Was it grey and raining when you woke up this morning? Did you make the journey to work by the same route you’ve taken for the last 12 years? Did you daydream about all those people living it up in some sunny hot spot abroad? OK, I’m painting a very bleak picture here, but one of the major advantages of working in TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) is the ability to move anywhere in the world where there is a demand for English teachers. That might sound obvious, but TEFL can make your dream of moving somewhere (sunny southern France, perhaps, or even rural Vietnam) a very enjoyable reality. I recently made the move from Coventry, England to Kyoto, Japan, for the purpose of teaching English. I’ve got to tell you, I’m not regretting it! Do you have a passion for exploring new countries and cultures? Or are you keen to start life again in your favourite holiday spot? Of course, for any TEFL worker abroad there are challenges to face – cultural integration, language barriers, improving your teaching ability, getting started and developing your career, amongst other things – and I’ll be exploring these things in this blog.
Actually moving to a new country, however, starts at home and requires consideration and planning. TEFL is no stroll in the park. It’s good to be specific: where would you honestly like to live? Can you face leaving behind your family and friends and food?! If you can answer these questions and you still want to move, do some research into the job opportunities available to you. What qualifications will you need? At the very least you will probably need a basic TEFL qualification, and maybe even a Bachelor’s degree. Beyond that there are the practicalities of actually finding a job, applying, and emigrating. These are mere formalities, though, which must be completed before you make that invigorating move to an exciting and challenging new home. With TEFL, you can get where you want to be.
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