Our New Location in Antalya, Turkey

The Language House will be opening a new location in Antalya, Turkey begining in 2010. Located along the Turquoise Coast, also known as the Turkish Riviera, Antalya offers beautiful beaches, a culturally rich history with a modern lifestyle.

You can wander the oldest section of town which appears virtually untouched even though its centuries old. Turkey's blend of European culture combined with the east makes for a highly satisfying journey which must not be missed. Enjoy Turkish hospitality, unforgettable cuisine and a thriving nightlife that never ends.

Due to Antalya's thriving economy as well as being a tourist destination, there is a big demand for English teaching jobs here and in the rest of the southern region.
We provide you with all the tools you need for finding work as an English teacher. You can also enjoy a low cost of living here during and after the course with housing starting as low as 300 euros per month.

Our latest location will be located in the center of town just by the clock tower with great view overlooking the sea. Why put off living in paradise any longer? Start off the new year 2010 with us along the Turkish Riviera. Come and Join Us!

Why Choose Genoa, Italy

If you are considering the move to Italy, you should consider Genoa. Unlike many other locations, Genoa is a very relaxed, friendly city that offers a lot to the people who live there.

Genoa is one of those precious gems that not many people have heard of but is a wonderful place to spend time in. Located in the region of Liguria, Genoa is an excellent base to explore the region as well as discover authenic northern Italian cuisine and culture. Because Genoa is not a highly touristic target, you'll find yourself in a very relaxed setting to see the sights and appreciate its beauty. Located on the coast, along the Italian Riviera, you can enjoy great seafood and partake in seaside activities.

Genoa is a port city and its Antico Port is one of the oldest in Europe. It has recently been revitalized and because of this there is always a lot of activity with plenty of things to see and do. You can't miss the city's long seafront promenade that goes all the way to the small fishing town of Bocadosse. The Genovese are very friendly and down to earth. Because of this its easy to make new friends.

From Genoa, its only a short train ride to beautiful seaside towns such as Portofino, Santa Marguerita and Cinque Terre. And these are only the most famous as there are many more. For big city action its easy enough to spend the weekend in Milan for great clubbing as well as shopping.

In relationship to other Italian cities, Genoa enjoys a much lower cost of living. As more people discover Genoa and the region, there is a growing demand for English teachers. There are many English language schools in and around Genoa, making it easy to secure an English teaching post.

Genoa is a wonderful liveable city and at the least should not be missed for a visit.

Easing into Living Abroad

One way to ease into living abroad, or more specifically into the country of your choice is to take language lessons for about one month or longer. There are a lot of great benefits...obviously it allows you to learn the local language spoken but there's much more than just that.



1. It's a non stressful way to see if living in this particular country is right for you. Visiting for one week as a tourist will not give you the same impressions as being there for two months trying to get simple tasks done and getting to know the people.

2. Its a way to determine which region within that country is right for you. If you come from a rather large country, you may think a country like France or Italy couldnt possible be very diverse but then you'd be wrong. From region to region there are noticable differences and in spending a couple of months in the country of your choice you have the space and time to explore and decide the right place for you.

3. Its an opportunity to get to know the locals and exchange ideas. This is a time to see how much you really connect with the people who live in your target country. And if you can enjoy a life in their country...can you make friends?

4. Its a great opportunity to "case the place" as it were and scope out housing options and more importantly price ranges. You can also get advice from people living there how to find affordable and comfortable housing. Chatting on the net is often not enough. You have to see for yourself.

5. Its a great opportunity to check out the employment scene and research wages. While you're there, you can also make note of the cost of living...is it a comfortable fit?

Now more than ever the cost of language lessons has become more affordable. Visit us at www.languageholidayabroad.com to find the language program thats right for you.

Financing Your Trip Abroad

Despite the challenges that these economic times pose, it is still possible to find ways to finance that long term trip abroad. However it does require that you do some research. Goabroad has an excellent page on potential resources which is provided in the link that can help you.

You can also plan to work your way along your travels. One of the best ways to do this is to teach English. Whether you work for a private English Language school and/or work for yourself giving private lessons, having the skill of teaching will aid you every step of the way.

A Positive Side to the Financial Crisis?

Now more than ever, people are cutting back on travel due to current financial woes. However, if you've been wanting to travel in Europe, now and in the near future is probably the best time. Airfares are lower than ever before but ,more importantly, the euro is seriously falling against the dollar...a rather shocking development for anyone who must work in exchange rates regularly. 100 euros now equals 125 dollars and the euro is continuing to fall. In France and Italy, as people are rather pessimistic about the financial future, there are now more sales and discount opportunities than ever. The tourism industry is already hurting so this is definitely a time to take advantage of the situation.

How does this affect trends for teaching English? Often when there is a recession, people look to continuing education to hone their skills and make themselves more competitive in the job market. Therefore demand for English teachers should remain stable during these difficult times.

How to Open a Bank Account in France

Here is my advice for opening a bank account in France. While we will hear a lot of different stories of people getting or not getting an account, if you follow these steps you should be successful.

Typically the most important thing you need is an address in France. It doesnt have to even be your home per se, it can be in care a friend for example. But even then its still possible to do it but it will take more work.

1. Don't walk into banks in person. They have screeners who will most likely tell you, its not possible however, they are'nt the ones who make the real decisions in a given bank now are they. Always call first and ask to make an appointment with someone who specializes in foriegn accounts. Credit Agricole is a good bank that wants foriegn clients.

2. Once you've made the appointment, if you have a French address, any address in France will do, it shouldnt be a problem. If you don't have this, its still possible especially if you're planning to deposit a significant amount of money and you mention you are planning to invest in France, buy a home etc.

3. If you arent planning to deposit a good deal of money and have no French address, you only have one option left; say that you travel in France often on business and you need to regularly make and receive bank transfers between you and your company. That could be a way in and you could use your foriegn address.

If one bank says no, just try a different branch.

Non- Native vs. Native English Teacher

Often, I am asked, "Is it possible for a non-native English speaker, who speaks English well, to teach English?" First off, the answer is YES. World-wide, the majority of English teachers are non-natives. While I will admit that a lot of schools/a lot of regions in the world are ideally looking for native English speakers as teachers, they do often hire non-natives. This is due to the fact that there are simply not enough native English speakers in supply to meet the demand for English learners around the world.

The question is not, "Is it possible for a non-native speaker to teach English?" the question is "Where are the best places/regions for non-natives to find a job teaching English?" I'll start with the parts of the world where I think it would be most difficult.

1. Japan, Korea and Taiwan are not possible because in order to get a working visa to teach English in these countries you must hold a native- English speaking passport. Conversely, if you happen to have the native tongue of a language that is in demand in these countries, you can teach that language. So, if you are French, for example, you can get a job/visa to teach French.

2. Native English speaking countries could be very difficult. There is a decent supply of Native English speakers. However, I would'nt say impossible simply because in the England and the U.S.,at least, there is a huge need for ESL teachers but not enough nationals interested in taking the posts. So while I deem them difficult, its definitely possible. You'd most likely have to look for jobs teaching asylum seekers and such.

3. University work could be difficult as well seeing as they often have a lot of pesky requirements and are usually not desperate for new teachers.

Now, lets get to where I think it is possible;

1. Your home country. Even if you come from a country where job ads call for native speakers, chances are they are not getting enough to meet the demand. As a national, you will be desirable because visas and paperwork are not an issue.

2. Any big city in any country (that I didn't mention as difficult) where there is a demand for English that can't be met. I'll give a few examples;

In France, in many regions, they will only take native English speakers. However, in Paris, Toulouse or Marseille, they can't find enough native English speakers so I have graduates who work in these cities who are non- natives.

In any big city in China, there is a demand for English that will never be met. Again, even if they are advertising for native English speakers, chances are they are not finding enough so apply anyway.

In the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the same rules apply. You should still send out your C.V. to job ads requesting natives as they probably are'nt getting enough applicants.

Of course after saying all this, your dream of teaching English is not going to fly unless you have a TESOL/TEFL or CELTA certification. Certification legitimizes your efforts.