Broaden Your Horizons | Teach English Abroad | Break Barriers

When I reflect on the two decades I've been living abroad, I remind myself of all the success I've enjoyed thanks to my love of language and opportunity to teach English abroad. And I cannot think of a more fulfilling way to live than to travel and leverage language power to create a lifetime of memories. When I left New York for the first time back in 2001, I still had no idea about how all this would manifest. In fact, having mainly moved for love, the shape of my future was still the furthest thing from my mind. There was no plan (typical of a plan originated in the heart😅), but I would soon find out just how powerful the English language is. And I count myself lucky to this day to have had my mother tongue as my ace in hole throughout the journey. Honestly, the only thing I would have done differently was to be more aware of the advantage I had at an earlier age. Today, it is my mission to help young dreamers plan and achieve their goals more systematically than I did. I wasted too much precious time figuring things out on the cuff. Now that I know the secrets to starting fresh in a new country, I'm anxious to share with as many like-minded adventurers as possible. Sure, you'll find ample sites online that promise to prepare you, but few are run by anyone who has experienced the journey personally. That is why I feel qualified to help you achieve those goals - I've been doing it for many years and have created the roadmap to success based on pure experience. I hope my trials and errors will help you avoid yours.

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Why become a certified English teacher?

Teaching English abroad gained a lot in popularity at the turn of the millenium. UK, US, Australian and Canadian passports get you into pretty much any country around the world with relative ease. Legislatively speaking, the steps are still quite simple and, in most cases, you'll just need to apply for an extended stay or work visa online for the country you're intersted in travelling to. However, although back at the turn of the century all you really needed was a backback and willingness to share your language with foreign speakers, much of that has changed as the demand for experienced, qualified instructors has risen. In most cases, you'll need at least a certificate stating you have successfully passed a teaching course. There are many alternatives here, but I would go with a well-known provider that has some global clout. One option that I can personally recommend is International TEFL and TESOL training (ITTT). They've been doing their thing since back in the 1990s and I only wish I had known about their courses sooner. You can retrieve your Break My Barriers 15% discount on all courses here: https://www.teflcourse.net/apply/?cu=CXEUR2022G.

Whatever route you choose to teach English abroad, keep in mind a certificate not only makes you credible, it also qualifies you to earn a higher salary.

The best way to go about a teach English abroad career

Ok, so you've decided you're ready to leave your safety bubble. Congratulations! This a step that causes anxiety and one that few even ever get past. Now you're ready to set the plan in motion.

I suggest that when considering which country you want to reside in for a longer stay, consider several factors that will influence the level of your satisfaction. Obvious ones like political situations and cultural differences come to mind. But it's also very helpful to choose a country where your own adaptation will not be an issue, i.e. if you're from a cold climate, I would hesitate before deciding for a tropical climate for a long stay. Likewise, take culinary options very seriously as you might not be able to adjust to the dietary habits of a given region. Another obvious one is to learn a little about the local culture and even study some language basics for the destination of choice. You'd be surprised how often these get overlooked and I have personally witnessed several unhappy teachers get frustrated thinking the entire world already speaks English. It will also go a long way in you being accepeted by locals if you at least try to communicate in their language, albeit at a basic level. As easy as it is to learn English online, it is equally easy to learn the basics of other languages these days using apps like https://www.duolingo.com or https://www.lingfluent.com.

I can assure you that knowing the language pays heavy dividends. I would never have been able to become a translator for former Czech president, Vaclav Havel, without having put in the effort to learn the Czech language. Am I perfect in Czech? No. That's not the point. My effort to communicate in the language of the country where I teach, however, led to opportunities I would otherwise never have experienced.

"Speak to a man in a language he understands and you speak to his mind. Speak to a man in his language and you speak to his heart." Nelson Mandela

And for those of you who want to learn English abroad?

Well, now is a wonderful time to expand your horizons, too. With pandemic restrictions having been lifted in most countries, opportunities for great adventures while learning are plentiful. Whether you want to learn English abroad or teach English abroad, services like Sprachcaffe have been providing awesome experiences for both teaching and learning for almost 40 years! I'm very excited to have recently concluded a partnership agreement with this presitigious provider and even more excited to be able to offer a 15% discount on all orders that go through Break My Barriers 💪

Write me at rob@breakmybarriers.com or click here to learn more about all the wonderful options and trips available at Sprachcaffe: https://www.sprachcaffe.com/english/main.htm

Also, feel free to browse my website at www.breakmybarriers.com to learn about other services we provide to assist you in breaking all your geographical and language barriers. See you on the other side...🚀