Top Ten Reasons to Take a Gap Year!

 

1. Parent related badgering - lectures in career guidance, productivity and having dinner at 6.30pm on the dot, need we say more…

 

2. Pinstriped two sets, stiff collars, sensible footwear, power shoulders- (Ok so it may not be the 80’s) but office attire should be avoided at all costs…flip flops please!

 

3. “Hello my name is……what seems to be the problem today?” If your job involves repeating this line on a regular basis you are a prime gap year candidate. Put the complaining customer on hold and step away from the headset!

 

4. Job Search, Job search, Job search-Has Job Centre plus become your second home? Are you tired of sending out your glowing C.V only to feel disheartened when you fail to secure an interview? let Mrs Gap year scoop you up in her loving arms, and with the help of her trusty friend TEFL, you can wave goodbye to career desperation and say hello to a fulfilling teaching job; new friends and hurrah- an income!

Photo by jovike

 

5. “So…..what are you doing now?” Family gatherings, the supermarket, nights out, weddings- this dreaded question can be fired at you at any given moment and turn the most confident into a gibbering mess.

 

“I’m going to be living in China/Thailand/Japan and changing lives with language!” (You can use this smug response for free!)

 

6.Avoid the annoyances that come with graduating- Repaying student loans, putting money into an ISA, starting a PENSION FUND! Oh the horror…

 

7.Make a difference. Taking time out to teach English as a foreign language will give you the opportunity to develop the skills of others. Your students new found English speaking abilities will make a great amount of difference to them whether it be in future study, opening up job opportunities, furthering their businesses or simply enjoying conversational English-all made possible by little, old you!

 

8.Build your confidence. Whether you’ve been in the same job since school, are yet to fly the nest or simply feel you are yet to challenge yourself fully; taking a gap year is the perfect opportunity to do something different. We’d hate to go all “Go find yourself maaaan!” but throwing yourself into something new and living in a different county gives you a feeling of self reliance that nothing else can. So, erm…go find yourself!

 

9.See the world! Although you’ll be living and working as a local on your TEFL adventure that doesn’t mean there won’t be time to explore. Many TEFLers use days off, school holidays and  festival  periods to go on sightseeing trips and short adventures. Others opt to use their TEFL qualification as a stepping stone, using it to fund worldwide travel. 

Photo by stevecadman

10. Give your C.V. a boost. International work impresses employers and is a valuable addition to anyone’s resume. Lets be honest, few positions give you the opportunity to work independently, plan your own workload and operate internationally- there are endless transferable skills to be gained better than doing a spot of filing or work experience huh?

 

• TEFL
• gap year