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Gap-year, teaching abroad
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NLuchs



Joined: 05 May 2012
Posts: 19
PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 4:47 pm    Post subject: Gap-year, teaching abroad Reply with quote
Hi! I have a few newbie-questions I'm hoping you can answer. I'm a young woman (22) and am hoping to obtain my Bachelor's degree in psychology this july. I'd like to spend at least one semester abroad starting next fall, before starting a master. Now I sort of stumbled onto teaching abroad and I'm wondering whether this is a realistic idea. I have no teaching experience and I'm working on obtaining a TEFL (or something similar) certificate. (I would love to go to Japan or China.)
If this is a realistic idea, then how would you suggest I proceed? Should I search for and respond to job offers online myself or join an agency?
And is there anyone here who has done the same thing? Or do you happen to know where I can find students who have also taught abroad for a short period of time?
Thanks!
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 10:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
As for Japan, teaching for just a few months is not realistic, IMO, for several reasons. Besides, you wouldn't even make up the setup expenses in that time.
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 10:24 pm    Post subject: Re: Gap-year, teaching abroad Reply with quote
NLuchs wrote:
I'd like to spend at least one semester abroad starting next fall, before starting a master. Now I sort of stumbled onto teaching abroad and I'm wondering whether this is a realistic idea.

What's your interest in teaching abroad for a few months? Are you looking to make quick money, study a foreign language, travel/have an adventure, test the TEFL waters to see if you want to do it longterm...?
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tttompatz



Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 10:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Gap-year, teaching abroad Reply with quote
NLuchs wrote:
Hi! I have a few newbie-questions I'm hoping you can answer. I'm a young woman (22) and am hoping to obtain my Bachelor's degree in psychology this july. I'd like to spend at least one semester abroad starting next fall, before starting a master. Now I sort of stumbled onto teaching abroad and I'm wondering whether this is a realistic idea. I have no teaching experience and I'm working on obtaining a TEFL (or something similar) certificate. (I would love to go to Japan or China.)
If this is a realistic idea, then how would you suggest I proceed? Should I search for and respond to job offers online myself or join an agency?
And is there anyone here who has done the same thing? Or do you happen to know where I can find students who have also taught abroad for a short period of time?
Thanks!


Single term gap = look at China. There are offers for single term employment, airfare home, and housing. At the entry level the money isn't great but you get your gap-year adventure.
Full year contracts usually offer airfare equal to a return ticket plus salary and housing. Google SAFEA.

If you are short of cash then look at Korea. Prepaid airfare, housing and a decent salary but a 1-year commitment is required. The paperwork seems daunting (it really isn't) and it is still the best money/package for a newbie.
Read the Korean forums for more information. http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/index.php . Separate registration required to post.

Willing to fly on your own dime then you can add Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia to the list for as long or short as you want.

Jobs found from abroad are usually 1 year.
Jobs found "on the ground" while "in country" can be as long or as short as suits you.

.
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NLuchs



Joined: 05 May 2012
Posts: 19
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:58 am    Post subject: Re: Gap-year, teaching abroad Reply with quote
Thanks for your helpful comments! @nomad soul, I'm not looking to make a lot of money real quick, just enough so maybe I can spend some of it travelling wherever I'm going. I would love to study a foreign language! Though realistically speaking, I probably won't speak Chinese at the end of six months.. I love to travel, but what I'm really looking for is to live in a different country for a while and really experience a culture.
@ tttompatz, SAFEA looks interesting! I've heard that it's probably easier to find a job 'on the ground', but I'm a bit hesitant about flying to China and seeing where I'll end up.
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:20 pm    Post subject: Re: Gap-year, teaching abroad Reply with quote
NLuchs wrote:
I'm not looking to make a lot of money real quick, just enough so maybe I can spend some of it travelling wherever I'm going. I would love to study a foreign language!
What is your nationality? If you qualify for a working holiday visa, you could use it to teach and travel, even study and travel. Also, a student visa for a language school might be a way to go.

If you are just looking for some way to make money to help your finances for a short time (few months) while you travel, I would suggest reconsidering any sort of FT job. The job would cut into your traveling time, for one. Which is more important to you: getting the work experience or sightseeing?
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coledavis



Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
PostPosted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I think there are one or two agencies which do short sessions. Alternatively how about a summer school? Russian and other language schools offer these. (e.g. www.studycamp.ru )
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NLuchs



Joined: 05 May 2012
Posts: 19
PostPosted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:30 am    Post subject: Re: Gap-year, teaching abroad Reply with quote
Glenski wrote:
What is your nationality?

I'm of the Dutch nationality

Glenski wrote:
If you are just looking for some way to make money to help your finances for a short time (few months) while you travel, I would suggest reconsidering any sort of FT job. The job would cut into your traveling time, for one. Which is more important to you: getting the work experience or sightseeing?

What I'd really like to do in stay in one pla