How An Unexpected Gap Year Can Offer Unexpected Bonuses

Aug. 19, 2009 - PRLog -- With the arrival of A-level results this morning comes the planning of impromptu gap years, as hundreds of young people miss out on places at their chosen universities.

While it may seem like a catastrophe at the time, having to take a gap year can become a fantastic opportunity for school leavers to broaden their horizons and gain valuable new skills. Gap years aren’t just for those who haven’t managed to get into university, however: those who have made the grade may also want to defer for a year to avoid burnout from three solid years of exams.

Ever since Prince William ventured off to the Chilean countryside to build walkways on his gap year, one of the most popular options for school leavers has been volunteering abroad. For good reason too: volunteering sees young people step out of their comfort zones and develop their teamwork, leadership and communication skills (as well as having a spot of fun along the way of course!)

There’s a huge range of projects that need the help of enthusiastic volunteers: i-to-i (http://www.i-to-i.com) offer over 500 volunteering opportunities across the globe, ranging from helping out on community development projects in Kenya and conserving the rainforest in Ecuador, to teaching English in Vietnam and looking after lion cubs in South Africa.

Eighteen-year-old Katie Gray, who took time out after finishing school last year, described helping out on a community development project in rural Ecuador as “a fantastic opportunity that cannot be beaten!”

“Doing the project and learning about different difficulties the children and people in the area faced made me feel very lucky for everything I have,” she added.

While paying to go abroad seems risky when new students are likely to face £23,000 of debt on leaving university, it’s possible to bankroll a gap year through careful saving and fundraising. Organising events and getting sponsorship together to go abroad to volunteer also further boosts school leavers’ personal statements on their UCAS forms.

Or, for those who want to use their gap years to save for university, there’s always the option of earning some cold, hard cash teaching English abroad. While TEFL was once the preserve of language enthusiasts and ex-teachers, the massive demand for qualified TEFL teachers means that fluent English speakers are able to get TEFL qualified and pick up work around the world quickly and easily using i-to-i’s hassle-free TEFL courses and job placement service. Courses cost from as little as £175 and the earning potential is very decent – for example earnings take a look at this article: http://www.onlinetefl.com/about-tefl/articles/how-much-ca...  

For those who want a little extra support, i-to-i’s China Teaching Internship (http://www.onlinetefl.com/teaching-internships/china/) is a fantastic option: school leavers can get TEFL qualified, gain valuable teaching experience AND get paid for their efforts. So, with free accommodation and food, young people can come home from their gap year with money in the bank. As well as the obvious financial reasons for picking TEFL, teaching English also offers the same benefits as volunteering in terms of building skills that will wow university admissions departments (as well as future employers): interpersonal skills, the ability to take the initiative, communication skills and leadership skills to name just a few.

Volunteering abroad and TEFL are not just for 18 and 19-year-old gappers though: those who see A-levels as a distant memory are also well placed to enjoy the same perks from going abroad as school leavers.

Those wanting more information about gap year options should ring 0800 011 1156 or visit www.i-to-i.com. For media enquiries please contact Honor Baldry at honor.baldry@i-to-i.com.