What does it really take to be a digital nomad as an English teacher? Beyond the beachside laptops and inspirational quotes, there’s a whole world of planning, pivoting, and problem-solving that often gets left out of the Instagram feed.
In a new episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Ellii contributor and visual thinking trainer Emily Bryson joins hosts Shélynn Riel and Anna Ciriani-Dean to dig into the full story—logistics, lessons, and all. Whether you're considering taking your ELT career on the road or you're simply curious about how teachers are adapting to hybrid and remote work, this episode delivers honest insight and practical tips from someone who’s been there, packed that.
Emily shares what her daily routine really looks like while working remotely—hint: it involves upturned coffee tables and early morning webinars. She talks about building a freelance income through materials writing, teacher training, and sketchnoting (some of which she’s done for Ellii!), and gives a refreshingly candid take on the myth of passive income.
The conversation also highlights the hidden labor of travel: from juggling deadlines with poor Wi-Fi to planning your next destination while maintaining a full workload. Emily and the hosts reflect on the importance of digital connections, maintaining community on the move, and the ethical considerations of being able to work and travel freely when many others cannot.
This isn’t a dreamy travel episode. It’s a grounded, practical, and thoughtful look at what it means to design a teaching life with intention—whether you’re traveling the world or working from your kitchen table. Emily’s reflections will resonate with anyone navigating freelance life, exploring online teaching, or rethinking what flexibility and purpose look like in education.
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Check out Emily’s blog post for more on life as an ELT nomad.
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