Oxford Seminars Blog 
As a volunteer ESL teacher in a rural village of Northern India, I learned many things about myself and my relationship with the world around me. The economic and social challenges of my students gave me an appreciation for what I have, while their bright smiles and optimistic attitudes showed me areas I needed to grow. How about ...
Miles of beautiful beaches. Sunshine. Warmth. Smiles. Pervasive friendliness. Sea salt and ocean breezes. When I think about what I enjoyed most about Puerto Rico, all of these things come to mind, but, above all, I think about the friendly people who really made my experience special. People made a point to really connect with one another wherever they ...
Christmas is a widely celebrated holiday throughout the majority of English-speaking countries. However, some countries that do not speak English as their first language have begun to celebrate the commercial side of the holiday as well. Take China, for example. In the 8 years I worked there, it became more and more common to see people celebrating Christmas - even ...
As Peter Connell, an ESL Instructor with Oxford Seminars, explains, everyone remembers their first day of class teaching overseas. Whether it's a lesson that sticks with you for the rest of your time as a teacher or if it's a student that touches a chord inside, teaching English abroad is an unforgettable experience! There will, of course, be challenges, ...
Japan was my first ESL teaching location, and as such, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Interestingly, new teachers abroad find that social activities are as much a part of the job description as teaching English. Not to belittle the obligatory dinner outings, field trips, and seasonal parties, but the school undōkai soon became my ...
In all honesty, I can say that the decision to teach abroad was one of best decisions I have made in my entire life. The change from growing up in a small Canadian town to spending ten years living in nine different countries and traveling to numerous more has left a lasting impression on who I am and how ...
Adding variety and fun into the ESL classroom is one of the keys to being a great ESL teacher. Nevertheless, even the best teachers sometimes get stuck in a rut using textbooks and worksheets too much and allowing their energy and enthusiasm to slip. Using some simple props in the classroom will add extra dimension to your classes, as ...
Our Job Placement Advisors have experience teaching abroad and have been to where you are or hope to go. In this video, Allison explains what it was like to go from a small town in England to a big city teaching English in Japan. She also worked as as a teacher trainer and a corporate English instructor. As she explains, her ...
Reactions are split when I tell people that my first ESL job was in Mexico. There are those that gasp and ask how I survived, and there are those that express desire to experience a little Latin culture themselves. Even for me, Mexico conjures up ...
Mistakes are unavoidable in the classroom. The truth is, making them will make you a better teacher, as long as you are aware of them. Here are ten very common mistakes to watch out for as you start your ESL career: 1. Don’t talk too much This, I believe, is the most frequent mistake new ESL teachers make. To ...
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