| They say that travel broadens the mind. They're right. | | | | and helping them improve their language skills feels |
| Teaching English abroad offers a world of opportunity | | | | good. |
| and discovery. For anyone keen on foreign cultures, | | | | Of course the experience will be different wherever |
| travel and testing their own skills and resourcefulness | | | | you go. In parts of Asia such as Korea for example, |
| teaching English as a foreign language abroad offers a | | | | you will find yourself working extremely hard. But the |
| passport to a rich and fascinating new lifestyle. There | | | | job pays particularly well and you may well be able to |
| really is no better way to see the world. | | | | save decent amounts. In China you may find your |
| While some people are happy and content enough | | | | services in demand in other areas too - private |
| with the familiarity and security of their home comforts, | | | | lessons, translation, marketing and media. Teaching |
| others are keen to break out of their comfort zone | | | | abroad just seems to open doors. In other territories |
| and seek pastures new. Thousands of people every | | | | you may not be worked as hard but then again your |
| year take the plunge and head off to work in new | | | | may not enjoy quite as good a lifestyle. |
| jobs, to meet new people and to experience a brand | | | | The nature of employers as well as employment |
| new lifestyle. Whilst TEFL jobs might not be for | | | | changes too. Some positions will support you with |
| everyone, few people ever regret the move and | | | | proper and professional teacher training. Other |
| many look back and ask themselves why they hadn't | | | | 'language mills' may simply hand you a book and tell |
| been more adventurous years before, such are the | | | | you to just get on with it. And to be fair that's often |
| many returns and benefits that they enjoy through | | | | the best approach. When you're a TEFL teacher there |
| travelling and teaching. | | | | will always be interesting opportunities and challenges |
| Working as a TEFL or ESL teacher offers a regular | | | | thrown your way. Often the best way to deal with |
| income, often relatively substantial amount when | | | | them is simply to take them as they come. "If you can |
| compared to local earnings. You instantly have access | | | | meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two |
| to a network of other teachers and students keen to | | | | impostors just the same" as Kipling wrote, then you'll |
| share and are in the privileged position of being able to | | | | be fine. |
| enjoy a window on a different culture blessed with | | | | Wherever you end up living and working you are in for |
| inside knowledge. It offers an experience that simply | | | | a life changing experience. The likelihood is it will be a |
| travelling or being a tourist can never provide. | | | | positive one. The further teaching TEFL abroad takes |
| Teaching also affords you a level of self-esteem that | | | | you from your past, the more interesting and fulfilling |
| you may not enjoy at home. Teaching English is a skill | | | | your place in the world will seem; the bigger and better |
| that is of great value to your students and your | | | | contribution you will be able to make. 'Home' will never |
| commitment to their language leaning is usually very | | | | seem the same again. |
| much respected and appreciated. Teaching people | | | | |