Guide to Travelling Solo Abroad

None of your friends want to teach English as a foreign language. They don’t want to go abroad and if you want to pursue your travel dreams then you have no choice but to go alone. Travelling around the world on your own to teach English abroad is a brave thing to do. Not because it’s too dangerous but because you have to trust in yourself that you will be fine.
And you will be.

Solo travelling is a wonderful challenge. It will give you the opportunity to not only grow but you will be forced to learn to rely upon yourself rather than others. Travelling solo will push you completely out of your comfort zone. It make you realize just how incredible you can be once you’re given the chance to show what you can do.

Perhaps what scares you about travelling abroad alone is that you’ll be lonely. There will of course be occasions when pangs of loneliness may hit you – we won’t lie, there’s a likelihood that is true. However, by travelling to teach English as a TEFL teacher, you are bound to meet people. Being alone means you’re more likely to meet people and make friends than if you had gone with your own friends or with your partner.

Will I Get Lonely?

Travelling as a couple can strengthen your relationship but it can create a barrier to getting to know other people. The assumption is that you would want to spend all of your free time with your other half. Therefore you’d receive less invitations to go out. If you’re travelling alone, then all of the other teachers would feel inclined to make you feel welcome by inviting you to get to know them.

If you’re not teaching English as a foreign language in a school and are instead supporting yourself by teaching English online then you can still meet plenty of people while travelling solo. After hanging out alone in a café as a foreigner enough times, people would eventually get curious to know more of your story and will want to strike a conversation with you. Be open to the questions and accept any invitations that come your way to hang out.

Is it Safe for Single Woman to Teach English Abroad?

Female English teachers working abroad are often thought of as vulnerable targets when travelling alone. The primary job markets for English teachers are in large cities in peaceful countries where there are strong economies and infrastructures in place. Yes, in certain countries, women have to be aware of the local laws but this does not make the country unsafe to work in as a single woman.

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Travel Where you Want

As a solo traveller, you make all of the decisions. One of the benefits to teaching English abroad is being able to travel. Whether you’re teaching English online and working remotely or if you’re working a full-time job as an ESL teacher, in your spare time you are free to travel and explore wherever you want. You don’t have to adjust your wants to adhere to someone else’s whims.

Working to Your Own Schedule

The benefits of supporting yourself through teaching English online is that you work to your own schedule and this is especially true when you’re travelling alone. Travelling as a couple might mean that you’re trying to work to your partner’s schedule so that you can both have the same time off.

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Easier to Learn the Language

Wouldn’t it be a nice challenge and skill to pick up if you could learn the local language while there. If you’re travelling alone then you will probably find it easier than if you were travelling with friends or as a couple. The reason why is because you wouldn’t have the availability of having someone you know to speak English with. Communicating with the locals will allow you to integrate more into your surroundings. You’ll have so much more fun and feel a lot more comfortable on your solo travels.

Taking time to travel and teach English abroad can be a rewarding career path. An enriching time of your life full of self-fulfilment. This is even more true if you do it alone as you embark on an individual journey of self-discovery. While the thought of travelling alone to become a TEFL teacher can sound daunting, and even beyond your capabilities, it’s not. It is an experience that may define you and a time that you may look back on fondly. You may only get one chance to travel and teach English abroad before life commitments stop you from doing so. Remember that the greatest regrets in life are the risks that we were too afraid to take.

  • Categories

    • In general, you don’t need a degree to teach English abroad or online. Our certification stands alone and you can get employment without pairing it with a degree. However, some TEFL employers do prefer their teachers to have a degree. More importantly, for some countries, it’s a visa requirement. This means you can’t obtain a work permit without a bachelor’s degree or higher. Some of these countries include China, Japan, UAE and Vietnam. 

    Our advice is if you have your sights set on a certain country, look into the visa requirements first before putting time and effort into finding a job there. This will save you time and disappointment. If it’s a school preferability, and not a visa requirement, there’s sometimes some leeway. 

    You do not need any prior teaching degrees or experience to teach abroad. Once you have your TEFL certificate, you can secure work as a TEFL teacher. A BA in Education would enhance your CV, but it’s not a necessity. Completing a TEFL course that includes teaching practice, like our Hybrid TEFL Courses, will also help your CV.

    If you want to experience different cultures and see the world, teaching English abroad is for you. Not only will you get to explore new places, you’ll also meet new people and get the chance to make a difference to the lives of language learners. A TEFL certification lasts a lifetime. So, you can dip in and out of teaching abroad whenever you feel like it. 

    It is not necessary to speak any other languages. You’ll be able to find a job and work comfortably without knowing the language spoken in your chosen country. Of course, it is always an advantage, even if it’s just the basics. We recommend learning a few phrases before you move abroad like hi, thank you, goodbye and sorry.

    You’re never too old to gain new qualifications! Some TEFL employers do have age restrictions, but there are ample opportunities for more mature teachers. There are also the options to teach English from home as a private tutor or online tutor.

    We recommend one of our Hybrid TEFL Courses if you would like to teach English in Europe. These hybrid courses give you the best of both worlds. You’ll get the training and certification you need, as well as teaching practice through the 10 Hour Virtual TEFL Course. 

    The accredited courses are the quickest way to get TEFL certified, and are accepted by schools and institutes worldwide. Choose from a 120, 180 or 240 hour accredited TEFL course depending on the level of training you require. 



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