Edutainment in Teaching English Abroad
What is Edutainment?
As you might guess – “Edutainment” is the marriage of education and entertainment. Depending on how seriously you might want to take yourself as an educator, check into the scene in the country and school where you will seek work.
Some countries are very serious about education and are more concerned that lessons have good content and relevant language. They expect you to deliver skills in exchange for their money. Others, want more entertainment (in English) and hope students absorb their language skills that way.
If edutainment is the agenda for a school, go there prepared with many games and fun activities that use English as their medium. Students can, in fact, pick up a fair amount of language this way, so all is not lost.
If you respect yourself and the profession though, be wary of schools that are looking for a “dancing monkey” and not a teacher. Such schools do exist and your level of job satisfaction will be quite low if you take that type of position and burn-out rates are very high.
The Internet is full of great places to pick up games and activities. The Games Pages at Dave’s ESL has more games and activities than you can ever imagine using. Find six or eight that you enjoy and adapt them to the level and interests of your students.
TED’s Tips™ #1: Find a couple games that YOU enjoy (yes, it is important that you enjoy them too!) and adapt them for different levels and different types of classes.
Keep them with your teaching materials at all times and you are ready to roll should you have to step into someone else’s classroom on short notice. And you will get rave reviews as everyone will have fun – thus all is not BAD about edutainment.
TED’s Tips™ #2: Be sure to keep an educational goal in mind with EVERY game and activity. Students will know the difference between just play – and learning something.
What’s up in China? Learn what kind of jobs are on offer if would like to Teach English in China
How to Teach English Overseas and Secrets to Success Abroad
TEFL eBooks is offering a free download of their new publication Seven Secrets of Success Abroad - and along with it comes a bi-weekly installment and revision of their eBook called How to Teach English Overseas.
Great reviews for the Secrets of Success eBook – in spite of the hokey name – and the How to Teach English eBook is being updated and rewritten and sent out in installments as it is ready.
Here they are – click on the eBooks to get your FREE copies! Great information and the price is right, from our friends at TEFLeBooks.
Please let me know what you think of the ebooks – use the comments section below.
I confess both eBooks are written by yours truly – hoping to inspire others to head overseas and live life BIG out in the real world. I would value your feedback!
Tags: edutainment, edutainment in EFL, edutainment in ESL, Teach English Edutainment
Uncategorized | Ted | 
November 10, 2009 5:29 pm
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