Blog Latest & FAQ's

By Drew Randall

“The grass is always greener on the other side.” This phrase couldn’t be more appropriate for how my wife and I perceived life as English teachers would be in comparison to life as civil engineers in the US. We obtained our TEFL certifications online through the International TEFL Academy. My wife and I have been teaching English abroad in South America for 10-months; 5-months in Arequipa, Peru and 5-months at our current teaching position in Cuenca, Ecuador. Based on our experience so far, there are obvious differences, like the salary, and shocking similarities in time commitment or daily schedule.

By Scott Mistler-Ferguson 

An enormous benefit to living in Viña Del Mar is that I’m just a bus ride away from all of Central Chile’s cities, and each one is undeniably different from the other. Valparaíso and Viña Del Mar are a prime exampleof this in their contrasting looks, vibes, layouts, and intangible personalities. Newcomers always comment on how shocking it is that two cities only ten minutes apart appear to be from different worlds. I’ll try to create an easier image to grasp.

By: Scott Mistler-Ferguson

By: Rebecca Sirull 

After spending an hour just getting from one side of Bogota to the other, it was refreshing being in a smaller city like Bucaramanga, where it never takes more than thirty minutes to get anywhere. I love how easy and cheap it is to get around and the surprising number of options within such a small city. Here are all the different types of transportation you can find in Bucaramanga.

By Rebecca Sirull

The best parts of traveling, and especially living, abroad are never the things you see recommended in guidebooks or marked on a map; they’re not the things you bought a ticket for;  and they’re certainly not going to be the same for you as they are for me.

The most fascinating experiences I’ve had in Bucaramanga are the ones that I couldn’t possibly have planned before, but rather the ones I just seemed to stumble into. Throwing yourself into a new culture, you’re bound to have several moments of 'oh my god, this is the weirdest situation I’ve ever been in'. And those are the moments that I live for.

By Rebecca Sirull

One of the best parts of teaching abroad is the opportunity to meet interesting people. Being in a new country always makes me feel more open to other new experiences, and I’m much more likely to strike up conversation with a stranger than when I’m back in the US. Most other expats I’ve met tend to have the same mentality, so it’s incredibly easy to connect with people from all over the world when you’re living in a new place.  

By: Rebecca Sirull

My favorite thing about teaching English in Colombia is that no two days are alike, and I have tons of flexibility to make my own schedule. That’s also one big reason why I wanted to work part-time at a private institute, rather than taking a full-time job at a colegio (children’s school). With this schedule, I have plenty of time to teach English online and with private students in addition to my regular classes.

By: Adrienne Glenn

Do you remember when you were young and the scariest part of your day was lunch time? Would you have anyone to sit with? Would you be exiled to the corner to eat your cafeteria lunch alone? Would anyone dare admit to being your friend?! I don’t think that there was a person in school that didn’t have this worry, not even those that appeared to be the most popular. I think they worried about it too. In fact, I am sure of it. Making friends is hard. For all of us.

By: Adrienne Glenn

When I made the decision to begin teaching abroad, I had a lofty goal in mind. Ten years. Ten countries. As my first Pragueversary (what the expat world calls our annual celebration of moving to Prague) passed, the true realization of the grandeur of that plan truly hit. Perhaps I dreamed a little TOO big. It’s OK. We all do it sometimes. True learning and growth is in how well you adapt your goals as life passes and truth reveals itself. So, I gave myself a little wiggle room, and allowed myself 10 years and as many countries that I can manage to live/teach in for that time.

By: Adrienne Glenn

For many of us teaching abroad, we have quickly learned that not all countries have their bureaucratic acts together, particularly in terms of encouraging language teachers to stop, stay for awhile, and impart their native speaking wisdom upon their residents. With this lack of visa ease, you are often stuck in the grey area of residency and legal work. Personally, I much prefer to live in the realm of black and white, paying my taxes, and retaining reliable healthcare for an extended period of time. However, my adventurous spirit and natural curiosity often leads me to less developed and organized parts of the world.