So you’ve decided to take a gap year? Great start! Intentionally setting aside time to see the world fosters global awareness. And as you form a more international perspective, you’ll likely learn more about yourself as well.
By gaining insight into other cultures, you’re bound to think more critically about your own beliefs, priorities and desires for the future. Traveling also pushes you to develop important life skills such as flexibility, empathy and confidence.
But no matter what’s driving you to spend some time outside your home country, it can be helpful to plan backwards. Before you start booking flights, consider what you’d like to come out of your gap year with. Work experience? University credits? An exciting tale or two?
After reflecting on your motivation for traveling, it’s time to look into specific programs that suit your interests. So whether you have your eyes set on Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Peru, here are 5 program ideas to launch you in the right direction.
Volunteer Abroad
There is an abundance of volunteer programs abroad, particularly in developing countries. International volunteering is both a great opportunity for personal growth and a strong addition to any college application or resume.
When looking for volunteer projects abroad, you can narrow down your search by choosing a geographic region or a field of service that best fits your goals. Costa Rica, for example, is an excellent place to be an environmental volunteer.
You might even be able to find volunteer placements in your future career field. There are a wide range of opportunities in K-12 and ESL classrooms across the globe. It is also common to lend a helping hand at a construction site or in an animal or medical care facility.
Becoming involved in community service is an optimal way to get to know the country you’ve traveled to. True cultural immersion comes from interacting with locals in their day-to-day lives. And if you go the volunteer route, you’ll also be making a positive impact!
Find an International Internship
However, if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the work world in another country, an internship placement might be better for you. Landing an international internship is a prime way to gain professional and cross-cultural experience at the same time.
Though it’s an option to try and find an internship on your own, this will probably prove difficult, especially if you aren’t yet fluent in the country’s official language. In Latin American countries, it is also uncommon for applications to be available online.
Therefore, it’s often advisable to organize your time abroad through an educational travel company before you arrive. Maximo Nivel, coordinates internship placements in a variety of fields in Costa Rica, Peru and Guatemala.
All you have to do is indicate your background and interests to an internship advisor, and you’ll be placed at a local company. Common placements include but aren’t limited to internships in medicine, education, human rights, tourism and business.
Learn Another Language
But if none of these volunteer or internship opportunities have jumped out at you, don’t worry! We’ve yet to address the elephant in the room. The most obvious and arguably best reason to spend an extended period abroad is to learn another language.
The Spanish class you’re taking at your local community college is a great first step. It’s always helpful to have the basics under your belt before diving into a foreign culture. However, nothing compares to full Spanish immersion!
No matter how confident you are about your conjugations, it’s difficult to truly learn a language without using it in an authentic context. When you live abroad, you give yourself the opportunity to practice outside the classroom.
And language acquisition brings depth to cultural exchange. Making a conscious effort to learn the language of your temporary home will make it easier to form relationships with locals. And being multilingual is a skill that’s sure to help you in the future as well!
Teach English as a Foreign Language
But for some, studying another language isn’t enough. If you’re hoping to work during your time abroad, there’s a huge international market for teaching English as a foreign language. So why just be a student when you could be a teacher too?
If becoming an English teacher abroad sounds appealing to you, a TEFL certificate is your golden ticket. TEFL, or teaching English as a foreign language, programs prepare participants to teach engagingly across an inevitable language barrier.
Programs come in a variety of shapes and sizes but usually entail 150 hours of training and practical teaching hours. Maximo Nivel offers accredited in-person, online and hybrid TEFL certification programs.
And no matter how you complete your training, you’ll be opening yourself up to a wealth of international career opportunities. Certified English instructors are in high demand across Latin America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Get a Jump Start on University
But maybe you’re fresh out of high school and not quite ready to think about “career opportunities.” And that’s okay. In fact, taking a gap year is the perfect way to gain real-world experience while considering your interests and strengths.
In my opinion, no cross-cultural experience is a waste of time. However, if you’re worried about what you’ll be accomplishing during your gap year, you might be interested in Maximo’s Study Abroad programs.
You can spend a semester or a year abroad and enter university with 12 to 32 academic credits already done! Structured gap year programs like this are an ideal way to combine community service, language learning and academic coursework.
But regardless of which options caught your eye, the bottom line is simple. You really can’t go wrong with time abroad. What’s important is to choose the right program for you! Because at the end of it all, you’re the one venturing into the unknown.