TravelGrad

My experience moving to Japan was nothing but exceptional. I was supported by TravelGrad, and their partner, Xplore Asia, through applying for my position, and arranging all of my housing. They were always on hand to support with any questions, even assisting me with setting up my electricity and water upon arrival in Japan. When I was first considering moving to Japan for the teaching experience, TravelGrad were so friendly and helpful on the phone with helping me with regards to what country to choose or what option was best for me. I have been extremely fortunate with my city and amazing friendships that I have made. Currently, I have no plans to leave Japan anytime soon! It has certainly been a whirlwind so far! Definitely I have changed as a personal massively since moving here. I have discovered a big love of nature, mountains, and onsen, as well as Japanese food! I have attached a few photos from this month in my local area of Japan!

I am 2 months into the 5-month Thailand TEFL taster. I signed up with my partner because I had always wanted to experience life in Thailand. Working and living in Thailand seemed like the best way to truly experience life here. So far, I have definitely found this to be the case. I am already beginning to see the gap between the small snippets of Thailand that tourists see, and the deeper understanding of it that can be gained by working here. I did expect this beforehand, but knowing where to start looking for work in Thailand seemed daunting.

This is where Travel Grad became useful. As a finalist at uni, who had never had a full-time job, let alone moved to another country, I found it really useful to have an agency guide me through the process. Travel Grad provided me with a timeline of what I needed to do and when and information documents for every step of the process. This assured me that I was doing everything I needed to do.

Another useful feature is the 24/7 WhatsApp chat. I use this to the FULL EXTENT. Whether I have a question or need to double-check something or feel confused, I can quickly send a message and receive a quick reply. As mentioned, moving to work abroad was a strange and unfamiliar process, so being able to contact Travel Grad whenever I needed to (literally whenever) was reassuring!

Of course, while this is a Travel Grad review, it is worth remembering that Travel Grad is one part of a bigger process. Your experience will also depend on the school that you are placed in, and the teaching agency in Thailand (MediaKids) that Travel Grad works with. If you are thinking about teaching English in Thailand, then do consider all factors. However, this advice would apply to any agency.

If you are set on teaching English in Thailand but are trying to choose an agency, then I would highly recommend Travel Grad. Even while in Thailand, we can use still Travel Grad for support. They were in contact with us while we were settling in, they put us in a group chat with all of the other people doing the Thai TEFL taster, and they booked us a complimentary night in a hotel upon arriving in Thailand. They definitely went the extra mile.

If you're looking for a laid-back teaching experience, Hanoi is definitely the place to go. When it comes to teaching, you teach minimal hours and have almost zero perfect planning. You get paid well, a more than livable wage for the city you're in.

The greatest part of this experience was Travel Grad. They were so helpful throughout the whole process, they guided me through every single step and helped me through any bumps in the road, in the end, it felt like the simplest experience. It was great as someone doing this for the first time as I didn't have to think of anything, Travel Grad told me everything that needed to be done and ensured everything was in place so I would have the simplest move to Hanoi. I moved with my partner and their help with getting us both placed together was invaluable. We moving abroad would have almost never happened without their help! Thank you, Travel Grad!

I'm currently half way through my placement teaching English in Hanoi, Vietnam through TravelGrad. If I could describe my experience so far in one word - incredible.

Like most Westerners, before coming here my perception of Vietnam was mostly limited to what I'd seen from American movies about the war. However, though I still have so much to learn, I can now confidently say that Vietnam is the most interesting country I have ever been to, and I am embarrassed of how little I knew about this fascinating country and its history before arriving. Vietnam has such a rich history and culture and there are no shortage of ways to immerse yourself in it, which has just been fantastic for everyone here. We have visited so many beautiful temples and interesting museums, learned about and took part in so many cultural things already. I am excited for what's still to come and thankful for what I've already experienced.

I can also definitively say that none of this would have been possible without the help of TravelGrad. From the moment I signed up, TravelGrad has been there to answer all my questions, no matter how trivial. They made sure that everything was smooth sailing, that I felt happy with my decision throughout the entire process, and were really approachable about anything at all. The experience itself wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable without them either, as thanks to the program I have met friends for life that I have been able to share the experience with throughout the whole placement. Our intake still meets up multiple times per week and most of us are to go on another holiday together for Christmas. If for nothing else, the social side of TravelGrad is (what I believe to be) the ultimate sell of the program. It made what would have been an otherwise intimidating experience (moving to a new city alone, on the other side of the world, knowing nobody) fun, as you are in the same boat as everyone else on the placement.

Teaching English is much easier than I had thought. Currently, I teach grade 2-5 and have Monday morning off and Friday afternoon off, which is so much fun as the kids are adorable and teaching is super rewarding. We don't have to be in the schools unless we're actually teaching so we have plenty of time off to pursue our own hobbies, compounded by the fact our company gives us pre made lesson plans meaning we don't really need to spend time lesson planning. I think that TEFL is something I will continue to do for many years to come following my experience with TravelGrad.

Hanoi is also a great place to live. It is absolutely nuts - when you first arrive it can be a real attack on the senses with all the motorbikes zooming around and the strange noises, but most people I know enjoy the chaos of it all. I feel much safer here than I do in Western cities, especially at night. The expat scene is small here when compared to places like Shanghai, Hong Kong or Bangkok, but still sizeable enough that there is still a vibrant scene and lots of events catered to expats throughout the year. Hanoi retains the authentic feel and charm of Vietnam whilst also having Western amenities for when you're missing home. What really stands out as a foreign teacher is the standard of living that TEFL can afford you; I'm six months into my placement and I am still yet to cook a meal of my own as I can afford to eat out for every meal. Though the salary is lower than you might make in China or by Western standards, due to Vietnam's SIGNIFICANTLY lower cost of living you can expect to afford an upper-middle class lifestyle here and even to save some if you try. My lifestyle here is leagues ahead what it would have been if I stayed in the UK post-university. Of course, there are downsides (such as the pollution, traffic and noise), but unfortunately these issues are common throughout the developing world, and do not come close to being deal breakers in my opinion. I'm really glad I get to spend part of my life here.

I am happy to say that six months into my placement, I am extremely pleased with my decision to teach English in Hanoi through TravelGrad. I had originally heard about TravelGrad before starting university, and knew even then from what I'd heard that it was for me. I wasn't let down, and you won't be either. Take the leap - you only regret the things in life that you didn't have the courage to do.

Hanoi is a fast paced city, coming into it with a group of people gathered through TravelGrad means you’ve got an instant group of like-minded people looking to explore a new way of life. The cost of living means that you can afford to go out regularly, pay for classes and hobbies without financial concern or easily do weekends away! Teaching isn’t always easy and each person approaches the job differently, you’ll definitely grow as a person and I guarantee the students are hilarious to work with!