Although people are starting to spend their gap years in increasingly diverse ways, teaching English as a foreign language continues to be one of the most popular activities.

By teaching abroad you can help to improve education in overseas communities, but often the greatest benefit is the depth the experience can add to your CV.

Vicky Cunningham from BUNAC explains: “TEFL is something you have on your CV and, if you’ve put it into practice, a skill you can use again in the future. It’s not just helping out, it’s a hard-and-fast qualification, and you can earn with it.”

Even better, while previous experience is beneficial, it is by no means essential. TEFL placements are often open to anyone over the age of 18, as long as they speak fluent English.

Cunningham says that while it takes all sorts to teach English abroad, participants often share certain characteristics: “It’s a fairly diligent and conscientious person that decides to do this. It shows a really great amount of independence, confidence and motivation. Most people come back and say that in terms of interview talking points, it gives them a real head start.”

Find out more about volunteer teaching abroad with Inspire.