Skip to content
Online TEFL > Home

Top 5 Foods You Must Try in South Korea

As TEFL destinations go, South Korea is a firm favourite, and if you’re heading there soon then the gourmands amongst you might be interested to know a bit more about one of i-to-i’s favourite topics…FOOD.

 

Bibimbap!

Bibimbap

Bibimbap literally translates as mixed rice. Sound tempting yet? Well if you check out the crazy picture on the right that’s what you can expect to see in Jeonju! Not so mixed rice, and more like a work of art! This traditional peasant food is common across all of Korea and comes in two varieties (in a metal bowl regular Bibimbap and in a heated stone bowl, dolsot bibimbap). If you order the ‘Dolsot’ then look out for the crispy scorched rice around the edge, it’s called Nurungji and is a Korean delicacy.

Galbi

Korean Barbecue seems to be the new trendy food popping up all over Western Europe! This is caveman food at its best; traditional galbi is made up of spicy barbecued short ribs that you cook on a pit of fire in the centre of your table. Wash this down with a beer this dish and your meal will come to a whopping total of a fiver! There’s no question that Korean barbecue joints will become a regular hangout place for you and your TEFL buddies. Continued…

Tags , , , .

Japan to Saudi Arabia: Sarah’s TEFL Escapades!

Last week we received a lovely email from Sarah telling us all about her TEFL plans in Saudi Arabia after 5 YEARS in Japan! She’s ready and raring for a new adventure… Let’s hear it Sarah!

TEFL teacher in traditional japanese dress

Konnichiwa Sarah!

Where are you originally from?

I’m from a small town called Crook which is in County Durham! If I’m feeling posh I just say Durham….

Where are you now and what are you doing there?

I’m in my 5th year in Kanazawa city, Japan. I work as an English teacher in a high school which is a right laugh 95% of the time and total despair for the rest! It’s been a brilliant experience though and I would highly recommend Japan to anyone, it’s a beautifully baffling place with amazing people.

Why did you decide to look at teaching English?

Because I wanted to get paid to travel the world! ……Just kidding, that’s only part of it! Before I went to university I spent some time volunteering in Mexico and the experience completely changed my life. I absolutely loved being in a culture completely different to my own and through teaching I was able to really connect with the people in the community.

Once I got through University back in the UK I knew I wanted to get away again and if you can teach English you can pretty much write your own ticket around the world. I was so lucky when I got the opportunity to teach in Japan. Without sounding too much like an English textbook, I think English gives opportunities like no other to the learner, and being a part of educating through English whilst living in another culture has been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done!

Continued…

Tags , , , , .

How Much Does It Cost to Live in China?

Thailand, yep we know that’s cheap, The Philippines…yep pretty sure they’re cheap too. Japan…good salaries but also quite expensive…but what about China?!

When it comes to Asia’s second largest country (if you count Russia that is), there’s a bit of a gap in most people’s knowledge. Well, here come the i-to-i TEFL team (many of whom have taught and traveled in China) to show you how much things really cost!

Transport

It’s one of the things that Asia is famous for – cheap, efficient public transport and it’s no different in the cities of China! A one day metro pass in Beijing or Shanghai will cost you below £2 and a 5 mile taxi ride around the same. Although the transport is cheap, why not take the opportunity of living in China to do as the locals do and get a bike!

Continued…

Tags , , , , , .

3 Great TEFL Destinations For Instant Employability

Wouldn’t it be great if you could be starting a TEFL adventure this time next month or even next week?! Courtesy of the lovely team at i-to-i we’ve worked out the best TEFL destinations for instant employability!

China

China remains one of the most popular TEFL destinations and with 358 (to be precise) jobs on the TEFL Jobs Board we can make a fair assumption that there is a high demand for English teachers in China!

Day at the beach
 Continued…

Tags , , , , .

5 TEFL Interview Questions You Need To Know!

5 TEFL Interview Questions You Need To Know!

You’ve finished your TEFL course, applied for your dream job and are just starting to hear back from all those great schools you’ve contacted. It could be a matter of weeks before you’re on that plane heading for your new life teaching abroad – but first you’ve got to ace that TEFL job interview!

Photo by HLlewellyn

So…to make things a little easier for you (we’re nice like that), here are a few of the most common TEFL interview questions and how to answer them!

1)     Tell me about your teaching experience…

You’ll be hard pressed to find an interviewer who doesn’t ask you this question. If you’ve got a load of experience then great, if not then this is the time to sell yourself with your TEFL course!  Make sure the employer knows that your TEFL Course is from an accredited industry provider and talk about the different modules that you’ve covered. Remember to tailor your answer to the position you’re applying to, if you’re applying to a kindergarten they’ll be more interested in your young learner teaching skills than your business English certificates. Continued…

Tags , , , , .

Chasing the Dream in Colombia: Eric’s Business TEFL Adventure!

TEFLers meet Eric Tabone! Eric’s adventure started with a backpacking trip to Colombia in 2008, since then he’s taught and even set up his own business! Want to find out more about his journey? Read on!

TEFL teacher in Colombia

Look! There's Eric in Guatape, Colombia

Where are you originally from?

Fort Worth, Texas

What were you doing before you went TEFLing?

Before TEFLing, I was managing an upscale restaurant. Although it was a great experience, I’m glad to be out of the restaurant industry now!

Why did you decide to look at teaching English?

I had always wanted to work abroad, and teaching English seemed like the best way to get started. I did the 20 hour Classroom course, which was great to help me get the necessary experience for a job.

 

Continued…

Tags , , , , , .

I’m a Graduate – Look Where I’m TEFLing Now! Part Three

Graduate series, final round! What journey have these graduates been on with TEFL? Can it beat becoming a Director of Studies in China or marrying a Spaniard? Meet Christina, who is enjoying a simpler lifestyle in Germany and Dimuthu whose TEFL journey kept him in his home country of Sri Lanka but has opened doors in foreign lands… 

Christina Rizleris

TEFL teacher, Christina

Hi Christina!

Which TEFL course did you complete?

I completed the 120 hour online course which included the 60 hour TEFL course, 20 hour grammar course and the Business English Course.

Which University did you go to?

I graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2009. My major was Environmental Studies with a minor in Biology, concentrating on Marine Biology.

What inspired you to take up TEFL?

Teaching English abroad has been a dream of mine for quite a while. I originally wanted to do it during my studies; however, finances and time were not on my side. After graduating, I was lucky enough to score a job in the admissions department. It was fun and I enjoyed it, but there was something missing; I just needed to take a stab at my dream of teaching English abroad. I remember one day sitting late at night in my office and saw a deal pop up for i-to-i TEFL. All it took was one quick phone call and I was headed in the right direction towards my dream.

Where are you currently located, and what are you doing there?

Currently, I am teaching English in Bielefeld, Germany. With a population of 323,000, we are located in the North Rhine Westphalia area. We sit along the Teutoburg Forest and have our very own Sparrenburg Castle to walk to for a great view of the city. Bielefeld is very accessible to many cities via train transport and the cost of living is very affordable on a freelance teacher’s salary.

 

Why did you choose your current location? Continued…

Tags , , , , , , , .

i-to-i TEFL Survey 2013

In January 2013, i-to-i surveyed 392 TEFLers about their motivations for teaching overseas and their morale. Here are the results:

 

According to the survey, the most common country to teach overseas is China.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued…

I’m a Graduate – Look Where I’m TEFLing Now! Part Two

Our graduate series continues…where has TEFL taken these University graduates? This time we heard all about Cat’s adventure in Seville and on following her family’s footsteps, becoming a head of studies and marrying a Spaniard. Then we met Heather, a Harvard graduate taking the EFL world in Boston, US by storm!

Ready? Let’s go!

Cat Gaa

Halloween in Spain

Happy Halloween!

Which TEFL course did you complete? 

I signed up for a weekend intensive course and completed it in my hometown of Chicago a week after graduating from college. The representative I talked with also signed me up for the 40-hour online course with a grammar specialist certificate, and they all complemented one another really nicely.

Which University did you go to?

I attended the University of Iowa, where I earned a dual degree in Journalism and International Studies with a minor in Spanish.  I still root on the Hawks, even from overseas!

Continued…

I’m a Graduate – Look Where I’m TEFLing Now! Part One

We put a message out to our graduate TEFLers to get in touch and TELL US YOUR STORY :) and boy did we get some stories! So much so, that we’ve decided to split it into three different articles… first up is Sean who moved to China, became a director of studies and fell in love! Second is Amy who, fearing UK graduate unemployment….packed up and started a new life in South Korea!

Ready? Let’s hear it!

Sean Healey

Hi Sean!

TEFL teacher with his students

Which TEFL course did you complete?

I completed the 120hrs intensive course which included an amazing weekend of classroom based training which resulted in new friends that I still speak to regularly two years later

Which University did you go to?

I studied Politics and Economics at University. I received a BA Hons 2:1. I started a Masters at Nottingham University and was going to head back to England to finish it…..then THIS happened……. :)

 

Continued…

Tags , , , , , , , , , , .