Working Abroad
Other Options for Short-Term Work Abroad
iStockphotoA job as a language teacher is extremely popular among young globe trotters.
Work and Travel
Work and Travel experiences are especially interesting for venturesome twenty-somethings and are sometimes referred to as “working holidays”. During a working holiday, people alternate between working and traveling. They mostly do part-time jobs, especially within the tourist industry.
“Some of our applicants are rather the types for unpaid farm work with free meals and accommodation. That’s a perfect opportunity for the outdoorsy with a small budget and big travel plans,” Joan explains.
Work and Travel experiences can be organized through different commercial agencies, TravelWorks* and STA-Travel* being two of the most well-known. Joan’s organization does not offer working holidays, but she is always eager to provide her applicants with information. “Lots of countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, or Peru, offer special work and travel visa for young people. This makes it easier for them to organize that trip by themselves.”
Teaching English Abroad
Teaching abroad is probably the most flexible and accessible option in terms of working abroad. After all, EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers can work anywhere in the world, theoretically speaking. This allows them to travel without being tied down in one place. Many recent graduates choose to teach abroad for a while, in order to experience different cultures and interact with the locals.
Especially countries such as Japan or Thailand are popular destinations for teaching English abroad. But also Eastern European and African countries are go-to places for those seeking a unique cultural experience before diving into the job market.
“It is quite easy for our applicants to find a teaching job abroad since English is mostly their native language,” Joan says. “After all, English has become a lingua franca in a way. However, you do need a bachelor’s degree for most TEFL jobs, and if you already have some sort of teaching experience, it’s a great help.”
Teaching Options for Other Languages
This doesn’t mean, though, that other languages are not in demand as well. For example, the German Goethe-Institut* is currently looking for language assistants willing to work in Russia, Ukraine or other Eastern European countries for nine months. Most of such organizations expect you to have a college degree in a relevant field and preferably some sort of teaching experience.
There are formal certificates (like CELTA or TEFL for English) which you can acquire to prove your ability of teaching a foreign language. These are definitely a plus and will give you an advantage when looking for a teaching job abroad.
*InterNations is in no way affiliated with these organizations.
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