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XploreAsia

4.78 Rating
100 reviews
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Why choose XploreAsia?

XploreAsia was founded by educators who are passionate about teaching English and giving back to local communities. We specialize in providing a life-changing adventure by living, teaching, and volunteering abroad. We offer internationally accredited TESOL/TEFL certification courses, job placement assistance, sustainable volunteer placements, home stay options, and internships throughout Southeast Asia. We strive to help people discover the transformational benefits of living and teaching in Southeast Asia, and are dedicated to providing quality education and experiences.

Website
www.xploreasia.org
Founded
2010

Community Photos

Role of a Princess in a stage drama.
Hill of Buddha
Chasing adventures & creating unforgettable memories in the land of the rising sun 🗿🇯🇵✨️
First Month in Sapporo 🇯🇵
JAPAN TEACHERS- New Colleagues
Chuseok at my school
Yokohama view from the port. I have been waiting over 5 years to see this.
At the palace with the best tour guide
Elephants!
Looking down on Chiang Mai
Cheering on a fighter from the Muay Thai gym I trained at during my time there.
Beautiful waterfalls
Odori Park
ENGLISH CAMP WEEKEND
LAST DAY IN PRACHUAP
KRABI

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Community Awards

  • Go Overseas Award

Reviews

Default avatar
Janet Korkor
Female
Ghana
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
XploreAsia Teach Japan + In-Country TEFL / TESOL Program

Cultural Immersion and Professional Growth During My Time Abroad

Mar 22, 2025

During my time as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in Japan, I had the unique opportunity to immerse myself in Japanese culture while contributing to English education in local schools. Living in Sapporo, I worked closely with Japanese teachers and students, helping to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. This experience not only enhanced my teaching skills but also allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese work and communication styles.

In addition to my professional role, I had the chance to explore Japan’s rich traditions, from tea ceremonies to festivals, and learn about the country’s fascinating history. Living in Japan taught me to adapt to new environments and strengthened my cross-cultural communication abilities. This experience was incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally, and has left a lasting impact on my approach to teaching and my view of the world.

What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was the opportunity to act as the Princess in a Japanese stage drama. It was so much fun seeing how the Japanese actors brought humor to the performance. It was also a great experience for me, as it was my first time acting in Japanese and seeing so many Japanese people interested in the drama.
Pros
  • Cultural Immersion: The program allows you to fully immerse yourself in Japanese culture, giving you a deeper understanding of traditions, language, and daily life in Japan.
  • Language Learning: Living and working in Japan offers a unique opportunity to improve your Japanese language skills through everyday interactions, which is a huge advantage for both personal growth and professional development.
  • Career Opportunities: Participating in the program can enhance your resume by demonstrating your adaptability, cross-cultural communication skills, and international work experience, which can open doors to future job opportunities.
Cons
  • Language Barrier: If you’re not fluent in Japanese, the language barrier can be challenging in both professional and social settings, making it harder to fully integrate and communicate.
  • Homesickness: Being away from home for an extended period can lead to feelings of homesickness, especially if you're far from family and friends, or if the cultural differences are more difficult to adjust to.
  • Work Pressure: Depending on the specific role, some participants may experience high expectations and a busy work schedule, which can be stressful, particularly if you’re adjusting to a new work environment in a different culture.
Role of a Princess in a stage drama.
Default avatar
Kitty
27
Female
United Kingdom
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
XploreAsia Teach Japan + In-Country TEFL / TESOL Program

Landed dream job in Japan!

Mar 17, 2025

After completing my TEFL prior, I signed up to Xplore in order to help me find a job in Japan. I had the wonderful help of Jane to begin with, and then Amy helped me land a few interviews, and my job! Amy has been a star the whole way through. Xplore have been so helpful, from answering all my questions, to giving me all the information I could possibly need, and genuinely being really excited and supportive of me through this whole journey. I am now a few days off of starting my new job in Japan, and I’m feeling so excited, especially with all of the continued support of the XploreAsia team.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Going to the embassy to collect my Visa! I dressed incredibly smart and was terrified it was going to be rejected if I didn’t look the part and have everything correct. But all I had to do was leave my passport there and hand over the correct forms. Not as scary as I expected.
Pros
  • Landed dream job in dream city
  • Had fantastic support the whole way through
Cons
  • Budget for more than you think! Surprise costs will always pop up when moving abroad
Default avatar
Bianca
South Africa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
XploreAsia Teach South Korea & In-Country TEFL/TESOL Program

So happy I chose this program

Feb 26, 2025

This is my first time teaching English abroad in another country and I'm so happy I chose XploreAsia. I am blown away by the support and care this team offers. I feel like I can ask them anything (no matter how small) and they'll immediately try to help. I received so much support during the documentation process, and I love the check ups they do after placement. I also love the group activities, language classes, and cultural experiences that they offer. I've been in South Korea for three months now and it has been the most wonderful journey. Truly couldn't have picked a better program.

Default avatar
Elisabeth
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
XploreAsia Teach South Korea & In-Country TEFL/TESOL Program

Intense but I learned so much

Feb 19, 2025

There was an intense amount of work to do, but it never felt impossible. I have to give a lot of credit to our instructor who made the experience so much better. As an inexperienced teacher, I learned so much, and I feel better prepared to go forward in this teaching journey. In addition, we had to work long hours, and often on our days off, to be able to complete the assignments. But the thing is you will do them and do them well if you want to do a good job for those kids. In the end the journey was so self fulfilling.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Teaching on its self was so nerve racking, but everything you do for the first time can be scary, but I learned for teaching, and with so many other things, it just takes practice.
Pros
  • Make new friends
  • Explore a new country
  • Food
Cons
  • Long hours
  • Challenging assignments
  • Difficulty communicating with locals
Default avatar
Donald
71
Male
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
XploreAsia Teach South Korea & In-Country TEFL/TESOL Program

Loved ever moment

Feb 16, 2025

Well, it had been a long time since my last visit to Korea. I recently came to get my TESOL certificate I must say it was a most satisfying experience. I loved the classes, the staff, and the accommodations and it proved to be a wonderful life journey. The instructor Carla at Xplore Asia made the classroom experience challenging yet enjoyable. The visit to the palace in Seoul, while dressed in hanbok, was an unforgettable experience that transported me back in time to Korea's royal past. The food was incredible and I have to say a visit to Seoul is a must on everyone's travel list. Would I visit Korea again? Absolutely

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Alumni Interviews

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

Maegan Bruno

Program
XploreAsia Teach Thailand + In-Country TEFL / TESOL Program
Maegan lives in Colorado, USA. Originally from Texas, she graduated from Texas A&M University in 2012 with a degree in Elementary Education. Since graduation, she has been seeking adventure and different opportunities to influence the children she teaches!
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What is the most important thing you learned abroad?

The most important thing I've learned being abroad is that there is always something to be thankful for. There were times where the place we would be staying was less than desirable, but we learned to be thankful for the little things that we were blessed with, such as hot water, a good meal, or even a helping hand from one of the locals. I know I'll take this lesson back to America with me and I'm excited to see the changes to come when I head back!

What was the hardest part about going abroad?

The hardest part of going abroad for me was abandoning my normalities and routines from back home and adopting a new mindset of the new possibilities each day brought here. I had my favorite coffee shop back home, my community, restaurants, and hiking trails. Coming to Thailand, everything was so different. It was definitely a mix of culture shock and missing the structure back home.

However, after a few weeks, routines were more set into place, and I even came to love how each day was a little mix of the unknown! I never had a "boring" day, and as crazy as each day sometimes felt, I learned to just laugh and know that the next day would leave even more memories for me.

Tell us about an experience you had that you could not have had at home.

One of my favorite experiences I had that I would not have experienced back home was spending time with the wife/husband that rents out our apartment complexes. Their family was very close and loved to include my friend and I in their time spent together. We spent several dinners together trying to teach each other our native languages and sharing our cultures despite a huge language barrier. We laughed together, learned new things and tried new foods.

One afternoon the mom even took us to the Thai Special Forces Army Base where her son was stationed. Her son showed us around and we even were able to participate in one of their exercises! I truly felt like I had a family away from home!

Staff Interviews

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

Lungile Xulu

Program
XploreAsia Teach Japan + In-Country TEFL / TESOL Program
Job Title
Japan Program Coordinator
Lungile is part of the awesome team at XploreAsia. She handles all applications for the Japan program and takes part in some of the webinars as well.
Lungile Xulu under a giant shrine entryway in Japan

What is your favorite travel memory?

In 2021, I travelled to Mount Nokogiriyama in Chiba in Chiba Prefecture. I did a little solo hike, and at the end of the hike there was a marvelous structure before me- a 31 meter tall statue of Buddha, carved from the side of the mountain! It was so beautiful and it really is my most favorite memory of Japan.

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

I've been given an opportunity to help people go down the same road I did. I'm excited to work each morning and chat with my co-workers and applicants! Each teacher I come across has a story of their own, and I learn so much from them! This has led to me being more focused and motivated in all areas of my life.

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

I haven't heard any stories from teachers yet, but I am very excited to hear about everyone's' experiences in Japan! I'm very interested to hear about culture shock experiences, as I deal with applicants from all around the world, so I'm keen to learn about the differences between their home countries and Japan.

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

I'm quite interested in South East Asia, and I've never been there before, so I'd definitely choose Thailand! I've heard amazing things about the people, the food (the FRUITS!!!), and the beaches! I come from sunny Durban, South Africa, and everyone always tells me the weather in Thailand would remind me of Durban. So I'd love to go there!

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

XploreAsia is unique because I believe we genuinely care about our applicants' experiences, not just during the application process, but as they teach and beyond. I was really proud that we turned 10 years old recently, that's a big achievement! We're excited to keep making a difference and make people's dreams come true.

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

I believe there are many factors that contribute to making a company successful; having a team that works well together and supports each other is very important. Team members should never be afraid to ask questions, because that's how we learn from each other. But definitely good communication is the biggest factor, and is essential!