TEFL Locations in India - Jobs & Contracts
Banking, General Facts, History, Language, Medical Insurance, People & Culture, Qualifications, Sending Money Home, Things to bring, Things to do, Getting Around, Getting There
Featured Listing
TEFL Course in India
International TEFL Certification Course in Kolkata, Kerala or Goa, India. English Teaching Jobs in India.
http://www.teflindia.in
Banking in India originated in the last decades of the 18th century. The oldest bank in existence in India is the State Bank of India, a government-owned bank that traces its origins back to June 1806 and that is the largest commercial bank in the country. Currently, India has 88 scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) - 27 public sector banks (that is with the Government of India holding a stake), 29 private banks (these do not have government stake; they may be publicly listed and traded on stock exchanges) and 31 foreign banks. They have a combined network of over 53,000 branches and 17,000 ATMs. You can use your international debit/credit cards at ATMs, which accept them, and at major retail outlets and restaurants.
Some of the Indian banks and foreign banks in India are listed below:
Abn Amro Bank
Allahabad Bank
American Express Bank
Andhra Bank
Bank of India
Canara Bank
Central Bank of India
Citibank
Corporation Bank
HDFC Bank
HSBC Bank
ICICI Bank
Indian Overseas Bank
Oriental Bank of Commerce
Punjab National Bank
State Bank of India (SBI)
Standard Chartered Bank
IDBI
United Bank of India
Axis bank
India lies in South Asia, between Pakistan, China and Nepal. To the north, it is bordered by the world's highest mountain chain. The capital of India is New Delhi, and the country’s largest cities are Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Delhi, and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).
India's population is one billion making it the second most populous country
after China. India is a fascinating country where people of many different
communities and religions live together in unity. The Indian population is
polygenetic and is an amazing amalgamation of various races and cultures.
It is impossible to find out the exact origin of Indian People. The species
known as Ramapithecus was found in the Siwalik foothills of north western
Himalayas. The species believed to be the first in the line of hominids (Human
Family) lived some 14 million years ago. Researchers have found that a species
resembling the Austrapithecus lived in India some 2 million years ago. Even this
discovery leaves an evolutionary gap of as much as 12 million years since
Ramapithecus.
There are many diverse ethnic groups among the people of India. The six main ethnic groups are as follows.
India is mainly an agricultural country, though it also has a large iron and steel industry and produces every type of manufactured goods.
India has a tropical weather. The subcontinent has eight climatic zones all of which only have the monsoon rains in common. It is possible to identify seasons, although these do not occur uniformly throughout South Asia. The Indian Meteorological Service divides the year into four seasons: the relatively dry, cool winter from December through February; the dry, hot summer from March through May; the southwest monsoon from June through September when the predominating southwest maritime winds bring rains to most of the country; and the northeast, or retreating, monsoon of October and November.
The medical care sector in India has witnessed an enormous growth in infrastructure in the private and voluntary sector. The private sector, which was very modest in the early stages, has now become a flourishing industry equipped with the most modern state-of-the-art technology at its disposal. India also has one of the largest pharmaceutical industries in the world. Hospitals are in a position to provide a variety of general as well as specialists services. These services are available at extremely competitive prices; encouraging patients not only from developing countries but also even from a number of developed ones to come to India for specialized treatment.
History
The people of India have had a continuous civilization since 2500 B.C. when
the inhabitants of the Indus River Valley developed an urban culture based on
commerce and sustained by agricultural trade. This civilization declined around
1500 B.C. probably due to ecological changes. Islam spread across the
subcontinent over a period of 500 years. In the 10th and 11th centuries, Turks
and Afghans invaded India and established sultanates in Delhi. In the early 16th
century, descendants of Genghis Khan swept across the Khyber Pass and
established the Mughal (Mogul) Dynasty, which lasted for 200 years. From the
11th to the 15th century southern India was dominated by Hindu Chola and
Vijayanagar Dynasties. During this time, the two systems--the prevailing Hindu
and Muslim--mingled leaving lasting cultural influences on each other.
The first group to invade India was the Aryans, who came out of the north in about 1500 BC. The Aryans brought with them strong cultural traditions that, miraculously, remain in force today. They spoke and wrote in a language called Sanskrit, which was later used in the first documentation of the Vedas. However, warriors and conquerors, the Aryans lived alongside Indus, introducing them to the caste system and establishing the basis of the Indian religions. The Aryans inhabited the northern regions for about 700 years, then moved further south and east when they developed iron tools and weapons. They eventually settled the Ganges valley and built large kingdoms throughout much of northern India.
The second great invasion into India occurred around 500 BC, when the Persian kings Cyrus and Darius, pushing their empire eastward, conquered the ever-prized Indus Valley. Compared to the Aryans, the Persian influence was marginal, perhaps because they were only able to occupy the region for a relatively brief period of about 150 years. The Greeks under Alexander the Great, who swept through the country as far as the Beas River, where he defeated king Porus and an army of 200 elephants in 326 BC, in turn conquered the Persians. The tireless, charismatic conqueror wanted to extend his empire even further eastward, but his own troops (undoubtedly exhausted) refused to continue. Alexander returned home, leaving behind garrisons to keep the trade routes open.
The first British outpost in South Asia was established in 1619 at Surat on the northwestern coast. Later in the century, the East India Company opened permanent trading stations at Madras Bombay and Calcutta each under the protection of native rulers. The British expanded their influence from these footholds until by the 1850s they controlled most of present-day India Pakistan and Bangladesh. In 1857, a rebellion in north India led by mutinous Indian soldiers caused the British parliament to transfer all political power from the East India Company to the Crown. Great Britain began administering most of India directly while controlling the rest through treaties with local rulers. On August 15 1947, India became a dominion within the Commonwealth with Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister. Enmity between Hindus and Muslims led the British to partition British India creating East and West Pakistan where there were Muslim majorities. India became a republic within the Commonwealth after promulgating its constitution on January 26 1950. After independence, the Congress Party the party of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharla Nehru ruled India under the influence, first of Nehru and then his daughter and grandson with the exception of two brief periods in the 1970s and 1980s. In November 1994 the Congress Party again withdrew support for the United Front and the President called for elections. In the February 1998 elections, the BJP again received the largest number of seats in Parliament 182 but fell far short of a majority. On March 20 1998, the President inaugurated a BJP-led coalition government with Vajpayee again serving as Prime Minister until in 2005 when Dr Manmohan Singh took over.
The different states of India have different official languages, some of them not recognized by the central government. Some states have more then one official language. Bihar in east India has three official languages - Hindi, Urdu and Bengali - which are all recognized by the central government. But Sikkim, also in east India, has four official languages of which only Nepali is recognized by the central government. Besides the languages officially recognized by central or state governments, there are other languages which don't have this recognition and their speakers are running political struggles to get this recognition. Central government decided that Hindi was to be the official language of India and therefore it also has the status of official language in the states.
Along with your teaching contract, comes a medical coverage provided by the school you are attached to. However, sometimes, schools do not cover health insurance. However, if you pay Indian income tax, you are entitled to Social Security, which gives you medical coverage at a local specified hospital. In any case, it is best to ensure that you are protected completely.
India is a charming country where people of numerous diverse communities and
religions subsist together in unity. The Indian population is polygenetic and is
an amazing mix of various ethnicities and cultures. It is impracticable to find
out the precise origin of the people of India. There are many diverse ethnic
groups among the people of India. India is the world's second most populous
country and is after China. Almost 70% of Indians reside in rural areas,
although in recent decades migration to larger cities has led to a dramatic
increase in the country's urban population. India's capital is New Delhi and the
largest cities are Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderbad, Ahmedabad and
Bengaluru, formerly known as Bangalore.
India is one of the most ethnically, linguistically and hereditarily varied
geographical entity after the Africa. Hindi, with the largest number of
speakers, is the official language. English, however, is extensively used in
business and administration, and is a 'subsidiary official language.' The
constitution of India also recognizes other Indian dialects like Bengali,
Gujrati, Telugu, Marathi, etc. The majority of Indians are Hindu and other
religious groups include Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Jews,
etc. Religion is the central pivot of an Indian’s life and rituals and prayers
are widely followed by the majority of India, regardless of religion. India's
literacy rate is 64.8% with the state of Kerala having the highest literacy rate
of 91%.
India's various cultural activities, languages, ways of life, and mores have all
co-mingled over the past five millennia. Music, dance and other forms visual
arts are all popular in India, with Bollywood being a major film producing
industry. The music of India includes many arrays of religious, folk, pop,
classical and popular music. Indian dance too has its folk and classical forms.
Each state has its own state dance and performances of these dances are
delightful to the eyes. Other types of arts include pottery, martial arts,
statue and painting.
In Thailand a TEFL certificate is now necessary even if you already have a degree. A TEFL certificate gives you the confidence to teach a group of people, provides an insight into the teaching methodology which will surely make you a teacher. Thus the basic qualification of being a teacher in Thailand would be an undergraduate degree and a TEFL/TESL/TESOL certificate.
There are various organizations which issue certificates that vary widely in acceptance. In countries that are widely influenced by the British system of education UCLES CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL are more common forms of certification. Some universities issue TEFL certificates as part of their curriculum. In United Sates a pre-service MA TESOL is more recognized though shorter certifications do exist.
Western Union is a good and reliable company to head to should you wants to
transfer from India to your home country. You can check the locations near you
in India from the following website:
http://www.westernunion.com/info/homePage.asp?country=IN
Always ensure that you visit authorized agents when transferring money from
India overseas. Also check on limits or restrictions that may be in place.
Also http://www.moneygram.com which is another reliable company you can approach to transfer money from India to your home country.
Telegraphic Transfers which are bank-to-bank instrument and banks would also need to comply with the local rules and you can check with them whether you can move funds outside of the money. Do approach major banks for information on this.
You can also use Paypal to transfer money to people out of India. This can be done entirely online. Visit www.paypal.com for more information.
There is a limit of USD 50,000 per financial year under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme which would also include remittances towards gift and donation by a resident individual. Accordingly, under the Scheme, any resident individual, if he so desires, may remit the entire limit of USD 50,000 in one financial year as gift to a person residing outside India or as donation to a charitable/educational/ religious/cultural organization outside India. Remittances exceeding the limit will require prior permission from the Reserve Bank.
When you travel, make your packages as simple and compact as possible. Carrying a light pack will ease your trip, make it more comfortable and let you fully enjoy the pleasures of traveling when you get the time.
Materials/Documents
Don't forget your valid visa and passport, your identity card, as well as maybe some of yours certificate photos and other important documents or materials needed for your travel. Put them into a sturdy and waterproof bag and have them readily available.
Do not forget any tickets you bought or booked in advance, for planes, trains or ships, and other admission tickets.
Some paper, a pen, notebook and memo book could be handy especially since you will be engaging in a whole lot of teaching. Remember to bring a phone/address list of your families, relatives and friends in case of an emergency.
Make a card on which there is your personal information, including your full names, nationality, home phone and address, in case you are ever in trouble.
Bring your printed itinerary. A guidebook is also helpful for you to know more about your destinations and will save time when traveling.
You can also bring teaching material that you might have to introduce in the classrooms
Clothes
Try to bring clothes appropriate for the weather conditions in the city in India you will be based in. Since the climate varies from region to region, do your research.
Take leisurewear which will keep you relaxed and comfortable when you travel or sightsee, like jackets, sportswear, jogging shoes and playsuit. Bring several T-shirts and cool pants. Do not forget to bring sunglasses, suntan oil, and a summer hat. Finally, rainwear and an umbrella are good protection on rainy days.
Include some clothes for those more formal occasions you may want to attend, such as a show, banquet or cruise.
When in the classroom, formality is expected. So do bring clothes to suit the classroom.
First-aid Kit
Prepare some drugs for routine and emergency use, including antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamine, Aspirin, vitamins, acetaminophen, essential balm, anti-allergic preparations, remedy for dysentery and diarrhea and antacid for indigestion.
Don't forget your mosquito or insect repellants.
Take along your case history (medical record) and put it into your first-aid kit. That may be helpful when you go to see a doctor.
Personal Effects
Money is necessary. Bring your wallet and carry it with you all the time. In your wallet have some cash, traveler’s checks or bank cards that can be used in India.
Visit the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a wonder of the world that anyone visiting India has to visit. Some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble and its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna River. The Taj stands on a raised, square platform with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon.
Go on the golden triangle
India's Golden Triangle comprises the three most visited cities in the country's north-west - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, which are all connected to each other by good road and rail links. This triangle has been dubbed "golden" for the extraordinary wealth of cultural and historical splendor on offer in each of the three cities. As history unfolds itself, we find Delhi a city of magnificent kings and princes, men of great culture, learning and refinement who created famous masterpieces like the Qutab Minar, the Diwan-e-Aam and the Pearl Mosque in the Red Fort. No wonder the city's history is synonymous with the history of India. The evidence of this can be marked distinctly as the city is flourished with tombs, forts, monuments, ramparts and ruins where sightseeing is of great pleasure. Jaipur is popularly known as the Pink City and is the capital of the state of Rajasthan. Jaipur is steeped in history and culture where the past comes alive in magnificent forts and palaces, blushed pink, where once lived the Maharajas. The bustling bazaars of Jaipur, famous for Rajasthani jewelry, fabric and shoes, possess a timeless quality and are surely a treasure trove for the shoppers. Visit the city palace, Amer fort and place and the Jal Mahal. Agra of course is famed for its Taj Mahal.
Experience the backwaters
The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. The landscape is beautiful with a number of towns and cities along the way. The backwaters can be found in Vembanad Kayal, which is one of the largest lakes. It is bordered by Alleppey, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts.
Holy visit to Varanasi
Varanasi or Banaras is one of the oldest cities of India and has found place in the Buddhist scriptures as well the epic of Mahabharata. Varanasi is also called 'Kashi' or the city of spiritual light. Kashi is the place where Shiva and Parvati stood when the "time started ticking". This ancient city of India is located on holiest river of India-Ganga. This relation is unique and has attracted thousands of pilgrims
Getting Around
There are various modes of transportation in India. Trains, rented cars, rented
bikes, taxis, trams, metros, buses and auto-rickshaws are some of the modes of
traveling in India. India is well connected by the railways and it is the
lifeline of this country. Even small remote towns and villages are connected by
the trains. In the cities, there are ample buses and taxis for traveling. Metro
rail is only available in two cities of India, Kolkata and Delhi. Kolkata also
has a unique way of transportation, the trams. Auto rickshaws almost like
tuktuks are very common in India. These are cheap yet convenient way of
traveling. There are regular domestic flights, which connect various cities of
India. There are regular flights to all the main cities but flights are quite
expensive. Other than airplanes, all other types of transportations are very
cheap in India.
Getting There
The most convenient and popular way of visiting India is by the air route. There
are international flights from all over world coming to the airports in Delhi,
Calcutta, Mumbai and Chennai. Air India, is the main international airlines of
India, which flies to various corners of the world. There are also flights from
foreign countries to other main cities of India like Hyderabad and Bangalore.
India has big coastline and it is also possible to enter this country via the
ports in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin or Vizag. It is also possible to come
to India via land route. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are the
bordering countries from where it is possible to enter India.