Category Archives: TEFL

Why do people move to Latvia?

Posted on August 27, 2014 by BerLinda

Should you take the leap and decide to move to Latvia, the first question you will probably be asked is “Why did you move to Latvia?”. Closely followed by, “But why? Why Latvia?”. Now I know why I moved here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian people, Moving to Riga, TEFL, Travel | Tagged decisions, Expats, Leopard print, Living in Latvia, Moving to Latvia, Sigulda, TEFL, why do people move to Latvia, Working in Latvia | 133 Comments

A public “apology”

Posted on August 7, 2014 by BerLinda

I had hoped to ride out the rest of my time here on a wave of sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, but then something came up – namely, my hackles. On Monday, I received this as a private message: Dear Linda … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, TEFL, Travel | Tagged Blogging, bullies, Dirty old men, Education, English, grammar, slander, trolls | 197 Comments

The master becomes the student

Posted on July 8, 2014 by BerLinda

When the wonderful “Lady of the Cakes” published her post on “How to be a hater with German food phrases”, I immediately did what any sane person would do and started insulting one of the (three) people I know in Germany. … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Language, TEFL | Tagged Distractions, German articles, German insults, Lady of the Cakes, Latvian people, Learning German, Making mistakes, Motivation, moving to Germany, Teacher as student, Teaching English, TEFL | 113 Comments

The Latvians rewrite the English dictionary

Posted on March 26, 2014 by BerLinda

When I meet an English person and tell them what I do for a living, I am occasionally rewarded with a pudgy finger in my face, and a bellowed “YOU CAWN’T TEACH ENGLISH! YOU’RE OIRISH!” They then turn to their equally … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Humour, Language, Latvia, TEFL | Tagged Barack Obama part Irish, English, English around the world, False friends in English, humor, Humour, Irish English, Latvian, New words in English, Selfie, TEFL | 130 Comments

You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry

Posted on March 15, 2014 by BerLinda

The other day, one of my students made me mad. Hopping mad. Believe it or not, this is actually pretty hard to do. While I am what some might call a bitch little feisty in ‘real life’, in the classroom, … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Language, TEFL | Tagged Attitudes to English, English, Latvia, learning English, Non-native speakers, Students, teaching English as a foreign language, TEFL | 182 Comments

Judgement Day

Posted on March 12, 2014 by BerLinda

Gundega: Do you write a blog? Me: SHHH! (Looking around like a fugitive) Yes, I do… Gundega: No, no, I love it! Me: Oh. Great, thanks! Glad you like it. (pregnant pause) Gundega: (with a healthy amount of desperation) Don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Language, Latvia, Social Issues, TEFL | Tagged Clothing, Education in Latvia, English in Latvia, ESU Public Speaking Competition, expat, Judge, Riga, Teenagers, TEFL, The Baltic Times | 54 Comments

Latvians and their backsides

Posted on March 9, 2014 by BerLinda

On Friday, as I had a nice early finish, I decided that it was about time I made an appointment to have my hair cut. I had been putting this off for a while, partly because I was afraid that … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Language, TEFL | Tagged arse, backsides, conferences, expat, Getting a haircut, hairdresser's, humor, Humour, International Women's Day, Latvia, Latvian basketball team misbehaving, shit, Teaching English, TEFL | 78 Comments

Goodbye Mr ‘Why Not?’

Posted on March 2, 2014 by BerLinda

A couple of weeks ago, I had yet another eye-opening conversation with my Latvian homies. I was in a lesson and we’d just finished a rather difficult reading about a man who had left his high-powered career in finance behind … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, TEFL | Tagged Bagels, Chocolates, humor, Humour, Last lessons, Latvian people, Muffins, Muffins and More, Prosecco, Scrabble, Teaching English | 85 Comments

A brush with a Latvian

Posted on December 4, 2013 by BerLinda

Well, well, well. Here we are at the 100th post on Expat Eye. Who would have thought that the Latvians and Latvia could be so damn (unintentionally) entertaining? Not me, that’s for sure. Anyway, I thought that for the 100th … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian women, TEFL | Tagged Brushing teeth, English Grammar, expat, humor, Humour, Katy Perry, Latvia, Latvian people, Latvian women, Personal Hygiene, Showering, Teaching English, TEFL | 146 Comments

Thinking of moving to Riga?

Posted on November 30, 2013 by BerLinda

Ah Riga – the ‘Paris of the North’, the ‘Jewel of the Baltics’, and recently voted ‘Europe’s prettiest city’ in a survey by USA Today. Right now, you’re sitting in your cosy pad in the US, the UK, or wherever, a … Continue reading →