Posted 10 Mar 2010

A TEFL course could allow travellers to have a much more authentic travel experience than an average tourist might experience, according to one student who is intent on taking such a qualification.

Kelly English, who wants to teach English in Japan when she completes her TEFL programme, claimed that it is easy for graduates to pack up their things and head overseas.

She was full of praise for the idea of working in a foreign country, rather than just stopping over for a night or two, as is often the case on gap years.

"What really appeals to me with TEFL is that you’re able to live somewhere and actually meet local people and experience something a lot deeper than a tourist’s perception of a place," remarked Ms English.

Volunteer abroad specialists i-to-i cited a survey by studentgems.com of final-year students and recent graduates, which indicated that 34 per cent are considering options abroad.

One way to study for a TEFL qualification is online, with one civil engineer telling the Irish Times that he used an internet course to train as a teacher.

Category: Moving Abroad