Steve Patton

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Steve is 26 year old travel enthusiast. He calls Boston home even though he spends as much time on the road as he does in any one place these days. He's a marketer and writer with a focus on the ESL field, and has also logged time playing drums in several touring bands. Japan is next on his travel wish list!

What position do you hold at LanguageCorps? What has your career path been like so far?

I am currently the Associate Director of Marketing with LanguageCorps. I help take care of pretty much everything that falls under the marketing umbrella for the company, from advertising and social media to program inquiry's, sales, and more. I graduated from Northeastern University in 2009 and after college I spent a lot of time traveling and playing music. I was also lucky enough to spend sometime in Southeast Asia. I started out as Head of College Relations at LanguageCorps in 2010 and as the company grew, I’ve absorbed more responsibility and it’s been really fun watching things continue to progress!

What trends have you noticed in the teach abroad industry?

With the American and European job markets struggling, more and more people are looking to teach English abroad as a way to make their resumes stand out while seeing the world at the same time. We continue to get more applications every year and it seems like Asia is becoming a more popular destination for LanguageCorps teachers which makes sense since it’s typically the most lucrative.

What separates LanguageCorps from other teach abroad providers?

We have always prided ourselves on our customer service and the thoroughness of our programs. There are a lot of options out there for TESOL certification, but LanguageCorps provides more than just a certification program. From job placement assistance to health and travel insurance, accommodations, etc. I believe that the level of support we provide our teachers is unmatched in the industry. It’s our goal to make sure that all of our participants have a fantastic experience teaching English abroad!

In your opinion, what makes a good international teacher?

Flexibility and a willingness to adapt to new situations are most important I think. Living and working abroad can be a bit of a shock and it takes a great attitude to embrace your surroundings and make the most of every situation even when things might not work perfectly. Especially for teachers living off the beaten path, patience and understanding go a long way towards ensuring a positive experience.