These days, travelling and living abroad is thought of by many as not being as safe as it used to be. However, that's not true, and many gap-year students are fearlessly taking time out to teach in countries they've never been to before. As long as you keep an open mind, have your wits about you and take out travel insurance ? there's no reason to avoid being a TEFL teacher during your gap year.



There is no more rewarding way to gain insight into your host country and its residents than teaching and spending a year abroad, giving you a much more in-depth experience than just travelling ever could. All sorts of great memories will be created with your students and the new friends you make. You can have complete peace of mind about your safety during your year abroad by taking out student insurance before you go. If you're concerned about the cost of travel insurance, then try a site like travel-insurance-discounts.com for discounted rates.

Popular destinations for TEFL include Asian countries like Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. There are also many positions on offer in South American countries and other destinations around the world. Many gap-year students from the UK end up teaching in Asia and some have such a great time that they choose to extend their stay. Volunteering or working during your gap year can be so much more meaningful than just laying around on various beaches.

Safety might be a concern for some, but it's easy to find out a lot about the country in which you want to teach early on. If you've found a school that wants to hire you, thoroughly investigate its background and the city where it's located. Try to find out if there are any bad areas of the city, drug or gang problems, and if the hospitals are of international standards. Student insurance ensures that your family back home can rest easy while you're enjoying your gap year abroad.

The risks of TEFL abroad are minimal unless you have chosen to teach in a conflict-strewn country like Afghanistan or the Congo. Act with common sense; if you wouldn't do something in your home country, then it's not wise to do it in your host country. For instance, just because you are on a tropical island does not mean that you should walk off to a deserted spot alone at night. It's also a good idea to stay away from drugs while teaching abroad as the penalties for possession in other countries is often much stiffer than in the UK. The last thing you want to happen is to go from teacher to 20-year prisoner in Thailand.

Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions when deciding if a prospective school is suitable for you. You will essentially be alone in your host country until you get to know people, and the school might be your only safety net, along with travel insurance. Try to bond with the principal and other teachers early on. Find out if the school will provide accommodation and if it's private or shared. Ask about the safety standards of the school. Is it well-lit at night, is there security and is it in a good neighbourhood? You should also try to learn more about the types of students you will be teaching and their ages.

If you are required to find your own accommodation, request assistance in locating a safe apartment that suits your budget and make sure that secure transportation is available.

Even if you are cautious and attentive to your surroundings, it's still possible you might run into some trouble or become ill. It's during these times that you'll be grateful that you purchased travel insurance before leaving home.