Teach Live & Thrive in Korea
Guidance & golden nuggets for realizing your teach in Korean Dream
Sick of living vicariously through expat YouTubers or K-dramas?
Want to finally LIVE YOUR DREAM of teaching English in South Korea?
Want the CONFIDENCE to make it all happen regardless of other people's (or your own) doubts?
You're in the perfect place!
Is this you?
You've been ITCHING to live abroad for a while now
Your fears around moving have overpowered your Desire
You're drowning in all the information and mixed opinions
You're sick of living a "normal" life
You dream of adventure outside of your home country diving deep into a new culture, language and way of living
You worry about how to make this a safe move for yourself
Were you nodding your head and saying "omg yessss" to any (or all) of the above?
...Let's talk ;)
I thought I was the most random person in the world. I studied Arabic and Spanish in college and yet I was fixated on moving to South Korea to teach English.
I remember thinking..
“Why leave my life behind? I have a stable job that makes sense for my career.. And won’t a year abroad look bad on my resume?”
I tried ignoring the idea of teaching in Korea but the desire kept coming back.
How could I pass up an opportunity that would literally pay me to immerse in a new language, culture and have an adventure?
And I am SO GLAD I listened to the inner calling to take the leap abroad..
Because my time in Korea WAS A DREEEAAAM!!!
I developed strong connections with my students and school staff
I was warmly welcomed by Korean people
I enjoyed a different job each year by CHOICE
I dated & found love
I had a BLAST training as a K-Pop/ HipHop dancer in Seoul
I accepted an "out of the blue" offer to teach my very own Dance English class at a top K-pop dance academy in Gangnam
I made lifelong friendships with Koreans and fellow foreigners
I got to know Tonya on a deeper level than ever before.
I grew and evolved into a much better version of myself!
Teach Live & Thrive in Korea is the program where I share with you all my secrets to THRIVING personally and professionally as a foreigner in South Korea.
This course is an up-close and personal look into my journey to and in South Korea.
I share with you EVERYTHING I did to get hired as an English teacher and live my DREAM LIFE abroad! I share the wisdom and lessons I learned in my experience.
I did NOT know Korean prior to moving.
I did NOT know anyone in Korea.
I had NEVER been a full-time teacher.
I wasn't even confident that I, a gal from Baltimore, was equipped to teach English (despite it being my own native language LOL).
And I never even got TEFL certified..
I went from all these "disadvantages" to..
EASILY finding great jobs getting hired (TWICE hired SAME DAY as interview)
SMOOTHLY adjusting to a very different culture
DEVELOPING the most lovely relationships with Koreans and foreigners
GRACEFULLY achieving a conversational level of Korean (no boring textbook stuff)
ATTRACTING the coolest dance gigs and opportunities (I became a dance teacher at a top K-Pop dance academy in Gangnam!)
I am not a recruiter. I do not work for a recruiting agency. Joining the program does not guarantee you a job. I will also not pressure you into taking any job.
It is 100% okay to join this program AND work with a recruiter.
Teach Live & Thrive in Korea is for those who want a deeper understanding of what they are getting into through getting an inside look into my experience.
This is a holistic approach to the ESL Korea job search, application and preparation process.
"Before this program, I was extremely nervous and overwhelmed because I had never done this kind of thing before. Sometimes it can be a long and stressful process but I'm glad that I found this program. We went over things like the application, class management tips, culture, interview tips, and even other ways to find a job besides the popular ones ( EPIK, GEPIK etc.). Before the program I had no idea how to even write a lesson plan but she went through my lesson plan and my essay and told me things that can be improved. I am glad that I found this program because I am definitely a lot less overwhelmed and I know what to expect and prepare for when making this move."
- Jazmine Burnam, EPIK Teacher
"I enrolled in the Teach Live & Thrive in Korea course a while ago and I absolutely love it. It is so helpful! It was a great investment and there are so many sections that I go back to and it's really helped me lessen some of my fears. A little background about me. I graduated from college in 2013 and, at the time, I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I wanted to travel, but I didn't know how I would've pulled that off. So I started doing some research about ways to work and travel and that's how I discovered teaching abroad. So, for the past few years, I've researched and researched and researched. Before I discovered the Hello Tonya Teacher website, I had already had a clear idea of the process, but not so much in depth as Tonya provides in the course. After years (literally) of going back and forth with myself, this course has helped me take the plunge and accept a position in Jeonju! In short, this course has been a Godsend!!"
- Jerris Brown
"When I made the decision to teach English in South Korea I was extremely excited but also extremely nervous. I had no idea what to expect and how I would survive for a year in a completely different country where I didn't even speak the language. Tonya helped to ease all of my fears and worries. She was there for me during the application process giving me tips on what documents I needed and where I needed to go to get them. She also provided an abundance of information on what to expect culturally and tips for the classroom. She was awesome! Thank you Tonya!!"
- Dana Rogers, TaLK Scholar
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Your Instructor
Moving to South Korea was one of the BEST decisions I've made! My life changed drastically as I adapted to a very different living situation, workplace and social culture. In the classroom, I learned to be flexible and develop my own unique teaching methods with students from Kindergarten-age to adults. I created original lessons, conducted camps, directed plays and was even asked to run my own Dance English K-pop class! Outside of the classroom I dove deep into my dance hobby, enjoying the vibrant K-pop/Urban scene of Seoul. Socially, I developed conversational Korean, made life-long friendships, and even found my husband! Having such a positive experience has inspired me to create this course to help prepare others logistically, culturally, and mentally for a FANTASTIC life and career, teaching English in South Korea.