Esl Unscripted | Exploring The Lives Of English Language Learners, Teachers, Expats And Non-native Speakers Around The World. |

Wayne joins us in episode 19 to discuss some of the tenets of Business English learning.   A 10-year veteran biz Eng teacher, Wayne has worked with both small and large corporate clients including Samsung, Hyundai, SK, and Yuhan-Kimberly in South Korea.   In this fairly short discussion, we touch on goal-setting, cultural awareness, presentation skill development, reflection, and overcoming "fossilized", or long-term, errors that have become second nature.   It's a very helpful chat for both Biz and general English students who will eventually get into the international business world.   If you have a question for Wayne or would like to address any of the language we use in this show, please visit www.eslunscripted.com/blog and  find episode 19's show notes.   Enjoy the show!

In E18, Pam joins us from Kuwait! Originally from Sacramento, California, USA, Pam has spent the past nine years teaching ESL/EFL in both South Korea and Vietnam and is now making her mark as a science teacher in Kuwait.   As an American, life in the Middle East is always intriguing to me as it’s a part of the world we don’t normally spend time in. Pam shares lots of details about her everyday life, the culture, the dress, and some of the cultural “faux pas”, or dos and don’ts if you’re planning to visit.   As always, please leave a comment or question for Pam about life in Kuwait, or any of the language we use in our conversation. Please visit www.eslunscripted.com/blog and choose episode 18 to do this and find out more about this show.   Enjoy!

In this very casual and informal episode 17, we chat with Olga and Sergey who are Russian expats living in South Korea. Olga spends much of her time studying Korean while Sergey is busy working as a software engineer at Samsung Electronics.   Among other topics, we discuss Sergey’s working life as a foreigner at Samsung, their English and Korean language journey and a few reasons why Korea is a very comfortable country to live in. This show is filled with lots of laughs and a completely casual tone. Their Russian accents and dialects will also be part of the fun and challenge of episode 17.   If you have questions for either of our guests, please visit episode 17’s show notes page at www.eslunscripted.com/blog.   Enjoy the show!

Episode 16 welcomes Borja to ESL Unscripted. Borja is an international student from Madrid, Spain. He is currently studying Business Administration as a one-semester exchange student at the University of Macau in Macau, China.   In our chat with Borja, we discuss his move to China, the kindness of the Chinese people, and how studying abroad will bring him numerous benefits when he goes on the job hunt back in Spain. We also talk about learning Chinese and English and how four months of speaking mostly English (not Spanish!) have helped make traveling the world so much easier. Borja’s very detailed accounts (stories) of his experiences abroad are excellent listening practice and his Spanish accent is a challenge for your ears!   Welcome, Borja! Enjoy the show. :)

Episode 15 is a very short conversation with Ali, a native of Pakistan who is currently living, working, and studying at Tongwon University in South Korea. In just a few minutes with him, Ali shares with us his impressions of Korea, how he studies Korean, and his hopes for the future. This episode is light on details but heavy on great, authentic listening practice. I hope you find it beneficial in that way, too. :) Please visit www.eslunscripted.com for more information on this and all episodes! Enjoy the show!

Sean joins us in episodes 13 and 14 to discuss many strategies and tactics for developing better listening skills.   In episode 14, we discuss a few of the many listening strategies available to students. Sean gives us great pointers on how to make a stronger plan for the before, during, and after of a listening session. We also talk about how to stay motivated when the listening exercises aren't exciting or you don't know much about the topic. These topics and more will give you a boost in confidence to tackle any listening activity with skill!   A native of South Africa, Sean holds a Master's Degree in TESOL and currently instructs at the University of Macau in Macau, China.   For the show notes on this episode, including links to the resources mentioned in the show, please visit www.eslunscripted.com and click on episode 14.   Enjoy!

Sean joins us in episodes 13 and 14 to discuss many strategies and tactics for developing better listening skills. In episode 13, we chat about how to improve your listening when you don't have much time to study. Sean gives his advice on TWO big mistakes learners make when they sit down for listening practice and what you can do to avoid them. He also makes lots of suggestions for studying when you're always"on the go", or not able to study at home. A native of Cape Town, South Africa, Sean holds a Master's Degree in TESOL and currently instructs at the University of Macau in Macau, China. Please visit www.eslunscripted.com for more information on this episode. Enjoy the show!

Episode 12 is our first official student episode. Pauline, a Sungkyunkwan University student from Saint-Raphael, France, chats about why she wanted to study in Korea, her life at school, the big differences between a Korean university and a French one, and, of course, the cultural differences she's had to get used to. South Korea is becoming a popular choice among international students due its rise in the world economy, unique culture, and its relatively low education costs. She also shares with us her story on learning English, Chinese, and Korean as well as her study routine. It's an informative chat with a bit more insight into life in Korea and what you are likely to experience if you come to Korea to study. Please visit www.eslunscripted.com and click on episode 12 for more information about this chat. Enjoy the show!

Episode 11 is our chat with Angela, an American expat who’s been living in South Korea for the past five years. Angela is the founder of the Suwon Newbies, a Facebook group dedicated to helping foreigners settle nicely into their new lives by providing answers to the common challenges you might face when you first move to a new city/country. Where is the best place to shop? Where can I get my computer fixed? How can I pay my utility bills? These are just some of the questions Angela and her team are so gracious to answer for anyone new to the area. It’s a really fun chat and perfect for anyone who is asking the question, “How can I get involved in helping travelers or expats adjust to life in my city/country?”   I further wish that all of these expat episodes will give you the kick you need to leave the comforts of home and get out on the road of life. Learning a new culture and language is just part of all the fun you can have by giving it all up and trying something new.   Please visit our website and this

Episode 10 is my final chat from Vietnam. :( But it’s a good one. Michael is a Shorin-Ryu Seibukan Karate master hailing from Berlin, Germany. He operates the only certified Shorin-Ryu Karate Dojo in Vietnam and is a true representation of the art. He previously traveled to Vietnam every year starting in 1998 and has called Saigon his home since 2011.   In our chat, we discuss:   Shorin-ryu Karate: what it is, and about teaching this Okinawa, Japan-based martial art in VN The cultural awareness necessary to operate a business in Vietnam/Asia Feeling at home in VN: Everything Michael loves about life in VN The one cultural difference he still can’t get used to VN food Acting in VN film and TV Learning English in East Germany (or not!) His strictly autonomous journey learning Vietnamese   For links to Michael’s Facebook page and a few further notes, check out the official show notes page for episode 10 at:   http://eslunscripted.com/2015/10/episode-10-vn-michael-expat-germany/   Enjoy the show!

Episode 09 is part 2 with Ian and Ben and this one is all about being teachers and students of language. The guys share lots of tips on studying independently, the importance of being a responsible student, how to not waste time studying too much vocabulary, the need to imitate or mimic an accent, and a lot more! You may want to listen to this one twice (2x!) because there's so much here. Please check out the show notes page for more information on today's show and be sure to leave a question or comment for myself, Ian, or Ben. http://eslunscripted.com/2015/10/episode-09-vn-ian-ben-pt-2-teacher-england Thank you as always and enjoy!

**** Version 2 **** This episode replaces version 1, which had a serious editing issue that has now been resolved. Please check this new version with an additional ~4 minutes of discussion. Episode 08 is part 1 of 2 with Ian and Ben, English expats living and working at Eastern International University in Vietnam. In part 1, Ian and Ben share their perspectives on the culture of Vietnam and some of the cultural differences they experienced upon arrival, including the traffic, noise and drinking culture. They also begin to share some of their favorite classroom activities, but the majority of the teaching conversation comes in part 2. Be sure to visit the show notes page on our website, www.eslunscripted.com Enjoy the show!

Episode 07 is a nice chat with Ivy, a 4th year university student from Ho Chi Minh City. She is our second local guest from Vietnam and will test your ears once again with her strong accent and speaking manner.   Ivy was a student of mine from three years ago when I lived and worked in HCMC. We kept in touch over the years and she was so nice to meet me for coffee during my very short trip back there earlier this month. During our very informal chat, I asked Ivy if she’d mind being interviewed for the show and, although nervous, she agreed.   Here are some of the key points from our discussion:   Working 7 days per week Being a university student in Vietnam Favorite places to go out with friends The rules for motorbike riding The lifestyle in Vietnam Her favorite TV shows for learning English The hardest part about studying English in Vietnam Her favorite classroom activity   Here are some links to the TV shows Ivy mentions and the game, Charades:   How I Met Your Mother   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt046064

Episode 06 is a long chat with Glen, an expat from Australia, who has lived in Ho Chi Minh City since 2012. Glen was recently married to his girlfriend, Hang, who was also sitting with us during the recording of this interview.   Glen is our first Australian guest, which will give you a great opportunity to listen to the Australian English accent. It is also our first alcohol episode, which means we spoke a bit more informally with each other. This is great for high-level students who want experience listening to two native speakers talking to each other.   Among other conversations, Glen tells us about his move to Vietnam, riding motorbikes, drinking coffee and what it’s like to work in a Vietnamese company. There are quite a few funny stories mixed into this 47+ minute interview.   All topics:   *How he came to Vietnam as a student   *The day he left Australia   *The day he arrived in HCMC   *His thoughts on motorbikes   *University life in Australia v. Vietnam   *Vietnamese Coffee    *Communication and th

Episode 05 is our first local show. Anna joins us to talk about the history of the 36 streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, her perfect boyfriend, getting married in Vietnam, the differences between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as her daily routine. Anna is Vietnamese and speaks English with a heavy accent. Consider this a big challenge to see how much you can understand of what she says. I was lucky to have her as my street food tour guide. We ate lots of local food and Anna's energetic and caring personality made the whole afternoon feel very special. Many thanks to Anna for spending so much time giving me a peak into her life and the life of Hanoi. If you have a question about this episode, Anna, or something she talks about, please leave a comment or voicemail below and we will be glad to give you more information. Enjoy the show!

Episode 04 brings us David Edwards, an IELTS teacher and examiner hailing from the Manchester area of England. He currently instructs at the Reliable English School (RES) and previously spent three years at the Royal Melbourne Institue of Technology (RMIT), one of the top universities in Vietnam. With five years of life in Hanoi, Vietnam under his belt, he shares with us some impressions on Vietnamese English speakers, his favorite website resources for students, and his non-tech recommendation for self-studying.

Episode 03 is our first teacher episode! We talk to Anthony Schmidt, an American teaching at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Anthony chats with us today about some of the mistakes students make with their study habits, some great self-study tips, and what to do when you "max out", or reach a point when you don't feel like you're making progress. And! Some activities you can do to self-study at home or when walking on the street. All of this and so much more in Episode 03! Enjoy~ :)

Episode 2 follows the journey of Ian (Youngsuk) Oh as he starts his own English study group, WCT, in Suwon, South Korea. Find out how you can do the same no matter where you are!

In Episode 1, ESL Unscripted discusses living and working in South Korea. Our guest is Francois Perrot, the CFO of Autoliv, Korea. Francois shares his perspective on the cultural differences between Korea and France, his experience with learning languages and his daily life in Seoul. 

This episode is an introduction to the ESL Unscripted podcast! The who/what/when/where/why/how of our purpose. :)