Job Discussion Forums

[esl_prof]

Things are changing . . . slowly . . . It will be interesting to see what opportunities for English teaching, if any, open up over the next decade or so.

Want to travel to Cuba? Keep these things in mind
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cuba-travel-flights-hotels-us-normalize-relations-travel-ban/

[nomad soul]

There's an interesting journal article, "Introduction of Communicative Language Teaching in Tourism in Cuba" (http://www.teslcanadajournal.ca/index.php/tesl/article/view/588/419), that's worth a look.

[esl_prof]

[BadBeagleBad]

I found the first article a bit confusing. The way the article reads, the fact that USians can´t travel to Cuba has totally restricted it as a tourist spot, while the fact is that pretty much anyone else in the world can travel to Cuba, and Cuba is crawling with tourists. There are loads of hotels, at all price points, including a luxurious Melia hotel, that is 5 start by anyone´s standards. (I didn´t stay there, I stayed at a nearby, much cheaper hotel, but wandered in to have a look). There is even a Turibus in Havana. Loads and loads of tourists in Varadero too, and, again, hotels at every level, including some super luxurious, all included, ones. It IS true that the roads in some part of the country are less than well maintained, but the same can be said of most developing countries. Even in places without a lot of tourist infrastructure, you can easily find a place to stay, lots of people rent out rooms in their homes, and while you have to tell the immigration people when you arrive what your destination is in Havana, you can then wander around the country at will, staying wherever you want. I wonder if Americans are even going to want to go to Cuba, due to all the untrue and malicious statements made by that bunch in Miami. Either way, the article was very unbalanced and largely inaccurate, in my not so humble opinion. I would totally go and live in Cuba and teach for a year or two.

[esl_prof]

[Unrung School Bell]

my favorite song about Cuba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWS_Ap5hEaY

USB

[esl_prof]

[Unrung School Bell]

Though I'll never be there
I know what I would see there
I can always find my Cuban skies
in Rosalinda's eyes

[grahamb]

A couple of points to consider for would-be TEFL tourists:

Most Cubans earn the equivalent of 10-15 USD a month, and a litre of cooking oil costs approximately 2.5 USD. That doesn't leave much disposable income to pay for English lessons.

Anyone dreaming of flitting around Havana from one class to another is in for a nasty surprise; travelling on public transport involves a lot of queueing at bus stops, which is very time-consuming and tiring in that climate.

For the record, I've been there eight times (staying with Cubans, not in hotels).

[BadBeagleBad]