Teach abroad programs are saving international education – even during COVID.

Teach and travel programs let people put their English language skills to good use and give back to other communities around the world.

This opportunity is one that can be taken up even during the pandemic. 

The job market for English teachers globally is essential in maintaining socio-economic development.

Nearly 69 million new teachers are needed reach the 2030 Education goals says UNESCO.

According to the British Council’s report, “The English Effect”, an estimated 2 billion people have been using or learning the English language.

Therefore, this makes English an essential second language to learn in foreign schools.

As COVID cases fluctuate in different parts of the world, the countries with the lesser death rates are safe to reside in.

Many have opted for teach abroad placements in Asia and Central America.

This chance to teach in classrooms and live abroad is unmissable.

The most popular destinations include awe-inspiring countries such as Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Costa Rica. 

The scope of applicants have widened – unintentionally.

TravelBud is a celebrated specialist teach abroad organisation based in South Africa.

They are still running their highly anticipated programs and ensuring quality education to partnered communities. 

Grace Martens, Enrolment Director at TravelBud says on average they have around “800 applicants a month”.

This is to become TEFL/TESOL certified English teachers.

Like many other agencies, TravelBud offers a globally acknowledged and accredited TEFL/TESOL teaching certification.

The programs usually appeal to graduates as they offer a guaranteed job placement abroad at their most trusted schools.

“The pool of people that wanted to go wasn’t just your twenty to twenty-five year-olds looking to do something after they graduate.”

The programs have captivated an unexpected group of applicants, in recent months.

This has come as a surprise to the agency says Grace Martens.

She added: “It has been really interesting to see a lot of people do actually have huge perception and a change in mindset during these times.

“The groups that are normally out of the general realm of people that wouldn’t necessarily apply to our program ended up applying, and being very interested in this.”

“A lot of our market is in America. With everything that is happening there politically, I think a lot of people kind of re-evaluated their lives and decided to do this.”

People affected with ongoing affairs in their own countries are open to new charitable experiences.

As a result, the global education sector has benefited massively.

There are around 12 million English teachers active today, but this masks a huge global shortage.

These programs gaining attention means a great deal to the international education sector.

How has this teach abroad industry stayed afloat amidst a global pandemic?

“We work with a program that offers work visas, and that way you can take repatriated flights”

Grace suggests the pandemic has helped teach and travel programs the most out of any other similar industry.

“It has affected us tremendously in terms of having to adapt to each country’s different requirements and quarantines.

“But it has also been interesting to see how it positively affected us as well.

“Being that we work with a program that offers work visas and that way you can take repatriated flights.

“Out of all the other similar industries to us, we have come out the strongest.

“With volunteering you rely heavily on volunteer visas or tourist visas that you can extend in a country are not on offer anymore.”

It seems some countries have made it harder to visit by scrapping volunteer and tourist visas.

This is how agencies like TravelBud continue their English teacher vacancies with authorised work permits.

Would you be interested in this once in a lifetime opportunity?