Euroasia: Language, Culture and Travel

If you’re keen to experience Asia, but not sure you want to live in a stressful, smoggy megacity, Malaysia offers a refreshing alternative! Euroasia is working with a client looking for teachers of EFL to teach foreign students (mainly adults from China, the Middle East, Russia etc.) who choose Malaysia for their English language studies. Some are required asap, but others may join the team at a later date.

Malaysia offers:

• Unique cultural background, see all of Asia in one country
• Year-round tropical climate
• Lively city life and unspoilt nature both within easy reach
• Modest cost of living, much cheaper than Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai
• Cheap flights to other Asian destinations (45mins to Singapore, 2hrs to Bangkok, 3hrs to Bali, 4hrs to Hong Kong)

Applicants have to meet minimum criteria as detailed below.

• Degree
• CELTA or equivalent
• Min. one year’s teaching experience (TEFL or other subject)
• Native English speaker
• Good general health
• Preferably aged 25 and up (for Malaysian visa purposes)
• Citizen of NZ, Aus, EU, USA, Canada (for visa purposes)
• Customer service oriented
• Willingness to contribute to the life of the school

More details and online application available via the following sites:

• Trademe Jobs
• Seek

Do tell your friends about this opportunity (but we can only proceed with applicants who meet the minimum criteria).

Recent government research published in the UK showed that two thirds of teenagers intend to work abroad in Europe or Asia when they leave school even though most of them speak no foreign language.

This from Times Online:

More than half (58 per cent) of 11-18 year olds say they have no foreign language skills whatsoever, yet 66 per cent are planning to work for up to two years in Italy, Spain, France or China.

The research is further evidence that most young people assume they can get by in a foreign country by speaking English, and comes just weeks after official GCSE data showed the number of children taking formal exams in foreign languages has fallen yet again.

I think the figures would be similar in New Zealand. Practically every New Zealand kid wants to do the overseas experience (OE).  My colleague Peter wrote an excellent article in May 08 about why learning a little bit of language is better than nothing.

Even Air New Zealand is now giving preference to people who can speak other languages. This from their flight attendant recruitment website:

Languages
Special attention is given to the cultural and language needs especially relating to the Airline’s key markets such as Asia, Japan and Europe. A second language is preferred and priority will be given to applicants who are fluent in Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, German, French and the languages of the South Pacific.

I bet you didn’t know that…