Why teaching abroad benefits trainee teachers
Teaching is an exciting profession to go into that always keeps you on your toes and allows you to better yourself. If you are thinking of training for the role or you have recently finished your course, you could consider a voluntary work placement abroad.
The benefits of such a move are manifold. Read on to find out more.
Further your teaching skills
Perhaps the most obvious reason why it pays to spend time teaching abroad is that it can allow you to experience running a classroom over more than a short period. Of course, most UK teacher training courses include time spent on a placement, but that doesn't mean it's not worth trying to get even more experience at a school elsewhere.
By heading abroad, you can try teaching a different age group or topic. If you specialise in history, choosing to teach English instead can allow you to experiment with different teaching techniques, which may translate well to your usual discipline.
Stand out to employers
If you want an employer to sit up and take notice of you, showing that you have continued to get work experience outside of your course is a great way to do it. In addition, most overseas volunteer posts will trust you with several tasks, so not only will you be teaching, but also organising games, theatre performances, sports for the kids to participate in or music lessons.
You can add all of this to your CV and it is sure to catch the eye of any employer who is looking for someone who can not only teach, but who will also be willing to run extracurricular clubs such as music, drama or sports.
Learn something new
Not only does working abroad allow you to teach others, but it is also an opportunity to learn. Just as you are helping local children or adults get to grips with English, you can enrol on a course to learn a language like Spanish or Chinese during your time off.
This adds another string to your bow and you may take to it so much that it becomes a new subject for you to specialise in once you begin applying for work in the UK. It will also benefit you during your time abroad as you will be able to develop a firm understanding of the language your pupils speak and so build a better relationship with them.
Experience something new
Arguably the biggest benefit of teaching abroad is being able to experience an entirely new place and culture. You can learn the teaching practices employed over there, which are likely to be different to those back home and you may even wish to adopt some of them when you return to the UK. In addition, you can share your own methods with the teachers you are working alongside.
On your time off, you will be based somewhere entirely new to you and can spend your time exploring the sights and lapping up the local culture. You'll really be able to get under the skin of the country you are visiting as you will be living closely with the locals and you can also give something back through your volunteer work.
Don't underestimate how much of a positive difference your volunteering can make to the people you work with as not only will you be teaching them new skills, but also adding fun to their lives. Similarly, they will be bringing many benefits to your own life.
