"Do You Speak English?"You look up from your small plastic seat, from the noodle stand at the side of the road. You see a pale - and remarkably clean looking traveler, fully laden with everything but the kitchen sink hanging from their back (and front.....as a counterbalance - to stop them ending up on the ground wriggling about.... like an up-turned turtle). You can smell the distinctive aroma of generous amounts of "Skeetoleene" - applied to every square cm of exposed skin - as they bake, red faced in the heat - dearly clutching onto and scrutinizing their lonely Planet guidebook..... the "bible". Then, you here it...... "Do you speak English?" Casting your mind back, you think to yourself "ahhhh....those were the days..." Or maybe, “Why do we do it...?" You then check your watch, do up your tie and jump into an ice cold taxi. Rattle off some of the local lingo, impressively, to the driver and head back to your adoring fans at work....... Your backpacker days might be over... or at least on hold - preparing for that last great endeavor, but entering into the ESL world can be just as daunting and uncomfortable for some people. Whether you're a seasoned traveler, on a short contract working holiday, retiring abroad, licensed teacher, escaping the 9-5 life, or a married expat....we all share the same thing in common - the job....and being the "foreigner" in a new country. We all experience a bit of culture shock eventually. Some are affected more than others, so we need the best resources and advice we can find to help us enjoy our new lives overseas to the fullest.....and not flip out, lost in the wilderness..... If you're a student, maybe you feel a lack of motivation - you're spending a lot on tuition, don't feel like you're progressing and don't know why? Well......don't worry my huckleberry friends.....all I'll say is..... You've discovered a golden nugget today....
Intrepid ESL was created by "The one and only" master of the ESL universe.....Jack Jones. What do you mean you've never heard of me!! Ok...enough sarcasm.... Anyway....after traveling the globe for the last ten years holding positions in as many ESL related areas as I could squeeze in....spanning from: Bearded-traveler-on-the-bread-line in India and Thailand....to immaculate, corporate, pin-stripe-suited-soju-guzzling-schmoozer, to running a private tutoring empire in Tokyo......teacher trainer, examiner, slave trader...I mean...recruitment consultant..he he....Director of Studies......blah blah blah..... 30 pounds lighter and a lot wiser, I decided it was finally time to either start my own school or recruitment company. Now being a bit disillusioned from the business side of the TEFL world, I decided to assemble a merry band of men and women to create a Website that would connect teachers and learners from around the world.....and get the real word out there.... The Idea The aim was for teachers and students to share knowledge and experiences - in and out of the classroom - find the best deals and quality resources out there....and improve the negatives of the business in the process, making sure the fun and adventure of traveling, teaching and learning stays alive. What's that you say...? There's already a large, well known and established "cafe" out there? :( Yes..I know....but there's always room for a small and friendly, community based website.....right? We're not trying to reinvent the wheel....just, support the existing community with a more personal service and keep it turning smoothly. Don't you just love the words "consolidation" "recommended" and "time-saving?" :) Who Are We? As the name implies, we have an intrepid perspective on ESL life. We are here to help make it easier, more cost effective...and...Oh yeah.....fun - Which is one of the reasons why you got into this game in the first place....right? 'We' are a small group of experienced teachers, bilingual students, DOS, academic managers and recruiters, who have put our head's together to find solutions for getting the job done - in the most effective and stress free way. And if I don't have the answer....I know someone who does! But it's not all about us! The key that will turn this Website into a very useful resource, is the greater emphasis on student and teacher input and communication - cutting out the "middle man". The purpose of this site is to be more about the people who make the ESL business....not who do the business. Who We Aren't Intrepid isn't another ESL "cafe" so you won't get handed a bad cup of coffee, slapped on the back and directed into a forum to get lost....and possibly attacked by the punctuation police. Sorry forum lovers.... ;) We also don't want to be a giant directory of outbound links or a database of a million outdated lesson plans....click..click..click! Give your index finger a rest.... We're not a large faceless corporation with lots of employees' salaries to pay. We're not a recruiting agent, and we aren't swayed by affiliations or advertising revenues either. However, hopefully (with your help)we can still provide you with everything they can....with no added charge or B.S. The Mission..... This Website has now grown from a one man band, to a small team that span the four corners of the globe - who are all kind enough to lend their expertise for free. Because of that, and the fact that we operate purely online with low costs - covered by vetted advertisers - we can keep this site FREE....and don't have to hit our viewers with memberships and lock important info and resources away with a big key......:( We hope with the increased participation of students and teachers from around the world, we can get to the heart of the matter and make learning and teaching English as a second language, more accessible, affordable, easier, satisfying and fun along the way.... Keep the dream alive! wherever you are.... All the Best Jack Jones
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