Work Abroad

[LucyKKG]

Is there such thing as a work abroad program? I met up with some old friends tonight who were telling me about cool study abroad/internship programs they were involved in during college, and it got me thinking. I wonder if there's a legitimate organization I could work for while living in a foreign country for 3-6 months. Am I crazy to think that? I'll do some more research about it tomorrow when it's not the middle of the night, but GC often has wonderful answers to my various and numerous questions.

[epchick]

There are programs where you can teach English in another country. IDK how long the programs are though.

[XAntoftheSkyX]

Originally Posted by epchick

There are programs where you can teach English in another country. IDK how long the programs are though.

My ex is an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher?) with JET. She's been in Japan since August 2008 and has yearly contracts which she has the option to renew each year.

[tangelo212]

I don't know if you're still in school, but several of my friends did co-op programs where they worked abroad, e.g. Singapore, for a semester. You can definitely work for "legitimate organizations" even if you don't go through a program per se. After I graduated, I worked abroad in the Middle East for five months (I worked at another campus of my university for a professor I worked for in undergrad). Living and working in another country is definitely an eye-opening experience, and really helps you appreciate the things you may take for granted living in the US (depending on where you work abroad obviously).

I know many countries have a high demand for teachers, as a few people have mentioned above. Another friend of mine worked in S Korea teaching SAT prep course; she said it was actually really really exhausting work.

You could also try researching which countries have a large population of expatriates--it can clue you in on who is employed in which countries. The country I worked in relies heavily on expatriate/foreign workers. It may help you get some ideas.

[LucyKKG]

Hmmm yeah, I definitely have a lot of research to do. I've thought about teaching English in another country. I guess that would be the closest to my actual career goal. Thanks for your thoughts!

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by XAntoftheSkyX

My ex is an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher?) with JET. She's been in Japan since August 2008 and has yearly contracts which she has the option to renew each year.

So did my ex.

And his ex.

[salsera127]

The English Language Fellow Program, sponsored by the State Department sends experience English as a Second or Foreign Language teachers overseas to teach English or train English teachers for one year in developing countries.
http://elf.georgetown.edu

Fulbright also has programs, English Teaching Assistant Program
http://exchanges.state.gov

[ISUKappa]

I went through BUNAC when I did a work study program in London during college. It was a great experience.