Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live and work in another country? Maybe you’ve got European fantasies or dreams of exploring the rich culture of Asia. Each year, many men and women pursue these dreams through teaching abroad internship opportunities. Although popular among recent college graduates looking for a gap year before planting roots and settling into long-term careers, teaching abroad can be an excellent option for anyone with a thirst for adventure, a love for travel, and a passion for working with and helping others.

For most teach abroad programs, interested individuals are asked to apply for a teaching position within the country they are hoping to work in. If you are selected, many teach abroad programs will help match you to a teaching job in your chosen country. Most programs typically expect a yearlong commitment. Much like a local teacher, individuals who teach abroad are responsible for lesson planning, grading, and interacting and communicating with students and families.

If you are interested in teaching abroad or undecided about whether or not this amazing opportunity is right for you, here are a few important things to consider:

Gain some clarity by volunteering as an ESL tutor

You’re looking for an opportunity to work abroad but you’re not totally sure if teaching will be a good fit? A great way to test the waters and see if you’d enjoy spending a year or two as an English teacher is to volunteer as an ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor in a local school district. Schools are always looking for more individuals to support their ESL populations in learning the language. This opportunity is a relatively low time commitment and will give you valuable experience working with children and stretching your teaching muscles before committing to a full-time, year-long program.

TEFL Certification is a must!

Obtaining your TEFL (Teach English As A Foreign Language) certification is a requirement for most teach abroad positions. TEFL programs require 60+ hours of course and classroom work where you learn the ins and outs of managing a classroom and teaching English as a second language. There are many avenues for obtaining your TEFL certification. Some programs offer in-person classes, while others allow you to complete the coursework online. Global Nomadic offers TEFL certification as a part of our Teach Abroad + TEFL programs. This allows you to obtain the certification you will need while exploring exciting destinations such as the jungles of Costa Rica or the beautiful city of Prague.

How much money are you hoping to make?

While most teach abroad opportunities offer salaries to their teachers, the specific amount can vary greatly depending on the country. There are also a number of startup costs, such as the TEFL certification course and travel expenses. It is highly recommended to consider your budget prior to applying for different programs. Are simply hoping to cover your living expenses while teaching abroad? Or do you have student loans or other additional payments you’ll need to make on a monthly basis?  How much weekend traveling and exploring are you hoping to do once you begin your program? Once determining your budget and how much money you actually need to make, you’ll have a better idea of which programs you should apply for.

Research many countries before choosing a program

Before selecting a particular program, take some time to look into several different countries and teaching opportunities. Each individual country and teaching program offers their own advantages, quirks, rules, and requirements. The International TEFL Academy offers country comparison charts that provide more information about the job markets in particular countries, VISA laws, average salaries and more. Choose the country and program that is the best fit for your needs.

Read your contract thoroughly…then read it again!

Before you sign your contract for a teach abroad position, make sure you read your contract carefully. Because you are contracting for a position in another country, there are many important details that you won’t typically see in a local contract. For example, is your program or new employer paying your travel expenses? If so, will they reimburse you or will they pay the upfront costs? Are you expected to find and secure your own housing or will you be living in community housing? The more carefully you read your contract, the better you will understand what exactly you are signing up for. This will likely result in greater satisfaction and appreciation of the whole teach abroad experience.

Connect with others

One of the best ways to prepare for your teaching abroad experience is to talk with others who have already done it. They can share valuable tips, such as what to pack, and other wisdom they learned through their experience and give you a better idea of what your typical day might look like. Not sure where to find people to connect with? Contact your program coordinator about an alumni network. Also, look for Facebook and other social media groups connecting TEFL teachers working in a particular country.

Brush up on English grammar rules

Most teach abroad opportunities are TEFL positions, meaning you’ll be teaching English as a second language. If English is your first language, you obviously know how to speak fluently, but do you remember all of the specific rules for sentence composition and punctuation? If you are like most adults, you probably haven’t reviewed the proper usage of a semicolon in quite some time. If you are going to effectively teach English to a group of children who are learning the language, it’s a good idea to review the basic rules and mechanics of the English language so you can truly be an “expert” when creating your lessons.

Teaching abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity! There are few other programs or internships that allow you to so fully immerse yourself in another culture. If you think you’d like the opportunity to explore another country, learn another culture, and work with some incredible kids, click here to learn more about Global Nomadic’s teach abroad opportunities.

Other Resources:

https://greenhearttravel.org/blog/in-france/teaching-tips-tuesday-how-to-prepare-for-your-teach-abroad-experience-before-you-go
https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/blog/bid/112400/what-are-basic-start-up-costs-for-teaching-english-abroad

You’ve been bitten by the travel bug and you’re itching for an adventure. Maybe you’ve recently graduated and are taking some time off to explore the world before diving into your dream career. Or perhaps you’ve got some vacation days to use and are hoping to plan your ideal trip. If you’re anything like most people, there is no shortage in the list of places that you’d like to visit. There are plenty of destinations that sound appealing, but despite the dreams of faraway places and the desire to explore, you haven’t planned your trip yet…why not?

For many people, the logistics of planning, and yes, financing a trip can be overwhelming. You may be wondering, “Where do I begin?” or “Is my dream of traveling even possible?” This can feel especially daunting for young adults who probably aren’t making six-figure salaries yet and are slowly paying down student loan debt.

Although it may feel like an impossible dream, traveling in your twenties and thirties is not only possible but can also be affordable! Here are our top hacks to make planning your ideal vacation easier and more affordable.

• Take Advantage of Travel Programs for Young Adults If you are interested in traveling with a group, organizations such as Under 30 Experiences offer travel packages specifically designed for young adults. The itinerary and budgets for these trips are created with the young traveler in mind. It’s a great way to meet new people, explore new places, and enjoy a fantastic vacation without needing to plan each detail yourself!

• Apply For Paid Internships If you are looking to travel abroad, look into paid internship opportunities. Many internship programs cover your living expenses or even offer salaries, stipends or honorariums. For example, Global Nomadic’s Teach Abroad and China Au Pair programs offer paid placements that give you the option to spend a significant amount of time immersing yourself in another culture and exploring new cities while working for a salary.

• Compare Flights It’s common knowledge that you should always compare flight prices before booking your ticket, especially if you are planning your trip on a budget. Sites such as momondo.com and skyscanner.com allow you to compare ticket prices from all major airlines, giving you the ability to book the most affordable ticket.
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• Search for Airfare Using An Incognito Browser When using a typical web browser, websites are collecting cookies, meaning they record the information you search. When a particular flight is searched for multiple times, airlines begin to consider this flight to be in high demand. Consequently, airlines will raise their ticket prices. Using an incognito browser does not allow airline websites to track your searches and or raise their ticket prices based on your interest.

• Use “Spot” to Find Restaurants and Dining Options While you are probably familiar with “Yelp”, a website and app designed to give you information about local restaurants, you may be less familiar with the “Spot” app. Unlike Yelp, which relies primarily on subjective customer reviews, Spot is a free app that combines information from Zagat and other expert publications in addition to customer reviews. This provides you with the most well-rounded information about local restaurants, cafes, coffee shops and more.

• The “Gametime” App Makes Planning Activities Simple It’s all about experiences. If you find yourself with a free evening on your vacation and looking for something to do, Gametime is an app that allows you to purchase last minute and discounted tickets to local sporting events, concerts, and shows. It’s an easy and affordable way to fill your trip with fun activities and lasting memories.

• Don’t Book Hotels in High Tourist Areas There is a reason they are called “tourist traps”. In most cities, there is typically an area that has the greatest concentration of tourist attractions and activities. For example, when visiting New York City, Times Square is filled with attractions to occupy the countless tourists that fill its streets. These areas are also where you will find the most expensive hotels. When visiting a popular tourist destination, book your hotel outside of the most touristy parts of the city. You’ll likely find a hotel with just as many amenities and luxuries as you would in the center of the main tourist area, but for a much better price.

• Choose Restaurants Outside of Touristy Areas Just like hotels, restaurants found in the center of tourist areas are often significantly more expensive than those found just outside of the main area of attraction. When you choose restaurants outside of the tourist traps, not only are you getting better prices, but you’ll probably find yourself sitting the “local favorite.” In many cases, the restaurants favored by the local population have better food and a more enjoyable atmosphere than the expensive, touristy alternatives.

• Create A Monthly Savings Goal The number one reason people don’t pursue their dreams of traveling is feeling intimidated by the upfront cost of travel. Once you’ve done a little bit of research on your ideal trip, you should have a pretty good idea of what the overall cost will be. Even when utilizing all of the budget-friendly tools and hacks, traveling costs money and it’s a good idea to save ahead of time.

Take your estimated total cost and divide it by the number of months you have to save.

For example, if your trip to Ireland is going to cost you $1500 and you have 12 months to save, your monthly savings goal would be $125. $125 can feel like a more manageable and less overwhelming number, making you less likely to give up your plans before you’ve even started saving.

• Travel Over Long Weekends If you don’t have the vacation days or can’t afford to take a full week or two for traveling, take advantage of long weekends. There is a lot you can see and accomplish in three or four days. Choose a destination and top five attractions or activities you’d like to experience on your mini-trip. Traveling over long weekends also allows for more frequent trips throughout the year, as you aren’t requesting as much time off work.

• Travel During The “Off-Season” Many destinations have a peak travel season when they welcome the majority of their visitors. During these times, activities and restaurants are more crowded, hotels are harder to book, and just about everything is more expensive. Instead of traveling during peak tourist season, avoid the crowds and save some money visiting cities during their “off-season”.

• Stay in Hostels Popular throughout Europe, these dorm style rooms give travelers a cheaper option for traveling. Hostels offer more affordable prices than most hotels, rental homes, and condos. They are also an excellent place to meet other like-minded travelers.

• Skip the Souvenirs Although the idea of purchasing t-shirts sporting famous landmarks, or Eiffel Tower snow globes for each of your family members and closest friends may sound alluring, for the sake of your traveling budget, forego the overpriced souvenirs. Instead, take lots of photos and splurge on an experience or two that you’ll always remember.

• Book In Advance Whether considering plane tickets or searching for hotels rooms, the prices for each component of your trip are likely to skyrocket as you approach your departure date. The earlier you are able to book your trip, the better. You’ll find better deals and be able to create a more seamless travel itinerary if you give yourself some time to arrange the details.

These travel hacks should give you a starting place for planning a trip that is both exciting and affordable. If you’re someone with a desire to travel and a list of places you’d like to visit, choose a destination and get planning! Check out Global Nomadic’s open project opportunities for destination inspiration: https://globalnomadic.com/project-search/

Resources:
https://articles.aplus.com/a/travel-hacks-for-20-somethings
https://www.under30experiences.com/blog/how-to-crush-travel-goals-a-guide-for-millennials https://www.hostelworld.com/blog/travel-on-a-budget/
https://www.under30experiences.com/trips/starter-costa-rica