How to Stay Safe While Teaching English as a Foreign Language Abroad

By Andy Burrows

Spending your gap year teaching English as a foreign language can be rewarding and fun. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) jobs offer a way to get to know the people of your host country in way that just travelling and passing through would not. Imagine all the great stories you’ll have to tell after a year in China, Thailand, Costa Rica or some other exotic destination. However, it’s necessary to plan ahead and purchase travel insurance to make sure none of your travel tales turn into horror stories!

Gap-year students from all over the UK easily find TEFL positions in countries in Asia and South America. Thailand, Korea, Japan and Malaysia in particular provide great opportunities and ideal environments where you can spend a year teaching and enjoying yourself. During your travels, your family back home will worry about you a lot less if you take out student insurance for your gap year abroad.

While enjoying the food of your host country can be one of the most pleasurable experiences of TEFL abroad, you should be mindful that your stomach may not be used to the ingredients and the food might not always be clean. Make sure you only drink bottled water and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Only eat cooked food that is served hot, from busy restaurants. If you get sick while abroad however, you’ll be thankful that you took out travel insurance ahead of time to cover the cost of any hospital stays.

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Although most countries are as safe as your home country, sometimes even safer; it’s always wise to take the usual precautions and remain aware of your surroundings. If something unfortunate should occur, your mind will be at ease with quality student insurance. A good insurance plan will assist you with evacuation or hospital costs, or reimburse you in the case of theft.

Many people shy away from taking out insurance, afraid that it might be too costly. Student travel insurance is within most budgets though and you can get great discounts through travel-insurance-discounts.com

If you decide to teach English as a foreign language during your gap year, it’s wise to investigate the schools you apply to thoroughly in order to have a safe and pleasant year abroad. In addition, check out the safety of the country and the city in which you’ll be living. Make sure you ask the school lots of questions before accepting a teaching job. You’ll need to know if accommodation is provided and if it’s safe. Will you be required to share your accommodation with someone else? Some schools provide meals as well, and you might need to inquire if these will fit your special dietary needs. Ask if the school provides security and if you will be asked to teach night classes.

If you can’t stay at the school, then ask about local accommodation. Is it within your budget, near to the school, in a safe area, well-lit? You should consider how you will get to the school each day and the safety of local transportation. In many countries, this might mean renting a motorbike and driving yourself. The state of roads and traffic laws might create a dangerous situation in your host country and you should make sure that you’re skilled at driving a motorbike and have a good helmet before heading out.

Use common sense while teaching abroad. Just because you’re in an exotic destination does not mean that it’s safe to walk alone in the dark or pass out drunk in the street with valuable jewellery on. Keep your wits about you and your student travel insurance up-to-date, and you’ll have a great time overseas.

About the Author

Former English teacher Andy Burrows arranges everything online before he travels. Don’t forget: http://www.travel-insurance-discounts.com/gap_year_insurance.htm AND http://www.vayago.com