All Posts
Dealing with culture shock when you’re teaching abroad
Exploring a new culture is one of the best things abut teaching English abroad, but it can also seem very daunting. Culture shock is super common and honestly, affects to the best of us, regardless of how well-traveled we are. So, to help you deal with culture shock whilst TEFLing, we’ve shared our 7 secrets for you to...[Read More]
What Kind of Teaching Can You Do in Japan?
Sshhh! What’s that sound? Is that the sound of Japan calling your name?! If you’re an English as a Foreign Language teacher or someone who wants to be, then it probably is. The English language learning market is booming in Japan at the moment so now is definitely the time to jump on a plane … Continue reading “W...[Read More]
Meet Laura Hilliard – TEFL intern in Vietnam
Meet Laura Hilliard, a TEFL intern in Vietnam. She’s an American from Pennsylvania who bid adieu to her adorable cat Olive to tackle the exciting, exotic world of teaching abroad! Hanoi isn’t quite like her native Pittsburgh, and she’s having a blast learning about all of the differences that make her experience teachi...[Read More]
Do I Need a TEFL to Teach English in Japan?
The land of cherry blossoms, samurais and hot springs is a very tempting destination for TEFL teachers. Being able to speak English is becoming more and more important in Japan and so there are no shortage of students for you to teach. This also means you have your pick of jobs. So the obvious question … Continue readi...[Read More]
8 Companies Hiring Non-Native English Speakers to Teach English Online
Non-native English speakers make great teachers abroad. You’ve studied the language yourself—which we all know is way more than memorizing verb structures and grammar patterns. You’ve experienced the up’s and down’s and whirl-arounds of learning a language from scratch, and let’s be honest… those highs and lows can tak...[Read More]
Emily’s Vietnam TEFL Internship experience so far…
I arrived in Hanoi a few days prior to my Vietnam TEFL Internship orientation, jet lagged, drenched in sweat and generally disorientated and confused. This was the first time I’d been to anywhere in South East Asia and there were 4 things that especially shocked me despite all the prior warning. 1. The humidity and hea...[Read More]
Is TEFL Hard to Pass?
If you’re considering teaching English abroad and are looking into doing a Teaching English as a Foreign Language course, you may be wondering how hard it is to pass. After all, if you are either starting out in a career or changing careers, you don’t want to waste your time and money on a venture … Continue reading &#...[Read More]
Vietnam’s top TEFL cities
From staggering natural beauty and lush landscapes to a captivating culture and rich history, Vietnam has so much to offer, so we’re not surprised it’s such a popular TEFL destination for many aspiring TEFL teachers. But with so many TEFL job opportunities in all of its major cities, as well as in many smaller towns ac...[Read More]
Congratulations to Abderrahim for completing our TEFL course!
Abderrahim has just successfully completed our TEFL course. Way to go! Here is what he has to say about get TEFL: “I’m very happy to get my TEFL certificate and I’m glad that I really enjoyed this course. It was one of the most important experiences for me. I’m now more confident in my abilities...[Read More]
Congrats to Ashley for completing our 120 hour TEFL course!
Ashley has just successfully completed our 120 hour TEFL course! Way to go! Here is what she has to say about get TEFL: I would like to take the time to thank those at getTEFL.com and for my teacher Sarah Fauset. I appreciate all of the feedback that has been given to me throughout this course. This course has helped m...[Read More]
Top Tips to Ace your Demo Lesson
Finding a job that you would like to have, in a place that you would like to live is hard, and then you still have to go through the job interview! Job interviews can be tough. We all know we need to be well-prepared but that can be difficult if you don’t know what to … Continue reading “Top Tips to Ace your Demo...[Read More]
Irish in Vietnam – Interview with Éadaoin de Búrca
Today we’re talking to Éadaoin, a true TEFL expert who’s currently teaching in Vietnam after completing her Anglo-TEFL scholarship! 1. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PATH TO TEACHING ABROAD—DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW YOU’D END UP IN VIETNAM? I graduated with a BA in World Languages and studied French and Italian. I got my first experien...[Read More]
10 Great Ways to Use Pelmanism in Your ESL Class
Pelma-what-ism? Pelmanism. Know it, love it, and use it—in your TEFL classroom, that is! What is pelmanism? The Guardian said it best: “Almost 100 years since its invention, a long-forgotten 19th-century mind-training system may be due a resurrection.” Pelmanism, named for Christopher Louis Pelman, the founder of the “...[Read More]
How to Be a Respectful Teacher Abroad
Teaching abroad is more than simply helping cute little kids memorize multiple grammar rules or distinguish colors from one another. It’s not only helping university students prep for TOEFL or adults master the basics of Business English. It’s actually an act of cultural exchange. While yes, most days will focus on par...[Read More]
Photo Etiquette While Teaching Abroad
Taking a photo anywhere in the world while traveling requires a certain level of etiquette. We feel VERY passionately that our TEFL teachers not only see their experience abroad as a chance to get paid to travel (which is still VERY cool!), but also as a chance to participate in cultural exchange (not to mention the re...[Read More]
The Best Places to Visit in Japan
Japan is like no other country on this planet. In Japan you can buy anything your heart desires from a vending machine, you can go to a café specifically to play with cats, and you can pay good money to sleep in a coffin-sized room in a capsule hotel. And that’s not even mentioning all … Continue reading “The Bes...[Read More]
10 amazing things you didn’t know about China
With a rich history, a complex culture and dynamic mega-cities, it’s no surprise loads of TEFL teachers are drawn here. There are so many amazing things about China, but we’ve picked our top 10 things that might shock you! 1. Football (soccer) was invented here 2,200 years ago, the Chinese were playing a game called “T...[Read More]
TEFL Advice for Soon to be College Grads
Hey class of 2020! Senior year is here, and we couldn’t be more excited for all the fun you have in store. One last hoorah at a football game. Your final college papers, EVER. A few dozen late night pizzas, and probably too many pre-game beverages to count. And amidst all of the fun—hanging out with friends, nailing yo...[Read More]
What is Japan Known For?
A country of 126 million people and one of the most literate and technically advanced nations, Japan is a mystery to many people. An archipelago country made up of four major islands and 6 800 smaller islands, Japan has mountains and forests, small towns and traditional villages. Though many people know it as an urban ...[Read More]
Free teacher workshops this November in Barcelona
We are looking forward to the next round of free teacher workshops coming up at Oxford TEFL in Barcelona! Join us on one, or more, of the following Fridays to pick up some practical tips and develop your teaching skills from experienced teachers and trainers. As always, there will be snacks and drinks in the break whic...[Read More]
Life after Taking the Trinity DipTESOL: Treading Water to Making Waves
Before I finally took the plunge (or, more accurately, the “Dip”), I had come a long way in my career. By that time, I had been teaching for 14 years, I had experience with adults, young learners and exam classes, and I had completed an MA with a focus on Educational Technology. So, why did I feel the need to take the ...[Read More]
Graduate Story: Michelle Knepel
Michelle Knepel is a recent graduate of our Cambridge CELTA course, Business English and Teaching Young Learners courses in Barcelona, Spain. She spent the last decade working in manufacturing leadership, project management and most recently consulting. Michelle is a Certified Internal Auditor and holds an MBA from The...[Read More]
A week in the life of a TEFL teacher
I’m writing this from the start of my sixth full week of teaching in Hà Nội – I honestly don’t know where the time has gone! I’ve taught over 100 English lessons and over 1000 students, made some incredible friends and discovered new foods and cultures that I never knew existed. As well as having the opportunity to vis...[Read More]
How long does it take to get a TEFL qualification?
The amount of time it takes to get a TEFL qualification varies from teacher to teacher. It depends on how much time you can put into the course, how many hours you opt to take and how much teaching experience you already have. We’ve had TEFL graduates complete their course in a matter of days (wow!), while others who m...[Read More]
Best Cities to Teach English in Japan
When you’re looking for a job teaching English as a foreign language, one of the factors you need to consider is where to teach. The first step is to decide which continent you’re interested in, then you can do your research and find out which countries suit your interests and qualifications (and your passport!). If …...[Read More]
i-to-i is now officially carbon neutral!
Yes, you read that right! As of October 2019, i-to-i are officially the first TEFL Course provider to become carbon neutral and we’re super excited about it! Over the last 6 months, we’ve been working long and hard to focus all of our efforts on different ways to offset our carbon footprint, look after the amazing plac...[Read More]
How Much to Budget for Teaching English in Vietnam
Let’s get your budget for teaching English in Vietnam in tip-top shape! Can you swing it with your current finances? Do you need to make some changes in your spending habits now to afford your dream-life teaching English in Vietnam? How do you need to prepare for your early weeks abroad, when that first paycheck has y...[Read More]
What are My TEFL Options without a Degree?
If you’re interested in teaching English abroad you probably know that many TEFL jobs prefer their candidates to have two things: a TEFL certificate from a recognised TEFL provider and a Bachelor’s degree. However, the key word here is prefer. While a TEFL certificate is a non-negotiable, a degree is not essential to g...[Read More]
My first two weeks in Vietnam
On the day of departure from London Heathrow I was surprisingly calm and relaxed. I’d said goodbye to my parents a few days earlier before going up to stay with my girlfriend in London – who is also here in Vietnam as a TEFL teacher! The overriding emotion I was feeling was excitement for what the next five months (at ...[Read More]
Don’t Teach Grammar — Teach Functions!
Don’t forget to smile during that demo lesson. I recently read a blog written specifically about what is wrong with PPP methodology. And, sadly, the author stated: PPP means that teachers will first present a grammar point While I would agree that PPP has some limitations, I would never agree that PPP must be about te...[Read More]
