The TEFL Times

by Catherine Luff

It’s all too easy to get settled into the student life and feel like you have all the time in the world, but it’s surprising just how quickly that time can go! Better to get out there and get travelling while you can….

From the moment you become a student you instantly acquire a reputation for doing very little work, getting terribly drunk and generally having the time of your life at every opportunity… and why on earth shouldn’t you? You’re only young once after all and once you get out into the big wide world of work things will become a whole lot more complicated. When they say that the university years are the best of your life they really aren’t lying, it’s your job to get out there and make sure you make the most of them!

As a student you’re not always aware of all the options that were available to you. Those 9 months of holidays are the perfect time to fit in all sorts of travelling adventures and new experiences! It’s time to get out there and see the world before you get that degree certificate and have to enter ‘the responsible world’……

3 months holiday

Let’s get this into perspective… When you were at school you had about six weeks of holiday over summer. Those six weeks felt like a lifetime didn’t they? Three months, that’s double your school holiday, two whole lifetimes in child-think! When you go out to work you’ll be lucky to get four weeks of holiday and the chances are you won’t be able to take it all at once. While you’re at uni you’re getting three times as much holiday as when you start work (and that’s not even including your Christmas and Easter breaks!).

Three months is enough time to earn a bit of cash, pay off your debts and buy yourself a nice little break in an exotic location. Not only will your friends be incredibly envious of your tan when you get back to university but you’ll come back with a completely new perspective that will do wonders for your work! Three months is also long enough to complete a teaching placement in Thailand or work as a fruit-picker in Australia! That’s three months of earning, travelling and spending, three months of exciting new cultures and extraordinary people, three months of CV-boosting international experience that will see you well on your way to success!

International discount cards

As a student you can get massive discounts on your travels and all you need is an International Student Identification Card! With this nifty card you get discounts on transport, entertainment and entrance fees across the globe and you’ll also get basic health and life insurance (you’ll still need to get travel insurance before you go). To get an ISIC card you need to be over twelve and able to prove that you’re studying at an accredited institution toward a diploma or degree. The ISIC card costs just £7/US$12. If you’ve just finished your studies and are officially a student no longer then not to worry, there’s a little something available for you to. It’s called the International Youth Travel Card and it will give you discounts on transport, accommodation and entrance fees across the globe. To get the IYTC card you must be able to prove you’re aged between 12 and 25. The IYTC card costs just £7/US$12. You can get all of these cards from STA Travel UK or STA Travel US.

UK discount cards

There are a number of discount cards available to UK citizens that will give you discounted prices at hostels across the world. The first of these is the Youth Hostels Association Membership which will give you discounts at 4,000 HI hostels across the world. Membership costs £10 for anyone under 26 and £15.50 for anyone above that age.

Another option is to buy a VIP Card for the country/continent that you’re travelling to. The VIP card will give you discounted prices on bus travel, flights, restaurants and a whole lot more. VIP cards are available in one or two year format and prices range from £10-20 depending on location and length of stay.

The final option for UK travellers is the Nomads Card. This card will give you discounts at over 600 hostels in 23 countries and also includes a Nomad Phone Card which gives members discounts on international calls. The card costs just £14 for one year’s membership but they’re currently running a 2 for 1 offer, so if you get in there quick you can get 2 years worth of discounts for just £14! All of the above cards can be purchased at STA Travel UK.

US discount cards

Citizens of the US are entitled to become members of Hostelling International. When they join up they’ll be given a concession card that will entitled them to discounts at over 4,000 HI hostels in 60 different countries. This will be invaluable if you’re travelling for a significant period of time! HI membership costs just US$28 and can be done through STA Travel US. A way to earn while you travel The days when you had to save for months to pay for your travel experience are long gone. Now there are so many other options available to you…

Teaching abroad

Teaching abroad is a great way to earn money as you travel so you don’t have to worry about funding your travels. All you need is a TEFL qualification and you could be well on your way to one down-right incredible travel experience anywhere in the world! This small investment can be made back in your first week’s wages and in most locations you’ll find yourself earning much more than you can actually spend, so you’ll probably go home with a nice little packet to spend on your next big night out!

Or working visas

If you’ve always wanted to travel to Australia or New Zealand but didn’t think you’d ever be able to afford it then the working holiday visa is just what you’re looking for. This is your opportunity to work and travel without breaking the law! Your earning will cover your living expenses and probably flight back as well (assuming you don’t spend it all on the local nightlife or at one of the massive shopping centres), so it really will make travelling to these incredible locations a lot more affordable.

Career prospects

It’s always been a bit of a controversial topic but the overall verdict is that global travel is a definite benefit for first-time job seekers. Not only will your travel experience give you a better understanding of the world but it shows that you’re forward thinking and able to work on your own initiative. While a package holiday may suggest you like to take the easy way out, independent travel shows that you thrive on a challenge!

The experience Travelling as a student may be cheap, it may be convenient and it might well be good for your future career prospects but the main reason to travel is because it’s an absolutely amazing experience. Never lose sight of that, because without it, travel is nothing!

About the Author

Catherine Luff represents ‘I to I Gap Year Travel’ and suggests that if you’re looking for a unique travel experience working abroad, look no further! i-to-i’s the perfect way to meet new people with our volunteer abroad & gap year travel programs. For interviews, images or comments contact: Catherine Luff - Marketing & PR - Email: [email protected]