How Long do People Teach English Abroad For?
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How Long do People Teach English Abroad For?
Teaching abroad is a life-changing experience. Not only will you see and do things that you never thought you would, but you’ll boost your confidence and develop new skills that can be used in a variety of situations. Just how much it’ll change you depends on how long you work for; and you might find that once you start, you just won’t want to stop.
The volunteers – 1 week to 26 weeks
To get paid teaching work abroad, you’ll have to commit to a short term contract, usually no less than 3 months long. But if you don’t have that much time to spare, you can always try volunteering. Just like with a paid position, you’ll work alongside local people and get a unique view of the culture. But it’ll often feel more rewarding because learning English will make even more of a difference to your underprivileged students; lives.
These mini-placements are perfect if you want to test the water. You’ll get glimpse of life as a TEFL teacher, so you can decide whether it’s right for you or if you’d rather travel on your savings. And then there’s the experience! With a volunteer placement under your belt, you’ll really stand out from the crowd when you’re applying for jobs. Which means you’ll have an even better chance of getting that ideal job.
The gappers – 3 to 12 month contracts
Most teaching contracts are one year long, which makes them popular with gap year travellers. The advantage of choosing one of these contracts is that you’ll have time to get over the culture shock and really enjoy your time away. After exploring the big landmarks, you can move onto the hidden treasures that tourists rarely see. And since you’ll be living and working with local people, it won’t be hard to find them.
Taking on a year-long contract will also look great on your CV; it shows the commitment that employers really love. You’ll have plenty of time to develop your skills, improve your teaching technique and build your confidence. And best of all, you’ll see your class develop through a whole year of study and realise the effect you’ve had on their ability to speak English and, ultimately, their lives.
It’s also possible to get shorter placements of 3, 6 or 9 months. These are ideal if you want to make a little money while you travel, but still see a range of destinations. However, these contracts are harder to come by, so you might want to consider i-to-i’s Job Placement Service.
The lifers – 2 years to forever
Have you ever worried that you’ll never find a job you enjoy? For some, teaching abroad takes all those fears away and they never come back. Some travellers love teaching so much that they take another year long placement, then another, then… who knows! The world is their oyster!
The point is that you don’t have to decide if TEFL is the career for you just yet. You can try it for a year and go home or you can just keep going.
Your TEFL qualification gives you the freedom to spend as much or as little time travelling as you like. So what’s it to be? A week, a month, a year or a lifetime?
“Honor Baldry – Online TEFL courses with over 20,000 course graduates each year, international accreditation and certification recognised by schools worldwide. To Teach English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world and immerse themselves in new cultures. http://www.onlinetefl.com
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