So massive that it’s both a continent and a country, Australia is the size of the USA but with a rather smaller scale population. This lack of human interferance has helped Australia maintain its famous biodiversity, which combine with some impressive man made endeavours to create a sightseer s dream, with notable attractions such as Shark Bay, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Geikie Gorge, crocodile parks, Sydney Opera House, Purnululu National Park and the Great barrier reef on Australia’s beautiful gold coast!
The landscape of thist most diverse of continents can vary from the snowy Mountains of the oldest state, New South Wales, to the rainforests and gorges of the North West. Nature enthusiasts will find plenty to explore in Canberra and the capital territory, where more than half of the land is classified as nature reserves and parks; while cosmopolitan travelers can head to the bustling cities of Adelaide and Sydney. Long stretches of coastline lend themselves to water sports, while rugged mountains are perfect for climbing.
With a mixture of aboriginal, European and indigenous Australian heritage, modern Australia is full of fascinating traditions and cultures. Post war immigration has also meant the presence of Asian, Greek and even Bulgarian influences have enriched the current cultural mix, and the steady influx of new citizens creates a healthy TEFL market. The arts form an important part of Australian culture; from 2,000 year old aboriginal wall paintings to the Sydney Opera House, the old and the new exist side by side and provide an endless selection of things to see and experience.
Culture
A history of mixed nationalities and colonial power has created a very unique social blend. It’s estimated that there were between 200 and 300 Australian Aboriginal languages at the time of first European contact, though there are now only about 70 left throughout the continent. Traditions and respect for ancient civilizations live on alongside a largely urbanized modern day Australia, one of the most conventionally recognizable elements of Australia culture is a love for sport. Cricket and football are subjects of heated and patriotic passion; it’s certainly a sight to behold and a wonderful thing to feel part of!
Mueic is an importanr part of the culture, especially that of the aborigines, and living with the locals you ll doubtless get the chance to have a go! It really is a continent full of new and exciting experiences: from swimming with dolphins on the Adelaide coast to getting involved in with the Bangarra Dance Theatre in Sydney Harbour, living and working in Australia gives you a taste of another world.
Educational standard
Being a massively popular travel destination and following a period of economic growth in the 1990’s, Australia s education system is top notch. Composed of a mixture of public schools, private schools and institutions it has amongst the highest participation rates in the world, with 31 of the adult population completing higher education and a 99 literacy rate. A hugely varied culture means there isn’t a specific national language but Australian English is the most widely spoken, so it s important for speakers of other languages to master the basics.
The Australian Government and various education and training providers have combined their efforts to establish the AIEF (Australian International Education Foundation). The purpose of the foundation is to promote the high standard of education, training and research opportunities Australia has to offer to foreign students and immigrants, while also keeping standards high and encouraging more students to study here... both good things for TEFL teachers!
Teaching opportunities
With the high educational standard and bundles of fantastic travel opportunities, Australia is just as exciting for people wishing to learn English as those wanting to teach it! The most popular areas for English language teachers are Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns and Melbourne where students are mostly European and the cities have larger populations. New South Wales is particularly good if you want to offer private tuition.
The strict immigration requirements mean that the majority of your students will be hoping to find employment after the completion of their other studies. Australia is also a popular immigration destination and a large number of pupils may be immigrants from non English speaking countries in Asia, South America and Europe.
Placements are usually fairly casual, running for an average of 13 weeks and usually paying between A$2,400 and A$4,600 per month, depending on your qualifications and experience. To obtain a visa as a teacher you will need a 12 month Working Holiday Visa; available to 18 30 year olds from the UK, Ireland, Canada, the USA and several other countries. Small private schools may take on TEFL qualified teachers but bigger schools will require an ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) certificate or CELTA qualification; and most schools will also require a university degree.
Facilities
The standard and cost of living are quite high in Australia so living on your own is expensive. Though the cost is on a par with most Western countries, the cities are pricey and a small flat or townhouse can cost anything from A$200 300 per week; while living in shared accommodation can be as little as A$100 each week. Sharing is usually the best option and most accommodation is of a high standard, sharing a room can dramatically cut costs, but if you don’t want to sacrifice your space, a room on a guesthouse, a homestay or a hostel might be best. Hostels are found in most cities and offer cheaper rates with all the things you’ll need at hand and homestays can give you the chance to really become part of the Australian way of life!
Author Resource:
Honor Baldry – Online TEFL courses with over 20,000 course graduates each year, international accreditation and certification recognised by schools worldwide. To http://www.onlinetefl.com Teach English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world and immerse themselves in new cultures. Whether you’re a trained teacher or a complete beginner, a http://www.onlinetefl.com TEFL qualification is your ticket for the journey of you
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")