Oxford Seminars Course Reviews and Student Testimonials

"Teaching in Costa Rica is a blast. The experience of living and teaching abroad has not only allowed me to mature professionally, but I have a newly found appreciation of life. Being immersed in another culture is fascinating, not to mention learning a new language. Teaching in Costa Rica offers the perfect balance of work and play. From the classroom to the beaches, my fellow teachers and I get the best of both worlds. My company's academic director is amazing. I am in awe at how well he is able to make us feel at home while simultaneously demanding the very best from us. I have been trained, evaluated, and critiqued with such care that I am progressing as a teacher at a rate faster than I have ever thought possible. I have a vast amount of teaching materials, programs, and a staff that is committed to helping everyone do their best. From grammar jams to Spanish classes, I have learned much from becoming a teacher.

Living in another country does not only teach you about how others live, but it teaches you about yourself. I was hoping to mature a bit and find myself during this experience. One month in Costa Rica has allowed me to grow more than I could in years in the US. Six months in Costa Rica will allow you to bloom professionally and as a human being.

If you are a nature lover, Costa Rica is the place to be. Picture beautiful beaches with overgrown palm trees full of monkeys that are trying to steal your food. I have seen animals here that I have only dreamed of seeing. To be in the rainforests that so many wildlife films have taken place in, is an incomparable experience. If the forest and beaches aren't your thing, there are a number of volcanoes with cute towns and very relaxing atmospheres. To be honest, I thought that I would fall in love with the nature Costa Rica has to offer and that the sights would make me into a better person. But, thanks to my company, I have fallen in love with teaching and couldn't imagine doing anything else. It is great that Oxford Seminars allows so many to have this experience. This life-changing experience is exactly what I was hoping for."

"Oxford Seminars Program is absolutely fabulous. I use every bit of knowledge that I gained in both the face-to-face classes and the on-line portion. I remember my instructor with the deepest gratitude almost every day. She said many times that the most important part of teaching was to prepare, prepare, and prepare. And she was right, right, and right again.  Oxford Placement Services delivered everything that was in the promotional information and even more. I admire their professionalism and friendly attitude. Teaching takes a lot of my time - 23 hours per week plus preparation time. Chinese teenagers are like any other teenagers in the world. Don't trust those who say that all Chinese students are eager to study and are well-behaved; that's simply not true. At the same time it is very rewarding to see how they learn and progress. The school administration and teachers are extremely friendly and helpful.  There is not much free time right now.  Together with my colleague we discover the city, the cuisine (it's wonderful), traditions, markets, etc. Chinese teachers of English took us on a couple of trips around the town and its surroundings. In January there will be a month-long spring break, and I plan to travel a bit."

"What to expect from Oxford Seminars? 1) A very down to earth and intense training course that is a lot of fun and educational. This course will definitely prepare you for teaching English as a Second Language. And 2) Excellent Job Search Advisors who will guide you step by step to find your perfect job. The recruitment process goes a lot smoother when you listen to your advisor. You are in good hands when you let them do their work. Oxford Seminars will arrange to have you get in contact with an overseas contact who will guide you step by step to seeking overseas work. You will be communicating via the internet to someone overseas and by the end you will be a master of desktop computer communication and will be the proud owner of a foreign work VISA stamped in your passport.

The Traveling Experience Overseas: “Don’t forget your passport!” Expect the longest flight of your life that ironically goes by a lot faster than you thought only because you are asleep for most of the way. If you’ve never been to Asia before, expect culture shock. It’s actually ‘time travel’ shock. Don’t forget – Korea (Asia) has at least
a 5000 year old history. You will go back in time and you will also arrive into the future. It’s the weirdest experience to say the least.

How to Kill Homesickness? (1) Keep busy. Stay professional. (2) Make friends with as many Koreans (Asians) as possible. Become part of their families. This helps. You link family with family. You also get the best tour guides when you ‘hang’ with the locals. (3) If you actually feel sick to your stomach or nauseous, etc; ask your co-worker(s) to take you to a doctor. Asian medicine always works. (4) Keep in contact with your fellow English speaking travellers. You’ll be hanging out with them constantly. (5) Stay in contact with your family - there are so many ways. You can use the Internet, use Skype; you can even call home if you want. I just wish I packed my cats.

What to Pack? If you haven’t heard it already you’ll be hearing it very soon. You’ll be told to pack lots of deodorant because it’s very difficult to get in Korea. It’s the truth. After 7 weeks of living in South Korea I finally found deodorant. I don’t know why this is. Korean supermarkets have several different brands for every other personal hygiene product--except for deodorant. Korean stores are very well equipped. I’ll say it again and again: Koreans shop till they drop! You’ll be impressed with their style."

"Hello fellow Oxford Seminars graduates! Congratulations on obtaining your TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate! You've gone a long way to get where you are, so take a moment to be proud of yourself. I am 22 years old and I graduated with Oxford in June 2011, with Sujoy Gupta as my instructor. As soon as I graduated I started my Graduate Placement Service, in which I got to review country and school profiles, as well as receive help from the professional staff of Oxford's Graduate Placement Service. My advisor Rowan was very patient with me and helpful with suggesting many countries, knowing my eagerness to teach.

Next thing I knew, I had 5 different offers on my plate, waiting for my reply and for a formal interview. I was so grateful, yet confused about which country to choose. So how did I decide? Well, I asked specific and important questions regarding the schools, the contracts, living conditions, etc. I liked the sample contract for a school in Georgia, and kindly declined the other offers. So now there I was, applying for Georgia. Next thing I knew, after the phone interview, I was leaving in a month's time! It was a surreal moment.

So what's my life in Georgia like? It's a travelling adventure that changes from time to time. You never know where you will get placed, either in a village or a city. Either way, it's definitely a learning experience. I was placed in a village with a nice host family, who are caring, and hard workers. I live with a host mom, dad, brother, his wife and two kids. They are absolutely amazing to be with, and always make me feel at home and comfortable.

My school is amazing. I have two co-teachers of which are primary level (grades 1-5) and secondary level (grades 6-12). I teach with both of them, both splitting their schedules with me. I also run an after school program with the non-English teachers and students during Tuesdays to Thursdays. I love my school staff, for they have been patient and understanding. They use body language and the basic conversational phrases that I've taught them in order to communicate with me and improve their English skills and knowledge; a very enthusiastic staff I should say. I cannot stress how happy and comfortable I am to be part of this teaching team. The kids are amazing too!

As for my life, well I try to go with the flow. A weekend off with your fellow native English teachers helps a lot! This is an experience to learn from; an experience that will make you appreciate hot water, a North American toilet, and insulated housing; and a place to go only if you have what it takes to tackle new challenges everyday. Patience is really a virtue in this country. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog, and good luck to all your future endeavours, wherever you may be placed."

"I have been preparing myself since September of 2009 to go abroad and teach English. I got my Oxford Seminars TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate on October 4th but still felt unready to take the challenge of going abroad. I waited and procrastinated until the month of March. Then I took the advice of my friend and contacted the Graduate Placement Service from Oxford Seminars. When I asked my Job Search Advisor to help me out, she immediately replied within a day, to me telling me every step I will have to take to have a job. She helped me build a resume as well as the cover letter. She was very patient with me since I am the queen of procrastination. She sent me documents so I would get ready (in terms of physical and mental health) to meet the unknown.

When I filled out my documents in accordance to what they are looking for abroad, I sent them to my Job Search Advisor saying I would like to teach in Zhongshan. She sent my documents to her contact and less than two days after, the principal of the school in question replied and told me: “with the kind recommendation of my  Job Search Advisor, we are pleased to offer you a teaching position starting as early as in two weeks.”
So, with that said, I was psyched out! I had to get my work visa, I booked my flight, and I was on my way to Hong Kong airport in less than a week.

Thanks to Oxford Seminars Graduate Placement Service, I have a job from which I can find even more opportunities. I met at least three other school principals who are looking for teachers at the end of my contract. I feel confident now that my Job Search Advisor guided me through the first steps of my teaching career.
I strongly advise you to not hesitate reaching them. They will be helpful and patient with every concern you may have. You will have the choice and they will follow you every step of the way.

Also, I wish to add that my experience as a teacher abroad has been nothing but fulfilling. Being in a far away city, with only yourself and your skills to communicate, you can achieve the best of yourself. In China, the people are very kind, always smiling though very different from what we know in western countries. I am teaching to wonderful and definitely cute kids and teenagers. They bring me so much joy with their enthusiasm for learning. I assure you, this is not a waste of time. It is a cultivation of your inner strengths.

If you come to a non-touristic city like Zhongshan, you will be a star. They don’t see many foreigners. It is the funniest part of my experience: if I walk in a park, Chinese take pictures of me as if I am a monument. They are pretty hilarious! Good luck to you, foreign teacher. Reach for the world, it is all yours!"

"I decided to go teach in Mexico. I liked the fact that I could commit to a very short term of two months, although most teachers go for a longer period. I was surprised by how large and immaculate the school was. The staff is very informal and the fellow teachers are polite and friendly. We write up our lesson plans via a program curriculum, however we have flexibility to be creative with our own ideas. The first night in San Luis Potosi, the school staff found housing I agreed to after giving me several choices of lodging. I chose to live in a three story house with my own room. I live with a very nice Mexican family. I have been invited to parties, meals, and on trips by fellow staff and by my home-stay family just in the first week alone. The school is very good at honoring the contract I signed with them and you don't need to know Spanish to work at this school. You teach students (toddlers, children, teens, adults, and businesspeople) in English.

San Luis Potosi is a mix of old architecture, cobblestone streets, and mountains in the distance. It is also an industrialized city with lots of taxis, Domino's Pizza, and 24-hour convenience stores. It is like any small town or metropolitan city with the same pros and cons. It is definitely not a tourist town; it is a real town. I am from Florida and it feels safer here than in Miami. I find people in town are more personable to me than in the USA. I intend on coming back to work here. This location and job is about a unique experience; it is not  about becoming wealthy or selling school products to students. You are not a salesman, you're there to teach. This school is about student and teacher satisfaction. The students have been great. I'm going to miss them when I leave."
 

"Oxford Seminars has been an integral part of my success as an English teacher.  After I completed the program, Oxford helped me secure a job within three months! Thanks to my Job Search Advisor’s advice and commitment, I found my dream job in Japan! Not only that, but the company I work for has a reputation for being the best English school in Japan. Without Oxford's guidance, I may not have been so fortunate as to land this coveted position.  At the school, the students and staff alike are very enthusiastic and friendly. The students are interested in learning about Canadian culture. I always get asked about what part of Canada I’m from and how it’s different from Japan. They're very interested in learning about foreign teachers and they made me feel very welcome. Another great thing is that the students don't have to be there, they want to be there. This makes teaching very rewarding!  It's been great to apply the knowledge I've learned from Oxford Seminars to a real classroom setting.

Since Oxford Seminars provides an excellent teaching foundation, I can continue to build on the skills I learned within the program. Everything I learned has been of practical value to my daily job. My school's manager even commented on my experience with Oxford Seminars as being an asset!  Aside from being reputable, Oxford Seminars is also very personable. If I ever had a question or concern about securing a job, I would contact my job search advisor who always delivered a timely response. He also assisted me throughout the application and interview process for my current job. Starting a job overseas can be a daunting task, yet my transition from Canada to Japan has been relatively painless thanks to Oxford's assistance. Oxford Seminars truly cares about the success of their teachers and I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to land a dream job abroad."