Ever since I was younger, I always had it in my head that I’d live abroad at some point and move somewhere completely different and experience it properly. Sydney was always the place that stood out to me. The lifestyle, the weather, and everything about it!
For years it was one of those “I’ll do that someday” kind of plans. Something I talked about a lot, but didn’t really know how to make happen in a realistic way. I didn’t want to just land there and hope everything worked out. I wanted to go over with something behind me – a skill, a plan, and some way of actually supporting myself.
Why I Chose Premier TEFL
After finishing my degree in Marketing & Digital Media, I knew I didn’t want to go straight into a typical 9–5 job. I liked marketing, but the idea of being tied to one place straight away just didn’t suit me. I wanted a bit more flexibility, especially while I was still young and able to move around easily.
When I started looking into different options for working abroad, that’s when I came across TEFL. At the start, I didn’t know much about it, but the more I looked into it, the more it made sense. The fact that it’s a qualification you can use all over the world was a massive advantage.
It gave me options, and that’s exactly what I was looking for.
Travelling and Seeing the Possibilities
I’ve always loved travelling as well, so this wasn’t just about Sydney for me. Before moving over, I spent some time travelling around Southeast Asia, and that probably influenced my decision more than I realised at the time. Being over there, you meet so many people working remotely and it makes it all feel very normal and doable. It definitely opened my eyes to the idea of teaching English in person as well, not just online. Even now, I’d still love to go back at some stage and try teaching in a classroom somewhere in Asia, or even somewhere completely different. Having TEFL means that option is always there, which is a nice position to be in.
Doing the 180-Hour TEFL Course
I decided to go with the 180-hour TEFL course with Premier TEFL because it felt like the most complete option. I didn’t want to do something short and basic – I wanted to feel confident that I actually knew what I was doing at the end of it, and this was the perfect option.
Another big factor was the flexibility. I was able to do it in my own time, which made it so much easier to fit around everything else I had going on. Some weeks I’d do a lot, other weeks I wouldn’t touch it, but there was no pressure to rush through it.
That made a huge difference in actually finishing it.
What the Course Was Actually Like
The course itself was a lot more practical than I expected. It wasn’t just focused on grammar or theory – it was about how to actually teach in real situations. Things like lesson planning, explaining things clearly, and understanding how different students learn.
Because of that, it never really felt pointless. Everything you were learning felt like something you’d actually use, which made it easier to stay motivated.
There was also support there when I needed it, which helped a lot. It didn’t feel like you were just left on your own trying to figure everything out.
Why I Also Did the Teaching English Online Course
After finishing the 180-hour course, I realised that if I really wanted to move to Sydney, having the option to work online would make things a lot easier. I didn’t want to be completely dependent on finding a job when I got there. I have always wanted that digital nomad lifestyle, so that is why I chose to teach online.
So I decided to do the Teaching English Online Specialist course as well.
That ended up being one of the most useful things I did. It focused on how to actually teach online – how to keep students engaged through a screen, how to structure lessons, and how to use different tools properly.
It also covered how to find students and start working, which made everything feel a lot more real and achievable.
Moving to Sydney
Once I had both courses done, I finally felt ready to go for it. I wasn’t just arriving in Sydney hoping I’d figure something out – I actually had something to fall back on.
Getting there was a bit surreal at the start. It’s strange when something you’ve thought about for so long suddenly becomes your normal life. But having TEFL made the whole transition a lot easier because I knew I could support myself and it took a lot of the stress out of moving abroad.
Teaching English Online
Teaching English online ended up being exactly what I needed. It gave me a way to earn money while still having full control over my time. I can choose when I work, which makes a huge difference to your day-to-day life.
Some days I’ll get my classes done in the morning and have the rest of the day free to go to the beach, meet friends, or just explore. Other days I’ll keep the day free and work later on.
It doesn’t feel like a typical job, and that’s what I like about it.
This is where the whole digital nomad lifestyle really comes into it. Teaching English online means I’m not tied to one location. As long as I have my laptop and WiFi, I can work from anywhere. Some days I’m working from a café by Bondi beach, other days I’m at home or even in a different part of the city it just depends on what I feel like doing that day.
That’s something I didn’t fully understand before doing TEFL, but now it’s a massive part of my life. It gives you a level of freedom that’s hard to explain until you actually experience it.
It also means that Sydney doesn’t have to be the end point. If I decide to move somewhere else, I can!
Having More Than One Income Stream
One thing I’ve learned since doing this is how important it is to have more than one skill. TEFL is what made moving abroad possible for me, but I also still use my marketing degree.
In my spare time, I do freelance marketing work for small businesses. Things like social media management, content creation, and helping them improve their online presence.
It fits in really well alongside teaching because I can take on as much or as little as I want. It also gives me an extra stream of income, which takes a bit of pressure off and makes the whole lifestyle more sustainable.
The Reality of It All
It’s not perfect all the time. You do need to be disciplined, especially when you’re working for yourself. There’s no one telling you when to work or keeping you on track so you have to really keep on top of it to make it work out!
Time zones can also be a bit awkward depending on where your students are based, which can mean early mornings or late evenings.
But overall, the benefits definitely outweigh the downsides. The flexibility, the freedom, and the ability to actually build a lifestyle around what you want is something I don’t think I’ll ever take for granted.
Looking Back
Doing the 180-hour TEFL course with Premier TEFL was easily one of the best decisions I’ve made. It gave me a qualification I can use anywhere and a way to actually make moving abroad possible, rather than just talking about it.
It also opened up opportunities I hadn’t really considered before, especially when it comes to working online.
I went from talking about moving to Sydney for years to actually living here and working online, and TEFL played a huge part in that.
If you’re even thinking about doing it, I’d say just go for it. You don’t need to have everything figured out!
Watch: How to Become a TEFL Teacher in 2026
The post Teaching English Online in Sydney | My TEFL Digital Nomad Story appeared first on Premier TEFL.
