I just finished the program. H…
I just finished the program. Honestly, I’m thrilled with how it went. Getting to meet peers from so many different backgrounds was a real highlight for me. Now I’m excited to start teaching.
Just finished their 300-hour p…
Just finished their 300-hour professional certification. My main goal was to improve my English teaching skills. Honestly, I was less happy with some parts, like the accreditation questions. But overall, I gained a lot and feel prepared to teach English overseas.
Recently finished their self-p…
Recently finished their self-paced program. I feel much more prepared to teach overseas now. My main goal was to improve my teaching skills, and I’m really satisfied with how it turned out. The course was very thorough.
Looking for more freedom, I to…
Looking for more freedom, I took this course a while back. I liked the talk-based lessons. Overall, I was content with it. I feel much more confident about teaching abroad now.
The Hidden Hours: Transforming Downtime into Growth for Language Assistants
It’s a quiet afternoon at your desk. The bell for the next class is still an hour away, your immediate tasks are complete, and no one seems to need your help. You glance around—everyone is busy, but your own to-do list is blank. A familiar wave of guilt mixes with boredom. What are you supposed to do when you have hours to fill and no assigned work? This scenario is more common than many realize f...[Read More]
The Unsung Questions of Teaching English Abroad
Every teacher who has ever packed a suitcase for a life abroad knows the feeling. You’ve studied the big guides, memorized visa requirements, and practiced your lesson plans. Yet, in the quiet moments of preparation, a dozen smaller, seemingly silly questions start to pop up. These aren’t the questions that get their own blog post. They’re the practical, everyday curiosities that you almost feel e...[Read More]
The Hidden Cost of the TEFL Dream: When the Job Description Raises Red Flags
So, you’ve caught the travel bug and the passion to teach. You’re scanning job boards, dreaming of your new life abroad. The excitement is real. But then, you see it: a job listing that makes you pause and re-read the details. The schedule is intense—long days, six days a week. The salary, when broken down by the sheer number of hours, starts to look less like an adventure and more lik...[Read More]
The Great ESL Pricing Puzzle: Why Hourly Rates Vary Wildly
If you’re building a private English coaching business, setting your price can feel like navigating a maze. You see one qualified teacher charging a modest hourly rate, while another with seemingly similar credentials commands a fee ten times higher. What’s the secret behind this staggering difference? Let’s unpack the variables that transform a service from a commodity into a premium offeri...[Read More]
Navigating the ESL Job Market in Southern China: A Practical Guide
Considering a move to teach English in China? The vibrant cities of the south, like Shenzhen and Guangzhou, remain top destinations for educators worldwide. The landscape is dynamic, and with the right approach, you can find a rewarding position that matches your skills. Finding the Right Opportunities The hidden job market is often accessed through local messaging apps. Many recruiters and school...[Read More]
The C2 Conundrum: Can Non-Native Speakers Thrive in East Asian ESL Classrooms?
Let’s address the elephant in the room head-on. You’ve achieved an exceptional level of English proficiency, perhaps even holding a prestigious C2 certification. You’ve studied, lived, and breathed the language in an immersive environment. Yet, a nagging question persists: Will schools in East Asia see my non-native background as a barrier? The short answer is: it’s complic...[Read More]
The Push for Direct Hiring: A Turning Point for Language Educators?
The recent success of a collective action by language educators in a historic Japanese city has sent ripples through the teaching community. After securing better pay and bonuses, the focus has now shifted to a more fundamental issue: the employment model itself. The current campaign is championing a move towards direct hiring by local boards of education. This isn’t just about a single cont...[Read More]
The Unseen Classroom: What Teaching English in Japan Really Looks Like
Ever wondered what happens inside the thousands of English classrooms across Japan? Beyond the textbook dialogues and grammar drills lies a rich, complex world of daily practice, cultural exchange, and unique pedagogical challenges. For the educators living this experience—the foreign nationals shaping young minds in schools and conversation halls—each day is a lesson in adaptation and connection....[Read More]