Do you want to spend six months or a year living and traveling abroad, but don’t have $10,000 or $20,000 to fund such an adventure?
Would you like to live as a local in Tokyo, Rome or Buenos Aires and get paid?
Do you dream of walking to work every day along the cobblestone streets of Prague or Florence, or through the colorful street markets of Bangkok or Saigon?
Do you want the satisfaction of performing a valuable public service while traveling the world and experiencing the adventure of a lifetime?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then teaching English abroad could be right for you.
From Seoul and Shanghai to Milan and Istanbul, hundreds of millions of people study English, creating an unprecedented demand for more than 250,000 English instructors. While many confront the most challenging job market in generations, gaining an internationally recognized TEFL certification (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) provides both viable and accessible job opportunities as well as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the world while gaining invaluable work experience.
Teaching abroad allows you to experience a foreign country as a local where you can become an integral part of the community, interact with local citizens on a daily basis and build friendships that will last a lifetime.
In addition, it provides a perfect vehicle for the international travel that you seek. For example, as an English teacher in Czech Republic such great destinations as Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Poland will be within easy reach. Or consider teaching in Vietnam, and you could easily find yourself taking holidays in China, Thailand, or perhaps among the entrancing ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Where Can I Teach?
A native English-speaker with a university degree and a TEFL Certification will have the potential to teach English professionally in up to 100 countries around the world from Latin America and Europe to the Middle East and Asia. Even without a BA, you can still teach in roughly half of the countries of the world including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, China, and Spain, as well as many countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe.
How Much Money Can I Make?
In most countries, particularly in Europe and Latin America, most first-time English teachers make enough to pay their bills and live comfortably with enough money to sight-see, travel and enjoy the country where they live and work. For those looking to make extra money, consider Asia, where English teachers typically save 30%-50% of their salary after expenses and in China and Korea, schools typically provide teachers with airfare and free housing. The most lucrative destination is typically South Korea where a first-time English teacher can save $10,000 – $15,000 a year and that can easily fund 3-6 months of travel in Asia or anywhere else!
The first step is to just be bold enough to make a call to a TEFL school and a dream of living abroad can come true.
About the author:
Bruce Jones is founder of International TEFL Academy based out of Chicago, IL, and was a sponsor of our Chicago event. He started his TEFL certification school after his 2-year, 20 country journey backpacking around the world from 2001-2003. His vision was to help inspire and assist others to live abroad and see the world. You can see his journey on his personal website MyWorldTour.
Jannell Howell is about to embark on an around-the-world journey that will take her through many countries including Thailand, India, Jordan, and Europe before coming back to the U.S. 15 months ago, she began blogging about her preparations on her site 
The 
Hands down, the best service I’ve used this last year is the 
Once I am outside the U.S., I’ll explore Mobal’s 
These are just a few of my favorite items. I am already so confident about these products that I signed up as an affiliate, but will thoroughly ‘test-drive’ them in the coming months and will share my experience with Meet, Plan, Go! – So ‘stay tuned’.
Adam Seper and his wife Megan have embraced travel throughout their decade long relationship. And after getting married, they decided that instead of pursuing the “American Dream” of buying a house and starting a family, they wanted to travel the world instead. So in October of 2008 they set off on a 358-day adventure, visiting 4 continents, 11 countries, and nearly 90 cities. Since they’ve returned, Megan is back being an attorney and Adam is pursuing a career in travel writing – including running the site World Travel for Couples.
In January of 2012, Jannell Howell will set off on a year-long journey around the world. Her plans will take her West from San Francisco where she’ll travel through Southeast Asia, meander through India and the Middle East, explore Europe and the U.K., check out Morocco, then fly to the East Coast of the U.S. where she’s looking to relocate. Aside from some basic sightseeing and unique activities (e.g. ride an elephant, learn a language, etc), she would like to try working and volunteering overseas, as well as getting to know some locals and a different way of life.
Not all career breakers dream of traveling around the world during their break away. Many prefer to utilize their time, no matter how long, based in one place, much like Abby Tegnelia did in Costa Rica. But unlike Abby, where a planned one-month stay turned into 12 months, the idea of moving abroad, even temporarily, can create some anxiety.
Adam Pervez is no stranger to traveling. He’s been to 47 countries and has lived in six. “I am a master at hit and run travel. I arrive, run around like a madman for three days, see the museums and monuments, and leave feeling like I know the place. Yet I often don’t get a chance to talk to a local person!”
Figuring out health insurance options in the United States isn’t simple. Throw two-year round-the-world travel plans into the mix and it starts looking even uglier.
As if taking a year off to travel the globe was not enough of a thrill, Jenni and I decided to give our trip a little something extra. Overachievers by nature, we wanted to use our year abroad to accomplish something meaningful.
“I can’t wait to board the plane… I can’t wait to board the plane…”
How to choose the perfect backpack for long-term travel is no easy task. Dr. Sarah Johnson of the Spine Wellness Center in Las Vegas offers some key advice to help you through the process.
Balancing Spontaneity and Preparedness
There was nothing scarier for me after the decision to travel around the world than the aspect of leaving my career.
We learned that when you want to make something happen and follow your passion, people reach out to support and guide you. We’re very ordinary people who found extraordinary support.
Adam Pervez is no stranger to traveling. He’s been to 47 countries and has lived in six. “I am a master at hit and run travel. I arrive, run around like a madman for three days, see the museums and monuments, and leave feeling like I know the place. Yet I often don’t get a chance to talk to a local person!”
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