Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin

The First Step That Built My Dream Life (and Why I’m Now a TEFL Institute Ambassador)

When I finished university, I went back to the same summer camp jobs I’d been doing for years, saved a few hundred quid, and spent it traveling around the States on a student visa. It was fun, but when I eventually landed back in Ireland, reality hit. I was broke, sleeping at my mum’s house as a fully grown adult, weighed down by student debt and even a bit of Vegas debt.

I wanted more than just to get by. I wanted freedom. I wanted to travel. And while part of me thought I’d one day chase the big-money jobs in London or New York, I knew I had time for that later in life (in the end, that never happened thank goD). Right then, I wanted adventure. So, I did what anyone would do: I started googling “how to travel with no money” and “how to be free.”

That’s when I discovered teaching English overseas. It was like a lightbulb moment. All I needed was a TEFL qualification. Back then, the certificate cost a fortune, and I didn’t have the cash. So, I did medical research in Belfast, letting them test drugs on me for four weeks straight, locked in a hospital ward, eating meals at fixed times, and taking endless injections. I still carry a scar on my arm from that.

With the money I earned, I signed up for a TEFL course. That qualification changed everything. It took me to Thailand, where I taught English for a year, rode motorbikes, hung out with elephants, and lived a life that felt lightyears away from my small town in Ireland. When the money ran out, I taught in Korea, and later even worked in Australia. For years, from my early twenties into my mid-twenties, that TEFL was my ticket to the world.

Sure, I wasn’t rich then, but I was free. And that freedom was priceless. The TEFL gave me more opportunities than my degree ever did. It meant that whenever I dreamed about new horizons, whether Peru or Japan, I knew it was possible. That confidence, that ability to say “yes” to adventure, became the foundation of everything else. From becoming a blogger, to building a business, to visiting every country in the world.

And now, it’s come full circle. Out of all the partnerships I’ve been offered as a blogger, and believe me, there have been hundreds, I’ve turned down 99.9% of them. But becoming a TEFL Institute brand ambassador is different. TEFL was the literal first step that built my dream life. Without it, none of this would have happened. That’s why I’m proud to finally put my name alongside The TEFL Institute, one of the most reputable TEFL providers worldwide.

What is TEFL?

I’ll be blogging about this more in detail each month now, but in short TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. In simple terms, it is the qualification you need if you want to teach English overseas. The certificate shows schools that you have been trained properly and know how to deliver lessons.

Now, like anything, there are cowboy operators out there who will happily take your money and give you a piece of paper that does nothing for you. Those courses are a waste of time. But the good TEFL providers are worth their weight in gold. Their qualifications are internationally recognised, respected by schools everywhere, and they genuinely open doors for you to work and travel all over the world.

A solid TEFL certificate is your passport to teaching in Thailand, Korea, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East, or pretty much anywhere you can imagine. It is the first step if you want freedom, adventure, and a job that lets you fund your travels while you go.

Who Are The TEFL Institute?

TEFL Institute are one of the biggest names in the TEFL world and they have built their reputation on delivering proper, accredited courses that are recognised around the globe. Their qualifications carry weight, so schools know you are the real deal.

The best part is you do not need to spend thousands to get started. For less than 200 dollars you can take your first course and open the door to teaching and travelling abroad. From there you can build up to more advanced diplomas if you want to specialise further.

What I really like is that they do not just hand you a certificate and disappear. They also help you actually find teaching jobs, whether in classrooms around the world or online. That support makes all the difference when you are just starting out.

My Journey with TEFL

Back when I first looked into TEFL, it was seriously expensive. We are talking thousands of dollars. I paid that back then, but thankfully today you can get started for a fraction of that. And if you want, you can even teach online now. Personally though, I always recommend teaching in-country for your first experience. Nothing beats the community, the friendships, and the chance to learn a language and a culture at the same time.

My first job was in Chiang Mai, which is funny because it is the city I still call home fifteen years later. I had signed up for a job in China originally, but that fell through because of shady operators. That is why working with a proper accredited provider like TEFL Institute is so important. In the end, I found my own role in a language school in Chiang Mai. I earned about 24,000 baht a month ($600USD or so), rented a little apartment for 4,000 baht ($120USD or so), and worked a simple schedule: evenings Tuesday to Thursday and all day Saturday.

On paper, it was not much. About 600 euro a month. But in reality, it was life-changing. I had new friends overnight, the food was unreal, the nightlife was fun, and I felt alive in a way I had never experienced back home. Teaching itself was a revelation too. Helping people learn English felt like doing something meaningful, a job with purpose, and I loved it.

Even with that modest salary, I managed to save a little and travel through places like Bangladesh and Pakistan. Later, when money ran low, I went back to Korea twice to teach again, doing summer and winter camps, each time getting another taste of that TEFL life. For a while, I thought I might even spend my whole life teaching. I even signed up for a Masters in Management and Education because I was so invested.

Of course, life pulled me in a different direction with the blog. But TEFL was the reason I had the freedom to make those connections, to pivot into something bigger, and to live a life I could never have dreamed of. Looking back, there is nothing but gratitude. and a touch of nostalgia, for those free days and free years that TEFL gave me.

The Life TEFL Helped Me Build

f you follow me now or even just glance at the header of this blog, you will see I ended up making almost four million dollars from blogging. That income is still ticking over today, and none of it would have happened without TEFL. It was TEFL that gave me the freedom to live abroad, to travel, and to build a lifestyle that was not tied to an office or a boss.

If I had stayed in the city, I know how it would have gone. You get stuck with the golden handcuffs. First comes the promotion, then the mortgage, then another promotion, and suddenly you are just keeping up with the Joneses. You never get that freedom to make the next choice and the choice after that. The opportunity cost grows as you get older and the commitments pile up.

TEFL and teaching English gave me the opposite. It gave me freedom to choose, to explore, and to be true to who I am. I am not going to bore you with the details of my life now — you can see that on my Instagram if you are curious. What matters here is that I live what I consider my dream life, and it all started with TEFL.

That single decision eventually led me to visit every country in the world, to climb Mount Everest, to row a boat across the Atlantic Ocean, and to run ultramarathons in the Sahara, at the North Pole, and at the South Pole. TEFL was the spark that lit everything.

Why I’m Now a TEFL Institute Ambassador

Over the years I have been offered all kinds of ambassadorships. Insurance companies, clothing brands, drinks companies, you name it. But I have never really needed that side of things. My blog makes good money from ads, and I do not rely on affiliates or ambassador deals to keep the lights on.

For me there have only ever been two things that truly changed my life. First was starting my blog, and before that it was doing my TEFL. That is why I always thought in the back of my mind about creating my own TEFL course or partnering with a TEFL company. I have seen too many people stuck at home, no idea what to do, maybe working in Walmart or Tesco, feeling trapped. And what they do not realise is that with a TEFL course they could be living in Thailand or Peru or Japan or Spain in less than 100 days. Teaching English, meeting people, experiencing life in full colour.

That could turn into a career, or it could simply be the door that leads to everything else. That is what it was for me. It changed my life and it can change yours. Within a month or two your entire path can shift.

So when the TEFL Institute contacted me, I said yes before we even discussed numbers or deals. I am passionate about TEFL and I am passionate about people changing their lives for the better. TEFL is the one step that anyone who speaks English can take.

Mental health is a huge issue today, especially among younger people. Loneliness is everywhere. People are not dating, not socialising, not starting families, and it is heartbreaking. The life of a TEFL teacher is the exact opposite of that. It is alive, social, active, full of energy. That is why I believe so strongly in it.

If you scroll through my blog you will see that long before I became an ambassador with TEFL Institute, I was already talking about TEFL positively for over ten years. I know what it can do for people. To now work directly with one of the most reputable providers in the industry feels perfect. I am excited to promote them, to encourage more people to take the leap, and to help change lives. That is the kind of partnership I want. A win for me, a win for them, and a win for anyone brave enough to take the step.

How TEFL Can Open Doors for You Too

The truth is simple. If you can speak English, you can do a TEFL course and completely change your life. It does not matter if you are broke, lost, or stuck in a job you hate. Within weeks you could have a certificate in your hand and within months you could be living in Thailand, Japan, Peru, or Spain.

It is not just about teaching. It is about the doors that open once you take that step. New friends, new languages, new confidence, and the kind of freedom that most people only dream about. That one decision gave me the life I have today and it can do the same for you.

Do not overthink it. Do not wait for the perfect time, because the perfect time never comes. Say yes, take the leap, and let TEFL be the key that unlocks the rest of your life.

NEXT STEP?

Check out the TEFL Institute. Their most popular course is HERE. For the sake of a few hundred euro/dollars, you can change your life. Don’t sit at home and wonder what your life could be. Go out and get it. I did that, and it start with TEFL. And now, I can say that was the first step to finding my dream life.

Any questions, I’m always available on Instagram.com/onestep4ward.