I Taught English Abroad
I Taught English Abroad
The TEFL Org
Hello, and welcome to ‘I Taught English Abroad’, a podcast series by the TEFL Org. If ‘I Taught English Abroad’ sounds like a simple idea, then it’s because it is. As the world’s most accredited TEFL provider, we at The TEFL Org know that our students can go on to have incredible experiences, whether they teach in classrooms in far reaches of the globe, or online from the comfort of their homes. Whether these students teach online or overseas, one vital fact remains the same: it’s utterly life-changing.
AI, TEFL and what’s ahead
It’s 2025, and building upon the advancements from the past year, it's no secret that the TEFL industry is rapidly transforming. With more students becoming teachers, greater access to a high-quality English education, and a booming online teaching sphere, it's an exciting place to be. So, what’s ahead? With AI becoming more prevalent than ever, are there threats to the TEFL industry? What else is on the horizon? Can the TEFL world become even bigger and brighter? ‘I Taught English Abroad’ sp...
Mar 5, 2025
48 min
You don’t have to teach like that
You could go your whole TEFL career going “by the book”, carrying out the same lessons over and over, and still have an enjoyable experience. Or, you could innovate, make a name for yourself, inspire generations of learners, and be invited to teach around the world, with an online audience reaching millions. Betsy Potash and Jason Levine (Fluency MC), in their own distinct ways, chose the creative path. Having carved out fascinating careers with countless amazing anecdotes and experiences, th...
Feb 26, 2025
54 min
TEFL for good: refugees, asylum seekers and being a positive light
While TEFL can open the doors to the rest of the world for talented teachers, there are also incredible opportunities to make a difference for newcomers to your local community. With ongoing crises worldwide, there’s a significant demand for English teachers to help asylum seekers and refugees fleeing persecution, war, famine, poverty and other traumas. So, how do TEFL teachers make a difference? What’s it like teaching such vulnerable groups? What skills do teachers need? Grace Davis r...
Feb 19, 2025
46 min
What makes a good TEFL teacher?
It sounds like a simple enough question. How do you become a great TEFL teacher? Seemingly, greatness can come through countless routes, but what skills does a person need to become a brilliant educator? Thomas Kerr, perhaps the most enthusiastic, qualified and talkative English teacher you'll find, joined ‘I Taught English Abroad’ to give his perspective. Building on his wealth of experience, he shares some funny anecdotal accounts, fantastic pieces of advice, and some surprising nuggets of ...
Feb 12, 2025
44 min
Changing your life and making it work
We’ve all been there: the rain clatters against the window of the bus, train or car on the commute to the job we don’t necessarily want, in the city or town we don’t want to be in any more. You feel stuck, and the dreams you once had of travelling and working overseas feel as distant as ever. For Rachael McGettigan and Daniel Gillard, divergent paths took them from these Groundhog Days to achieving their long-held ambitions of thriving across the globe. Here’s how they did it and how you can ...
Feb 5, 2025
57 min
Teaching English in Japan - The Comprehensive Guide
Why do so many TEFL teachers want to try their luck in Japan? What is it about the land of the Rising Sun that draws so many curious English educators over to its shores? Why do so many people try their hand at applying for the JET programme? We brought in two experts - returning guests Patrick Smith and Celi Reeder - to give a tell-all on the reality of moving to Japan, managing expectations, discovering unexpected perks, making friends, meeting students and more. If you want to know anythin...
Jan 28, 2025
1 hr 6 min
Season 6 Teaser
We're excited to announce that the sixth season of I Taught English Abroad will be out next week! We're returning stronger than ever with in-depth interviews about the TEFL topics YOU care about. What's more, we've got some amazing guests coming back onto the podcast to give us both a little update and some expert advice on some of the most inspiring, controversial, futuristic and downright exciting subjects in English teaching. It's blockbuster stuff - you won't want to miss an episode. T...
Jan 21, 2025
1 min
From the priesthood to the classroom
When Seth Knight left seminary after training for the priesthood in Milan for 3 years, he wasn’t quite sure what he’d do next. Qualified in music, and a former professional dancer, Seth knew he loved working with people and performing. Teaching came calling, and a truly unique story followed. In this fascinating episode, we deal with spirituality, navigating important junctures in life, changing direction and what makes teaching such a rewarding and lasting career. -- Visit the episode page...
Jun 12, 2024
1 hr 1 min
It all started when she pressed ‘play’
Rachael McGettigan had pretty much put any plans to teach and explore Asia aside. It just wasn’t a priority, nor something that seemed realistic - until she happened upon the ‘I Taught English Abroad’ podcast. After listening to our first-ever episode, Rachael caught the travel and teaching bug and hasn’t looked back. We talk about changing career, being inspired by stories of Cambodia, and how she ended up meeting our first podcast guest for a career-affirming evening. -- Visit the episod...
Jun 5, 2024
52 min
Finding identity through teaching
It can be difficult when you have parents from two different cultures. Growing up, Lucia identified as both a Londoner and a Canarian, spending different periods of time across the capital of England and Spain, but what was once a tricky balancing act among peers has become a huge strength, and now she teaches English. We caught up with Lucia to find out more about her life and career, and what it was like growing up between two very different lifestyles. --- Visit the episode page to lear...
May 28, 2024
40 min
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