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Vision River
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Joined: 12 Jul 2008
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Location: Europe
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 Post subject: English Teaching or Foot Reflexology? |
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For the fun of putting out the question --
Which of these services, in your opinion, would people on Tenerife be more interested in:
Foot reflexology or English teaching/tutoring?
I am certified and experienced in both and we are moving to the island in one month. |
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Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:27 am
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bardofely
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Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 3292
Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
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Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:37 am
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Vision River
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Location: Europe
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| bardofely wrote: | | I would think English but you would need enough Spanish to be able to explain! |
Thanks for your response, Bard.
I teach English here in Germany and know almost no Deutsch. The German lessons I took in evening classes just didn't stick. Even though Kati is a native German speaker, she prefers to use English at home so I don't get any practice with her.
True, it can be helpful to know the language of the person you are teaching, to bridge the gap at times. I have referred at those times to a German-English dictionary. Many people go into other countries to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and know nothing of the language in that country. It can actually be a benefit to the student, as they can't fall back on their native language with a teacher who doesn't understand it!
Having said that, Kati and I are practicing Spanish every day. There was an advertisement for Spanish lessons here on the Tenerife Forum, and they are excellent.
In Germany I have taught adult English classes and taught young people from 12 years to 18 years old in the gymnasium (similar to an American high school) and tutored teenage students on their schoolwork.
I practiced foot reflexology in Andalusia. Does anyone know if there are many reflexologist practices on Tenerife and what the general attitude is towards it?
Last edited by Vision River on Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:49 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:05 am
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bardofely
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Joined: 22 Dec 2004
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Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
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Well, if you can teach English in Germany with a poor command of German then maybe you could do the same with Spanish here! I know I couldn't because if I get into a conversation with a Spanish speaker and I don't know the words needed and they don't know the English then the communication gets in a real mess. I find that people tend to then, having nothing else to fall back on, try more of their own language, which is also not understood. I know I do this and it doesn't work.
I am always amazed by people who know several languages and can switch easily from one to another.
I had various attempts at learning Welsh and even have a stage 1 University pass in it but put me amongst some Welsh speakers with no English allowed and I am really floundering!
I find it frustrating in many ways that whilst it was said in high school that I had a "flair" for languages and got good exam results, transferred to a real life situation of trying to speak to someone in a foreign language I am usually pretty hopeless.
Over here I can see so often opportunities that I miss out on because I simply don't know the Spanish.
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Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:42 am
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Vision River
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Joined: 12 Jul 2008
Posts: 222
Location: Europe
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| Post subject: Synergy |
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| bardofely wrote: | | Over here I can see so often opportunities that I miss out on because I simply don't know the Spanish. |
Bard,
What types of instruction in Spanish have you tried?
I am also not a natural talent for speaking a second or foreign language.
Rob may not mind if I plug one of his advertisers - Marcus Santamaria of Synergy Spanish has an innovative approach to teaching Spanish. In the early stages (up to Lesson 4 of 25) I feel it will help me build a foundation for communicating in Spanish. Marcus is generous with giving free lessons and tips so you can try it out.
While studying for my TEFL certificate, I gained more in-depth understanding of the different types of learners - auditory, visual, tactile, etc. I don't do well with only listening to a new language. I have to see the word and hear it and write it to make the connection. The Synergy lessons are working well for me so far, still to test in the "real world." |
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Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:02 pm
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bardofely
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Joined: 22 Dec 2004
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Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
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Before I moved over here I was going to Spanish classes. I also have many books, which are OK for learning grammar and vocabulary but putting any of this into practice in a real life conversation is another matter. Also what is in a book or a course may not be what is used here!
Plus I have difficulty understanding spoken words and asking people to repeat what they've said doesn't really work well if you still don't get it. I find that if I get what I'm saying right this can then cause the person being spoken to to assume I am fluent when I am anything but and they respond with some quickly spoken sentence that I can't understand. I am often OK with written Spanish because I can see it and have time to digest it.
People give all sorts of advice like you have to mix with Spanish speakers to really get it but when I do I find that in a social setting I simply fail to understand a lot thats being said and allow the talkers to talk amongst themselves. This means that I don't pick up anything much from listening and the experience is not enjoyable because I am unable to join in. Mind, I have the same problem in English - that I find it difficult to get involved in group conversations - so often I may appear as someone without a lot to say but other times I end up saying too much. Being a very shy person, which I am, doesn't help either.
I purposely moved up north not just because I prefer it but because I thought it would help me learn Spanish. It has a bit but not as much as I had hoped.
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Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:48 pm
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Vision River
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| bardofely wrote: | | ....Plus I have difficulty understanding spoken words and asking people to repeat what they've said doesn't really work well if you still don't get it. I find that if I get what I'm saying right this can then cause the person being spoken to to assume I am fluent when I am anything but and they respond with some quickly spoken sentence that I can't understand. I am often OK with written Spanish because I can see it and have time to digest it..... |
Yeah, same here. In Spain a few years ago, I could ask for directions in Spanish but when they were given I had no clue as to what was said!
Hasn't someone invented a language pill yet?
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Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:48 pm
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strippersrus
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Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 4262
Location: tenerife
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They do take English Natives into spanish schools as teachers of English. No spanish is required as the only language spoken in the class would be English....
BUT......Out of the 2 options you posted....foot reflexology for me...lol
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Where the party starts.....
www.tenerifehennights.com |
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Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:56 pm
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andyfowles
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Location: Woking, Home of McLaren F1 Racing. Driven by the winner of the F1 drivers championship 2008.
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I think that foot reflexology is the answer out of your two options, since you would probably get more returning customers, providing they can still walk  However once you've taught English (up to whatever level you can) that person knows that level of English.
Beware of the 'red tape' and time scales needed to set up a business in Tenerife though. I'm sure Karl / Rob and others can add info on that.
You should have added a poll to this thread so we could all vote for which one we thought was best
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Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:23 pm
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Vision River
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Joined: 12 Jul 2008
Posts: 222
Location: Europe
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| Post subject: Walking Customers |
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| andyfowles wrote: | | I think that foot reflexology is the answer out of your two options, since you would probably get more returning customers, providing they can still walk |
.... well, if I am not pissed at the customer, they should still be able to walk .... (just kidding!)
| andyfowles wrote: | | You should have added a poll to this thread so we could all vote for which one we thought was best |
Yes, I considered it. Why didn't I? Because of not being certain of the rules and attitudes towards polls and not wanting to take time to read through the rules again! I am glad you suggested it. Not to give you the responsibility if someone doesn't like it, but frankly it is more comfortable to have an open door.... Thanks! One poll coming up.... |
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Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:52 am
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jenny
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Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 5288
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| bardofely wrote: | | Before I moved over here I was going to Spanish classes. I also have many books, which are OK for learning grammar and vocabulary but putting any of this into practice in a real life conversation is another matter. Also what is in a book or a course may not be what is used here! |
It does give you a basis though. Don't get disheartened. Animo...
| bardofely wrote: | | Plus I have difficulty understanding spoken words and asking people to repeat what they've said doesn't really work well if you still don't get it. |
Instead of asking them to repeat it, perhaps you could say "Me lo puede decir de otra manera, que no le entiendo" (could you say it in another way as I don't understand you). Or "Puede repetirlo pero más lento" (please could you repeat it but slower).
| bardofely wrote: | | I find that if I get what I'm saying right this can then cause the person being spoken to to assume I am fluent when I am anything but and they respond with some quickly spoken sentence that I can't understand. I am often OK with written Spanish because I can see it and have time to digest it. |
If you have learnt it from a book then it is normal that when you read it you will understand it better. My mum is the same.
| bardofely wrote: | | People give all sorts of advice like you have to mix with Spanish speakers to really get it but when I do I find that in a social setting I simply fail to understand a lot thats being said and allow the talkers to talk amongst themselves. |
From what you say it would appear that you are trying to understand when several people are having a conversation in Spanish. This is really hard, even when you understand quite a bit of Spanish. If I recommend people try to mix with Spanish speakers, I don't mean several at a time, I mean one (or max two). If you have Spanish friends (which I know you do), then arrange to meet and try to talk to one of them at a time (not as a group) as you will have more confidence if you know them quite well. This is what I found was the easiest way to practice.
| bardofely wrote: | | This means that I don't pick up anything much from listening and the experience is not enjoyable because I am unable to join in. Mind, I have the same problem in English - that I find it difficult to get involved in group conversations - so often I may appear as someone without a lot to say but other times I end up saying too much. Being a very shy person, which I am, doesn't help either. |
I always found that a little Dutch courage helped 
| bardofely wrote: | | I purposely moved up north not just because I prefer it but because I thought it would help me learn Spanish. It has a bit but not as much as I had hoped. |
It takes time. Don't expect to become fluent in a few months, especially if you are not talking/listening to it all day.
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Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17
I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be. |
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Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:41 am
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jenny
Senior Moderator
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 5288
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| Post subject: Re: English Teaching or Foot Reflexology? |
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| Vision River wrote: | For the fun of putting out the question --
Which of these services, in your opinion, would people on Tenerife be more interested in:
Foot reflexology or English teaching/tutoring?
I am certified and experienced in both and we are moving to the island in one month. |
We have a company advertising reflexology on our directory: http://www.sun4free.com/directory/tenerifebusiness479.htm Perhaps you could contact them and talk to them about the demand. I know that there are a lot of alternative therapies available on the island but don't know how popular they are (or how much of a living the practitioners make).
Regarding English teaching, you could do this privately if you wish or could try to become a teaching assistant (especially if you have qualifications). I can let you have an email address for the (English) man who decides who gets these jobs if you are interested. I know several people who have done this and you do not need to know Spanish. One girl who taught said that the school she was in preferred that she didn't speak Spanish as, like you said, the children had to ask her things in English.
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Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17
I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be. |
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Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:53 am
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rob
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Joined: 08 Aug 2004
Posts: 7708
Location: Tenerife
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| Vision River wrote: | | bardofely wrote: | | ....Plus I have difficulty understanding spoken words and asking people to repeat what they've said doesn't really work well if you still don't get it. I find that if I get what I'm saying right this can then cause the person being spoken to to assume I am fluent when I am anything but and they respond with some quickly spoken sentence that I can't understand. I am often OK with written Spanish because I can see it and have time to digest it..... |
Yeah, same here. In Spain a few years ago, I could ask for directions in Spanish but when they were given I had no clue as to what was said!
Hasn't someone invented a language pill yet? |
The simplest way to ask for directions (or anything else) is to NOT say "Where is XYZ" but to say "Is this the way to XYZ" that way you'll get a yes or no answer.
Simple.
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Who am I? Follow the myspacetenerife link under my avatar.
Remember: You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you stop laughing. |
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Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:04 am
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bardofely
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Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 3292
Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
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Jenny wrote: "From what you say it would appear that you are trying to understand when several people are having a conversation in Spanish. This is really hard, even when you understand quite a bit of Spanish."
Yes, that's the situation - a table of Spanish speakers in a bar or over a meal and I catch a few words here and there and that's about it!
Thanks for your advice, Jenny!
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Find out more about me here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=10 |
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Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:06 am
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rob
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Posts: 7708
Location: Tenerife
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Getting back to the English v reflexology question..... Surely reflexology is supposed to be able to cure the bodies ills and therefore you'll be continually searching for new clients as with English teaching?
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Who am I? Follow the myspacetenerife link under my avatar.
Remember: You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you stop laughing. |
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Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:21 am
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