http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/ Phil Roeland on Ajarn.com en Ajarn.com Copyright 2010 2010-10-09T01:00:46+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/money-matters/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/money-matters/#When:01:00:46Z Without any savings or benefits from either a public or private pension scheme in your old age, you might be forced to opt for the ‘Go Native scheme’ (the fried rice & Sangsom approach), the ‘Bangkok Pension Plan’ (wait for moneyed relatives to expire) or go out with a bang aka ‘The Flying Club’. Money matters Phil Roeland 2010-10-09T01:00:46+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/travel-phrasebooks-blessing-or-curse/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/travel-phrasebooks-blessing-or-curse/#When:07:52:03Z I’ve been doing some travelling in China lately so I dusted off my travel phrasebook to make sure I’d be able to practise some useful language and not feel too alien in this country with more than one billion locals. Travel phrasebooks - blessing or curse? Phil Roeland 2010-06-09T07:52:03+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/it-does-matter-if-youre-black-or-white/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/it-does-matter-if-youre-black-or-white/#When:04:02:04Z Although it is rarely mentioned in job ads, most if not all Asian recruiters on the lookout for teachers are after whities. And let’s make no mistake about it: the prize specimens are Caucasian white, not some locals having overindulged in skin-whitening products. It does matter if you’re black or white Phil Roeland 2010-05-27T04:02:04+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/learner-autonomy/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/learner-autonomy/#When:16:44:34Z There are various ways to speed up the learning of a language. First of all, students should try to develop the habit of using the language they’ve learnt in the classroom outside the classroom. Learner autonomy Phil Roeland 2010-03-14T16:44:34+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/death-by-worksheet/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/death-by-worksheet/#When:13:23:55Z My favourite kinds of worksheets are conversation worksheets, pair and group work, creative writing worksheets, vocabulary worksheets, and ESL board games. The right mix of these makes communication possible, keeps students' attention going and puts some fun into learning. Death by worksheet Phil Roeland 2010-01-31T13:23:55+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/time-flies/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/time-flies/#When:04:22:10Z The 2004 tsunami that hit South and Southeast Asia, cyclone Nargis (2008) which battered Myanmar and hurricane Katrina (2005) that destroyed New Orleans are some of the most devastating natural disasters of the last decades. Time flies Phil Roeland 2010-01-03T04:22:10+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/my-great-escape/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/my-great-escape/#When:01:46:59Z Lack of inspiration this month made me decide to participate in ‘The Great Escape’ survey found elsewhere on this site. Here are my answers. My great escape Phil Roeland 2009-12-01T01:46:59+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/bear-hugs/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/bear-hugs/#When:16:00:33Z China hasn’t escaped globalisation. Multinational chains or franchises can be found in every big city and most foreign products are readily available. Restaurants like McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway and the like have become popular but thankfully make up only a small portion of the thousands of restaurants. Bear Hugs Phil Roeland 2009-11-02T16:00:33+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/great-expectations/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/great-expectations/#When:21:29:59Z The demands and expectations that some parents burden their children with are alas often too great. At the moment I’m teaching a kid who hasn’t even turned six, yet his life revolves solely around learning. Great Expectations Phil Roeland 2009-10-01T21:29:59+00:00 http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/ni-hao/ http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/phil-roeland/ni-hao/#When:21:15:47Z visited Southwest China for the first time some five years ago and was surprised how advanced and modern China had become. As a traveller, my first impression of China was quite positive. Ni Hao Phil Roeland 2009-09-01T21:15:47+00:00