| 1. It's easy to get up and go | | | | things… and if your students start asking awkward |
| Deciding you want to teach abroad for a year or two | | | | questions about your personal life, just smile and dodge |
| doesn't mean years at university or thousands of | | | | the question. |
| pounds. As there's such huge demand for certified | | | | 5. You'll have an instant support network |
| English teachers all around the world at the minute, all | | | | Unless you're a lone teacher giving English lessons to |
| you need is a TEFL course (which can be done in as | | | | goats in Azerbaijan, odds on there will be local |
| little as two weeks), a one-way plane ticket and a | | | | teachers working at your school, many of whom will |
| spot of enthusiasm. You can learn more about TEFL | | | | speak good English. Because they'll be keen on |
| courses and TEFL job opportunities here: | | | | practising their English with you, you'll find they'll be keen |
| 2. You'll take weekend trips to a whole new level | | | | to show you around, take you out and help you in |
| If your average weekend involves a trip to the local | | | | case any problems crop up – better than a |
| shopping centre/mall and watching a spot of TV, | | | | guidebook any day! |
| teaching abroad will certainly take that up a notch. | | | | 6. It's good resume/CV fodder |
| When you're living and working in another country, you'll | | | | Even if it's not your lifetime ambition to become a |
| find it pretty irresistible to explore – depending on | | | | teacher, you'll find that there's plenty to put on your CV |
| where you are that could be lazing on the beach, | | | | about your time as an EFL teacher: leadership, |
| visiting nearby cities or even doing a spot of trekking. | | | | communication and organisational skills, not to mention |
| What's more, the cost of travel in most TEFL | | | | to ability to successfully work with people who might |
| destinations is super-cheap, so you won't find yourself | | | | not speak your language and have totally different |
| blowing all your wages on bus tickets. | | | | cultural values. |
| 3. TEFL-travellers are a very friendly bunch | | | | 7. You'll see behind the tourist tat |
| Want to know where in Japan is best to teach, or the | | | | Forget travelling off the beaten track, this is living off |
| best site to look for TEFL jobs in Thailand? Ask a | | | | the beaten track. If you really want to lift the lid on |
| TEFL-traveller. You'll usually find a good network of | | | | another culture, teaching abroad is the perfect way to |
| other teachers ready to dispense advice in whichever | | | | do it. As a teacher, you'll usually find yourself |
| city you're teaching in, or if you're in the back and | | | | welcomed into people's lives and homes – much |
| beyond, TEFL networks such as Chalkboard ( are full | | | | better than taking snapshots of temples and |
| of people willing to help out a fellow teacher. | | | | monuments by a country mile! |
| 4. It's a crash course in handling cultural difference | | | | Well, the secret's well and truly out – if you're |
| At one point or another you're going to look around | | | | interested in teaching abroad make sure you check |
| and think ‘what the bloody hell is going on here – | | | | out to make it happen! |
| nothing makes sense!' This kind of culture shock is | | | | Anyone else got any secret benefits of teaching |
| totally normal and getting over it will make you more | | | | abroad? Add them below! |
| open-minded, understanding and willing to try new | | | | |