Language Gap Years
Learning a language
Thanks to an education system that does not start teaching us foreign languages until we are well past the age where we are most receptive to language learning, it is perhaps not surprising that many English people do not have a second language. Being able to speak a second language well, is a very valuable skill and one that will stand you in good stead when it comes to job applications. Most of us probably list being able to speak a foreign language high on our wish list, but beyond downloading a free language app on our smart phones, or borrowing a language book from the library for a few weeks before we go on holiday, not many of us get around to doing anything about it.
If you are heading out on a gap year, you have the perfect opportunity to enhance your language learning skills. Being able to converse, and have people converse with you, in a different language, is by far the best way to learn. Is there a better way of learning a foreign language than living abroad in total immersion, while working or studying? With ESL - Language Studies abroad, you get the unique opportunity to embark on such a long-term learning adventure, with the help of our renowned partners schools all over the world. ESL's language courses are flexible and cover a wide range of languages in more than 50 countries. Click on the following link to find out how to learn a language as part of your gap year.
Employer: Expanish
Gap Year Type: Language
Country: Argentina
Study Spanish in Argentina at Expanish Language School. Our Spanish language school in Argentina offers quality Spanish courses and authentic Spanish immersion experiences. Centrally located, our school has modern facilities and a wealth of support services and activities to facilitate Spanish learning in Latin America. Details: Read more...
Teaching English
If you are interested in travelling to a non English speaking country to teach people to speak English, one of the most common acronyms you will come across is TEFL. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. While not the most widely spoken language, English is certainly the world language for business, and as such, many nations choose English as a second language. Consequently there are plenty of opportunities for native English speakers to teach the language around the world, making it a great skill to be able to use as part of your gap year.
You may also see reference to TESL Teaching English as a Second Language, ESL English as a Second Language, EFL English as a Foreign Language, ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages, ELT English Language Teaching TESOL Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages... with no internationally agreed standard, the list is almost endless and reads like a Monty Python sketch. The only major differences are that TEFL is designed for people who want to go into a country where people do not speak English, TESOL can also be for people who want to teach non English speakers who are living in English speaking countries. And TESL would be somewhere between the two - you teach people to speak English in countries where a good chunk of the population already speak English as a first language.
What qualifications will you need?
While a degree in English, or a teaching qualification may well be sufficient for some positions, and a positive requirement for many schools in Western Europe, a recognised TEFL qualification, which will enable you to teach English in a school, workplace, or the home, to students whose first language is not English. This will also vary country to country as some places will have much higher demand for teachers and will not be so concerned about recognised qualifications. It is worth knowing that while qualifications can be an important consideration for companies or public bodies looking to employ you, they will also be interested in how you interact with the students. A native English speaker with great interpersonal skills but not qualifications may do a better job of teaching a class than someone with many certificates but little experience of the role.
You may decide to gain an internationally recognised TEFL qualification to assist your gap year job search. This is a popular move and other than the ability to speak English, you do not usually require any previous qualifications or experience in order to take a TEFL course.
Finding the right TEFL course for you
As we have already seen, there are a lot of different ways to describe the practice of teaching English to people who do not have it as their first language, but there are as many if not more different accreditations and affiliations for the TEFL courses that companies provide. The TEFL course providers try to align themselves with companies and bodies who provide this accreditation, to give their courses more credibility. Anyone can set up and offer a TEFL course, but who is to say they are any good. That is where the accreditation comes in. Unfortunately, anyone can also set up a TEFL accreditation company. Some accreditations are better than others so it is worth doing your research before handing over your money. The genuine companies will be able to demonstrate previous success and provide you with detailed advice about their courses and whether they would suit you. There are plenty of great companies out there, offering great courses that will further your career and experiences, just keep an eye out for the rogues. And if you already have an idea of where you will be teaching English, it may be worth asking your potential or future employers which TEFL courses they recognise.
Once you have decided to take a TEFL course you will need to decide how to study for it. One benefit of the internet has been the development of distance learning. It is quite possible to take a full TEFL course online, allowing you to qualify at your own pace and in your own time. Alternatively you may wish to join others, and get more experience of a classroom environment by taking a location based TEFL course. Many companies also recognise that people work Monday to Friday and may not have time to fit in a course during the week, so they have designed courses that fit into a weekend. Twenty hours of teaching and training and you are qualified. Perfect.
What is it like doing a TEFL course?
OK, so what is involved, what do you have to do? During your course, you will likely cover all or some of the following: writing skills, literature, task based learning, linguistic structures such as words, phrases, verbs and tenses and understanding sentence complexity. Basically, you will be taught how to approach the teaching of English to your future students, to be their teacher, organiser and motivator. You will be shown how to make your teaching methods meaningful and memorable. TEFL courses are not difficult, but they do make you think about how to teach and give you very valuable ideas for when you find yourself in a room full of people who do not speak your language.
I am qualified, where can I teach?
The world is your lobster. Any country you can think of that does not have English as its main language will have opportunities for English teachers. If you are looking for somewhere with high demand, try China or Japan. We list a couple of English teaching gap year opportunities below.
Affordable Gap Year Volunteering Placements Country: Worldwide Want to make the most of your gap year but not spend a fortune? International Volunteer HQ is the world's most affordable volunteer organization, hosting thousands of gap year students as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Every year over 5000 volunteers travel abroad with us- join the team...[more] | Global Volunteering Country: Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Ecuador, Fiji, Ghana, India, Japan, Malawi, Mexico, New Zealand, Tanzania, South Africa, Vanuatu, Vietnam Lattitude Global volunteering is an international youth development charity specialising in long term, adventurous and rewarding placements. Opportunities available include; teaching, conservation (environment and wildlife), medical, community work and caring as well as outdoor education. ...[more] |
Affordable Teaching Volunteer Work in Africa Country: Kenya, Masai-land, Ghana, Tanzania Teaching placements from £190. Gain valuable teaching experience or enhance a CV or UCAS application by teaching your own class English, maths, science or sports. Volunteer for as long as you want, starting whenever you want and get the chance to experience frontline aid work with a UK charity....[more] | Teach overseas Country: South Africa, Nepal, India, Galapagos, Moldova, Ecuador, Thailand, India A fantastic opportunity to work on your classroom skills or put your knowledge to the best use; you can fully immerse yourself in the local culture and help to make a huge difference to the lives of underprivileged youngsters, giving them the tools they need to build a better future for themselves. ...[more] |
Teach English Country: Kenya, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru. Work on your classroom skills as you help to improve the future prospects of youngsters around the world! You can give impoverished youngsters a better start in life with classes in everything from English to sports and gain some valuable experience and an in depth knowledge of the local culture. ...[more] | Language Learning Gap Year Country: Worldwide Is there a better way of learning a foreign language than living abroad in total immersion, while working or studying? With ESL – Language Studies abroad, you get the unique opportunity to embark on such a long-term learning adventure, with the help of our renowned partners schools all over the world....[more] |
Teach abroad Country: South Africa, France, Malawi, China, Ecuador, Moldova, Argentina, Galapagos, Thailand, Zanzibar, Kenya Unleash your inner classroom genius and put your skills to good use teaching English overseas. Our voluntary and paid work options give you the opportunity to gain useful experience as a teacher, change the lives of entire communities and work in some of the most beautiful places on the planet!...[more] | Study Spanish in ArgentinaCountry: Argentina Expanish Spanish School in Buenos Aires Argentina offers inspiring Spanish immersion courses and volunteering community projects for students wanting to learn Spanish quickly and effectively, whilst assisting in local community development and enjoying the exciting culture of Buenos Aires...[more] |
Teaching and Childcare Country: Brazil, Chile, India, Kenya, Nepal, Romania, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia Volunteer with Oyster and put beaming smiles on the faces of vulnerable children. Care for troubled youngsters in vibrant Brazil; teach while learning Spanish in Chile; trek and teach in Nepal; bring love to Romania’s orphans; coach sport in the heart of Africa… and more! ...[more] | Volunteer in Zanzibar Country: Zanzibar Ever fancied visiting 2 facinating islands in Africa,steeped in history,culture and tradition. Do not let the fact that you have had no experience of teaching put you off! Being a part of a community so different from anything hitherto experienced is daunting, don’t panic! You are in safe hands here...[more] |
Teaching - Challenging Projects with Underprivileged Communities around the World Country: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, New Zealand, Peru, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zambia Teach children and adults from all backgrounds in Schools, Orphanages, Crèches, Children’s Homes and Social Care Centres. Subjects include English, Arts & Crafts, Drama, Music, Sports, Maths, and IT. We can tailor your experience so you teach what you’re skilled in!...[more] |