Mexico

Movies have the power to transport us to a different world, without even moving from the couch. If you’re looking for the next destination, or stuck in a rut and hoping to get out, get some popcorn, settle in and get inspired for your next adventure! Here are the movies that give you wanderlust: Movies to inspire travel through Europe Thinking on travelling to Europe? These movies will give you a great insight into various European cities: Midnight in Paris, set in the French capital, provides you with a view of the most emblematic areas in Paris. Woody Allen’s film begins in Monet’s Garden, home of impressionist painter Claude Monet and through venue des Camoens and its view of the Eiffel Tower to the double-decker Pont Bir Hakeim, among others. Directed by Pedro Almodóvar, Volver, is a portrait of Madrid told through the lives of three different women. This movie will take you into authentic Spanish neighborhoods and to different regions of Spain. The Great Beauty, set in Rome and premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, offers a magical tour of the city, courtesy of its director Paolo Sorrentino. Some of the locations that stand out in the movie include Via Veneto, monument Lungo Tevere, 5-hectare public park Parco Degli Acquedotti and Villa del Priorato, a fortified monastery. Movies that inspire travel through South America If a more relaxed vibe is your thing and you feel like exploring South America, you would be amazed by 180º South, directed by Chris Malloy who is a former professional surfer. This film narrates the journey of adventurer Jeff Johnson as he travels from California to Patagonia. Both a road trip movie and an insight into the history of the region, you’ll get a glimpse at places like Easter Island, some parts of Mexico and Chile. Another great option is About Us, a 2016 Costa Rican movie selected as one of the Best Foreign Language Films at the 89th Academy Awards. Director Hernán Jiménez portrays the story of a young couple that decides to travel to Santa Teresa de Cóbano, a stunning beach in Costa Rica. Movies that inspire travel through Asia To complete the list and give you a taste of Asia, here are some great movies to give you wanderlust: Indochine, directed by Régis Wargnier, is a movie that inspired thousands to pack their bags, get a ticket  and travel to Vietnam. This romantic movie was shot mainly in Imperial City, Hue, Ha Long and Ninh Binh in Vietnam. If you are more into thrillers Wish You Were Here, should jump to the top of your to-watch list. Kieran Darcy-Smith recreates a travel film that follows four friends on holiday to Cambodia’s coastal area of Sihanoukville. Although the movie plot was written with the thriller-lovers in mind, the beach shots are amazing! Did any of the movies above inspire you?  Do you feel like planning a trip to Europe, South America or Asia? We can help with choosing your perfect destinations!  Check out our TEFL Courses abroad to get more detailed info about these locations and many more! Did we miss any of the movies that inspired you to travel? Follow us on Facebook to comment on the ones that we should add to this list!  

Are you spending some time abroad traveling or teaching English and are curious about the season of carnivals? TEFL Connect has tons of info to help you out! Carnivals have a western Christian and Greek orthodox origin and throughout the history they’ve migrated to different parts of the world, evolving and taking on more and more local traits and traditions. The main festivities usually take place during February or early March. It involves street parties, parades, competitions and other entertainments. A lot of locals wear costumes and masks turning the week of carnival in a festival of colours. No wonder, that we at TEFL Connect highly recommend you to visit your local carnival if you’re teaching English abroad. Here we present our top 5 not to miss, and the best thing is that you can easily get to at least one of them from all of our TEFL Course Destinations: Venice Carnival Italy This Italian Carnival lasts for 10 days and is one of the oldest in the world. It’s said that it started after a victory of the Republic of Venice against the patriarch of Achillea in 1162. They went out on the streets to dance and celebrate the victory, thus starting the tradition. Masks are very important in this celebration, and can you think of any other city more famous for its masks, than Venice? They are made of various different materials, like cloths, leather, porcelain or even pieces made using the original glass technique. Venice is also one of the most romantic destinations. During the carnival they have the Grand Venice Balls which makes it a chosen destination for couples wanting to enjoy this beautiful celebration. If you’re in Rome, Venice is just a 3.5h train ride or an hour flight away from Venice. It’s even quicker to get there from Florence. But even if you’re not in Italy, there are dozens of flights that can bring you there in about two hours from all around Europe. Rio de Janeiro Brazil It’s considered the biggest carnival in the world with around 2 million people on the street every day. Many of the samba schools from around the country participate in the event. They put together choreography and parade on the streets, often getting the crowd to participate with them. Music and dance are very important for this celebration. Rio de Janeiro definitely has the most colorful, flashiest costumes and the best dance moves. Something to visit at least once in a lifetime for sure! Just remember that you might need to get tickets to some of the events. It’s quite a trip to Rio from anywhere in the world, but if you’re doing a TEFL Course in Costa Rica or Argentina you’ll get there in no time! You can also use carnival as a final point if you’re planning a bigger trip. Notting Hill Carnival England It’s the biggest one in Europe that welcomes more than 2 million people in a festivity to celebrate the Caribbean culture. This tradition started in 1966 and continues every year after it. The London School of Samba and the Paraiso School of Samba are the ones responsible for bringing this party to the streets of Notting Hill. This carnival is a mixture of music and more than 40 points where people can stop to hear good music and try some Caribbean dishes! This is also the only carnival on our list that takes place in August instead of February/March. On the bright side, this means you can fit two carnivals in your year abroad teaching English in Europe. Our Madrid course has especially good flight connections with low-cost airlines, like Ryanair! Mardi Gras New Orleans, USA  New Orleans hosts the biggest carnival in the US. During this event the streets are filled with music and the parades are dedicated to mythological characters such as Edimião, Orfeu, Bacchus and King Zulu. There’s nothing like a mystical atmosphere of New Orleans French quarters and you can experience it in its best and brightest. Although a lot of the events are happening after it gets dark and city fills with lights, this is also a family event so it’s common to see families enjoying a nice picnic around the Mississippi River. This festivity gathers around 250.000 people on the streets and is something truly worth a trip. Get your tickets in advance to make the most of it. Carnivals of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain This carnival is the second biggest one in the world after the one in Rio de Janeiro and it’s right in Europe on the Island of eternal spring, doesn’t it sound amazing? Every year the Canary Islands get ready for its biggest celebration of the year. They even broke a world record in 1987 with the biggest open-air concert with more than 250.000 people, so you can easily become part of history the next time they decide to do something as grand. Every year different people present themselves for the title of Carnival Queen. This is a very colorful spectacle with the most unusual costumes! There is also a competition where adults and children compete against their peers to see who is the most eloquent. These usually happen before the carnival starts, but you’ll see the winners during the parades. After the Queen’s coronation, the party starts with various activities and everyone can participate! If you’re teaching English in Spain after one of our courses there, add this to your bucket list. Ryanair and Iberia Express (popular low-cost airlines) will have plane tickets for about 30-40 euro if you buy in advance and you don’t need to pay for entrance tickets once the main carnival starts. Do you know any other countries with great carnivals that are on your travel list? Follow us on Facebook and let us know of your favorites! Also, be sure to check all of our TEFL destinations to choose the one that you’ll enjoy the most!

“Can I teach English abroad, even though I am a non-native?” is something we at TEFL Connect get asked time and time again. Well, in short the answer is yes! Absolutely! Teaching English as a non-native speaker is practiced all over the world and in many cases they make some of the best teachers of English as a Foreign Language.   Why do non-native speakers make great English teachers? Well, you’ve already learnt English so you know exactly what the deal is when it comes to studying and learning the complexities of the English language. You’ll understand the challenges. The advantage you’ll have over a native English speaker is that you, yourself, have learned English as a second language. Meaning you already have the inside scoop on what challenges your students may be facing! You’ll have knowledge of sentence structure, effective ways of communicating ideas, grammar and so much more! This will often make you a more compassionate teacher since you’ve been in your student’s shoes. Will I struggle to get a TEFL certificate as a non-native speaker? Usually, you will have to pass an interview and maybe even a written grammar test to get onto a TEFL course if you’re non-native. Once you’re on, there are no additional TEFL modules, tests or exams to go through. You will have to pass the TEFL course just like everyone else! The courses are created so anyone can study TEFL teaching, as long as your level of spoken and written English is good.   Will I find work teaching English as a non-native speaker? You’ll find that job opportunities vary by country and continent. If you have a degree you’re guaranteed a job in Vietnam, but in Thailand, you’ll not be able to obtain a working permit without a passport from an English-speaking country. At TEFL Connect we can help guide you as a non-native English speaker as to where you should study your TEFL based on your specific profile so get in touch and ask.   There are so many opportunities for you to live and work abroad as an English teacher, so don’t be put off by any myths of ‘you’ll never find work after the TEFL course’ or ‘you won’t get paid to teach teach’ because they’re simply not true! So have faith in yourself and your level of English and pursue your dreams of living and working abroad teaching English. If you’re looking to get your TEFL certificate, contact us and we can help advise you on the best course for you.