural ambassador at the same time and meet lots of Lebanese college students coming by the office to interview for the U.S. Work and Travel program. Speak English with them and help screen their English skills.
Imagine our pleasant surprise when we opened USA Today and saw this article on Beirut: "Beirut is reborn as a glitzy playground for tourists." "Beirut's sizzling nightlife, from gritty to glam, helped drive a record tourism year in 2009. Overcoming a reputation as a Middle East trouble spot, Lebanon welcomed nearly 2 million visitors last year, a 39% increase over 2008. It was the No. 1 destination for tourism growth in the world, according to the World Tourism Organization."
During the past several years, Beirut has been overcoming its reputation as a troubled place in the Middle East to become a hot spot for tourists interested in swanky clubs, a sophisticated dining scene and plenty of rich history. "Lebanon is back," Nada Sardouk, Lebanon's tourism director general, told the Middle East news agency AMEInfo.com. "We've had 80% to 90% hotel occupancy this year. But it's more than about just numbers. ... It's about the joie de vivre."
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