I teach English in Kinmen, Taiwan, a rural island home to beautiful natural beaches, large evergreen pastures of land, tropical birds, and lots of cows—lots and lots of cows. Literally a million miles from celebrating Earth Day the way the United States honors nature. Kinmen’s nature is very well preserved, and when I want to […]
Raven Tukes
Hello!
My name is Raven Tukes and I am currently a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Kinmen, Taiwan. Starting Fall 2016, I will be a graduate student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education pursuing my Masters in International Education Policy.
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Taiwan Is a Great Place to Teach English
Rewind two years ago I would have never thought I would be in Taiwan teaching English to students. However 10 months into my experience, I’m convinced that Taiwan is a great place for Americans to get a break from home and experience a vibrant culture and education system. Culture of Appreciation for the Teaching Profession– […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education, Uncategorized
Special Needs but No Special Resources
In Taiwanese society, the “group” is more important than the individual. This is very salient in the classroom. At my school, students are given IQ tests to measure their academic abilities against their fellow peers (because here, everyone needs to be on the same level) and when students perform subpar they are often classified, quite […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies
5 Fun, Quick and Easy Elementary Classroom Management Ideas!
Disciplining students doesn’t have to be tiresome and stressful. It can be fun! Here are 5 fun classroom management tactics to use in your elementary classroom. Erase the Animal (2nd-5th grade)-Before each class I let my students decide what animal they want me to draw on the board. If they are showing positive behavior, I […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners, Featured, Instructional Strategies
Teaching Gender Equality In Taiwan
On January 30, 2016, I had the pleasure of attending a social justice workshop with my co-teacher. While I was initially upset that this workshop would take place on a Saturday for 8 hours, in the end, I was delighted to have attended such a substantive professional development opportunity. The purpose of the workshop was […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners, Featured, Instructional Strategies, The Traveling Teacher
They’re Just Not That into Learning English
As educators, we all know that teaching has its ups and downs. Some days you love it, some days you feel defeated. Although the teaching profession here in Taiwan is widely revered and respected, and being an English teacher is a highly coveted role, the truth is that sometimes my students just aren’t that into […]
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5 Marketable Skills I’ve Acquired From Teaching English Abroad
During the last year that I’ve been teaching overseas, I’ve developed some skills that should help me land a job when I return home. Project development skills– Have you organized a school-wide holiday themed showcase? Established or coordinated a partnership with a school in another country? Devised your own English language curriculum that can be […]
Posted inUncategorized
5 Marketable Skills I've Acquired From Teaching English Abroad
During the last year that I’ve been teaching overseas, I’ve developed some skills that should help me land a job when I return home. Project development skills– Have you organized a school-wide holiday themed showcase? Established or coordinated a partnership with a school in another country? Devised your own English language curriculum that can be […]