(Dawnelle on the right in photo opposite) Many people enjoy travelling, but short visits to a country are rarely enough to get a real feel for the culture and people. Travellers often want to spend more time in one place, but budget can prevent you from doing this. Living and working in a country is probably the best way to get to know a place authentically.

My grandfather always referred to me as the gypsy of the family, and I think I have proved him right by spending almost eight years traveling the world. Since a young age, I knew I wanted a career that would allow me to travel. During my first year of university, I took a linguistics class and started learning all about second language acquisition. I was hooked and my fate was sealed – I received my Bachelor of Education with a major in Language Arts and a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Since graduating from university, I have visited approximately forty countries, and lived in five of them. I’ve just returned from two amazing years in Australia and New Zealand. I’m in my early thirties, and it seems as if the majority of my friends are settling down. They are getting married, buying houses and even trying to have babies. But I still get emails from them telling me how jealous they are of my adventure filled lifestyle. They live vicariously through me. Living abroad isn’t meant for everyone, but if you have that desire, I can show you how to make your dream come true.

International Schools – For Qualified Teachers

My first job overseas was teaching First Grade at the American School of Guatemala. I secured this position with the help of one of my university professors. In fact – the school called me directly and interviewed me over the phone before I even knew he had given them my name. I accepted their job offer immediately – and then got out my globe to see exactly where I would be moving. I didn’t care where I was going: I just wanted to live in another country.

International schools generally hire only certified teachers with education degrees. Some have complete American or British curricula, and you teach as you would if you were in those countries. Others hire teachers solely for the purpose of teaching English to local children. Classes can consist of both residents of the country you are teaching in and children of foreign nationals – such as ambassadors.

I spent one year teaching at a private school in Istanbul, Turkey. I learned of this position through an international job fair held in London, England. Similar recruiting fairs are held in Canada, Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. on a regular basis. The Council of International Schools (CIS) is one such organization that holds Recruitment Fairs. Application can be made online at www.cois.org. There is no fee to register or to attend.

A related site, The European Council of International Schools (ECIS) www.ecis.org, is a valuable tool for locating international schools. As with CIS, you can do a search of international schools anywhere in the world and find indispensable information about the school, including contact information.

Non-Qualified Teachers

Not a certified teacher? Never even stood in front of a class? No problem. Sometimes being a native speaker of English is all you need to secure a teaching job overseas. Adults everywhere want to learn English – it’s the international language. While I was in Turkey, I met several people who had been hired to teach English to adults based solely upon the fact that it was their native tongue.

Almost any English-speaking tourist can find working teaching English. The Turkish middle classes are very keen to learn English, and they want to learn it from a native speaker of the language. If you speak English as your first language, you are almost guaranteed a job teaching English in Turkey. The number of students wanting to learn English far outweighs the number of English teachers, which means that many schools will hire someone without the proper qualifications.

Having an Education degree or English degree certainly helps, but in Istanbul, it is not always necessary. In fact, one of the teachers I taught with in Istanbul hadn’t even gone to university at all. That said, a TEFL, TESL or TESOL certificate will certainly boost your chances of getting a job.

The majority of jobs can be found in Istanbul. There are numerous English schools here that cater to adult students, and these are definitely the best bet for non-qualified teachers. This means that you will likely work evenings and weekends, but this leaves your day free to explore this diverse city. There are language schools in other cities, such as the capital, Ankara, but Istanbul is the cultural, historical and social centre of the country.

Don’t go to Turkey to teach English expecting to make a lot of money. The salaries are reasonable, and the cost of living is very low, but you aren’t likely to leave with a huge savings account. Any extra money is usually spent on exploring Istanbul, trips around the country, or maybe on a Turkish carpet!

Most schools want you to stay for one year, but few schools are willing to pay work permit fees, or do the required paperwork. This means that you must leave the country every 3 months to renew your tourist visa. This is crucial, if you try to leave the country with an expired visa; you will be charged a hefty fine. But without a proper work permit, your contract is not valid and you can leave at any time. It sounds naughty, but it happens all the time.

Some of the more reputable adult language schools in Istanbul include English Time, Active English, Istanbul Language Center, Best English and Dilko English. So, if you love Turkey like I do, or want to get to know and love it, and if you can speak English and have ambitions to live abroad, what are you waiting for? Get thee to Turkey!

TEFL Certification

Of course, if you want to be a successful teacher and have any sort of job security, there are a few steps you can take before leaving your country. A TESL, TESOL or TEFL certificate will not only set you apart from the competition, but will also provide you with the essentials you need to stand in front of a group of strangers and teach them to speak your language. A combination of theory and practice ensures that when you teach your first class, you know what you’re doing.

In fact, getting a TEFL certificate nowadays is another way to live abroad and experience a new culture. You can get your TEFL certificate overseas. www.thailandexperience.com gives details of how you can obtain TEFL certification while living in Thailand. Even better – no previous teaching experience is required and they guarantee a teaching placement after you’ve finished the course. It’s the ideal way to combine travel, learning and job searching.

Other Similar Programs

Mexico - www.teflcertificatecourses.com
Prague – www.thelanguagehouse.net
www.daveseslcafe.com is another vital tool in the search for a job teaching English overseas. It includes a photo gallery, job listings and an international teaching forum. www.teachabroad.com also lists available jobs.

Working Holiday Visas

Members of Commonwealth countries have an additional option – a working holiday visa. After spending two years in Guatemala, I was ready to explore a different area of the world, so I headed for London as a working holidaymaker. To qualify for a UK working holiday visa, you must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country and be between the ages of 17-30. This visa allows you to work in the UK while traveling – for up to two years. I easily found work as a supply teacher, eventually taking a full time position and securing a work permit. I stayed for almost three years.

More information on working holiday visas is available at www.workgateways.com. This visa doesn’t limit you to teaching, but if your intent is to teach, then you must register with an agency. www.timeplan.com, www.protocolteachers.com, and www.teachingtheworld.com are three such agencies that place teachers in UK schools.

Australia also offers working holiday visas for members of certain countries – including Canada, Japan, Germany and Sweden. The rules are much the same – but the visa is only valid for 12 months, you must be between the ages of 18-30, and you can’t work for the same employer for more than three months. The idea here is to provide income to finance your travel. A full list of eligible countries and application details are available at www.immi.gov.au.

Over the age of 30? No worries, mate. www.liveinaustralia.com provides information on how you can apply for the Skilled Visa Program. This program awards points to certain sought-after professions, such as accountants and registered nurses. A free online visa assessment is available at the aforementioned website.

New Zealand offers one year working holiday visas to many of the same countries as Australia – with one addition – The U.S.A. A complete list of other eligible countries is available at www.immigration.govt.nz. Applicants must be between the ages of 18-30 and your main purpose in New Zealand should be to holiday- work has to be temporary. Information on New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant program, similar to Australia’s Skilled Visa, for professions such as secondary teachers and veterinarians, is also available here.

Is It For You?

So it’s quite evident that there are many ways to teach your way around the world. Having the desire to live abroad is one thing – but there are a few things you need to ask yourself before seriously considering a move overseas.

1. Do I have a desire to learn? Immersing yourself in a new culture (even one that speaks your language) is one big learning experience. Along with learning about the people and traditions of another country, you’ll learn things you never knew about yourself.

2. Do I crave new experiences? Why go to another country to do the same things you can do at home. You must want to seek out the new and unusual. In addition, simple activities like grocery shopping and transportation have to be relearned in the context of a new culture.

3. Do I have the motivation to learn at least the basics in another language? There are simply some things that ought to be learned if the natives of the country you choose to live in speak a different language - numbers and greetings for instance. Attempting to learn a language and communicating with the locals in their language will earn you a great deal of respect.

4. Do I have a tremendous amount of patience? Communicating with your students can be very frustrating. You might have to repeat yourself and explain some concepts and pronunciations over and over again – all with enthusiasm and a smile.

5. Do I have a sense of humor? You’re likely to find yourself in all kinds of strange situations – some good, some bad. You have to learn to appreciate the good – and laugh at the bad. Incorporating laughter into your lessons is a reliable way to ensure your students are enjoying their learning experience.

6. Can I live without the comforts of home? As exciting as trying new things and meeting new people are, you have to ask yourself if you can live without some things you might take for granted on a daily basis. Family and friends that are a part of your daily life will surely be missed. Comfort foods and favorite TV shows might not be available.

If you’ve answered yes to the majority of these questions, then I think you’re ready to start the search for a teaching job overseas. So pack your bags, brush up on your grammar and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Just don’t be surprised if you end up calling somewhere completely new – “home”.

For a closer look at life overseas, check out my e-book, Watching Clocks Sing in Turkish, detailing the adventure-filled year I spent teaching in Turkey!

Turkey Country Profile

Real Estate in Turkey