I'm considering taking a gap year after high school to work abroad. Does anyone have suggestions on countries or programs that are good for high school graduates looking to work internationally for a year? Any tips or experiences would be great!
Sure, there are several international work opportunities for gap year students!
1. Teaching English Abroad: In many countries, there is high demand for English teachers. With TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, you can teach in various countries like South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. In many cases, housing and flights are included, which makes it an affordable option.
2. Au Pair: This involves living with a host family in another country and helping with childcare and possibly some light household work. Countries popular for au pairing include France, Italy, Germany, and Australia. The benefit of being an au pair is that you are typically provided with room and board, and you get to learn about another culture intimately.
3. Work and Holiday Visa: Some countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, offer Work and Holiday Visas that allow young people (usually between the ages of 18 - 30) to work for a year in the country. This can be a flexible way to work and travel in a new country.
4. Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF): If you're interested in sustainable living, another option is WWOOF, which allows you to work on organic farms worldwide. In exchange for your work, you get to have free food and accommodation.
Remember to research diligently to ensure that you pick a program that matches your interests and career aspirations. Also, consider countries where you would be interested in learning the language and immersing yourself in the culture since that could offer additional benefits.
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