Oxford Seminars Course Reviews and Student Testimonials

"I was pleasantly surprised about the quality of the course. I have two degrees and I took this course to get me exposed to the world of ESL. Going to Europe, I had some difficulty finding a good job at the beginning. I'm currently teaching full-time in Luxembourg which has surpassed my expectations on both pay and job satisfaction. I would not have been able to get my current job had it not been for the TESL certification and subsequent specialization in Business English that I got through Oxford. This course is the best bang for your buck, unless you spend more money and time doing a multi-year university program."

"The experience I have gained from Oxford Seminars has helped me to fully understand the need for teachers abroad. They have helped me to gain experience and learn about different cultures. My instructor made me feel so comfortable about teaching overseas and I am ecstatic to have this opportunity."

"I took the Oxford Seminars course at the University of British Columbia location. The course took place during the weekends (all of Saturday and Sunday). My instructor was friendly, helpful, and to say the least, very effective! The classes were full of activities containing methods and means by which students were to learn to become effective teachers. In other words, my instructor conducted the class in such a way as to demonstrate the methods we may want to follow as we teach our own classes. She alternated between activities and grammar breaks, always keeping a careful eye on the mood and willingness to learn of her students. She would teach according to her well-planned schedule, but would improvise when necessary to be more effective and capture the attention of her class. Simply through her charismatic and positive behaviour, our instructor kept her students very intrigued. She made sure all the students were very familiar with one another, was always very willing to answer our questions, and made sure the class had a very warm and friendly atmosphere. Through her teaching, she showed her students that learning can be enjoyable and even exciting. The class was so enjoyable that you will be surprised by the amount you learn each day. I have since been teaching at a school here in Vancouver, and I mimic much of what my instructor had taught me. I - and indeed my students - find my instructor's method of teaching very effective!"

"I would like to extend my appreciation for all of the resume, cover letter, and job search assistance that your department provided me. It was most helpful and enlightening. As a result of my certification with Oxford Seminars and your help, I have two ESL students within my own teaching practice. I have been operating my own tutoring service for two and a half years and currently have six students plus my ESL students. The teaching strategies and the excellent instruction that I received have been translated into my teaching practice. For that, I thank Oxford Seminars."

"Prior to taking the course I spent one year teaching oral English communication in Beijing. The students were mid-career analysts with a major Chinese company. Prior to that experience, I had very limited teaching experience of any kind, primarily teaching work related courses during my thirty plus years of public service employment. After the one year experience in China, I had made every teaching error, although the students succeeded in passing the end of the course test. My objective in taking the Oxford Seminars course was to gain insight which would assist in future overseas teaching assignments. After completing the in-class course… this objective has been met. The emphasis in the class was on lesson planning and the need to integrate each lesson within a larger set of classes. I appreciate that the emphasis in the practicum and the primary text was on teaching grammar. The practicum also allowed me to plan a class and practice techniques which addressed several of my perceived deficiencies after the Beijing experience. I feel that I am better prepared for future assignments because of the course. The Oxford training appears to be part of the evolution towards becoming a quality teacher."

"This is incredible! In 4 days I will be in a completely different world, learning about new and exciting things surrounded by thousands of years of history. I will definitely continue to use the tools that Oxford has provided me with. This is a life altering experience. I thank Oxford Seminars and their team for everything, including helping me find a new career path and direction in life. I remember being at work, when I opened an email informing me that I had won a free TESL course by means of a draw. Can you believe that? I mean, what are the odds of that happening? Incredible! Oxford Seminars is just incredible!"

"I just wanted to thank you for helping me find a job these last few months. You guys do some really good work and I was impressed by how quickly you respond to questions. Your assistance was invaluable!"

"Oxford Seminars prepared me practically and mentally for the challenges of going overseas. The teaching practicum component of the course was a good experience and I gained much insight from my instructor who had taught in Japan. If you are looking for change, a challenge, and a great experience, then take the chance to travel and teach abroad. I have experienced so much in a short time and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that await me."

"I really enjoyed this course because it provides you with numerous resources for when you are teaching. The instructor gave us realistic examples of what may happen in an ESL classroom and also showed us techniques that would help us deal with them."

"It’s interesting to look back over the past week and see how much more professional my resume looks compared to the first day. Thank you very much for your help. I look forward to seeing what kinds of job opportunities are available to me in Japan."

"What to expect from Oxford Seminars? 1) A very down to earth and intense training course that is a lot of fun and educational. This course will definitely prepare you for teaching English as a Second Language. And 2) Excellent Job Search Advisors who will guide you step by step to find your perfect job."

"The instructor made our class so informative and entertaining as well. She taught us all the key elements that our class needed to teach abroad, and made great use of every minute of our class. She made sure we were very well prepared from grammar and vocabulary to detailed lesson plans. She gave so many practical examples. I have been to many seminars and classes and [this has] been by far the most organized, informative, and well executed program I have attended. I feel very confident and ready to teach English abroad. Thanks to [my Instructor] and Oxford Seminars. I will definitely refer all my friends and classmates to Oxford Seminars for their TESOL/TESL/TEFL classes."

"I feel that much of my success in garnering interest from potential employers can be attributed to the completion of the Oxford Seminars course and your efforts as Job Search Advisors. Thus, I would like to thank you again for all your efforts on my behalf as well as the advice and guidance you have afforded me in my job search."

"My instructor was the perfect person to teach this course. She was passionate, experienced, had great knowledge of teaching and the facts. She covered all the material in the time allotted, and all in an engaging manner."

"I have recommended the course to my friends, but, I have also recommended it to my four teenage children. To prepare for an exciting journey of teaching English overseas, the first step is to sign up for the Oxford Seminars TESOL/TESL/TEFL course! It is the best and only choice."

"I really appreciated all the learning activities that I was introduced to. I know I will be using a lot of them in the future. This course was really enjoyable, helpful, and a great way to start off my countdown to my journey abroad."

"My teacher was phenomenal. Her lesson plans were direct and coherent. Her experience was evident from the moment she introduced herself. It was relaxed, but when she gave a critique, it was sharp and to the point. I was very impressed. I was in school full-time and needed the schedule they offered. They also guaranteed job placement assistance afterward and provided many great resources for finding positions as well as valuable warnings about what to look out for. With my Oxford Seminars certificate I secured a job teaching at a major state university in New York. I thought Oxford was great! I have recommended this program to about a dozen other students since I have taken the course."

"Our instructor was well prepared, had a wonderful grasp of teaching ESL, and good interpersonal skills with the students. Our class had 8 students, a good size for interaction. Because there was so much content in the material, we couldn’t linger long on each; however, our instructor encouraged us to contact her if we needed more help. She chose portions of the books to focus on, giving the main ideas for that material. She was encouraging, well-organized, and yet kept good discipline. We loved it! We are both in our 60’s."