Jason Bernabei


Jason Bernabei graduated high school from academically heralded St. Bede Academy, in North Central Illinois (1993). After graduation, he attended Illinois Valley Community College, where he earned an A.A. with an emphasis in History (1995). He then went on to Illinois State University where he completed a B.A. in English (1998).

After graduation, Jason fulfilled a personal vow to himself to travel the world and explore overseas teaching positions. He spent the next three years working as first Youth Staff, then Entertainment Staff; aboard six different luxury cruise ships for Norwegian Cruise Lines. After seeing much of the American East Coast, Canada, Latin America, Alaska, and the Caribbean, Jason fulfilled another vow to himself: to complete a post-graduate degree. After earning an M.A. in English Literature from Florida Atlantic University (2003), he returned to ship life with Celebrity Cruise Lines, where he spent six months in the Baltic, porting weekly out of Amsterdam. After a stint in the Virgin Islands, he switched to Holland America Cruise Lines, where he met his wife, Katie McLaughlin. It was then that the two realized a common desire, to use their degrees to continue their travels in a career-enhancing, resume-building way: to teach abroad and participate in teaching English as a second language abroad.

After much research, the couple decided on pursuing a teaching position in South Korea. They spent a year teaching English to beginner-intermediate, K-12 students at a "hogwon," or after-school academy, in the large city of Daegu. During their stay, the couple shared many wonderful times, including that of the birth of their son, Bruno, born at the Woman's Medipark in Daegu. They made many friends, both Western and Korean. They saved nearly $40,000 of their earnings in one year's time, explored Korea, and traveled other parts of Asia, all while building their resumes. They helped to bring Western culture and language to Korea, and had the experience of a lifetime living far, far from home.

As Co-Owner of TeachAbroad, Jason Bernabei hopes to bring the opportunity of his great experience in overseas teaching positions to others, and has dedicated his professional life to doing so.

Matthew Cankar


Matthew Cankar grew up in the North Shore of the Chicago Area in a town called Lake Forest. Matt Graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1999. He attended Southern Illinois University in 1999 Majoring in Education with a minor in Zoology. He transferred back to community college after that year so he was able to take a job offer while attending college.

His last two years were at National Louis University and he graduated with a B.A. from National Louis University in Elementary Education with a concentration in Anthropology and Sociology in 2003. He had always planned on going right into a teaching career and did until he had the notion to start his first company, an after school program, summer camp, and child ad vocation company. So after his first year of teaching second grade, he made his new vision a reality.

Later, when he was inspired to travel he decided to start branching out to explore other countries, and after visiting Korea and loving it, he made that his next stop where he has remained for two and a half years. While teaching English as a second language abroad, Matt continues to be headquartered in Korea running operations for TeachAbroad and overseeing the placement of overseas teaching positions offered by TeachAbroad and it's principles..

Teaching in Korea has allowed me to meet people from all over the world. You also get immersed in a culture different from your own and can learn and grow a lot. You can save at least $20,000 dollars a year here if you put your mind to it, and the longer you stay, and more connections you can make, the more money you can save. In the last year I was able to save $80,000 more that if I was making the same income in the states. That is just from teaching.

You can control your destiny in Korea, and as co-owner of TeachAbroad it is truly a unique opportunity Matthew Cankar wants to give others a chance to live and experience the joys of teaching English as a second language abroad.