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TFT - Teach Abroad

Why choose TFT - Teach Abroad?

💯 - Ready to transform your life and garner invaluable teaching experience overseas? Your search ends at The Fewer Things (TFT), a premier teach abroad provider, voted one of the finest overall for 4 consecutive years. Emphasizing support, fun, and safety, our programs are ideal for budding educators and first-time globetrotters.

🎓 - The thought of teaching abroad can be daunting, which is why we extend thorough support and guidance throughout the journey. Our distinctive programs and courses are crafted to certify and position you in teaching roles across Asia, with avenues in China, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand.

🏆 - At TFT, we collaborate solely with reputable and trusted educational entities, ensuring all our affiliated schools meet our elevated standards.

🏫 - Recognized as a top teach abroad provider on Go Overseas, and celebrated in this regard for three years running, TFT is your channel to fulfilling the change you've envisioned.

Founded
2017

Impact

At The Fewer Things, our approach to ethical programming is deeply rooted in mutual respect and reciprocity. We ensure that while our participants gain enriching experiences, host communities in Asia are empowered, their environments protected, and their cultural heritage upheld. This holistic approach safeguards the authenticity of experiences for future travelers, all the while championing the well-being and growth of our host communities.

Reviews

Default avatar
Jaeda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching in China 🇨🇳

Let me start by saying that I’m really happy to be living and working here in China!!! I’m grateful to TFT for making it happen with a smooth transition!
TFT creates that community of support with the other teachers before flying out, so you never feel alone throughout the entire pre-departure process. The team is knowledgeable of what to prepare beforehand and where/how to do it; they’re always on the ball with communication of timelines and connecting you to the future employer who will best meet your goals.

This is actually my second location teaching with the support of TFT! The clubhouse program allowed me to move from Thailand to China with just a few months in between, and it was a stress-free transition with their guidance. Before choosing to go to China, Jaemi took the time to talk with me about my teaching goals and to map out my needs for my future placement. Without his consultation, I probably wouldn’t be here in China right now. There’s no other teach abroad team I can think of who takes the time to truly get to know their teachers. For that alone, being a part of TFT really does feel like a family that you know has your back!

I’m currently based in Shenzhen, and it truly has all you can ask for. You get a modern city lifestyle, easy access to anything you may be missing from back home, a comfortable work/life balance, and a great mix of expats and locals to build your own community as time goes by. After nearly 4 months in, the TFT team and my fellow teachers continue to stay connected as we get to live this amazing experience together!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Moving to China does have that learning curve period to adapt to how everything works. And even with my experience, the classroom environment definitely has its own challenges. My advice is that you are never alone and to simply remember that you do have a support system for any and everything! If you’re already at the part where you’ve settled on moving abroad, but you haven’t chosen your location yet, kudos to you on your bravery! I can assure you that you will find many things that may make you want to stay in China for more than a year. Moving to teach in China will help you to grow in terms of life experience, career, and even getting to know yourself that much more! Go for it!
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Anna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best decision I ever made

I used to read these comments left by people living abroad and think to myself how cool it must be! I still find it hard to believe I am now one of these people! It is honestly not as crazy as it sounds and if I did it, so can you!

It’s scary moving to a country where you don’t know anyone, you don’t speak the language and you are doing a job you have never done before!
However, TFT held my hand every step of the way and I needn’t have worried about being all on my own. I bonded with some of the other teachers straight away, we are all going through the exact same process after all. Thai people are as friendly and helpful as they are said to be! The language barrier is somewhat mitigated by the existence of Google Translate. 😆

I am a first-time teacher still figuring it all out but there is enough support for me to do well. Go for it!

Default avatar
Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing!

I moved to Vietnam with The Fewer Things and it was the best decision I ever made!

TFT offered guidance and support from the very beginning, especially Jaemi, who was always happy to help. Initially, they helped with completing the TEFL course, legalising documents and providing guides on how to adapt to a new life abroad, which made the process a lot easier. When we moved to Vietnam, social events were organised to help us get to know other expats and we had regular check-ins to see how we were doing. It was great to have someone to turn to for support if needed during a time of a lot of change.

Vietnam itself was an amazing place to both live and teach. I was placed in lovely schools across Hanoi where each day brought something new. Teaching is such a rewarding job and being able to do it while experiencing a new country and culture made it even better. There are also plenty of opportunities to travel across Vietnam or to nearby countries throughout the school year, making it ideal for those who want to travel while earning money.

TFT are the perfect company to help you move abroad and I highly recommend!

Default avatar
Saul
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Flawless

Since the day I reached out to The Fewer Things to embark on my teaching journey, they have been fantastic. I cannot fault the process whatsoever and their ability to provide support has been second to none. The Fewer Things are always on hand to answer your queries and help you along the way, no matter how early or far along you are on your journey. From the beginning, the process has been smooth, clear and enjoyable. The Fewer Things have been absolutely fantastic and I would strongly recommend.

Pros
  • Responsiveness
  • Support
  • Information
Default avatar
Bianca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

2 Years in South Korea! AMAZING experience.

I have had a wonderful time while in South Korea. Initially, I thought that I would only stay for one year. However, due to my incredible experience, I decided to stay longer. I was placed in the country's south about 90 minutes outside Busan. My placement city was so beautiful and the Korean people in my town are so warm and friendly. My hagwon has been the best part of my experience. The children are the sweetest kids that I have ever met. And my director and coworkers have been nothing short of amazing. They've made my experience even better than anything I could have imagined. They've made sure that I'm a great teacher and have also gone above and beyond to make sure that I am okay even outside of school hours. I feel so loved and protected by my school and the community that I am living in. I am do glad that I went through TFT because I know that I could not have done all of the research and couldn't have made this move on my own. I am forever grateful and am excited to join the TFT clubhouse to explore teaching in other countries.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to be open-minded to being placed outside of the big cities like Seoul or Busan. There are so many amazing and charming smaller cities sprinkled throughout this amazing country.
Pros
  • Being able to travel around the country on weekends! Traveling is so easy here.
  • The Korean food! I am obsessed with Ttekkbokki.
  • The children! They are so incredibly smart and sweet. I love seeing them everyday.
Cons
  • The language barrier. Even with Papago not being able to communicate can be stressful at times.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Interview

Why did you choose this program?

After visiting South Korea in 2019 on holiday, I wanted to come out and giving living in Korea a chance. I have wanted to move countries for a while and was looking at a country that did not have English as a first language as I wanted to challenge myself. Having taught abroad before I knew I wanted to do that again.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I was assisted all the way through my application. I had actually reached out a year before I intended on moving and the team were supportive and gave me all the information on what documents I needed, support on which route to Korea would be best for me and even answered my questions on what to pack. They were well informed and this meant I was able to get most of my documents ready in advance.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would tell them to do a lot of research on the country and to really think about if teaching is the right route for them. You have the opportunity to give Korean children a good impression of English and as you will be spending a lot of time teaching you should actually want to and or like children. I would say you should also be open and flexible as things change often at work and sometimes communication is limited.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

A typical week for me is Monday- Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. I teach 5 classes everyday, each class is 40 minutes long. I have 6 classes in each grade and teach grades 3-6 at just one elementary school.

I teach between 9:10am-12:55pm everyday and after lunch spend the rest of the time lesson planning for the following week. I very rarely have to spend evenings or weekends lesson planning.

Our school has a private English office where my two co-teachers and I are located.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was being alone and that I would have a hard time communicating with my co-teachers and just people in general as my Korean is limited. While I can read Korean with no problem, I am very afraid to speak and my grammar is limited.

Luckily you are put into contact with other teachers in your town so you are not alone. Mostly these individuals will be super friendly and up to travel around and hangout with. I also have amazing co-teachers who speak great English and who are all very chatty and friendly. I think you have to put yourself out there. If you are introverted and shy I think you will have a difficult time as you have to remember everyone is super busy so if you have questions or want to hang out with others you have to make the effort on your side as it wont just happen. Instagram is also a great way to connect with other people. I slide into loads of DMs and have made some great friends that way. I would also advice going on some group tours, it is a great way to see the country, do cool stuff and meet people who have amazing stories on how they ended up in that particular country.

I have also found that the locals are super helpful, the older men and women are always directing me around and some are very excited to flex the limited English they know. Just don't be put off they may look angry but they are not.

Any additional advice?

My advice for anyone wanting to come to Korea is to do it but to brace yourself! Despite being very first world, there are many differences and you need to be really open minded. Many ways of doing things are different from back hope and might not always seem logical, from signing into apps to the school booking leave system, so you just have to be patient.

If you are applying for a teaching programme, I would say you should like children and should want to do a good job at that. You are a role model and your students will look up to you and and dote on you. There are so many resources available online to help you do a great job.

Finally put yourself out there, I have met so many amazing people here, both local and foreign who have made my time here worthwhile, but that wold not have been possible if I did not reach out and make contact. You are the master of your own fate, no one is going to do the work for you so you have to jump in at every possible chance to make friends!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

William Davies

Job Title
Programme Coordinator & Freelance Writer
Will is a freelance copywriter and programme coordinator for The Fewer Things company. Having taught in Vietnam, Romania, and Thailand, Will is now directing his energy towards writing about different cultures and assisting applicants in initiating their adventures teaching abroad.
William Davies wearing a blue traditional shirt and navy cardigan with long brown hair and blue eyes

What is your favorite travel memory?

Navigating the roads of Ha Giang in Northern Vietnam. On one occassion I did this by running a half marathon, and on the other I did this via a motorcycle. Ha Giang offers a beautiful and mountainous landscape with adjectives such as otherwordly and jurassic not doing it justice. The scale of these mountains will make anyone feel so insignificant, and it was an epiphany for me of just how small we are compared to these colossal formations and the vastness of this planet.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have become much more confident in my abilities to manage tasks and convey ideas, whether in the form of creating a new article or by communicating with co-workers and applicants. The working environment at The Fewer Things is a proactive and encouraging one. Working here has really allowed me to improve my initiative without feeling any pressure.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

A teacher that I knew was discussing her favourite animals with another student, only to find out that they both shared a favourite animal - the turtle. The next time this teacher taught this particular student, the student had brought in a live turtle - as a gift - for the teacher. The fact that this student took note of this teacher's favourite animal, and went through the act of obtaining it in order to gift it to her, just showed how valuable teachers can be to their students.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Teach English in South Korea. Having taught in Vietnam and Thailand, my desire to explore more of Asia only increased with each visit to these exotic locations. While South East Asia has a more relaxed lifestyle, I would like to see the contrasts that other cultures in Asia, or East Asia in particular, have to offer.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Throughout the entire process of being associated with The Fewer Things, whether as an applicant or a co-worker, the founder has always been incredibly personable and encouraging. Whether we were navigating the process of obtaining a working visa to teach in Thailand or helping applicants achieve the same thing, the founder has always been supportive.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Having a founder and workers who actually care about the quality of their product or services. The founder and other workers including myself have undergone the process of teaching English as a foreign language before. We know that while it is a life-changing experience, it can also be an intimidating one and just like anything else, have downsides. Having people who understand the intricacies of TEFL is important in order to optimize the experience for others.