| These days, traveling and living abroad is thought of by | | | | insurance ensures that your family back home can |
| many as not being as safe as it used to be. However, | | | | rest easy while you're enjoying your gap year abroad. |
| that's not true, and many gap-year students are | | | | The risks of TEFL abroad are minimal unless you have |
| fearlessly taking time out to teach in countries they've | | | | chosen to teach in a conflict-strewn country like |
| never been to before. As long as you keep an open | | | | Afghanistan or the Congo. Act with common sense; if |
| mind, have your wits about you and take out travel | | | | you wouldn't do something in your home country, then |
| insurance - there's no reason to avoid being a TEFL | | | | it's not wise to do it in your host country. For instance, |
| teacher during your gap year. | | | | just because you are on a tropical island does not |
| There is no more rewarding way to gain insight into | | | | mean that you should walk off to a deserted spot |
| your host country and its residents than teaching and | | | | alone at night. It's also a good idea to stay away from |
| spending a year abroad, giving you a much more | | | | drugs while teaching abroad as the penalties for |
| in-depth experience than just travelling ever could. All | | | | possession in other countries is often much stiffer than |
| sorts of great memories will be created with your | | | | in the UK. The last thing you want to happen is to go |
| students and the new friends you make. You can | | | | from teacher to 20-year prisoner in Thailand. |
| have complete peace of mind about your safety | | | | Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions when deciding if |
| during your year abroad by taking out student | | | | a prospective school is suitable for you. You will |
| insurance before you go. If you're concerned about the | | | | essentially be alone in your host country until you get |
| cost of travel insurance, then try a site like for | | | | to know people, and the school might be your only |
| discounted rates. | | | | safety net, along with travel insurance. Try to bond |
| Popular destinations for TEFL include Asian countries | | | | with the principal and other teachers early on. Find out |
| like Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Cambodia and | | | | if the school will provide accommodation and if it's |
| Thailand. There are also many positions on offer in | | | | private or shared. Ask about the safety standards of |
| South American countries and other destinations | | | | the school. Is it well-lit at night, is there security and is it |
| around the world. Many gap-year students from the | | | | in a good neighbourhood? You should also try to learn |
| UK end up teaching in Asia and some have such a | | | | more about the types of students you will be teaching |
| great time that they choose to extend their stay. | | | | and their ages. |
| Volunteering or working during your gap year can be | | | | If you are required to find your own accommodation, |
| so much more meaningful than just laying around on | | | | request assistance in locating a safe apartment that |
| various beaches. | | | | suits your budget and make sure that secure |
| Safety might be a concern for some, but it's easy to | | | | transportation is available. |
| find out a lot about the country in which you want to | | | | Even if you are cautious and attentive to your |
| teach early on. If you've found a school that wants to | | | | surroundings, it's still possible you might run into some |
| hire you, thoroughly investigate its background and the | | | | trouble or become ill. It's during these times that you'll be |
| city where it's located. Try to find out if there are any | | | | grateful that you purchased travel insurance before |
| bad areas of the city, drug or gang problems, and if | | | | leaving home. |
| the hospitals are of international standards. Student | | | | |