Personal Branding E-Book-Reduced Price! - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Personal Branding E-Book-Reduced Price! - Introvert Whisperer Personal Branding E-Book-Reduced Price! Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.  I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.  In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression. Get your copy now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran  â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential.  Introvert Whisperer

Its Time to Spring Clean Your Music Goals!

Its Time to Spring Clean Your Music Goals! 5 Tips to Spring Clean Your Music Goals Suzy S. Remember how bright-eyed and excited you were at the beginning of the year with your music goals and dreams? Now that were a few months into the year, its a great time to evaluate your progress. If you followed the SMART goal process (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely), you should have a good idea of whether you reached these goals or not. On the other hand, if youve completely forgotten about those aspirations, dont be too hard on yourself as life and other priorities come into play, it can be all too easy to brush off or altogether abandon what you set out to do. In fact, according to Betterment.com, while 45% of Americans make New Years Resolutions, only 8% end up achieving them. Motivation wanes, excuses crop up, and all of a sudden your guitar case has a nice layer of dust on it. Since March 20th is the first day of spring, consider this a much-needed spring cleaning wipe the slate clean, forgive yourself for not practicing as much as you said you would, and then remind yourself why you set your particular goals to begin with. Ready? To start your music goal spring cleaning, think about 5 Tips to Spring Clean Your Music Goals (1) If you reached your goals whats next? Congrats! Its an awesome feeling to surpass those milestones and reach your goals. Pat yourself on the back! Nows the time to really push yourself further and amp up your excitement. What have you enjoyed most about your lessons so far? What kind of music do you get excited about playing? If youre not sure where to go next, chat with your teacher and define your next set of goals. Have you performed in front of an audience yet? Want to try your hand at composing your own tune? The skys the limit. (2) If you havent reached your goals what happened? Again, dont beat yourself up if you havent made the progress you were expecting. Particularly if youre taking music lessons as an adult, sometimes life just gets in the way. The key here is to get back to the enthusiasm and motivation you felt at the very beginning. What originally inspired you to learn how to play the guitar or piano? Next, think about where you got off track. Do you find yourself making excuses for not practicing? List out some concrete strategies for overcoming your most common excuses, such as scheduling out specific time to practice. If it feels like youre doing everything right and youre still stuck, consider the goals themselves. Are they reasonable? After all, youre not going to attend one drum lesson and then wake up the next morning jamming like Travis Barker. Moreover, do you have the support you need? This can be anything from a teacher who meshes well with your learning style and interests, to a family or roommate who respects your dedicated practice space and time. (3) If youre not sure (or if your goals werent specific) what can you measure going forward? It doesnt need to be anything too crazy. If youre taking music lessons just for fun, for example, define how many days each week youre going to practice. Or how many fun songs youd like to learn. And dont forget about performance opportunities, from open mics to sharing your talents with family and friends. As you review your goals, the most important thing to ask yourself is this: are you still having fun? If not, maybe its time to recharge. Check out new music, attend a local art show, jam with your friends, or even try a whole new instrument you never know what will spark your creativity and inspire you. So, readers, time to hold yourselves accountable. Where are you at with your goals? What are your next steps? Leave a comment below and share your story! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Best Economics Podcasts

Best Economics Podcasts A New Way to Find out About Current Economic Issues ChaptersTune into the Financial Times PodcastTry Out The Economist RadioWant to Try a Different Economics Podcast?The Choice is YoursThere are plenty of resources you can use to study  economics. Whether you’re an economics A-level student, an economics undergraduate, or an economics aficionado, there are lots of ways you can improve your understanding of economic principles.There are, for example, economics blogs, online courses, and news sites out there that help provide context and insight into  economic ideas, which in turn  help provide you with insight into how international trade and economy activity shape the world around us.Additionally, there are online tutoring sites available, such as Superprof that can help improve your economics knowledge. Tutoring is especially helpful if you are looking to improve your academic performance in subjects such as economics, as your A Level Economics tutor can work with you to solve common economic problems you may see in exams.However, if you’re looking for a way to deepen your understanding of economics on the go, then listening to an economics podcast is a great option. There is a range of informative podcasts out there, which bring their own philosophy and perspective to current events. What's more, you can listen to these podcasts at home or on the move, which makes it easy to find time to listen to them even with our busy schedules. To help you, we've outlined some of the best economics podcasts below.Find out about current economic issues in an economics podcast. (Source: CC0 1.0, illustrade, Pixabay)The Economist asks: Is Russia waging war on the West?; andMoney talks: The oil clubLike the Financial Times podcasts, the Economist Radio podcasts are usually fairly short and sweet, with an average run time of between 10 and 25 minutes. For example, the podcasts are also available on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and the Economist Radio website to name a few, so they are very easy to find. Equally, the podcasts can be  downloaded, so you can listen to them wherever you are.The podcasts are also available on the SoundCloud, where the channel has 832,000 followers and a collection of over 2,000 tracks to listen to, so you know you’re in good, and very popular, hands with the Economist Radio.My Economics tutor London recommended I listen to this one!The Economist Radio has great economics podcasts. (Source: CC0 1.0, 3dman_eu, Pixabay)Want to Try a Different Economics Podcast?If you’re already familiar with the Financial Times podcasts and the Economist Radio, or if you’re looking for something a bit different, there are other podcasts available that discuss local and global economic and political issues.More or Less: Behind The StatsThe podcaster for this BBC Radio 4 podcast is Tim Harford. Along with his team, Tim  hosts  weekly podcasts that focus on the world of statistics and how it shapes the world around us.From an examination into Russian voting data to see whether there was election fraud in the recent Russian presidential election to an investigation into the tulip mania in the Netherlands in the 17th century, the content is engaging, different, and you walk away having learnt something new.You can also subscribe to the latest podcasts, meaning that you don’t have to miss any upcoming podcasts from the show.Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio is another widely popular and compelling weekly podcast hosted by Stephen J. Dubner, who was the co-author of the Freakonomics book series.The podcast has been running since 2009, which means there are hundreds of podcasts to listen to if you’re new to the show. Although there is a focus on American issues at times, many of the podcasts discuss wider themes and topics. In particular, behavioural economics is this podcast's prime school of thought, so often any debate centre around how economics can influence how we behave.There have also been special series, such as “The Secret Life of a C.E.O” that included interviews with individuals such as Mark Zuckerberg and Richard Branson, so there’s plenty of star power to be found in the podcasts.International Monetary Fund PodcastsAlthough the IMF’s intellectual podcasts aren’t released as regularly as some of the other shows we have discussed, there is still a wealth of information available from them.With a focus on global economics, the podcasts are held by some of the leading minds in economic theories and economic systems, which helps you to stay ahead of the latest trends and developments.BBC Business DailyFrom the BBC World Service comes the BBC Business Daily  free podcast, which captures provides new episodes on the latest news in money and business on a daily basis. Although some podcasts aren’t necessarily focused on business and economics, others are, including podcasts such as:Economists in the Doghouse; andHow Economists Forgot HouseworkYou can only access podcasts from the last 30 days, so it pays to be proacti ve in seeing what podcasts are uploaded daily. You can also subscribe to the channel, making it easier to stay up to date with the latest podcasts.The BBC Business Daily podcasts are among the best economics podcasts you can find. (Source: CC0 1.0, PIRO4D, Pixabay)The Choice is YoursIn conclusion, there is a wide range of entertaining podcasts you can listen to if you want to increase your understanding or appreciation of economics. As there is no single best podcast out there, you have the freedom to decide which podcaster you like the most, and who helps explain economic principles in the best way.Podcasts such as the Economist Radio, the Freakonomics Radio show, and More or Less are examples of podcasts that present current global economic issues in a unique and interesting way, often discussing topics that you had no idea could be related to economics in the first place.For more traditional podcasts, you have the Financial Times, BBC Business Daily, along with the IMF’s podcas ts. These podcasts tend to present the news of the day from a journalist or economics expert in a concise, accessible way and can be great resources for examples to use in an upcoming piece of homework, coursework, or an exam.The other benefit of listening to podcasts is that the shows are usually short, as most of the shows listed above last for around 30 minutes or even less. This means that podcasts are great to listen to on the go, and aren’t overly time demanding in our busy lives.However, if you are listening to economics podcasts to help you with your economics classes  or to understand your economics curriculum better, it may also be a good idea to hire an economics tutor to help supplement your own learning.This is because tutors can give you study strategies and fundamental exam tips that podcasts can’t provide. Additionally, tutors can provide you with a focused learning plan that is designed to help you achieve academic success.So whether you're looking at economics courses at university, want to refine your knowledge on Keynesian principals, microeconomics, or financial economics, or you just want to improve your exam technique, an economics tutor online - or in person can really help you.

Overcoming Stage Fright 4 Important Steps

Overcoming Stage Fright 4 Important Steps Suzy S. Do your palms sweat every time you get up in front of others to perform?   If you get nervous when all eyes are on you, youre not alone.   Most musicians, at some point in their careers, have experienced stage fright or battled nerves. But forget the age-old advice of imagining the audience in their underwear here the steps to follow that really work for overcoming stage fright Step 1: Self-Assessment Get to know yourself as a musician and as a performer.   For example What are your capabilities and limitations as a performer? Ask yourself: “What am I really afraid of?” Worst-case scenarioâ€"you run off the stage and everyone laughs hysterically. That’s unlikely, and might give you perspective into the realities of what it is you are really afraid of. Try not to confuse self-assessment with self-criticism! Step 2: Gradual Exposure and Preparation Look for opportunities for exposure to mild to moderate levels of stress that challenge but do not overwhelm your coping skills, such as visualization of the performance. Other examples: practice performances, dress rehearsals, taping yourself and playing back. Be thoroughly prepared. Nothing replaces adequate time spent in rehearsal and practice! (See also:  How to REALLY Maximize Your Practice Time). Step 3: During the Performance Rather than blocking out the audience, or seeing them in their underwear, try seeing them as allies who are generally supportive and want you to do well. Remember, most performers have to contend with anxiety it comes with the territory. You’re in good company! Feelings of anxiety are natural, and can be used to your advantage. Act calmly, even if you feel nervous. The more you dwell on anxiety, the more you are likely to remain preoccupied with it. Try to overlook errors when you perform. Overall impressions are more important to the audience than note-perfect performances. Enjoy what you’ve accomplished! Others are more likely to enjoy it this way, too. Step 4: After the Performance Temper external feedback with internal beliefs and expectations you have already established. Asking others for feedback without asking yourself first might be depriving yourself of a significant source of valid information about your performance: YOU. View the full article, Coping With Music Performance Anxiety, here. If your music goals involve overcoming stage fright and building your stage confidence, we hope these tips help you perform your best.   And if your nerves still get the best of you dont dwell on it afterward.   Celebrate your accomplishments, and keep working toward your goal! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. You might also like Whats Causing Your Stage Fright? How to Bounce Back From a Bad Audition All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Music Recitals

Film Glossary

Film Glossary So you like Hollywood and Netflix, eh? Maybe you love them. If so, youll want to be able to write about your passion in the most popular language on the internet: English. Heres a film glossary that can help you get started with common film and cinema terms. Film vocabulary word cloud actora male whose profession is acting on the stage, in movies, or on television. actressa female whose profession is acting on the stage, in movies, or on television. anachronisman element or artifact in a film that belongs to another time or place; often anachronistic elements are called film flubs anamorphicrelated to different optical imaging effects; refers to a method of intentionally distorting and creating a wide screen image with standard film angleThis is the think who is able to capture an optical device anthropomorphismthe tendency in animated films to give creatures or objects human qualities, abilities, and characteristics. aperturerefers to the measurement of the opening in a camera lens that regulates the amount of light passing through and contacting the film. artistic directorresponsible for the visual and artistic published or multimedia project behind scenesout of sight of the public at a theater or organization. cameraa device for recording visual images in the form of photographs, movie film, or video signals. cameraa device for recording visual images in the form of photographs, movie film, or video signals. camera anglethe point of view of a camera camera movementA shift in view, frame, or perspective caused by the movement of a camera cameramana person whose profession involves operating a television or movie camera casting listA list of all the actors in a movie or a tv-show. catharsisduring a films climax, the audience may experience a purging or cleansing of emotional tension, providing relief or therapeutic restoration cinemaa place to see a movie climaxthe most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex. close-upa shot taken from a close distance in which the scale of the object is magnified costume designercostumier: someone who designs or supplies costumes (as for a play or masquerade) cranea large, tall machine used for moving heavy objects, typically by suspending them from a projecting arm or beam. delete sceneA scene removed from or replaced by another scene in the final version of a motion picture. denouementthe point immediately following the climax when everything comes into place or is resolved; often the final scene in a motion picture; aka tag; see resolution designera person who plans the form, look, or workings of something before its being made or built, typically by drawing it in detail. dialogueconversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie. diegeticthe term is used to name the story depicted on screen directora person who directs the production of an audiovisual work, typically for film and television. directora person who directs the making of a film. director of photographyresponsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image. documentarya movie or a television or radio program that provides a factual record or report. dollya small platform on wheels used for holding heavy objects, typically film or television cameras. dolly shotrefers to a moving shot in which the perspective of the subject and background is changed; the shot is taken from a camera that is mounted on a hydraulically-powered wheeled camera platform dubbinga technique of replacing the original language of production of an audiovisual work, another language to disseminate this work in foreign countries dystopiaan imaginary, wretched, dehumanized, dismal, fearful, bad, oppressive place or landscape, often initiated by a major world crisis editingthe process (performed by a film editor) of selecting, assembling, arranging, collating, trimming, structuring, and splicing-joining together many separate camera takes (includes sound also) of exposed footage (or daily rushes) into a complete, determined sequence or order of shots (or film) editorThe person who assembles plans and sequences of a film elipsisthe shortening of the plot duration of a film achieved by deliberately omitting intervals or sections of the narrative story or action executive producerAn executive producer enables and backs up the making of a commercial entertainment product. He or she is concerned with management accounting and possibly with associated legal issues. An EP also contributes to the films budget, and does not work on set. extraa performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background. extraan actor who takes a hand accessory to the story fictiona film that tells a fictional or fictionalized story, filma thin skin, cuticle, membrane, or film. film editorThe film editor works with the raw footage, selecting shots and combining them into sequences to create a finished motion picture film productionall the techniques used to render a movie, usually in a cinema, but also for private screenings flashbacka scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story. focusthe state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition frameplace (a picture or photograph) in a frame. hairstylista person who cuts and styles peoples hair professionally. headphonesa pair of earphones typically joined by a band placed over the head, for listening to audio signals such as music or speech. in shotAll the things that are in the picture jump-cutan abrupt, disorienting transitional device in the middle of a continuous shot in which the action is noticeably advanced in time and/or cut between two similar scenes, leading actorplays the role of the protagonist in a film or play leading actorA leading actor, leading actress, star, or simply lead, plays the role of the protagonist in a film or play. leitmotivan intentionally-repeated, recurring element or theme associated with a particular person, idea, milieu, or action; the element presents itself as a repeated sound, shot, bit of dialogue, piece of music, etc., lengthreaching up to or down to the place specified. lensa piece of glass or other transparent substance with curved sides for concentrating or dispersing light rays lightingequipment in a home, workplace, studio, theater, or street for producing light microphonean instrument for converting sound waves into electrical energy variations, which may then be amplified, transmitted, or recorded. montagethe process or technique of selecting, editing, and piecing together separate sections of film to form a continuous whole. moviea type of visual communication which use moving pictures and sound to tell stories or inform movie theaterA movie theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing movies (films). movie trailera short commercial whose purpose is to promote a film coming out in theaters soon musicsongs and instrumental pieces, which are the film score panTo move a movie or television camera to follow an object or create a panoramic effect. planshooting, between a start and stop the camera post-productionwork done on a film or recording after filming or recording has taken place producera person responsible for the financial and managerial aspects of making of a movie producerSomeone who prepares and then supervises the making of a film before presenting the product to a financing entity or a film distributor projectto present an image on a surface, esp. a movie screen. projection screenA projection screen is an installation consisting of a surface and a support structure used for displaying a projected image for the view of an audience. prologuea speech, preface, introduction, or brief scene preceding the the main action or plot of a film; contrast to epilogue. railsa steel bar or continuous line of bars laid on the ground as one of a pair forming a railroad track. scenarioA work written by one or more writers for a film or television program scenea sequence of continuous action in a play, movie, opera, or book. screenplayThe script of a movie, including acting instructions and scene directions screenplaythe script of a movie, including acting instructions and scene directions. screenwritera person who writes a screenplay scriptwritera person who writes a script for a play, movie, or broadcast. setThe place and the environment in which the action takes place shootthe process of filming or photographing any aspect of a motion picture with a camera; the plan for a shoot is termed a shooting schedule. showingthe action of showing something or the fact of being shown. slow-motionrefers to an effect resulting from running film through a camera at faster-than-normal speed (shooting faster than 24 frames per second), and then projecting it at standard speed; if a camera runs at 60 frames per second, and captures a one second-long event soundIt a music in a film or noice in a movie sound editorresponsible for selecting and assembling sound recordings in preparation for the final sound mixing sound effectsa sound other than speech or music made artificially for use in a play, movie, or other broadcast production sound engineer Someone who manages the sound in various sectors soundmanin charge of recording, transmitting, or amplifying sound or of producing sound effects soundtracka recording of the musical accompaniment to a movie. special effects(special effect) an effect used to produce scenes that cannot be achieved by normal techniques (especially on film split-screenthe combination of two actions filmed separately by copying them onto the same negative and having them appear side-by-side within a single frame (without overlapping) star(of a movie, play, or other show) have (someone) as a principal performer storyboarda sequence of drawings (some directions and dialogue), representing the shots planned for a movie studioRecording room location for film, radio, television, record company studioa film or television production company subtitledprovide (a movie or program) with subtitles. symbolan object in a film that stands for an idea, or that has a second level of meaning to it, symmetrywithin a film when two or more distinct plotlines mirror each other or develop variations on the films theme or plot; aka mirroring techniciana person employed to look after technical equipment or do practical work on a film set televisionThis is a set of techniques to make and receive video sequences travellinga movement of the camera during shooting, which is one of the uses of a subject parallel to follow its movement tripoda three-legged stand for supporting a camera or other apparatus. video clubShop that sells and rents video cassettes recorded visual effectsVisual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shot voice-overa piece of narration in a movie or broadcast, not accompanied by an image of the speaker voice-overrefers to recorded dialogue, usually narration, that comes from an unseen, off-screen voice, character or narrator writera person who writes a script for a film zooma single shot taken with a lens that has a variable focal length, thereby permitting the cinematographer to change the distance between the camera and the object being filmed. 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Intransitive review

Pronunciation Stress in Phrasal Verbs and Transitive/Intransitive review Oh boy, more grammar with phrasal verbs. The cool thing about learning phrasal verb grammar is that it really reviews all verb grammar rules in English.One of the more difficult rules is transitive and intransitive verbs. Transitive is when a verb requires an object. Intransitive verbs do not allow for an object. What does that mean? Transitive verbs are verbs that need something/someone to receive the action. I took away(what? something is missing here because the verb is transitive and it needs an object to receive the action.) I took away the toy from the child. (Not nice, but the sentence works!) Intransitive is exactly the opposite. It does NOT allow for an object. The car broke down. (Try to put an object in this sentence and you cant).So today we are looking at the stress put on phrasal verbs. PASS out or pass OUT? It relates back to whether the verb is transitive or intransitive. Interestingly some verbs can be both but with different meanings. She passed OUT because of the a ltitude. INTRANSITIVE (inseparable) The teacher PASSED out our homework assignments. TRANSITIVE (separable) The teacher PASSED our homework assignments out.Are you confused? Watch the video and do the exercise to see if you understand this grammar point.Choose which word should be stressed. Example: You cant get away with anything. stress is on away You cant get AWAY with anything. 1. Ive only passed out one time in my life. (pass or out) 2. The house burned down from a chimney fire. (burned or down) 3. I never fall for her tricks. 4. Her boyfriends always cheat on her. 5. I passed the homework out to my students. 6. I have been through a lot in the past few years. 7. She is coming down with a cold.Can you use each of the above phrasal verbs in your own sentences?Learn more phrasal verbs with our Phrasal Verb of the Day. Petar Å imic 1. Ive only passed OUT one time in my life. 2. The house burned DOWN from a chimney fire. 3. I never FALL for her tricks. 4. Her boyfriends always CH EAT on her. 5. I PASSED the homework out to my students. 6. I have BEEN through a lot in the past few years. 7. She is coming DOWN with a cold.1.2. Ive passed OUT after eight pints last Saturday. 2.2. I saw when rioters put a car on fire. It burned DOWN in minutes! 3.2. I FALL for blondes. 4.2. I would never CHEAT on my wife. 5.2. When I arrived to the office, I PASSED the questionnaire out to all their employees. 6.2. I WENT through that too, and I can say to you that long-term relationship breakup is a nasty thing. 7.2. I didnt go to work because I came DOWN with the flu. LOIEnglish Petargood work. Im going to give you a few pointers on your sentences that you created. 1.2-Here you used the present perfect tense however we can never use this tense when we have a time reference. Saturday You can say: I passed out after eight pints last Saturday. (after 8 pints anyone would pass out!) 2.2 I saw when rioters SET a car on fire. 3.2. I went through that too, and ALL I can say to you I S that A long-term relationship breakup is a nasty thing.Thanks for answering! Petar Å imic Wow, big thanks for the high-quality feedback. Yuri Manzhos but Petar has a mistake in 5. I passed the h/w OUT

The Simple Secret to Foreign Language Fluency

The Simple Secret to Foreign Language Fluency Whats the hardest part of learning languages?They feel arbitrary.They have their own logic, but it takes trial and error to figure them out.What if there was a shortcut?A way to learn from your mistakes before making them?Heres a simple but useful tip.Learn example sentences rather than  memorizing words individually and out of context.  In other words, sentence mine.What is sentence mining?Google “sentence mining” and you’ll find a community of hardcore sentence miners who get into passionate debates.Sentence mining is learning languages by collecting, saving, and reviewing sentences.The more traditional approach is to memorize long lists of vocab words individually.Why does sentence mining work?Sentence mining works for several reasons.First, it helps you create mental associations with what you already know. The sentences give you a place in your brain where you can attach the new vocabulary.Second, it exposes you to the vocabulary in different contexts. This accelerates you r learning in the same way that you would get to know a person faster if you see them in multiple social settings.Third, vocabulary is nuanced, like people. Just like you dont truly know someone by knowing their name, you dont truly know a word just by knowing its definition.Sentence mining lets you master a word more quickly.How do I do sentence mining?There are 2 ways.The Traditional WayFirst, Ill tell you the traditional, painful way:Find a resource that can provide a steady supply of accurate sentences.Select simple sentences that demonstrate the word’s meaning.Save those sentences in your notebook or flashcards.Periodically review.As you can imagine, the traditional way is a test of your discipline and organizational skills.If you enjoy challenges, have an iron will, and are very meticulous, go with the traditional way.If this sounds like too much work for you, theres an easier way. The FluentU WayTheres a new, painless, and even delightfully fun way: FluentU.With FluentU, youre able to see multiple examples of any word.These examples are all high quality.They either come from authentic sources like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksor theyre created from scratch by native speakers, and written in a simple way that still clearly demonstrates how the word is used.The words even come with representative images.Take a look at the FluentU app to see what I mean:FluentU lets you learn any video through a fun, multimedia quiz. And at any moment in the quiz, you can swipe left or write to see more examples for the word that youre being quizzed on.Download the FluentU iPhone  or Android app for free!

A new teachers perspective on teaching abroad

A new teacher’s perspective on teaching abroad Back in 2009, newly-qualified teachers were graduating in their droves, only to be greeted by a global financial crisis. In Dublin, Ireland, I was one of those teachers. Filled to the brim with enthusiasm, drive and passion to make an impact in my very own classroom, yet faced with the reality of unemployment and a serious lack of education funding in my home country. Like many a young teacher faced with a problem, I searched for a solution. That solution was discovering the worldwide demand for teachers as a result of the economic crash. There was (and still is) a drive for countries, organizations and individuals to upskill in response to an economic downturn. I decided to explore this opportunity and to leave home for warmer shores. Ten years later, I still haven’t returned. Here are some of the reasons why teaching abroad (whether for a short or long period of time) is the best thing you can ever do as an educator: Your bucket list will be never ending During my four years teaching in Abu Dhabi, I was in the perfect geographic location to access some of the coolest places on Earth. With the very generous holidays afforded to teachers, I was lucky enough to travel to Sri Lanka, Iceland, Oman, Zanzibar, Kazakhstan and even achieved a personal lifelong goal: visiting Nepal to see Mt. Everest in the flesh. As a teacher abroad, you will have ample holidays to explore and visit new places. The bucket list opportunities really are endless. Want to hear more first-hand stories from teachers in Abu Dhabi? Check out these posts fromAnchen and Lindsey. Impromptu lesson while on my holidays walking in the Himalayas. You’ll get out of that comfort zone Living in another country and culture will test you and push you outside your safe zones. Not only will you grow as aperson and learn an incredible amount about yourself - your strengths, weaknesses and limitations as an educator will also be revealed. The education system that we all grew up with and now work within is not the same as other education systems across the globe. Other countries have very different, and sometimes opposite approaches to education. In the Republic of Georgia for example, students are given more opportunities to explore practical skills, as well as the academic side of things, which reflects the particular needs of their economy and society. As a teacher, I learned a lot from this, and have brought elements with me from this experience. As part of this particular experience in Georgia, I also had to live with a host family, in a small town in the mountains. The challenges of living with a family who didn’t have much English, or electricity at times, served to build character and shifted my perspective on many previously-held ideas about the world. Lifelong dream realized - trekking to Everest Base camp! You’ll become more culturally aware I think we can all agree that the current global political climate seems to be emphasizing our differences rather than promoting what’s great about our diversity of thought and culture. The best antidote to this, in my opinion? Having the opportunity to experience living and working among other cultures. Over the course of my four years teaching in the public sector in the UAE, I was lucky to be able to challenge some of my own preconceived notions around life in the Middle East. Many things that I believed to be true, from the western perspective I was used to, were challenged. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. I worked exclusively with local, Emirati children and their families. As a result, I gained some unique insights (that as a tourist I might not have experienced) into how their culture operates. I experienced communities and kids that were exactly like the small towns and communities I had grown up within Europe. These interactions really drove home for me how similar we all really are the world over. Through the nine countries I have been lucky to teach in so far (Australia, New Zealand, Georgia, Spain, Costa Rica, Indonesia, the UAE and Canada), I have also shared my own culture and background with the students and colleagues I’ve worked with. As a result, there are students in far-reaching corners of the globe that now know all about Ireland and Irish music (and probably speak English with a strong Irish accent!) On the Island of Bali, there are a group of teenagers who now know how to do the Riverdance. Forget about curriculum, being able to dance like Michael Flatley is a seriously important life skill. Bali, Indonesia: Connecting with local students through the magic of Riverdance! You’ll become a better teacher than you ever thought possible Needless to say, the valuable international experience you receive abroad will be in demand once you return home. Your experience with different curricula, different styles of leadership and approaches to education, will shine on your resume. During my time teaching in the UAE, I was lucky to be given the opportunity to be a head teacher for a year. In Bali, I had the opportunity to write courses and curricula for local teachers. In Georgia, I helped to train local teachers. All of these experiences have propelled me forward in so many ways with my career in international education. Simply put, now is an incredible time to teach internationally. Not only is there currently an acute shortage of teachers in many regions of the world, over the next four years estimates show that an additional 150,000 qualified teachers will be needed. It’s the only profession that I know of where the whole world is open for you to explore and where you can make a true impact. I mean, who doesn’t want their legacy to be teaching 50 Indonesian kids to dance the Riverdance? Psst: Before you go, have a read of our earlier post on where you can earn and save the most money teaching abroad this year!