When I began my journey of teaching English abroad, I had high hopes. I wanted to see the world and experience adventure, but I also wanted to make an impact in the classroom. Fortunately, I did get to achieve most of my goals and experience the rewards of interacting with my students. There are so many student stories to ...
“Not black & white.” Grey. Yes, very grey. This is a good way to describe the terms & conditions of an ESL contract abroad, where written items that should be clear, rarely are. Even worse, legal jargon that – even when written in perfect English —can appear as foreign as the culture you might be emigrating to. Overseas ESL ...
At the end of any Oxford Seminars Certification Course, there is a certain measure of excitement as students are being handed their certificates of completion. Applause rings out, camera phones are flashing and hugs and contact information are being exchanged. The air is full of celebration as students feel a mixture of accomplishment and relief. In the midst of ...
One of the great things about teaching English abroad is discovering the hidden gems of a region. Sometimes it's food (Kimchi grows on you eventually!), sometimes it's the culture. Other times, it's a sound or a note that catches you, like when it comes to the music of Mexico. Music has always had a rhythm to it that makes ...
So, you’ve decided that you’re ready to take off on a journey to go teach English as a second language overseas? Not everyone has the courage to step out of their comfort zone and commit to living and working in a new and likely unfamiliar country. Deciding to make this move is the first of several major decisions you ...
I was standing on the tarmac, waiting to board the plane that would take me further from home than I’d ever been, wondering what in the world I was doing. I was terrified. I was moving to the other side of the world to a place where I didn’t know a single person, couldn’t speak the language, and had ...
The idea of going to another country and experiencing new cultures, foods, history, nature and more is nothing short of an adventure. Many people would love to embark on such a journey. Who wouldn’t want to experience castles in France? One could have the opportunity to visit and walk in the beautiful gardens of Chateau de Chambord that was ...
Kiara Wessling of Ohio taught high school English at Lycée Pierre Bourdan in Guéret, France for a school year. Here’s her story: (Note- Guéret is in the Limoges académie) Q: What made you want to become TESOL certified? A: There were many reasons I wanted to become an English teacher in France. I wanted to spend some time in ...