Many people decide to use their 3-month college summer holidays or their ‘gap year’ to live in another country, immerse themselves in the culture and language of that place, and really gain independence and cultural awareness living and working overseas. If you choose to do this, there are many options of work and you may need to accept that you might not always get the most highly paid job. Keep your options open by looking at everything from waitressing to au-pairing and you should find it easy enough to find work. Make sure you have all the relevant work permits and visas before you go and everything else should fall into place. More often than not you will come back speaking a new language.

TEFL and i-to-i programmes and certificates can make the prospect of working abroad even easier by providing you with a job before you go. Teaching English abroad is a well-paid, highly worthwhile experience and it is an excellent way to spend a gap year. The best thing about having the certificate to teach English abroad is that you can go almost anywhere across the globe – from Guatemala to Mongolia – which means you get to travel to some amazing places while earning a good wage too.

Teaching English Abroad is a great way to get to see the world without putting a ‘gap’ on your CV. Whether it is directly related to your career path or not, teaching English in a foreign country shows initiative, drive and ambition and employers tend to be suitably impressed by such dedication and motivation. Not only do you work with people from many different cultures but you get to experience a new way of life and pick up the language – which is always an asset in the global workplace. It also demonstrates your commitment to learn and your ability to adapt to change. Moreover, it can increase your confidence no end and develop your communication skills – quite a long list for when you’re trying to impress your future employer!

For more information about teaching English abroad and approved TEFL schools visit the following websites:
www.i-to-i.com
www.teflireland.com
www.acels.ie