Monday, February 18, 2008

More Than a Native Speaker

If you're going to teach English for a year or two overseas and you've never taught before or haven't taught EFL, get More Than a Native Speaker, an Introduction to Teaching English Abroad.It was a great resource when I was in Japan and I bought it to help the ETAs here. Already they've raved at how comprehensive and articulate it is.

Don Snow tells the reader everything necessary about language learning, teaching various language skills and thriving and surviving in a new culture. Of course he discusses culture shock, as everyone does, but he also addresses "culture fatigue" or the mood that hits when one's just tired of being "the foreigner." His anecdotes on his experience in China and Russia were pertinent.

No comments: