What kind of TEFL graduate are you?
posted by Jen @ 3:46pm, Tuesday 6 April 2010.
After graduation from TEFL International, what will you do with your time?
For some of our graduates, it means a time to travel around Europe for the first time and discover that Germany really does have the best beer in the world (except for maybe my hometown, Milwaukee), Amsterdam is much more than the red-light district and Paris is just as romantic as in the movies.
For quite a few, it means the first time to relax in four weeks. They use the days after graduation to really see Barcelona, to discover the madness and genius of Gaudí, to visit the Modern Art or Catalan Art museums or sign up for that Spanish or Catalan course. After 4 weeks of admiring the scenery of the inside of a classroom, it’s time to soak up some culture, not to mention sun.
For a sad few, the answer is going back home to start school or back to the 9-5 grind. While their time in Barcelona was an eye-opening experience, the draw of getting back to the comfort of friends and family is stronger than the pull to stay and tough out the first few months as a TEFL teacher abroad.
For the few, the motivated, it’s not time to rest yet. Some grads know that looking for work can often be more difficult than the work itself will be. While visiting schools and sending emails may sound a lot less enticing than a day at the beach, staying focused and doing at least something small towards employment every day is the best way to ensure many relaxed weekends on the beach during the sunny months to come. Those sangria and bravas are even going to taste better when you know you can afford them because you’ve got your 20 hours of classes sorted out.
The question is: Which type of graduate do you want to be? Perhaps a mix of all four? Balance is the key in Barcelona – enjoying yourself and finding enough work to keep from being stressed about finances are competing forces and it’s up to you to find the right amount of each during your first free weeks as certified TEFL teachers.
So stay motivated, grads. Stay positive and keep in contact with us; if we hear of a job, those who are eager and in constant communication with us usually get called first.
Good luck and I hope to see you at one of the Friday BTTA events, celebrating your new teaching job in Barcelona!
Jen
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