Experience Dolce Vita at its best! Beautiful weather, amazing architecture, and world-class museums attract tourists from all over the world.
The historical center of Florence is Piazza Della Signoria, where you will find gorgeous and well-maintained structures such as Palazzo Vecchio (old city hall), Tribunale Della Mercanzia (The old Tribunal of Merchandise), and Michelangelo’s statue of David.
At the square, there are many restaurants and cafes where you can have a taste of Tuscany’s famous cuisine. If you are on a budget, you can get a gelato and sit on a bench or walk a few blocks to Ponte Vecchio for an amazing sunset view over the river.
The Santa Maria Duomo cathedral is another place worth a visit. This huge Gothic cathedral will give you goose-bumps as you make your way in.
If you’re up for a little exercise, try climbing the 414 stairs leading to the top of the Campanile- Bell tower!
Last but not the least, you can find the best paintings and art from the renaissance at the Galleria Degli Uffizi. Ancient sculptures, medieval, and modern art made by legendary artists such as Michelangelo, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael are found at the gallery.
Florence is also distinguished for its great shopping experience, perhaps the finest in Europe. There are some great open-air market places with shops that sell fine leather goods and jewellery.
Italy is a very popular TESOL destination for North Americans with an Italian background. A EU passport and a 100-hour TESOL certificate are the minimum requirements for teaching English in Italy.
Rio Carnival
/in Brazil /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesCarnival is a Christian festive season celebrated in many countries, and the carnival at Rio de Janeiro attracts 5 million visitors each year because it is the most fabulous and colourful of them all!
Samba schools from different neighborhoods practice all year round and prepare the pageant for the 4-day celebration. Tourists can watch the samba parade from the stands and dance, or go to designated areas where there are street bands and parties.
If you are teaching English in South America, most languages schools are closed for the summer holidays during the first week of February, so this is a great time to visit Rio!
Ontesol – Internationally Recognized TESOL Courses Since 2003
Spring Waters in Turkey
/in Turkey /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesDid you know that Turkey enjoys one of the richest sources of thermal waters in the world? There are approximately 1300 thermal springs throughout the country!
One of the most visited spring waters is the beautiful Sacred Pool at the Pamukkale spa. This pool is littered with marble columns from the Roman Temple of Apollo and surrounded by natural gleaming white travertines built by calcium deposits over the ages.
Other popular spas are Hotel Karavansray in Bursa, The Yavlova hot spings on the Marmara coast, and Balcova hot springs on the shores of the Agamennon, and Izmir Cesme on the Agean coast.
Teach English in Turkey with an accredited TESOL certificate.
Friendliest TESOL Cities
/in Experienced ESL teachers /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesTeachers choose their TESOL destination for its pay, weather, nice beaches, and good food, but how does a city’s friendliness weigh into a teacher’s decision and how do you measure it? To answer this question we look into an article by Travel + Escape that ranks the friendliest cities according to safety, cleanliness, and cost of living.
1-Lisbon, Portugal: “Best value for your money”.
2-Vienna, Austria: “Ease of transportation”.
3-Cancun, Mexico: “Friendliest locals”.
4-Singapore, Singapore: “Cleanest city in the world”.
5-Dubrovnik, Croatia: “One of the safest cities in the world”.
6-Zurich, Switzerland: “One of the top 3 safest cities in the world”.
7-Budapest, Hungary: “Best bang for your buck”.
8-Munich, Germany: “Top 3 with best transportation”.
Source: travelandescape.ca/2013/01/worlds-friendliest-cities/
This year we celebrate Ontesol’s 10th anniversary! Accredited TESOL certification since 2003.
The Mighty Iguazu Falls
/in Argentina /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesThe Iguazu Falls marks the border between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The main fall, known as the Devil’s Throat, is 82 meters high and 150 meters wide. Its immense beauty is magnified by approximately 200 smaller waterfalls that surround the u-shaped chasm and the abundant sub-tropical vegetation that remains protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Note that these beautiful waterfalls are situated in a vast natural park. If you are teaching English in Argentina, the province of Misiones is a few hours by plane from the major TESOL cities located in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and Mendoza. If you are in Brazil, the closest cities with a large TESOL industry are Curitiba, Rio De Janeiro, and Sao Paolo.
Dolphin Watching at Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
/in Thailand /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesThailand is a tropical paradise with beautiful beaches, clear waters, magical rainforests, and exotic animals.
Many TESOL teachers go to Southern Thailand for a great weekend adventure. When booking an eco-tour, make sure that instructors and travel agencies abide by the rules that care for the animals and their environment. Here are some questions to consider: What are standard international practices? Are there any local regulations? Is the agency certified? How much space do animals need from the boat? How harmful are motor engines? Where are the restricted areas?
Here is a video of a school of Dolphins swimming across Phi Phi Islands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxcE6mo2Puo
Have fun!
Golden Ring TESOL Russia
/in Russia /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesThe Golden Ring is home to Russia’s oldest and most precious monuments. This ring of ancient towns has played a very important role in the creation of the Russian Orthodox Church, and preserves the memory of the most significant events in Russian history.
The original Golden Ring cities are Sergiyev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy, Rostov Velikiy, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Gus-Khrustalny, Suzdal, and Vladimir.
This region represents 1,000 years of rich Russian history. Some of the most beautiful sites include Savior’s Cathedral (1152-1157) the Resurrection Church of Kostroma (1652), the 15th century Trinity Lavra monastery pictured below, Church of Elijah the Prophet (17th-18th century), and the Grand Kremlin Palace.
Summer is the best time to visit the Golden Ring. The best way to reach the Golden Ring is via Moscow.
Ontesol – Teach English in Russia with an accredited TESOL Diploma .
TESOL Tourism: Cappadocia, Turkey
/in Turkey /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesIf you are teaching English in Turkey, you must take a weekend trip to Cappadocia! This place is a historical, archaeological, and natural wonder.
Cappadocia is held very high in the hearts of Christians because it played a very significant role in protecting and expanding the religion. The Christians that had escaped from the Roman soldiers hid here and spread Christianity further.
Cappadocia is a haven for tourists who are interested in history, archeology, and adventure. The Chimney-Shaped rock formations attract more and more tourists every year. If there is one place you should take a ride on a hot air balloon, it is Cappadocia!
The top rated hotels are:
1. Serinn House
2. Gamirasu Cave Hotel
3. Sacred House 81
4. Esbelli Evi Cave Hotel
5. Aravan Evi Boutique Hotel
Teach English in Turkey with Ontesol’s 100-hour TESOL certificate.
TESOL Tourism Chengdu
/in China /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesThe Chinese people voted Chengdu as the nation’s second most liveable city in 2006.
The traditional wooden architecture and tree-wrapped streets are being rapidly given up for glassy skylines, new apartment complexes and flashing-neon-malls. Amidst its slipshod attitude and glimpses of ‘old’ Chengdu, it’s hard to believe that this is China’s fifth-most populous city.
Beyond this rapidly growing city, you can find some of China’s most beautiful natural treasures. Special attractions include the Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which has built a more natural environment than the typical zoo for China’s natural treasure.
Mount Quincheng is a World Heritage Site that consists of a natural scenic area and a holy mountain of Taoism. It is easy to reach via high speed train from Chengdu to Qingcheng San (return ticket only costs 30RMB) and a mini bus from the station (10RMB).
Not far from Chengdu city is the Huanglong Valley and its stunning Five Color Pond below the snow peaks (PICTURE).
China is a great place to teach English and travel. The pay is very good for those with a university degree and a 100-hour TESOL certificate, so qualified teachers can visit its beautiful hidden gems on their free time.
TESOL Tortuguero Limon, Costa Rica
/in Costa Rica /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesCosta Rica is a small country with a very diverse climate. When the raining season arrives to San Jose and the Pacific, TESOL teachers can visit Limon and enjoy sunny weather on the Caribbean Sea.
As with the rest of Costa Rica, Limon enjoys a vast natural reserve. The Tortuguero is a beautiful national park that stands between the Caribbean Sea and fresh water wetlands.
Take advantage advantage of the rainy season and go between the months of July and August when hundreds of turtles come on shore at night to nest their eggs and return to see. The Tortuguero is an adventure that you cannot miss!
You can book a weekend tour for $300, which includes all meals, the bus ride, a 1-hour boat ride through the vast wetlands to get to the Tortuguero, lodging at an eco-friendly site, a tour through the rainforest where you will see plenty of beautiful species of birds like the Tucan, monkeys, frogs and other not-so-cute reptiles, and a walk on the beach to watch the sea turtles nest their eggs.
TESOL Florence
/in Italy /by Ontesol- Online TESOL CoursesExperience Dolce Vita at its best! Beautiful weather, amazing architecture, and world-class museums attract tourists from all over the world.
The historical center of Florence is Piazza Della Signoria, where you will find gorgeous and well-maintained structures such as Palazzo Vecchio (old city hall), Tribunale Della Mercanzia (The old Tribunal of Merchandise), and Michelangelo’s statue of David.
At the square, there are many restaurants and cafes where you can have a taste of Tuscany’s famous cuisine. If you are on a budget, you can get a gelato and sit on a bench or walk a few blocks to Ponte Vecchio for an amazing sunset view over the river.
The Santa Maria Duomo cathedral is another place worth a visit. This huge Gothic cathedral will give you goose-bumps as you make your way in.
If you’re up for a little exercise, try climbing the 414 stairs leading to the top of the Campanile- Bell tower!
Last but not the least, you can find the best paintings and art from the renaissance at the Galleria Degli Uffizi. Ancient sculptures, medieval, and modern art made by legendary artists such as Michelangelo, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael are found at the gallery.
Florence is also distinguished for its great shopping experience, perhaps the finest in Europe. There are some great open-air market places with shops that sell fine leather goods and jewellery.
Italy is a very popular TESOL destination for North Americans with an Italian background. A EU passport and a 100-hour TESOL certificate are the minimum requirements for teaching English in Italy.