7 tips to help you make new friends when TEFL teaching abroad
Opting to change up the rigmarole of your usual nine-to-five and take to the road for a career of TEFL teaching abroad was never going to be an easy decision. With so many things to think about, from where you’ll be living to whether your grammar and gerunds are up to scratch, there’s no question that it’s a stressful experience. But it’s also a fun one; offering you the chance to break away from the comfort zone, see, hear, taste and experience a whole new place and culture – all whilst earning money! It’s also your chance to make new friends and mingle with like-minded people, which is where this list of seven top tips for garnering new mates abroad comes into play…
Food is your friend
No matter if it’s a chili-topped pad Thai between the bamboo shacks of Pai, a frothy Czech beer in the underground bars of Bohemia, a pizza below the Colosseum, or some dim sum dumplings in China, you can always rely on a hearty platter of food to provide a platform for conversation. So, don’t shy away from asking your new compadres if they’re up for a meal, whether that means a quick lunch in-between lessons or a bout of street food before a night on the town.
Participate in local festivals and get-togethers
From the wild Dragon Boat Festival of China and Hong Kong to the colorful Holi parties of India, the mind-boggling Śmigus-dyngus water fights of Poland to the mouthwatering food fares of Tuscany’s hill towns, there are oodles of local events that people TEFL teaching abroad can expect to get involved in. And they aren’t just opportunities to sample that new culture either; they are also a chance to mingle and meet people who live nearby!
Use technology
Whether we like it or not, the fact of the matter is that the days of good ole’ chin wagging over a beer and burger to make new friends are on the way out. Today, modern communication tech and social media in particular have changed the way we socialize. And it’s no different for folk teaching abroad. Check out services like Couchsurfing or local ex-pat communities, which will often have whole hosts of people in the same situation as you. Just a quick message later and you could be guzzling local craft and chatting like longtime mates – you know, just like in the old days.
Be aware of local customs
A surefire way to scare off any potential local buddies is to act like the stereotypical ex-pat come foreigner they might be worried about. Being overly drunk and wild on weekends as you return to your apartment, not understanding the sanctity of religious days or respect for deities and national figures (Thailand’s adoration for their kings and queens comes to mind!) is all a serious no no. But hey, you already knew that, right?
Be spontaneous and adventurous
Part of making a new life in a new place is the joy of having a whole host of exciting attractions and places on your doorstep. If you find yourself TEFL teaching abroad with a group of other teachers who are new to the business, you’re likely to discover their appetite for getting out there and exploring is just the same as yours. So, be spontaneous and be adventurous; be the one to instigate those weekend getaways and after-work jaunts. That could mean organizing anything from a lengthy holiday week on the beaches of Hong Kong or a trip to the winding Great Wall of China, to a party break on the isle of Koh Phangan, a meal in a local eatery, or a South African safari on your days away from the classroom – just a couple of ideas to get you started!
Get sporty
Getting involved with a sports teams in your new home is not only a great way to meet new folk while TEFL teaching abroad, but also helps with keeping fit. You could look for five-a-side soccer teams, or opt for something more local: ping pong classes in China; surfing in Indo; polo in India. And if you’re not the athletic type, no worries. You can always see if your co-workers fancy watching some sport, even if it’s just sharing a beer over a rugby match like you used to do back home!
Get used to the small talk
It might make you cringe, or cause your eyelids to droop with boredom, but the fact is that small talk in travel circles is a tried and tested way of breaking the ice. It’s okay if you don’t really care where people have been before they met you, or where they are going. And it’s also fine if you don’t want to talk about backpacking and adventures. But if you put up with that routine chat for just a while, you’ll find that the conversation moves on to more earnest things in a jiffy. And that’s when you realise the real usefulness of the usual questions.
Are you ready to take the plunge and head off TEFL teaching abroad? Have you got an idea about where you want to go, but need some extra advice on TEFL? Be sure to head over to myTEFL’s courses page for the lowdown on all the qualifications and packages available.