The 10 best ways to stay in touch when travelling abroad

Travelling abroad alone can be a daunting feeling, but the world of communication is becoming more and more advanced every day. There are hundreds of apps out there and what's more, a large number of these are free of charge. Internet Cafes are popping up everywhere too - so you can very easily stay online.

So what are the best ways you can keep your loved ones back at home updated?

1. Skype

Set up a free account with Skype and you can video call or send chat messages from around the world. All that's needed is an internet connection, a device with a camera/webcam, and a microphone and speakers - which describes most of today's mobile phones.

2. Viber

Another free download that comes in app form. Viber integrates with the existing contacts stored in your mobile, and allows you to text and call other Viber users for free.

3. Holiday Phone

Before you leave, go online to Holiday Phone and order a local SIM Card for the country you are visitng. You will benefit from a fixed low rate of internet access and cheaper call rates. Even better, you'll get to keep your UK number so friends and family can still call without having to pay hefty charges.

4. Email

If you're busy or can't find a suitable time for you both to chat, an email can be a quick and handy way to keep in touch too. Download an email app, such as Outlook, to be notified instantly of any inbox messages.

5. Facetime

One for the Apple users. Available on your iPhone, iPad, Macbook and so on. Video chat with fellow Apple users in your address book for free. 

6. Blogger

Just like this one, you can create your own blog to keep friends and family back home updated. It's free to set up, and it's simple to use too! 

7. Facebook

Social media sites such as Facebook allow you to post updates as often as you like. Facebook is also integrated with several other apps, such as Foursquare, that allows you to 'check in' to the place you are visiting. Let family and friends know what you're up to (and make them jealous!)

8. WhatsApp

Great for texting, WhatsApp will use your internet connection to send messages. You can also send group messages so add all of your friends into one big travel conversation!

9. Dropbox

An online portal to store and share all of your images, files and so on. Download and you can access it from several devices. A great way to share your travel photos and memories with loved ones back home. 

10. Snail Mail

And finally, well, we couldn't miss this one out - good old fashioned post. As convenient as mobiles and PCs may be, you can't beat a sentimental gift. Surprise your loved ones with a postcard or a souvenir.

There's no excuse not to stay in touch!

Top tips for Travellers

For those of you who are about to jet off to your new TEFL jobs, we've drawn up some quick shortcuts to help you and your possessions get there in one piece.


Luggage

Make sure your luggage is easily distinguishable on the baggage carousel with distinctive straps or labels. There is nothing more annoying when you are travel weary than lugging numerous cases off the conveyor belt only to find they aren't yours.



Destination
Don't rely on a luggage tag to get your precious cargo to its destination. They can easily become detached. Placing an A4 sheet of paper inside your bag with the address of your destination and your mobile phone number could prove helpful if you and your possessions become separated. It could mean the difference between spending a matter of hours rather than days without your luggage.

Documents

It is worth photocopying important documents such as the photo page of your passport, medical information or any visas you might need to show at the airport. This will help you immensely should you break the number one rule of travel and lose your passport...

Passport

Check the expiry date on your passport as it must be valid to travel out and back. In fact, most countries require six months validity in order to travel.



Hand Luggage
Pack your hand luggage as if your hold luggage will not arrive. That means that if there's nothing waiting for you at the other end, at least you will have a change of underwear, fresh clothing and toiletries.



Mobile Phone
Add important numbers such as your embassy, travel insurance company and save them to your phone rather than your SIM so that they will still be around when you change your SIM for roaming.



Currency
Carry your currency in a variety of places and if your wallet gets stolen you don't have your trip ruined by losing all your money.



Shoes

When packing footwear in your luggage protect your clothing by using a disposable shower cap to cover the soles of your shoes.

First Aid Kit
Carry a basic first aid kit with you. It's bad enough being ill abroad without having to find the local pharmacy and go through the rigmarole of getting the right remedy when you don't even speak the language!

Bon Voyage!

What does it all mean?

If you are thinking about teaching English as a foreign language, but are still in the research stage, then you might be a bit confused by all of the jargon you keep reading. The world of English teaching is awash with acronyms - EFL, TEFL, TESOL, CELTA, DELTA - the list is endless. Here we will help you sift through them and make sense of the mumbo jumbo...

If you've made it far enough to read this blog then you probably know what TEFL stands for - Teaching English as a Foreign Language. In essence this means that you are teaching English to people who don't speak it as a first language. It is a generic 'catch-all' term used in the industry and if you want to get yourself a job doing this then your first port of call would be to get a TEFL certificate. Using your powers of deduction you can probably figure out from there that EFL is just English as a Foreign Language, which simply refers to the study of English by non-native speakers. EAL (English as an Additional Language) is another term that is used in this way. All fairly straight forward so far.

When people hear TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) that's when the bemusement usually starts. It is often used interchangeably with TEFL and broadly they do mean the same thing - that is teaching people for whom English is not their mother tongue. However TESOL is usually used in the context of teaching in an English speaking country, for example to economic migrants who have come to settle there, whereas TEFL will refer to teaching English abroad. To add to the confusion, like TEFL, TESOL can be used to refer to a certificate as well as just the act of teaching.

The Trinity Cert TESOL is a high level English teaching qualification. It is very intensive
and is taken by people who have already taught overseas and plan on committing themselves to a life-long career in English teaching. For example, the trainers on UK-TEFL courses will possess this qualification or a CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, previously known as Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) which is an equivalent certificate. It should be remembered that the CELTA and Trinity Cert TESOL courses can be very challenging for students with little or no experience in the field. Furthermore it is a large outlay of time and money if you are unsure that you will be suited to the work. Should you wish to progress further then you may eventually move on to taking a DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) but that's probably not something you should be thinking about just yet...

To summarise, if you have never done any teaching before, but are thinking about doing it, then your first step is to get a TEFL certificate under your belt. Once you have this then you can worry about all the other acronyms later!

Lost in Translation

One reason that there is such high demand for EFL teachers is simple - bad English! Go to any non-English speaking around the world and it won't be long until you see some extremely poor translation. We thought we would have a quick chuckle in today's blog post by having a look at some of our favourites from around the world.

You'll need some pretty comprehensive travel insurance if you want to order this dish. Or maybe you're best just asking for a plate of chips...

This one got us wondering, in who did the taste test?

We're considering suing this company under the Trade Descriptions Act.

It's always worth getting your mayhem evaluated by a professional.

Available in all good supermarkets.

Definitely worth looking out for.

These are all the rage in South Korea apparently.

And finally...answers on a postcard for this one. Happy Friday!

Brilliant Brazil

With the Brazil World Cup now in full swing, we thought this would be a good time to take a closer look at the host nation. Here we give a quick rundown of what can be expected in terms of lifestyle, working conditions and job opportunities for EFL teachers.

A few years ago a report by English First showed that Brazil had one of the worst English competency levels in the world. Thankfully that is starting to change. Hosting two of the world's biggest and best sporting events (Rio was also chosen to stage the 2016 Olympics) has given a huge shot in the arm to English learning in Brazil. The tourism, business and media glare that come with the tournaments mean that the government has made a concerted effort to increase the country's language level. The Ministry of Tourism introduced a programme called 'Ola Turista', offering free English and Spanish classes in the 12 cities that are hosting the World Cup. Brazil's burgeoning economy (it now ranks at sixth in the world) has also helped fuel fresh demand for language learning as it does more and more trade on the global stage.

The main places you can look for work are the dozens of Culturas Inglesas and Instituto Brasil Estadios Unidos, as well as Wizard, the country's biggest language-teaching chain. Alternatively you can try the British Council, who have centres in Rio, Sao Paolo, Recife and Brasilia. Even if they have no positions they may be able to point you in the direction of language schools in the local area. You should also look in the usual places, such as www.tefl.com or www.eslcafe.com.

Getting a working visa can be a bit of a headache so many teachers decide to fly in to Brazil on a tourist visa and start searching once they get there. You can drop your CV off at universities and colleges but be aware that they may ask you to take a written English test on the spot, so come prepared. On passing the test, you would usually be invited back for a group interview which consists of a few potential teachers undertaking tasks in small groups or pairs. If you are successful after this, you may be asked to attend a two-week training course which is often unpaid.

The pay in Brazil is relatively modest (around £10-16 per hour) when compared with some of the more lucrative EFL destinations but money is not the reason that most people choose Brazil. The vibrant mix of cultures, stunning scenery and outrageous lust for life built into the Brazilian psyche more than make up for the money that could be made elsewhere.

To find work in Brazil, first you will need to get your UK-TEFL certificate. Click here to see a list of upcoming dates. Book now and begin your Brazilian adventure!

10 things you didn't know about the English Language

Everybody knows that April 23rd is a celebration of St George but since 2010 it has also been designated as English Language Day at the United Nations. The date was chosen to coincide with the birth of one the English language's greatest exponents, William Shakespeare, who would have been 450 years old today. The purpose of the UN's language days is to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity. We thought this would be as good an opportunity as any to find out more about this language that we're all so fond of.

1. The English language as we know it began to emerge in the 14th century, although if you were to listen to that version today you may struggle to understand what was going on. It developed from a variety of dialects including Old Norse and Late West Saxon but has changed a great deal in subsequent centuries.

2. The three most spoken words in the English Language are ‘I’, ‘you’ and ‘the’. The top three written words are ‘the’, ‘of’ and ‘and’.

3. Shakespeare has been credited with the invention of more than a thousand words that are now an everyday part of the English language, including 'generous', 'majestic' and 'zany'.

4. English is spoken by more than 2 billion people worldwide and has official status in at least 75 countries.

5. Up until 1755, when Dr Samuel Johnson published his 'Dictionary of the English Language,' there was very little standardisation in English spelling and grammar. Along with Shakespeare, Dr Johnson is believed to have had more of an impact on shaping the English language than anybody else.

6. Aegilops, a type of grass, is the longest word in the Engilsh language with all the letters in alphabetical order.

7.  The rise and rise of the internet has seen English cement its place as the world's global language. 80% of electronically stored information is written in English and it is used as the primary means of communication in the fields of science, technology, medicine and business.

8. The English language grows at a rate of about one new word every two hours.

9. Words added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013 included 'selfie', 'twerk' and 'binge-watch'.

10. About 750 million people speak English as a foreign language and around six million teachers of English are believed to be working worldwide. In order to join them all you have to do is get TEFL certified and open the door to a whole new life!

The Italian Job: Making it in Milan

After completing her UK-TEFL training and gaining some voluntary experience, Hannah Mutters took the bold decision to move to Italy with no job lined up. Thankfully her bravery paid off and she quickly secured a position. Here she tells us why she is glad she took the plunge and left her job for a more satisfying life abroad...

Ciao!

I'm Hannah, I'm 29 and from the UK, I completed my TEFL in April 2013 after being made redundant for the second time from jobs in Marketing and as a Career Adviser and realising that my job in Insurance was making me extremely unhappy.

I knew I needed experience immediately to put all of my new skills to good use but I wasn't in the position financially to just up sticks! Instead I did some research around my local city, York, and found a volunteer group and a number of Language schools. After getting in touch with these schools and the volunteer group I managed to secure a position over the summer of 2013 teaching in the English Language Centre in York and I also volunteered as an English conversation teacher for Refugee Action York. The experience I gained doing this was invaluable and really cemented the idea of becoming an EFL teacher and moving abroad.

I have dreamed of living in Italy for a long time. Who doesn't want to live La Dolce Vita? So, I decided to just go for it. During my training I was given some good tips on how to find a job in Europe. It's not as common to have a Skype interview or to be hired without meeting your employer face to face if you want to work in Europe. I didn't want the expense of having to keep flying to Italy and back so I decided to just move to Milan and "wing it." About 2 weeks before I went I  put a free advert in an English publication here in Milan called "Easy Milano" I advertised myself as a tutor and I also advertised myself as looking for a job as a Teacher. This was a really useful thing to do because by the time I got there I had a couple of people interested already.

I gave myself a month to find a job. As soon as I got here I was straight on the case. I located as many language schools as I could, wrote a functional style CV and started ringing and emailing and even visiting some of the schools to make connections and to find a job.

I chose the functional style CV because it has a more "skills based" approach, I don't have alot of experience and a chronological CV would just be full of useless and irrelevant information so a Functional CV works better in this case, the employer can see all of the relevant information straight away if you highlight your skills and back them up with evidence using short and concise bullet points.

By the end of the first week I had a job working 3 hours a week tutoring children. By the end of the second week I landed another job at Wall Street English. I found the school by chance when I was walking to work, it was raining and I was feeling a bit miserable, I walked passed it and decided to go in and ask if they needed any teachers. The next day I received an email from the Service Manager who invited me for an interview the following day. By the end of the week I had a job offer!

I have been working for just over a month now and I have received some excellent support from my school. The only trouble is, if you are on an Italian contract the pay isn't as good, however, I just love to teach and I have the option to work for another school if I want to/need to.

My life has completely changed and the thrill and excitement of being somewhere new is motivating me to continue to do what I love and to learn more about the culture and learn the language.

I live with a family, they found me from an advert I posted on a website. You can live with students or other professionals but I wanted to live in a family home and really get the feel for the way Italians live and to immerse myself as much as possible, in and around the times I'm teaching, my rent is discounted because I offered to teach the child English!

So if you are thinking of taking the plunge, DO IT!

Hannah blogs regularly about living and working in Milan. To keep track of her adventures visit her website at http://www.muttersmutterings2.blogspot.co.uk/

The Long (and Ridiculous) Arm of the Law

The first few weeks of a TEFL job are usually spent trying to settle into your new surroundings. An important part of this is making sure you 'go native' and respect the local codes and customs. Sometimes that's easier said than done though, as you will see from our list of weird and wonderful laws from some top TEFL destinations. In fact you may be breaking the law without even realising it, so familiarise yourself with all of the below to save yourself from a hefty fine or worse...a stint in a foreign jail!

Italy: Pigeon Feeding

After a study showed that repairing the damage caused by pigeons cost each Venetian taxpayer 275 euros a year, the mayor's office decided to ban feeding them.The feathered fiends were causing chaos in the city's iconic St Mark's Square, mainly by using it as a toilet. The ban enraged grain vendors, who were put out of a job as a result.


Singapore: Chewing Gum

The import, manufacture and sale of chewing gum was banned in Singapore in 1992 as a way of keeping the city's pristine pavements clean. After much lobbying from key industry players, the ban was eventually revised so that medicinal gum was allowed, provided it was sold by dentists and pharmacists. The penalties for smuggling gum are still tough though, a £3,00 fine and a year in the slammer would certainly give you something to chew over.


Dubai: Cohabitation

In 2010 a British couple were arrested and jailed for living together in a hotel room in Dubai. Under Sharia law, which is applied in the UAE, two unmarried and unrelated persons of the opposite sex are prohibited from cohabiting. Ultimately it's up to you to decide which is the better option - marriage or prison. Some would say there's not much to choose between them!


Mexico: One-Footed Cycling

With all its stunning scenery and luscious green countryside, Mexico might sound like the perfect place to plan a cycling trip. Just don't try any funny business. It's forbidden for bikers to lift either foot from the peddles, as it might result in a loss of control.


Greece: Stiletto Heels

In 2009 Greek lawmakers moved to protect the country's key archaeological sites by banning people from visiting them in stiletto shoes. Apparently the pressure they exerted was damaging fragile tourist hot spots, which were getting trampled underfoot. Heralded as a great step in preserving Greece's rich architectural history, it was no doubt a huge blow to fashion conscious females the world over.

Life in Beijing

Anthony Ryan lives in Beijing, where he works as an EFL teacher at Aihua English Academy. Here he gives a brief insight into what it's like living and working in one of the world's biggest cities.

When I first came to Beijing, I expected to find a city packed with people and choking on the pollutant fumes of its own success; in fact when I think of it like this I wonder why I came at all. However coming here has opened my eyes to the wonders of Chinese culture and the joys of Mega city living. Yes, there is smog (although it’s not nearly as bad as you think), it is crowded and the incessant beeping of car horns could push you over the edge if you were having a particularly bad day; but, the city is charming, it worms its way into a place in your heart and it never leaves.

Anthony (back right), with fellow Aihua teachers

Beijing is the setting for a war between history and modernity, a city fixated on the goal of progress but anchored in the past. It has ultra-modern, Westernised areas such as Sanlitun and areas which would not look out of place 500 years ago. In the centre of the city there is a sprawling network of shanty houses called Hutongs which are the heart of Beijing’s character and charm, here one can wander for hours constantly discovering new places to eat and drink.

The people match this description also; it is not uncommon to encounter an elderly man or woman staring into the screen of a brand new IPhone or a young couple playing Mah-jong on the street. Perception is a dangerous thing here as what you perceive to be the truth is not often the case and city life moves along guided by subtle societal norms which only become apparent after living here for some time.

One example is the oft overcrowded but amazingly efficient subway system, from the outside looking in it is difficult to imagine how the Chinese can fit so many people onto their mass transit systems, but once you get used to it, you realise that everybody on the carriage needs to get somewhere and to do this in a timely manner they collectively sacrifice some of their personal space (something which is already at a premium in Beijing), this idea of collective sacrifice for the greater good is almost wiped out in the West but here in Beijing it’s second nature.

Day to day living in Beijing is like living in a pantomime where none of the actors know they are actors and the audience is uninterested anyway. Right next to a bastion of western culture like McDonald’s, it is likely you can find a farmer selling fruit or a vendor selling delicious street food.

It is a different world to back home, a city which runs on its own time and to its own unique beat. If you are the type of person who enjoys a challenge in life you will love Beijing, it is an amazing place with all the creature comforts of home, plus a few new ones to discover.

English classes at Aihua

To find out more about positions at Aihua then take a look their website and Facebook page.

Five Famous EFL Teachers

Many of you may be wondering where taking a TEFL course will lead you. Well for some people it might just be something short term, others will end up spending the rest of their career in teaching and a select few might just go on to become household names! You may be surprised to hear that a number of famous people have tried their hand at EFL teaching. Here we take a look at five people who have taught English overseas and gained fame or fortune for a variety of reasons.

1. Ranald MacDonald (1824-1894)

Not to be confused with the fast food clown, with whom he shares a spookily similar name, Ranald was a true pioneer and one of the very first EFL teachers. Ever since he was a boy he had the urge to travel and in true adventurer spirit he quit his job at a bank and set sail for Japan, despite knowing that any foreigner who set foot on Japanese soil faced imprisonment or execution. He came ashore on Rishiri Island where he was caught and eventually sent to Nagasaki to teach English to Samurai warriors. These men would go on to become diplomatic interpreters who would help cool East-West tensions and bring a halt to Japan's isolationist policy. Although he received little recognition during his lifetime, there is now a memorial to Ranald in his Oregon birthplace, as well as two in his adopted homeland of Japan.

2. Anna Leonowens (1831-1915)

When she accepted an offer from the King of Siam (now known as Thailand) to be governess to his children, Anna Leonowens probably had no idea that she was about to embark on a journey that would be committed to print, stage and screen. In 1859 her life had been thrown into turmoil when her husband Thomas died of a haemorrhage while working at a hotel in Penang, Malaysia. She sent her daughter back to England to be educated and travelled to Singapore with her son where she received an invitation to work in the royal household of Siam. King Mongut wanted Anna to give his many wives and children a Western education, although they frequently clashed over what should and shouldn't be taught . She spent more than five years in Siam which were immortalised in the novel Anna and the King of Siam and the hit Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, which was later turned into a Hollywood film starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr.

3. Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

Dulce et Decorum Est is a poem that you will often hear recited on Remembrance Day or in tribute to any fallen servicemen. It was written by poet Wilfred Owen in 1917 as a way of expressing his anger at the cruelty of war. Owen had seen the horrors of the battlefield first hand while serving on the Western Front during World War One. Before fighting broke out however, he had been working in Bordeaux as a tutor at the Berlitz School of Languages. Owen died in battle at the age of just 25 but his poems live on as a reminder of the sacrifice made by those who lost their life to war.

4. J.K. Rowling (1965-)

J.K. Rowling is one of the world's best-known authors. She is responsible for creating the Harry Potter series, which has sold more than 400 million books, spawned a series of hit films and turned Rowling into a multi-millionaire. Before she got the inspiration for the boy wizard however, she taught English in Portugal. Working in the city of Porto, she taught in the evenings while writing in the day. It was here that she met her husband, the Portuguese journalist Jorges Arantes, although they later divorced.

5. Ed Norton (1969-)

You will no doubt recognise the award-winning actor from his star turns in Fight Club, The Incredible Hulk and American History X. But what you may not know is that after graduating from Yale University he worked for his grandfather's company, Enterprise Community Partners, in Osaka, Japan. While there he appeared in an EFL textbook, Only in America, which was used by Nova English language school. He also gained one of his first acting credits by appearing in the company's hilarious instructional videos, an image from which can be seen below.

Love is in the air...

It's that time of year again. Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is upon us once more. As people here in the UK spend the day exchanging cards, chocolates and flowers, we thought we would take a look at how it is celebrated in some top TEFL destinations around the world.

Giving gifts in Catalonia, Spain

1. Spain
Most Spaniards will be doing much the same as us Britons, except those in the North-Eastern region of Catalonia. Catalans instead celebrate La Diada de Sant Jordi (otherwise known as St George's Day) on April 23rd. Traditionally this is marked by men giving women roses and women giving them books in return.

2. Peru
As in most of Latin America, Valentine's Day is about friendship as well as love. Many Peruvians take part in 'Secreto Amigo'. The game is similar to Secret Santa and involves giving gifts anonymously.

3. Estonia
Estonians take the friendship theme even further. They observe Sõbrapäev on February 14th, which is a celebration based entirely on platonic love.

4. Saudi Arabia
Saudi authorities consider the holiday to be un-Islamic and as a result the sale of Valentine's Day gifts have been banned on a number of occasions!

5. South Korea
There are three separate celebrations in South Korea. On February 14th women give chocolates to men and a month later, on something known as 'White Day', they return the favour. A month after that, on 'Black Day', single South Koreans mourn their loneliness by eating a dark-noodle dish called Jajangmyeon!

Single South Koreans chowing down on 'Black Day'

Doha Days: From Merseyside to the Middle East

Vivien Smith took a UK-TEFL course in 2009 and within a few months she had found a job working in Doha at the Qatar International School. Five years on she is still there and is now Learning Resource Manager, after gaining successive promotions. We caught up with her to find out how she's enjoying life in the Middle East.

Vivien with some flowers she got from her students

Hi!

My name is Vivien Smith and I have been working at Qatar International School, Doha, for the past four years. We have 1,600 students ranging from four to eighteen years old and follow a British teaching system.

Before that I was working in local industry in Wirral, Merseyside. Like most people I was finding there was too much month at the end of the money and felt it was time for a change in profession. It may have even been a mid-life crisis. I knew I could do more, I just wasn't sure what.

After scouring the internet for inspiration I came across a course being advertised in Liverpool. After a bit of research, I thought this was just what I had been looking for. It was a whole new change of career and life, just what I needed.

So with some apprehension I thought I would give it a go to find out if it was for me. We all met at a local hotel. With a fabulous instructor by the name of Mike Furber. I managed to get through the first day. Even on the way home from the first day I felt a huge sense on achievement and thought 'I really can really do this'!

UK-TEFL Trainer Mike Furber in action

By the end of the course i was so excited to start a new chapter in my life and applied to Qatar International School. I started in November 2009 in Yellow class, pre-school, as a teaching assistant. What a fantastic experience it was, knowing I could actually make a difference to our students.

Then a place in the library came up. With my knowledge in private industry I thought 'I can do this'. I was still working with the students and making the most of my new found confidence and TEFL know-how. I was fortunate enough that I was appointed Librarian, then graduated to Senior Librarian, and then lo and behold Learning Resource Centre Manager.

The Learning Resource Centre at Vivien's School

I cannot thank UK-TEFL enough for giving me the confidence to go out in to the wider world with a knowledge that I could do it and make a difference, now five years later I am still in touch with my fabulous teacher Mike.

I have never looked back and would recommend anybody who thinks they aren't sure to give it a go. It was certainly worth it to me. Like me you may find you never know what you can do until you try. Doing nothing is never an option.

The Doha Skyline

Get your UK-TEFL certificate and you could be weeks away from working in Doha. Visit our website to find out more.

Here's to the Horse: Celebrating Chinese New Year

Today marks the start of 15 days worth of celebrations in honour of Chinese New Year. With more than 100,000 native English teachers currently working in China, it is the most popular destination for UK-TEFL graduates. As there are so many of you already over there, and even more no doubt headed in the same direction, we thought we would take this opportunity to learn a little bit about a very important part of Chinese culture.

2014: The year of the horse

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, starts with the first new moon of the calendar year. Before festivities can begin people must spring clean their houses to sweep away any bad luck. They also decorate their homes with good luck phrases.

On New Year's Eve, families get together and have a traditional Chinese meal. This differs depending on the region you come from. In the South people eat nian gao, a sweet rice pudding, while in the North they tuck into jiaozi, a kind of steamed dumpling. People wear red and set off fireworks as a way of warding off evil spirits. They stay up until midnight to bring in the New Year.

On New Year's Day itself, children awake to find red envelopes filled with sweets and money that have been left by their parents and grandparents.

Jiaozi: Eaten at New Year in Northern China

The celebrations eventually come to a close with a lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. These lanterns are hand painted with scenes of Chinese legends and then hung from the windows of houses or carried under the light of the full moon. A dragon, made of paper, silk or bamboo is held aloft by young men who dance around trying to collect money.

Chinese New Year coming to a close

This year is the year of the horse. People born in the year of the horse are said to have horse-like personalities. They are animated, active, energetic, quick to learn independence and they have a straightforward and positive attitude towards life. They are also said to enjoy being in crowds and are noted for their wit and strong communication skills.

If you were born in the year of the horse then you're in good company. Other horses include model Cindy Crawford, astronaut Neil Armstrong and Mongol ruler Genghis Khan!

Cindy Crawford: A famous horse

Take a course with UK-TEFL and you could find work in China a matter of weeks. We have plenty of Chinese placements available, all of which can be viewed on our Finding Work pages.