Archive for July, 2008

25
Jul

Online English Teaching Instruction

   Posted by: admin    in Online TEFL

Teaching English abroad is one of the most rewarding summer  or post-college jobs. No other job is as in demand than the teacher of English worldwide, and few pay better for recent grads looking to move around from place to place every few weeks or month. In these tough economic times, it indeed seems practical to pay for any kind of prolonged travel with the income from a job taken while abroad – and TEFL fits that bill: practical.

 

TEFL certification is recognized worldwide as a stamp of credibility for teachers of English to speakers of other languages. No other certification is more comprehensive, so those who hold the distinction are respected and highly desired to fill jobs as English teachers in schools and in private homes. But getting the TEFL certification has been a hassle recently. It required partaking in several hours of classroom work at great expense to the student – the cost of food, transportation, and work missed in addition to the cost of the course itself. Thanks to advancements in internet and internet education technology, Online TEFL courses are available now at a fraction of the price of their classroom counterparts. Since there is no physical meeting place for the class and since software materials are infinitely scalable, institutes that offer TEFL certification are able to offer the online courses at a lower price than a physical course – a win-win for both the instructional company and the student, who gets to save money and learn at their own convenience.

 

For student still in college who are planning to travel after graduation, and especially for those with a bad case of senioritis, getting a TEFL certification online is ideal not only because it guarantees income that will support any globetrotting endeavors but also because – since class is at the students’ convenience – it ensures that the student is attentive and focused when he or she actually chooses to receive instruction, whereas in a physical class with a set schedule, the student is often not mentally tuned in to what is going on.  

 

In all, it’s safe to say that the advent of online TEFL certification is a good thing for would-be travelers, would-be learners of English abroad, and the institutes that offer the certification. What remains to be seen is what other kind of certification can be offered online in the future that will make learning more convenient for those looking to acquire specialized credentials like a TEFL accreditation.

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One of the most overlooked gift options when the holiday comes around can be the gift basket. Sure, gift baskets can be popular around Christmas time, but what about the other occasions throughout the year? You can personalize a basket for someone’s birthday – include a small engraved gift or a birthday balloon along with some of their favorite treats and a bottle of wine.

Or get creative with a “Get Well” gift basket – send a package of snacks and, depending on the nature of their injury, some band-aids, ointment, and medicine. Being a little clever can bring a smile to someone’s face while on the road to recovery. Or perhaps you are looking for a romantic evening with your significant other. While not a holiday, it can give you the opportunity to give something different. Surprise him or her with a basket filled with a bottle of champagne and some gourmet chocolates.

Giving gourmet gift baskets at various times of the year is a great way to show originality and creativity through your gift, and it stands as a thoughtful gift without having to break the bank to show someone that you care about them.

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2
Jul

Give the Gift of Steak

   Posted by: admin    in Food & Wine Gifts, Gourmet Gifts

You order shoes, books, and movies online. Why not order steak online, too?  Lot of e-tailers have popped up and started selling some of the finest USDA Prime beef, aged and cut to perfection by some of the country’s most renowned butchers. When I’m looking for a gift for a business associate, nothing beats a good Midwestern Grain-fed steak like the ones coming out of certain Chicago-based sites. You can be sure that a good steak will translate into a repeat business.

With the emergence of the web as the dominant space for mail order commerce, it’s no surprise that former print-based companies like Omaha Steaks are getting a run for their money in the online forum, with competitors popping up from Chicago to Tucson, all pushing tender, marbleized beef that is better than Lobel’s and better than Peter Luger’s. To buy steaks online is to save a great deal of money over going out to a steakhouse to enjoy Prime or grass-fed steaks that are aged and cooked properly. So in the mail order steak world, it’s out with the old and in with the new, which means better prices and better meat for us.

One of the most crucial parts of maintaining long-term business relationships is to always make sure to thank clients and associates for their part in helping your business to succeed. I have found that a simple, and relatively cheap thank you gift like wine, flowers, or some good old-fashioned dry aged steaks will do the trick. Gourmet gift baskets are also a great option if you’re feeling a little bit indecisive. Full of goodies like olive oil, fruit spreads, and fine cheeses and meats, you can be sure that no one will ever accuse you of being ungrateful.

After we took a tour of the plant, master butcher David Weber took us to the aging room, where whole sides of beef hung to age. He demonstrated how different muscles join together to form the most flavorful steaks. Among his picks for the best cheap steak were the hanger steak (aka “butcher’s filet mignon”) and flat iron steak, cut from blade portion of the chuck. After making us privy to these best meat deals, he gave us the website of a great online retailer for mail order steaks, grass-fed and Prime. In all, it was an informative tour and well worth the trip.

Love beef, but hate growing broke each grilling season due to the high cost of prime cuts? Next time you’re looking for a cut to throw on the grill, consider forgoing the traditional strip steak, porterhouse steak, flank steak, skirt steak, and filet mignon to try the best steak IMO flavor-wise: sirloin. The plain ol’ sirloin steak is arguably the most flavorful steak on the cow (without aging) and can be cut thick to get a crispy seared crust on the grill while the inside stays juicy and flavorful. A number of online butchers sell great sirloins cut from only the best USDA Choice grain-fed cattle.

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