Customer Reviews

The World is a Class: How and Why to Teach English Around the World

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I took a TESL (teaching English as a second language) position in Bogota, Columbia and learned much of what is in this book the hard way. If you are new to TESL then by all means read this book!

Caleb Powell has covered most all of the needed information to help you move forward to new worlds. He covers topics from "Why Teach Overseas" ("I saw islands and temples, climbed mountains, ate raw fish and beetle larvae and took a vacation in Taiwan."), to contract negotiations (an especially helpful section in this book).

Helpful are the short quips from other teachers around the world who have learned the various life lessons and the ins and outs of TESL.What is missing is an important appendix section that covers `web' resources. Only `Dave's ESL Café' is noted in the book. Strongly Recommended.

I should have read this book BEFORE teaching English in Taiwan. This is the best guidebook about teaching English in a foreign country. I am from South Africa and I did a lot of research before coming to Taiwan. I have travelled before, but I didn't know anything about teaching, working hours, contracts, recruitors, etc. If I had read this book beforehand, I would have been better prepared for my teaching experience in Taiwan. (Believe me, I've learned the hard (and expensive) way!) Everyone interested in teaching English in a foreign country MUST read this book. This will save you a lot of trouble and money!

A friend showed me this book AFTER I had already done a tour as a teacher in Korea. I wish I had read it before I went. Powell gives a lot of practical information on the process of getting a job without getting scammed but the parts I enjoyed most were the stories he told about the people and situations he has experienced. He has taught in several countries and some of the cultural comparisons are downright profound. I came back to the states after a tour but reading this book makes me wish I had made a career of it.
This book would make a perfect college graduation present- give it to that young man or woman who you fear is about to do something really boring with their life- it may plant a seed in their head and give them a lot of memories

I came to Japan this month and bought this book, and it turns out it has helped save me some headaches, specifically, my apartment was poorly furnished, and far from my school. If not for the book I might have accepted 'what you see is what you get' and said nothing. Instead, I told my employer I was not happy, and ended up getting the apartment furnished to my liking and better hours to facilitate my commute time. Complaining immediately seemed to make a difference. I don't know what the previous review was upset about, there is a difference between wanting to make a buck and wanting to avoid being exploited. Maybe the reviewer would have been happy as a Red Guard in China, there anyone who 'made a buck' was punished. THe only problem with the book is it could be longer, but has enough valuable information that it's money well spent.

The world is a Class offers some practical insights about what its like to teach abroad. It's helpful if you are considering trying this. It's pretty brief and somewhat repetitive, but a quick read and a good place to start an investigation.

My husband & I have a 5 year goal to be teaching ESL overseas. We wanted information about the potential scams, or cultural pitfalls (communications & assumptions) which can turn a 2 year commitment into a prison sentence. This book obviously couldn't cover everything, but it DID give us insights to create a list of interview questions to assess potential employers. We would recommend this book.

Well written. Well edited. Simple and direct. Already being loaned to one of my friends who is going to SE Asia with me.

Written for native English speakers with more adventure than knowledge of teaching, this concise primer combines practical tips with engaging first-personal descriptions of teaching abroad. The friendly, almost conversational style answers critical questions, points out potential pitfalls, and celebrates teaching English as a way to see the world, share experiences, and develop as a human being.

Does it provide as much information as an MA in TESOL? Of course not. Is it slightly dated? Yes. Does it cover as many teaching techniques as classic work like Techniques in Teaching Writing (Teaching Techniques in English as a Second Language)? No.

But it's a fair, persuasive pitch for a fast-growing profession and almost pitch-perfect for young American, British, and Canadian graduates looking for their first teaching job abroad. This thin book also deserves to be on the short list of books for English Language Trainers and short-term TESOL certificate programs.

"The World is a Class" is an excellent book.
I am looking to teach overseas when I graduate and I found this book to be very informative. This is the first book I have purchased about overseas teaching, and I loved it!! I do wish it was longer, however, I greatly enjoyed it.
I believe it is a great book for anyone looking to teach anywhere overseas.
I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

I am on the hunt for more books about teaching overseas! :-)

This book did contain some useful information from a guy who has obviously taught overseas. However, it was so very brief...I read it in about an hour. It seemed like he wrote it in one sitting, just like I read it in one sitting. It would seem he could've provided some additional research or information. Instead, it seemed like he talked to a couple friends and then wrote it. Again, there is some useful information here, but I would expect more for the money.