Posted: 4/18/20 | April 20th, 2020

Japan is one of the best places in the world to teach English. It’s home to incredible food, a rich culural history, high quality of living, and world-class cities like historic Kyoto and eclectic Tokyo.

I absolutely loved all my time in Japan.

It’s just one of the best places in the world.

And there are plenty of teaching opportunities here too for anyone looking for a new career or an opportunity to live overseas. The bulk of the teaching opportunities in Japan are run by big companies that have positions open all the time, including large chains, smaller companies, and business English classes.

To teach English in Japan, you need to be a native English speaker from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, or the UK and have a bachelor’s degree. You’ll also need to complete a 120-hour TEFL or CELTA certificate.

You don’t need to have any teaching experience, but the higher-paying jobs are competitive so any experience will be helpful when it comes to securing a good job.

Here are the main teaching opportunities you can expect to find in Japan:
 

Public Schools

One of the easiest ways to get a job teaching at public schools is through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) or job placement companies like Interac. These programs employ you as an assistant language teacher (ALT) working alongside a Japanese teacher. (If you go through JET, you’re placed in communities for one year.)

If you find a job without going through JET, you’ll be in classes with up to 40 kids. You are provided textbooks to work from and are responsible for coming up with activities to accompany the teacher’s lesson plans. The workweek is 8am to either 4pm or 5pm, Monday through Friday. There are four classes per day.

Unlike private schools, you are responsible for paying your health premiums and contributing to your pension fund. Vacations are typically unpaid.

If you are employed through a job placement company, you can expect to earn around 230,000 JPY ($2,125 USD) per month. By comparison, the JET program pays closer to 300,000 JPY ($2,770 USD) per month. Benefits include your flights to and from Japan, paid national holidays, and 10 paid vacation days.

Keep in mind the JET Programme application process is long. There is a lot of paperwork and you must attend an in-person interview in your home country. However, it’s worth the effort since there are more perks, better pay, and you’re guaranteed a teaching position if accepted.
 

Private Schools

Private schools in Japan are known as eikaiwa. Typically, these companies host job fairs in English-speaking countries, where most people apply.

Here, you’ll be teaching small classes and using a curriculum from textbooks designed for students to pass Japan’s ESL (English as a Second Language) exams. Your main work aside from following the curriculum is to create and grade tests. You’re also expected to meet with students after hours and tutor them as needed.

If you teach at a private school, be prepared for longer hours than in other teaching jobs: 5–7 days a week, including weekends, nights, and holidays.

Depending on the company you go through, you can make as much as 275,000 JPY ($2,538 USD) per month. Benefits can include annual leave (usually unpaid), health and pension insurance, the cost of flights, and your visa fees, as well as a small bonus when you complete your yearly contract.
 

International Schools

As in other countries, teaching jobs at international schools are competitive because they offer the most in terms of salaries and benefits. You’ll need experience and to be a fully accredited teacher in your home country. Teaching at these schools is going to be like teaching at a school in your home country.

Benefits include your flight to Japan, a retirement plan, paid vacation, paid developmental courses, generous housing assistance, and more. Salaries range widely depending on the school — from 200,000 to 600,00 JPY ($1,846–5,538 USD) per month. But, generally, these are the best-paid teaching jobs in the country.
 

Language Academies

If you want to work with people of varying ages, language academies are an option. Students in these academies are there because they want to learn English — not because it is required — so they are dedicated and work hard.

Hours at language academies vary. Expect to work nights and weekends, as during the usual work week, students are in school or at their jobs. You’ll also need to come up with fun activities to teach English. Pay is around 3,800 JPY ($35 USD) an hour and usually doesn’t include any benefits.

Universities

Teaching positions at Japanese universities require more qualifications than other such jobs teaching English. You must have a master’s degree, a higher-level certification, and some years of teaching experience.

The hours, however, are far less — you’ll only work between 10 and 15 hours a week, in addition to class preparation and grading.

Your salary will be commensurate with your experience, ranging between 300,000-600,000 JPY ($2,769–5,538 USD) per month. Benefits include up to three months of vacation,

Best Job Resources

There are numerous sites to find jobs teaching English in Japan:

• Japan English Teacher
• Dave’s ESL Café
• O-hayo Sensei
• Transitions Abroad

***

Teaching English in Japan is popular because of the ease of employment and higher standard of living. Thanks to dispatch companies and other programs, job placement is not difficult. Benefits can be fantastic, and you get to work with students who are typically well behaved and want to learn.

And to top it all off, Japan is an amazing country! As a teacher here, you’ll get to experience the culture and explore everything this incredible island nation has to offer. There is a tight-knit expat community here as well that can help you adjust and make the most out of your time teaching English in Japan.

Ready to Teach Overseas? Get My Comprehensive Guide!

This digital guide will put you ahead of your competition, help you land a high-paying job with a reputable company, and give you firsthand knowledge from real teachers! The book also includes 12 bonus interviews about life as a teacher and job advice from one of the industry’s top recruiters! Click here to get started today!
 

Photo credit: 1 – scarletgreen

The post How to Teach English in Japan appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Enjoy these Home Style Saturday posts today. Whether you’re looking for decorating inspiration or need ideas to help get you through this sheltering at home we are in, you’re sure to find some ideas and things to do in this post, so hope you enjoy! 

The post Home Style Saturday 187 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Posted: 4/17/2020 | April 17th, 2020

Taiwan is one of the most popular destinations for English teachers: it has a high standard of living but is affordable, is home to friendly locals, boasts a world-class food scene, and has a lot of places to explore on your days off (the high-speed trains can get you around the island pretty quickly).

To top it all off, Taiwan is aiming to be bilingual by 2030. That means there is an increased demand for English teachers throughout the country (especially in rural areas). It has stricter standards for teachers than some of its neighbors, but it’s still relatively easy to get a well-paid job there.

To teach English in Taiwan, applicants must be a native English speaker and from an English-speaking country (the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, or New Zealand) and have a bachelor’s degree (though sometimes a master’s is required).

Most schools also require applicants to have at least a 120-hour TEFL certificate and be a licensed teacher in their home country. (If you aren’t a licensed teacher, you can still find work, but it won’t be as high-paying.) You must also have a clean criminal record.

Here’s a breakdown of various teaching opportunities in Taiwan and what to expect for each of them:
 

Buxiban (“cram schools”)

Buxiban are after-school programs that rigorously prepare students for university. They are essentially test-prep schools.

To teach at a buxiban, you don’t need a university degree. However, expect to have a lot of students (as many as 200 in a class in some schools). Most teachers work 15-20 hours a week, but with so many students it can be exhausting.

You’re only paid when you actually teach a class, so anything like grading papers or preparing lessons (and these schools require a considerable amount of prep) is almost always unpaid. Schedules vary greatly too, since classes can happen at all hours of the day.

Teachers at buxiban can expect to earn around 600 NT$ ($20 USD) per hour.

However, if you’re looking to get your foot in the door and don’t have a lot of previous teaching experience, these schools are a good place to start. But before you accept a position with a buxiban, research the company running it to ensure that they are reputable and treat their teachers well. Many are really terrible places.

And while jobs are plentiful, don’t expect great working conditions or benefits. It’s an easy, flexible, and decently-paid job for those with little experience. But it’s not going to glamorous.
 

Public Schools

Jobs in public schools are typically available at the high school level. Classes are large, and teachers should expect to work around 15 hours a week, but they still must be at school from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m during the week. Some schools may compensate you for work done outside the classroom (preparation and grading), but most don’t. Be sure to check before you sign a contract!

Public school teachers receive a lot of perks, though: a housing stipend, free return flights, paid vacation, a grant to cover supplies, and health and dental coverage.

You’ll earn between 62,000 and 90,000 NT$ ($2,075–3,015 USD) a month, depending on where you are teaching and the terms of your end-of-year bonuses. (These schools offer bonuses, so teachers stay for their entire contract.)

If you want a job placement, check out the Taiwan government’s Foreign English Teachers (FET) program.
 

Private Schools

Private schools offer comparable (or lower) salaries compared to public schools but you have far smaller class sizes. There’s usually more competition for their teaching positions, as they offer better benefits, such as paid vacations and a housing stipend (in addition to the benefits you see in public schools too). If you’re teaching in a private school, expect to work anywhere from 16 to 25 hours per week.

Private schools pay 50,000–60,000 NT$ ($1,675–$2,000 USD) a month. Salaries are generally slightly smaller than public schools but the perks and working conditions make it worthwhile.
 

International Schools

The most coveted jobs are in international schools. These schools usually teach a UK or American school curriculum. They require experience and teaching degrees. They are similar to teaching in a school in your home country so you’ll be expected to fulfill your contract and obligations.

International schools cover flights home and reimburse the cost of the vaccines needed for your visa and your visa fee, plus give you money for school supplies and do not charge tax on your income (which is a huge perk, as the tax rate is 18% for teachers in their first 183 days — it drops to 6–10% thereafter).

International school teachers make nearly 200,000 NT$ ($6,700 USD) a month.
 

Colleges and Universities

Teaching positions at colleges and universities are competitive and some of the hardest to come by. To teach in higher education, you need a master’s degree (at the very least). Expect to work varied hours during the week and on weekends depending on your course load.

The starting salary is low — around 52,000 NT$ ($1,745 USD) a month — but you likely will get overtime pay for additional work (which can be as much as an additional 10,000 NT$ ($330 USD) per month). Additionally, salaries for teachers with a PhD will be higher than those for teachers with a master’s degree.
 

Job Resources

In addition to the FET program mentioned earlier, there are numerous online resources you can use to find jobs teaching English in Taiwan but the best resource is Reach to Teach Recruiting. They are placement firm that gives you the best advice out there. They also have the best job listings too. I taught English with the founders back in 2010 and the company they created is the best out there.
 

Applying for a Visa

The visa process for Taiwan is relatively straightforward. Once you’re employed, you need to get a health check and provide the results to your employer. After that, your school will assist you in changing your initial visa-on-arrival to a visitor visa and then help you apply for a work permit. Then, you need to get an alien resident certificate (ARC), which is validated by your employer.

Following getting your ARC, you will receive your health and dental insurance and can open a bank account. Expect the entire process to take around five to six weeks and cost 8,000–10,000 NT$ ($270–335 USD).

***

Teaching English in Taiwan is a great experience. There is a high demand for teachers, the visa process is straightforward, and you don’t need to have a job before you arrive. And, since salaries more than cover living expenses in the country, it’s a great place to both get your foot in the door as a teacher and make money while living abroad.

P.S. – We’ve launched a new Patreon where you can get stories and tips I don’t share on this blog, a private Facebook group, phone calls with me and the team, live Q&As, postcards from the road, signed copies of my books, and much more! Click here to learn more and sign up today!
 

Ready to Teach Overseas? Get My Comprehensive Guide!

This digital guide will put you ahead of your competition, help you land a high-paying job with a reputable company, and give you firsthand knowledge from real teachers! The book also includes 12 bonus interviews about life as a teacher and job advice from one of the industry’s top recruiters!

Click here to get started today!
 

The post The Ultimate Guide to Teaching English in Taiwan appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

I’m sharing some old favorites from previous Feature Fridays, so enjoy this beautiful Parade of Homes in Nashville from 2017. I really enjoyed touring these homes and if you missed it, you’ll love it too. 

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Happy Friday!  I’m back today with another house from the Parade of Homes in Nashville (really Brentwood, TN).  It was so fun to see these magnificent homes in person and to experience the high end finishes and beautiful interior design in each and every home.  Enjoy!

The post Nashville Parade of Homes: English Tudor appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

This week I am joined by Jen Leo, Spud Hilton, Chris Christensen and this week’s guest Anietra Hamper. Anietra Hamper is an award-winning travel writer and photographer with a penchant for outdoor adventure and fishing for some of the largest fish in the world. Prior to writing for travel publications, Anietra spent 18 years as …

Read moreThis Week in Travel – Episode 262

The post This Week in Travel – Episode 262 appeared first on Everything Everywhere Travel Blog.

William Funnell’s European gold medal-winning stallion Billy Congo is standing at stud in Ireland this season.

In a new departure for the Billy Stud, they have sent the 19-year-old Vechta x Animo stallion to stand at the Kylemore Stud in Co. Galway.

“There’s been a lot of demand for him in Ireland and it’s difficult to get fresh semen there, so this seemed the perfect opportunity,” William told H&H.

“Donal Barnwell did some research and the Kylemore Stud seemed very forward-thinking. With Pip and I both having ridden Congo for so long, he’s part of the family, and it was very important for us to know he would be well looked after; their facilities are superb.”

Kylemore Stud is run by the husband-and-wife team of Olive and Ivor Broderick.

“We are delighted to have been approached to stand Billy Congo,” said Olive, a fully qualified AI technician with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Defra, with an extensive knowledge of fertility problems and practices with mares and stallions.

“Rarely do breeders get an opportunity to access such an important stallion. His record in competition, and as a producer of performers, is as good as there is and we look forward to a great season with him here at Kylemore Stud.”

Billy Congo retired from top level sport last year, having been a “horse of a lifetime” for William. The pair secured podium places in some of the most prestigious grands prix in the world, as well as helping Great Britain to win team gold at the European Championships in 2013.

Billy Congo has long been hugely influential in the Billy Stud breeding programme, siring William’s Hickstead Derby winner and 2018 World Equestrian Games ride, the late Billy Buckingham, and other top performers including Billy Cool, Billy Fanta and Billy Onslow.

Continues below…

‘He’s been such a good horse to us’: Pippa Funnell takes over the ride on Billy Congo

Find out the famous stallion Billy Congo, who is now enjoying life showjumping with Pippa Funnell

Funnells pay tribute to Derby winner put down after freak accident at home

‘He was a fantastic horse, who’d jump round any grand prix in the world’

Horse & Hound special offer: free digital issue or 6 for £6

If you want to keep up with the latest from the equestrian world without leaving home, grab a H&H subscription

“It’s been disappointing that Congo hasn’t got more quality mares in England – especially considering the offspring he’s already produced – so we’re hoping he’ll have many more mares while he’s over there,” said William.

“He seems to really suit Irish mares – as you saw with Billy Buckingham who is by Congo out of an Irish mother by Clover Hill tracing back to King Of Diamonds. He seems to pass blood on to his offspring, which few stallions seem to do, and that obviously works well for the Irish type.”

Olive Broderick added: “We only stand stallions we truly believe in as producers, and Billy Congo ranks right up there with the best!”

We continue to publish Horse & Hound weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.  

I’ve been doing a little bit of sale shopping this week. I keep getting sales thrown in my inbox and also on Facebook as I’m scrolling through and I’m telling you, the stores are putting on some good ones. I’m sharing a few things I’ve found out there and today’s look is pink shades, so I titled this post Pretty in Pink. I don’t need a lot of things added to  my closet but it was fun to find a few things. I’ll share some finds from J. Crew at the bottom of the post that are a really good deal. 

The post Fashion over 50: Pretty in Pink appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Posted: 04/14/20 | April 14th, 2020

If you’re like me, you probably have preconceived notions of certain destinations. Whether from books, movies, magazines, or blogs, whenever we think of these places, certain scenes, sounds, smells, and images appear in our heads — even if you’ve never been to them.

It’s a natural human trait.

We use existing information to form an opinion and fill in our blind spots.

If you asked me what Beijing is like, I’d say it was polluted, crowded, and chaotic. I imagine not being able to see the building in front of me, streets packed with people, chaotic markets (give me all that food, though!), insane traffic, and lots of people riding bicycles.

But I’ve never been to Beijing, so I really have no idea. That’s just the image I have in my head from reading and hearing about the city over the years.

Last month, I asked on Twitter what popular places people wouldn’t visit and why. Vegas came up a lot. So did Disney parks, Paris, Mexico, and India.

In the same way I have a preconceived image of Beijing, people had preconceived images of these places.

But what surprised me the most was not the destinations but how their reasons were based on sensational headlines and cultural stereotypes.

Those stereotypes defined these destinations so much that people didn’t even want to see if they were right or wrong (they are mostly wrong).

People didn’t want to go to Vegas because they thought it was all casinos and the Strip, Mexico or India because of safety concerns, or Paris because of the crowds and “rude French people.”

Let’s take Vegas for example. Why don’t people want to visit? Here’s some responses:

It’s true that the Vegas Strip is a shitshow of people gambling, getting drunk, and being obnoxious and/or just generally weird. Everything is fake, expensive, and designed to get you to spend money at the casino and in overpriced restaurants.

But gambling is not the only thing to do there, even on the Strip. There’s more to this city of over two million people. For example, here is a sample of what you can do that doesn’t involve casinos, drinking, or spending a lot of money:

• The Mob Museum – This is an awesome showcase of Sin City’s turbulent past and its connection to the mafia.
• The Neon Museum – This eclectic outdoor graveyard for hundreds of the city’s famous neon signs from the old casinos is really an awesome experience. Ideally, go around sunset.
• Fremont Street – This is Old Las Vegas. Yes, it does have historic casinos, but also buskers, street artists, open-air concerts, and tons of interesting people-watching! A four-block canopy covers much of the street, on which there are regular light shows as well. You can also take a zip line over the street itself.
• Red Rock Canyon – Take a break from the city for some scenic hiking and biking trails just 30 minutes from town.
• Hoover Dam and Lake Mead – Under an hour east of Vegas is Hoover Dam, this a massive feat of engineering spanning over 1,200 feet and standing 700 feet tall. Lake Mead, a by-product of the dam, is great for swimming, kayaking, and other water activities. You can also take a guided tour of the dam itself (for $30 USD).
• The National Atomic Testing Museum – An affiliate of the Smithsonian Museum, this exhibition north of town documents the history of nuclear testing in Nevada (over 900 nuclear bombs were detonated in the state). There’s also a separate exhibit for Area 51 too (the truth is out there!).
• The Arts District – This area is full of galleries, thrift and vintage stores, theatres, and music venues and is the cultural heart of the city.
• The Haunted Museum – This paranormal museum is full of allegedly cursed objects, such as haunted dolls and paraphernalia owned by serial killers. There are 30 rooms full of all kinds of oddities, and the house itself is said to be haunted too.

You can go an entire trip without ever stepping foot on The Strip or in a casino.

Yet, for so many, it is as if “Vegas = gambling = The Strip” and nothing else exists. The image of Las Vegas portrayed in the media is one of Bacchanalian debauchery. That’s all we see.

I used to think the same way.

Before I first visited Las Vegas, I just thought it was all party, party, party. But the more I left the Strip, the more I saw a vibrant city with a lot to more offer than just gambling and drinks. I realized that the stereotypes of Vegas were wrong.

Similarly, while there are serious issues in Mexico, you’re unlikely to get kidnapped or robbed on your trip to Cancún — most of the danger in Mexico revolves around drugs. And, as I’ve said before, Paris isn’t a touristy destination with rude people. The French aren’t more or less rude than anyone else in the world. But if you only deal with the ones in the tourist industry handling large numbers of tourists, your image is going to be of “rude French people.” Because they are probably sick of people asking the same questions over and over again. But you can encounter that throughout the world in touristy areas. It’s not limited to Paris.

Everyone has their own list of destinations they aren’t interested in going to. I don’t have a strong desire to see Saudi Arabia, and I’ve developed some asthma issues that have pushed China and India down my “to see” list due to their pollution (but they are still on my list).

But, before you write off a destination, consider the reason why.

If your inclination is to write it off because you think it is a certain based our cultural stereotype of a place, reconsider.

Research a destination before you pigeonhole it based on what the media says about it (or part of it).

Destinations are always more than their cultural images of them. That’s the point of travel. To peel back the layers and really discover what makes a place tick. Look beyond mainstream perception.

Because it’s sometimes the places we expect the least from that end up often become the most memorable.

P.S. – We’ve launched a new Patreon where you can stories and tips I don’t share on this blog, a private Facebook group, phone calls with me and the team, live Q&As, postcards from the road, signed copies of my books, and much more! Click here to learn more and sign up today!

The post In Defense of Las Vegas and Other Maligned Destinations appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Hope your week is going well and you’re all hanging in there like we are! It’s sure has been a long month hasn’t it, but I know that we will get through this and make it to the other side. Mark and I have been busy this week working on our patio project and the wall that we are screening in. It’s looking so good and I can’t wait to share it all with you all soon. 

In the meantime, please enjoy this style showcase today with my talented friends and I hope you get inspired to get some things done around your house during this stay at home time. 

The post Style Showcase 25 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Today’s post is all about updating what you have. How to update an old vanity with new drawers, doors, and paint. It was all about using what we already had and making it better and I’m so glad we went this route on our master bathroom vanity. As you can see, it made a world of difference in the final product.

This post is in partnership and sponsored by Fast Cabinet Doors. They offer custom doors and drawers online and you can order the exact size and style you need and they will make them and ship them out to you, along with the hinges for installing the doors. We were a little nervous about doing this ourselves, but it turned out to be a pretty easy process. The hardest part is making sure the doors and drawers are all straight and level, but with some math skills you can do it! 

The post How to Update an Old Vanity with New Drawers Doors and Paint appeared first on Southern Hospitality.