Expanding Opportunities: Teaching, Interning, and Volunteering Abroad
Lessons From Abroad Returnee Conference, February 24th, 2018
Nora Larkin, CAPA The Global Education Network
Luke Beland, CIEE TEFL and Teach Abroad
Victoria Quill, CIS Abroad
Presenters
Luke Beland, CIEE
Senior Coordinator,
Teach Abroad Programs
Nora Larkin, CAPA Assistant Manager of
Institutional Relations [email protected]
Victoria Quill, CISabroadUniversity & Alumni
Relations [email protected]
Overview● Teach Abroad
● TEFL / TESOL Certification
● Intern Abroad
● Volunteer Abroad
● Questions/Discussion
How to get abroad again?
Teach Abroad - Benefits & Distinctions● Work abroad and get paid
● Great job market
● Learn the culture & language of the
host country
● Discover or follow your passion for
education and teaching
● Can serve as gap year
● Build resume
● ESL is most accessible, other subjects
often require formal training
Teach Abroad Considerations ● Level of support
● Time commitment
● Contract duration
● Level of students
● Reputation
● Requirements
● Salary/savings vs cost of living
Ways to Teach Abroad● Find a job on your own
● Recruiter or Placement Org
● Fulbright English Teaching Ass’t
● Peace Corps
● Foreign Gov’t Programs
○ Spain (Language and Culture Assistant)
○ France (TAPIF)
○ South Korea (EPIK)
○ Japan (JET)
○ Austrian-American Education
Commission
○ Chile (English Opens Doors)
TEFL/TESOL Certification● Required? Optional? Good idea?
● Online, or brick-and-mortar?
● Varying levels of price, quality
● Good for many overseas schools
● Good for volunteer/tutoring in USA
www.ciee.org/tefl
International TEFL Academy
Bridge TEFL
Teaching in Jordan - Two years, two different experiencesFulbright ETA at private university
● Placement assigned by program
● Part-time, strong Fulbright network
● Commuter college, few extracurriculars
Middle-school English teacher at private school
● Hired via friend/network
● High-achieving, IB-track curriculum
● Moderate pay allowed regional travel
Teaching in Austria - A Day in the Life● Clear reasons for teaching abroad
● Austrian-American Educational
Commission
● 13/hours week
● Conversational English
● 9 month commitment
● 1 week orientation
● Support
● Extra-curricular activities
Why Intern Abroad?•Gain professional and intercultural skills
•Set yourself apart from the crowd by enhancing your
resume
•Improve or begin foreign language proficiency*
•Expand your global network
•Jumpstart your full-time job hunt
•Gain in-depth, hands-on knowledge of a new culture
•Gain confidence in your work
•Complete your required internship in a foreign setting
Interning Abroad - Luke’s Experience● Amideast in Kuwait City, Kuwait
● Educational Testing Services and ESL classes
● Non-credit, 1 semester internship
● Arranged independently: “cold emailing”
● Small stipend
● Individual Arabic study and tutoring
Interning Abroad - Victoria’s ExperienceHospitality Internship in Barcelona
Restaurant owned by Americans - DosTrece
Marketing/Hospitality focused
Assisted restaurant owners with revamping menu,
online marketing, and event planning
8 weeks at 24 hours/week (6 hours x 4 days/week)
Hands on experience with customers
Foreign language proficiency
Considerations & Resources● Finding an International
Education Organization
○ www.GoAbroad.com
○ www.StudyAbroad.com
○ www.GoOverseas.com
○ www.NAFSA.org
● Independent Internships
○ Use your network!
○ Intern for a multinational organization
○ U.S. Department of State
○ Politics & Government
○ Through your university or study abroad
office
● Considerations
○ What can you afford? Paid vs unpaid
○ During undergrad degree or post-grad
○ Consider your field of choice. Internships are
a great way to gain hands-on experience
before applying to full time jobs
Why Volunteer Abroad? ● Learn about and contribute to a
community in need
● Become a part of a community abroad
● Gain a personal sense of perspective
● Explore careers in service & develop
skills
● Unplug, get active & outdoors
Volunteering in Jordan - Luke’s Experience● ESL night classes with Jesuit Refugee
Services
● 2-3 hours per week
● Word-of-mouth, Fulbright network
● Best students I’ve ever had!
● Many amazing opportunities don’t have
websites
● Volunteering can complement
internship/work
Considerations & Resources● Personal considerations
○ Goals, skills, intentions & values
○ Budget
○ Where/what & Dealbreakers
● Program considerations
○ Annual budgets
○ Reviews
○ What’s included
○ Safety
● Types of programs
○ Not-for-profit, faith-based, for-profit,
government-run, combined with study abroad,
local grassroots organizations
○ Idealist, GoAbroad and IVPA
Next Steps ● Connect with IEO’s today!
● Research, research, research
● Talk to your peers who have done it
● Use your international network
Thank you!
Evaluations & Prizes!
Lessons From Abroad Returnee Conference 2018