| Everybody has one. You know, that list of things you | | | | to otherwise. |
| want to do before you die? Some people might call it | | | | 5. You Meet New People |
| a "bucket list." Whether your list includes skydiving, a | | | | While teaching overseas you will come into contact |
| cross-country road trip, or swimming with sharks, | | | | with individuals who, like yourself, love traveling and |
| there's one more thing you need to add: teaching | | | | helping others. These people come from all over the |
| overseas. Read on for the top 10 reasons to teach | | | | world and who knows - they could end up being |
| English abroad. | | | | travel buddies, best friends, or even the love of your |
| 1. You Get to Experience Other Cultures First Hand | | | | life! |
| Teaching overseas is so much more than a 9-5 job. | | | | 6. You Get Experiences and Stories to Last a |
| When you teach English abroad you are not just a | | | | Lifetime |
| tourist, but you are living in a completely new culture, | | | | You can make even more friends everywhere you |
| taking in a whole new world of experiences | | | | go with the great stories you gain from your |
| first-hand. You will spend all of your time with a group | | | | international living and teaching experiences. You may |
| of people whose lifestyle is completely different from | | | | not be living in five-star accommodations, and you |
| what you are accustomed to. You will live in a new | | | | may encounter some truly strange things, but the |
| city, have completely unfamiliar accommodations, and | | | | experiences will stay with you much longer than |
| if you have an adventurous palate, you'll have ample | | | | those grasshoppers you ate in Thailand. |
| opportunities to try new foods, and sample new | | | | 7. You can Beat the Economy Blues |
| tastes. For some this may seem scary, but after | | | | The economy is rough right now, and you may be |
| years of living in just one place, this can be incredibly | | | | struggling to find a job - especially if you're just out |
| refreshing and challenging. | | | | of school and lack work experience. When you teach |
| 2. You Get Paid to Travel | | | | English abroad you gain valuable experience for your |
| When teaching abroad you not only get paid, you | | | | resume while travelling all around the world, which is |
| get to travel too! While salaries may sometimes | | | | 1,000 times better than telling future employers you |
| seem small compared to potential earnings in America | | | | sat at home watching soap operas while the |
| or Great Britain, you should earn enough teaching to | | | | economy recovered. |
| live comfortably and the opportunities for travel are | | | | 8. You Get to Give Something Back |
| priceless. Living in another country is the perfect | | | | It's not all about what you get out of it - for many |
| opportunity to explore the region, and many | | | | people it is about what you can give back. English is, |
| countries are so close together you can visit several | | | | in many locations, the language of international |
| hotspots all in one short trip. For a yearlong | | | | commerce, which makes it an essential skill for |
| assignment, most teachers enjoy about 3 weeks of | | | | non-native speakers to acquire. When you teach |
| time off, as well as local holidays - ample time to | | | | English abroad not only do you help your students |
| explore your new surroundings! | | | | improve their English, but you widen their horizons |
| 3. You Get Valuable Work Experience | | | | with your experiences of life beyond their borders, |
| Whatever industry you work in, experience working | | | | and actually improve their prospects in life. Through |
| in a foreign country enhances any resume, and | | | | your activities both within and outside of the |
| teaching is no exception. An overseas teaching | | | | classroom you will be making real contributions to the |
| assignment on your resume lets potential employers | | | | success and well being of others. |
| know you are open to new challenges, work well | | | | 9. You Get the Chance to Learn a New Language |
| with others (even if they have different backgrounds | | | | Schools hiring EFL teachers do not expect you to |
| or views), have extensive leadership skills, and you | | | | speak the local language (they are more concerned |
| can take on any situation thrown at you. 4. You Can | | | | that their teachers are native or native-level English |
| Save Money | | | | speakers, and that they have been thoroughly |
| While most teach English abroad programs do require | | | | trained in TESOL/TEFL methodology), but immersing |
| you to pay for TESOL or TEFL certification and | | | | yourself in another culture is a great way to learn the |
| flights, in the long run you can often save money | | | | local language. As part of training, most programs will |
| teaching overseas. Living costs depend on a number | | | | offer local acculturation and language training, and |
| of factors including the country you are working in, | | | | many schools offer additional free or low-cost local |
| the region, and personal spending habits. But in | | | | language training, as well. |
| general, most teachers are able to earn enough to | | | | 10. You Get to Have Fun! |
| live comfortably, and in Asia, most teachers recoup | | | | Last but not least, teaching overseas is fun. This |
| the program fee, and still add to their savings. While | | | | life-changing international experience empowers you |
| teach English abroad programs are not for people | | | | to create your own personal adventure in spite of |
| who are strictly interested in "making money," | | | | current economic conditions. So what are you doing |
| teaching overseas will allow you to live and travel in | | | | for the next year of your life? Have the adventure |
| another country for a lot less than you would be able | | | | of a lifetime when you teach English abroad! |