The Teaching Abroad Pod

In this episode, host Rowan chats with Oxford Seminars graduate Emilee about her teaching experiences in Indonesia and Spain. Emilee weighs the pros and cons of each location, and provides some TOP TIPS for future teachers, from carefully selecting your climate to getting to know your host family. Emilee also tells us why not to drink sangria in Spain, and whether volunteer teaching is worth it.

In this 54th episode of The Teaching Abroad Pod, Ashley and Rowan sit down for a wide-ranging interview with Jason Wright, the HR Manager of Peppy Kids Club, one of the largest TEFL employers in Japan. Jason shares insights on the life and times of a Peppy Kids teacher, what they're looking for in a candidate, how to prepare your demo lesson, available jobs, prospects for career growth, and general application tips. He also gives some great advice on the foods to try and can't miss sights to see gleaned from his decades on the ground in the land of the rising sun.

In this episode experienced teacher Susan Day shares her tips for sightseeing in Seoul, must-try Korean foods, how to stretch your salary, making friends abroad, instructional strategies for Korean students, and so much more. Co-host Rowan also has some news on upcoming public and private school openings in Korea, as well as a big change to the document authentication process for Canadian E2 visa applicants, so be sure to listen right to the end if this applies to you!

In this episode Dale Ezyk is back to tell us all about his latest short-term teaching adventure in Latin America – this time in beautiful Guatemala. Dale expounds on the joy you can give a young learner in their language learning journey, even if only for a few weeks, the relationships you build with your host families and fellow teachers, sights to see, and so much more!

In this episode Ashley and Rowan recall some of their holiday entertainment favorites and chat with globe-trotting teacher Dan-Stefan Onila about advice for settling in for the season while abroad. Stefan also regales us with tales of top hot-spots for travelers in China and Romania, explains how teaching in Southeast Asia is like being in another galaxy, shares food and drink recommendations from across the continents, provides teaching tips, and so much more!

In this 50th episode of The Teaching Abroad Pod, Rowan and Ashley sit down with Glen Galindo and Hector Arias from Minga House Foundation to show you how to achieve your dream job in Colombia. They discuss the pros and cons of applying from abroad, how to find the best benefits, and whether Colombia is still a "risky" place to teach.

In this episode, Ashley and Rowan discuss some of the best countries to consider for teaching abroad in 2024 in terms of savings potential, benefits, breadth of positions available, short-term opportunities, and start date timing. They also share some (potentially odd?) ideas of things to bring with you when moving to a new country for an overseas job, and where you can find valuable information about settling in to your new home.

In this episode Ashley and Rowan speak with ESL Teacher Kirsten about many of the joys, and some challenges, she's experienced during her almost 7 years of teaching in Japan. She reflects on instructing students ranging in age from 0-19, why she chose Japan as her teaching destination, the island of sandwich-stealing bunnies, red flags to avoid in your job search, strategies for resolving employer issues, and more!

In this episode co-hosts Ashley and Rowan reminisce about some of the joys and oddities of teaching in Japan and Korea, before chatting with super experienced TESL Instructor Bryan Fox, who has been training teachers with Oxford Seminars since 2006. Having taught in 8 countries on 5 continents, Bryan's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to living in far flung reaches such as Australia, Iraq, Japan, and Poland. He also shares his insight on the benefits of taking a TESOL certification course live via Zoom, as compared to in-person training in a classroom, along with job interview tips, contract review advice, and more!

In this episode new co-host Ashley gives some insight on how to get pumped up to teach kids early in the morning. After the break, we sit down with English teacher Christian Epp to learn about his four-plus years of teaching in Taiwan. He enlightens listeners on strategies for making new friends abroad, top spots for hiking, food to check out, why he ultimately decided on Taiwan as a teaching destination, why it's a good choice for members of the LGBTQ community, and more!

This episode is all about teaching in Spain! We begin with some details about the new Digital Nomad Visa for Spain, a great option for those well-paid online teachers jet setting around the world, and end with information about how a work-study project can be a good foot in the door for Europe. The highlight, however, is a wide-ranging interview with Christopher Wynne, the founder of Educados International, who shares some excellent insight on why this short-term program is a great way to gain teaching skills and grow as an educator while enjoying the authentic Spanish lifestyle.

In this episode Joe and Rowan speak with guest Victor about the benefits of getting TEFL certified before teaching abroad, including how to keep students' attention both in-class and online. He also shares some insights on how to land a job in Mexico, recommended things to see, do, and eat there from a local's perspective, and the symbolism of the emblem on the national flag, which dates back to the time of the Aztecs. To finish it off, Rowan brings the conversation over the Atlantic with details on exciting new TEFL opportunities in Europe.

In this episode, Janice and Rowan discuss some of the differences you may encounter while teaching ESL domestically, as compared to abroad, and highlight exciting new short-term openings in Colonial Antigua. The star of the show, however, is Costa Rica recruiting specialist Lintonia Davis, who tells us all about food and travel recommendations, as well as both online and hybrid in-country teaching opportunities around the country. Have you always wanted to teach near the beach? Then working in the land of pura vida might be the spot for you!

In this episode Rowan highlights some new, exciting hybrid teaching opportunities in Guanacaste and Limon, Costa Rica, as well as the high salaries on offer in China currently. The star of this show, however, is English Teacher Michael Onischuk, who just returned from over four years of living and working in China. He tells us all about his experience during the pandemic, favorite foods to try, sights to see (including some incredible 16mm film he shot in beautiful Guilin), tips and tricks for teaching Chinese students, and more! See the full 16mm film Michael shot in Yangshuo County on YouTube.

In this episode Rowan recollects his Christmas with family on the Costa Rican coast, and after the break speaks with returning guest Patricia Persaud about how she found, and works at, a university on the sea in Mexico’s Oaxaca state network. Learn all about job search tips, seaside towns, bioluminescence, and more!

In this special holiday episode Rowan and co-host Alex reminisce about celebrating the season abroad, and share some strategies for enjoying Thanksgiving and Christmas far from family. After the break, three-peat guest Hailey gives some insight on how to have good Christmas holiday in South Korea, and shares some exciting new spots to check out on the Seoul Café circuit. Be sure to check out her Café Crawls on Instagram.

In this episode, Rowan recounts some highlights from his recent trip to Panama, including reviews of the Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo and his visit to the famed eponymous canal. After the break traveler, teacher, writer, online teaching business owner, and drone pilot Mia Townsend shares travel tips and stories of her adventures in Costa Rica, Japan, and Thailand. She also gives some advice from how she started her own online teaching business and became a drone pilot. You can find her story, blog, travel resources, and more at miaonthemap.com.

In this episode, Rowan recaps some of the wildlife and nature highlights from his first few months in Costa Rica before Lucas and Rowan get to chat with three-time guest Brian Knox McGugan about his new job teaching post-secondary students. Brian elaborates on how he was able to secure a university teaching position and work permit from within Thailand, and shares some teaching and travel highlights of his own. Learn more about the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center on its website.

In Rowan's return to the host chair he chats with Lucas about what it's been like settling into the pure life of Costa Rica. They talk about favorite foods, sights to see, things to do, and more!

In this episode, Alex and Lucas speak to Oxford Seminars grad Kim, a digital nomad living the good life in Europe. They discuss her many adventures, cheap beer, seafood, as well as tips on how to make the most out of your ESL certification while you travel the EU. Join us for a discussion of life in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and more!