So, your TEFL certificate’s burning a hole in your back pocket and you’re longing to get out there and see the world. In fact, there’s just one thing stopping you from living your dream of teaching overseas – finding that all-important first job. The good news is that, with over 20,000 TEFL job vacancies posted online every month, you shouldn’t be hunting for long. Here’s how to make your search as fruitful as possible: 1)...

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Throw your guidebook in the bin and put away that camera – it’s time to start being more than just another tourist! A camera-clicking, guidebook toting, brash, rude tourist… no one wants to end up like that, right? So, if you want to really experience another culture and get the most from your travels, it’s time to be more than a tourist. Here’s how: 1. Get a job The best way to really experience another...

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OK, so most of the year, monkeys in the ancient city of Lop Buri, Thailand, look a little bit like this – despite having the run of ancient Khmer temples, the adoration of tourists and power cables galore to swing on, there is simply nothing to do… You'd be sad if you had ears that big too (Photo: Adam Baker) That is until big ears above and his 599 monkey mates are invited to their...

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If you’ve just finished school or university and find yourself among the many people who can’t find a job or university place, don’t despair. Taking a gap year is a fantastic way to boost your skills and reassess your options, not to mention see far-flung destinations all over the world. ‘But hang on’, I hear you sobbing, ‘I spent my last pennies on drinks to celebrate my results’. Well, come in close and Auntie i-to-i...

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When you first touch down in China your brain will do one of two things…. It’ll go ‘ooohhh, shiny, noisy, crazy!’, or it’ll go ‘arrrrgggh, shiny, noisy, crazy!’ Either way, it’ll be something of a shock. While you’re finding your feet, you’ll probably feel foreign, lost and a tad overwhelmed. So, to help you in those first few mental weeks, here’s what you need to pack in your China survival kit: China: It’s busy, it’s...

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Going travelling, backpacking… whatever you want to call it, it’s become a rite of passage for those taking gap years both before and after university. But is it really the best way to experience another culture, or do you just spend weeks flitting from place to place with little to show for it but snapshots and kitsch souvenirs? If you really want to experience another culture, we reckon it’s time to ditch your backpack and...

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Poland’s not all cabbage stew and picture-postcard castles – it’s also a great place to start your TEFL career. Schools in Poland take teaching seriously, so if you’re keen on honing your TEFL skills, it’s the place to go. Oh, and that’s before you even get started on the awesome people, ancient cities and beautiful countryside. Tempted yet? If you’re already TEFL certified and Poland sounds like your cup of vodka, check out the Teach...

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So, you’ve signed up to your TEFL course, full of bright-eyed enthusiasm about the adventures it’ll bring you. But watch out, many a course tutee has found life getting in the way, and ended up consigning their dream of teaching abroad to the brain’s equivalent of the cupboard under the stairs. So, to make sure you stick with your course and realize your ambition of teaching overseas, here’s how to survive your TEFL course: Don’t...

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Too little money, too many responsibilities… everyone’s got some lame excuse for not getting out there to see the world – what’s yours? If you won the lottery tomorrow, you’d probably jet off to some far-flung corner of the planet. But why wait until you win the lottery, or until you retire? What exactly is it that’s holding you back? Money So you’re not a millionaire – you don’t need to be! There are over...

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If your inbox isn’t overflowing with job offers don’t see it as a failure – see it as your opportunity to get out there and see the world!                                 While decent jobs are more endangered than giant pandas, the huge demand for English teachers around the world means that native English speaking graduates like you can easily find work in amazing places all over the world – Beijing, Bangkok, Tokyo, Prague, Seoul – wherever you want...

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