Travel & Hospitality Awards | Travel and Study 2020 | www.thawards.com

Travel and Study
2020

Consistently voted the
best French language
school in France
French in Normandy is an award-winning,
accredited French language school located
in the heart of Normandy, Rouen.
Join us to learn French in France and
explore our beautiful city.
26 bis Rue Valmont de Bomare,
76100 Rouen, France
Tel : +33 2 35 72 08 63
Fax : +33 2 35 72 08 64
www.frenchinnormandy.com

Sponsor and
Partners
Cape Town, South Africa

TEAM
CEO
Robert Bruce
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Katherine Lozell
ART DIRECTOR
Marcs Bacera
DIRECTOR OF SALES
Stanley Lucas
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Azim Aftab
SENIOR WRITERS
Tasmai Dave
Miltos Bakakis
SENIOR DESIGNERS
Hafiz Arslan
Ashwin Ramesh
BUSINESS
DEVELOPENT MANAGER
Peter Clement
AWARDS MANAGERS
Brian Anson
Adam Cole
Alice Smith
RESEARCHERS
Mukul Rehman
Asma Zulfqar
Contents
Criteria 6
Travel Study 3 Key Areas 8
Teaching 10
Top Tips for Teaching Abroad 12
Teaching English as a Foreign Language TEFL 14
The TEFL Org 16
TEFL UK 22
Teaching in the UK 26
Teaching a Sport 30
Learning 32
The Beauty of Learning a Language abroad 34
Slaney Language Centre 40
Learning French in France 42
French in Normandy 44
Volunteering 46
Volunteering Abroad 48
Volunteering Projects with International Volunteer HQ 52
Volunteer and Travel 56
4 5

BRANDING & MARKETING
REVIEWS
VALUE FOR MONEY
PROFESSIONALISM
PRODUCT & SERVICES
Understanding your brand and marketing
effectively are both necessary especially in
today’s world where communicating directly
with your audience is easier than ever. Website,
social media, and even print materials are all
considered along with marketing of product
and services.
Criteria
The single most important criteria. Online
reviews are highly influential when deciding
a winner for any category. Positive consistent
reviews on multiple platforms over a long period
of time should be the goal for any company. A
single negative review doesn’t have to mean
exclusion, in fact addressing any issues and
improving service based on a negative review
is extremely promising.
Customers feel safe knowing that their hardearned
money is being spent in the most
efficient manner. Comparing the same service
from different companies is a key factor in
understanding who offers the best value for
money.
Good professional conduct is crucial for any
company to do well. Behaving in a socially
acceptable and respectful manner with
customers, other businesses and between
employees is highly valued. From the first
communication to the last we at TH awards
always appreciate good professional conduct.
Products & Services on offer are at the core of
any company. Today people want choice and
flexibility so it’s important that companies offer
a good range of products and service or at the
very least are willing to adjust these based on a
customer’s needs.
6 7

Travel Study
3 Key Areas
This, our inaugural issue of the travel
study awards, presents an exciting
opportunity to acknowledge the fantastic
work of companies and institutions who
are normally left out of the travel and
hospitality conversation.
Indeed, for most the term “travel study”
conjures images of university students
completing a semester abroad or doing
volunteer work for a couple of weeks. It
is both these things and so much more.
Travel Study is an all-encompassing topic
that offers many areas of discussion.
For the purposes of this project however
we will stick to three key areas of travel
study. This is teaching, learning, and
volunteering.
Teaching
Teaching is the act or profession
of an individual who teaches.
This aspect of travel study has its
foundation in teaching English as
a foreign language but has now
moved past that to teaching a wide
range of subjects. This can be other
languages, specific subjects in
foreign schools where only English is
spoken or a new skill.
Learning
This is the gaining of knowledge,
skills and abilities through study,
experience or being thought. Most
us learn new things when travelling
or on holiday. This can be through
various prearranged activities or by
simply walking the streets of new
city. It has been said that there is
no greater learning experience than
travelling.
Volunteering
Volunteering - probably the most
common of form of travel study
- is to work for an organisation or
cause without being paid. This can
encompass teaching and even
learning at the beginning.
8 9

Teaching

Top Tips for
Teaching Abroad
Teaching abroad can be a truly special
experience. For teachers, the act of
teaching abroad offers a great opportunity
to travel, understand new cultures, give
something back, learn a new language,
make friends, and become a more wellrounded
human being. We’ve put together
a few tips for those of you who decide
you’d like to give teaching abroad a go.
Be Prepared
This may seem like an obvious one but
there is a fair bit to thinking about and
a lot to do. Not just before you travel or
start applying but even when you are
there. Prepare beforehand by making
sure you have a job lined up, the correct
certification, vaccinations, and visa. When
you are there lesson plans certainly help
which keep in mind can vary based on
subject, class size and students.
Put the Students First
To get the most out of this experience you simply need
to put the students first. Make sure you are motivated
to teach for the right reasons and not to simply have
a holiday or travel. Your employers, colleagues and
students will appreciate you more if you demonstrate
you are committed and dedicated to providing the
best possible education. Doing quality, meaningful
work in the classroom needs to be your main goal.
Learn to Adapt
If you haven’t worked abroad before or travelled for any
significant length of time, then you will be in for a bit of a
culture shock. The change from your ordinary day to day is so
big that you’ll need time to settle in. This is completely normal
so don’t worry, what’s more important is how you tackle this
culture shock.
You’ll need to learn how to adapt so that when you find yourself
in a similar situation in another similar situation, you’ll know
exactly what to do. Things you can do to adapt is learn about
the local customs, make friends, get a basic understanding
of the language, get involved with the community and keep a
journal of your experience.
12 13

Teaching English as a
Foreign Language
TEFL
What is it?
Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL)
basically refers to teaching English to students
where English isn’t their first language. TEFL
can take place in an English-speaking country
or abroad and TEFL teachers don’t necessarily
need to be native speakers.
Certification
Schools and language institutions usually
require certification before you can teach
English. In several countries you won’t even be
considered unless you are fully certified. This
isn’t always the case and you can get away in
a few places without being certified, sometimes
a significant amount of experience as a teacher
will make up for this. For those with very little
or no experience however, we recommend
obtaining certification.
There are organisations, covered in this chapter,
that offer courses to become certified. Courses
aren’t that expensive and completing a course
will enable you to understand the basic theory,
practices, and perspectives when it comes to
teaching English as a foreign language. When
you are certified you can apply for higher paid
jobs and broaden your job search altogether.
Benefits
The biggest benefit, should you
choose to teach English as a
foreign language abroad is that
you will be able to travel and get
paid at the same time. English
teachers are in demand across
the world so there are fair few
places to choose from.
Another fantastic benefit is
that you will gain a better
understanding of different
cultures. Teaching English as
a foreign language in a local a
school or abroad offers a unique
opportunity to get a learn about
different cultures, customs, and
traditions from students.
There is also a career benefit of
TEFL. On the job you can learn
practical information for future
roles and the experience itself
looks great on a CV.
14 15

The TEFL Org
Founded in 2008 by Jennifer
MacKenzie and Joe Hallwood, former
EFL teachers with over 50 years in TEFL
between them, The TEFL Org is the leading
TEFL course provider in the UK and the
only one run by teachers, for teachers.
The TEFL Org has trained over 120,000
students since opening its doors over 10
years ago, winning awards and gaining
accreditation along the way. Jennifer
and Joe met while teaching in Greece,
moved to France and then to the UK,
before launching their own TEFL training
company to inspire others to experience
living and working around the world.
We had the pleasure of talking to
Joe Hallwood to find out a bit more about
The TEFL Org and getting some advice for
budding English teachers.
What motivated you to launch your
own TEFL training company?
Working in a dead-end tax office job in Hull,
I knew this wasn’t the path I wanted to
take. Fresh out of university, an adventure
was just what I needed! I started teaching
English as a foreign language over 20
years ago and have never looked back.
Jennifer & I wanted to inspire others to
experience living and working around
the world and have the life-changing
experiences we had.
What countries have you taught in?
Greece, France, China, Ireland,
USA, and the UK
What TEFL training/experience have
you had?
I first started teaching in 1993. I’ve have
been in teaching and teacher training ever
since. As well as having a TEFL certificate,
I also took a CELTA course back in 1996.
16 17

What is your favourite destination
that you have visited?
My first love was the mountains of
Greece, it was where I first taught. I fell
in love with the language, music, culture,
food, and everything about it. It was very
hard to leave.
Do you have any future travel plans?
I travel a lot to China, but I would really like
to sail around the world one day.
What languages can you speak?
English, Greek, French and Mandarin.
Do you prefer solo travel or travelling
with friends/family?
When I was younger it was nearly always
with friends and family, now it is much
more solo. Nearly all my travels to China
have been solo and you meet so many
more people!
What advice would you give to someone wanting to teach abroad?
It all comes down to preparation and research. I would advise them to decide
where they want to teach, research TEFL in their chosen country, get TEFL
qualified, update their CV, visit the country they are interested in, check TEFL
job boards for recent vacancies, find out your employers and the country
requirements, as well as accommodation and visa requirements, carefully
budget with travelling costs in mind and to look into the cost of living and
salary.
How has Covid affected the TEFL
industry?
Initially teacher recruitment halted and
moved to online teaching, but schools
are starting to open back up again and
positions are starting to be advertised
for 2021 onwards.
What are the benefits of gaining a
TEFL qualification?
There are numerous benefits of gaining
a TEFL qualification, it opens up a world
of opportunities including the chance
to experience new cultures, ideas and
lifestyles, learning a new skill, a change
of career, allowing a flexible lifestyle
where you can work remotely, the
option to earn an additional income or
earning money to fund travels through
online teaching or teaching abroad
when the situation allows.
18 19

What advice would you give to
someone looking for their first
online TEFL job?
I would advise them to get TEFL
qualified and recommend taking
one of our teaching English online
advanced TEFL courses. If their goal
is to teach online, then a specialist
course would benefit them greatly.
Not only will it teach them how to
teach English online but also how to
get set up and promote themself as
an online teacher. They’ll earn how to
set up their own website and advise
them on the best software to use for
teaching online, as well as marketing
tips and ideas for planning lessons. I
would also suggest getting their CV
ready and apply for jobs with online
teaching companies.
Do you have any advice for teaching
English online?
My advice for teaching English online
would be to get a TEFL qualification - the
industry standard is a 120-hour TEFL
qualification, so it’s advisable to take
a course offering at least those hours.
Accreditation is very important, so be
sure to look out for accreditation from
government or government-affiliated
bodies, stand out with professional
development, to get set-up with the right
equipment, research online teaching
platforms and their requirements,
develop your brand - it’s important to
have a strong website and social media
presence, set your fees and know when
to increase them and always have a
backup for your lessons - make sure to
plan lots of activities!
What opportunities are available
overseas teaching English as a
foreign language?
There are TEFL jobs all over the
world including opportunities with
international schools, government
programs, universities, and language
colleges. You can find work teaching
English abroad, teach English online,
and in your own country. Just as
there are many different reasons
behind someone learning English,
there are many different kinds of TEFL
jobs. There’s a huge demand for EFL
teachers in Asia, particularly in China,
where the market is off the scale! But
wherever there are people learning
English there are jobs for English
language teachers.
To find out more check out www.tefl.org
20 21

TEFL UK
TEFL UK started out 15 years ago with
a simple goal to teach English as a
foreign language and through this to help
transform lives for the better. Its fair to
say this goal has been achieved with over
42,000 students trained and graduates
teaching in over 50 countries, TEFL UK is
one of the largest and most reliable TEFL
organisations out there today.
Currently TEFL UK offer several purposebuilt
programs, varying in price, intensity,
modules, and duration. The two most
popular programs are the 120-hour
professional TEFL course and the 150-
hour advanced TEFL course. The amazing
thing is that you needn’t ever attend
a classroom as both courses can be
completed online. All you need is a mobile
device and comfortable place to sit down.
If you are interested in a more hands-on experience to go
with the online learning, then you may want to consider
the 140 or 170 hours combined TEFL course. Both these
course build on the 120- and 150-hours ones by including
an assessed in class teaching practice (20 hours) as part
of the qualification. You basically have the chance to put
what you’ve learnt from the online courses into a 20-hour
teaching practice classroom.
Should you want to go all our then don’t hesitate to
take up the 220-hour specialist TEFL qualification. This
course covers the widest range of teaching scenarios
including teaching adults, young learners, an extensive
section on teaching business English and exam classes
such as IELTS or TOEFL.
The benefits of courses are that you have easy
certificate access via an alumni portal, you gain an
official accredited TEFL qualification, lifetime access to
course materials, online support, and the convenience
to study digitally. All courses consist of tutor led video
presentations and are written by experience industry
experts.
22 23

If you’re concerned you may
not be qualified, have enough
experience or aren’t based in
the right country then fear
not for all courses are open
to everyone and anyone. All
you really need is an keen
interest and motivation to
teach English as a foreign
language.
Unlike other organisations
TEFL UK is on hand to make
sure you are looked after
once you have qualified.
TEFL UK offer a wide range
of jobs, internships, and
volunteer opportunities, all
easily accessible through
an online jobs board. This
is coupled with a dedicated
job placement service that
includes fast, free, and
friendly job support.
Currently TEFL UK have placed over 5000 teachers in
internationally based or online teaching jobs. In part made
possible because of an extensive and trusted partnership
base. TEFL UK work with ministries of education in exotic
locations such as Columbia, Ecuador and Costa Rica as
well as offering a range of opportunities in South Korea,
Japan, China, Vietnam, and Thailand.
In the current climate travelling isn’t feasible but that
should stop you from pursuing your teaching dreams.
TEFL UK work with three of the worlds largest online
teaching platforms and at present have 150 teaching jobs
available to worked from the comfort of your own home.
Teaching online is a fantastic way to pick up some extra
income and build experience, until global travel gets back
to normal.
From the first class to the last paycheck you know that
with TEFL UK you are in safe hands!
To find out more check out
https://www.tefluk.com/
Email: info@tefluk.com
Tel: 0800 368 9848
24 25

Teaching in the UK
in partnership with
Smart Teachers is a fantastic agency
working at the heart of schools in
London, the UK and Australia. Smart
Teachers have been assisting educators
to find work in primary, secondary and
SEND schools in the UK since 2005. Their
free service provides individuals with
support every step of the way with a move
to the UK.
We have been lucky enough to sit down
with Karla and get her advice to help
future expats have a smooth transition to
teaching in the UK. Karla has experience
in Australian and UK classrooms and is
also an International Consultant for Smart
Teachers, ABC Teachers and Vision for
Education.
Before you leave
When looking to move to the UK, a great starting point is to first check
you’re eligible for a visa – see the UK Government’s website on visa
eligibility.
Get prepared and excited by joining Facebook groups such as our
Smarties in London page and the Aussies and Kiwis in London pages.
Let people know you’re moving (like the bank), change your address and
cancel ongoing subscriptions.
Setting up
· Setting up a bank account – We can
assist with this process upon your arrival.
Alternatively, look into a Monzo account.
· National Insurance (NI) number – You
will need to apply for a NI number the UK
Government’s website.
· Registering with a local GP – Those on a
visa will have access to the National Health
Service (NHS). As soon as you have a UK
address, you’ll be able to register with a GP.
· Getting about – Check out your local
authority’s website for information on
transport providers and travel cards
available in your local area. If in London, you
don’t need an Oyster Card to get around
on public transport anymore – it’s actually
often cheaper to just tap your bank card!
· Getting to know your local area - Download
CityMapper (an absolute lifesaver for
navigating public transport) and Deliveroo
and Uber Eats for food delivery.
26 27

Teaching
From daily supply, short and long-term contracts
to permanent positions, there are so many options
when it comes to teaching in the UK. Although the
school year begins in September, we have roles
available all-year-round.
Schools are incredibly supportive of overseas
teachers and there are lots of opportunities for
career progression within UK schools.
Travel
As a teacher, with 12 weeks’ holiday on average and Europe on
your doorstep, ticking off those bucket list items is incredibly
achievable.
· Annual travel insurance – a money saving option ensuring you
never forget to cover yourself before you travel.
· Getting away for less - Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights.
· Pack a power board – An Australian power board allows you
to reduce the number of adaptors you carry, saving many
arguments over outlets.
Just remember when it
comes to travel, you’ll never
be able to do it all. Embrace
the time you have and
enjoy the day-to-day.
The UK is full of opportunity,
but unlike any place, it’s
only what you make it. The
best stories come from
people who get out and try.
Smart Teachers
If you’re an overseas teacher thinking of teaching in the UK, we would love to hear from you.
If you want to find out more, email internationalteam@smartteachers.co.uk.
28 29

Teaching a Sport
Teaching abroad doesn’t always need
to be academia related, for some of us
our passions lie elsewhere and the idea of
teaching in a classroom is stifling. There
is another element of teaching abroad
which is to teach sports. We’ve picked out
two of the most popular ones.
SCUBA Diving
SCUBA diving is a popular activity that
many have turned into a profession.
Accreditation courses are available from
PADI where individuals can become
instructors. Thus, being able to teach
others to SCUBA dive.
Once accredited, diving instructors have
thousands of locations to choose from
as there are dive sites located all over the
world. Popular places to teach SCUBA
diving are Thailand, Malaysia, Egypt,
Australia, Hawaii, and Malta.
Football
Football is the world’s
most popular sport. Even
in countries where it isn’t
the number one sport
there is a fundamental
need to improve at
grass roots level. This is
where the opportunity
to teach abroad comes
from. If you have at
least the UEFA level 1
qualification your free to
teach anywhere in the
world, although we would
recommend getting the
level 2 qualification and
some experience under
your belt. India, Vietnam,
and China are excellent
location to put your
football coaching skills to
the test.
30 31

Learning

The Beauty of Learning
a Language abroad
In Partnership with
If you’ve ever tried to learn a new
language then you’ll know it’s not
always easy; textbooks, online courses
and private tutors can only take you so
far. This is in part because learning a new
language is more than simply memorising
and applying words in a structured and
conventional way, it’s about understanding
different cultures, alternative perspectives,
mannerisms, facial expressions, hand
gestures and ultimately rounding yourself
as human being. There is no better way
to do this than by going abroad to learn
a new language, a country where that
language is the official one.
When you learn a new language abroad you gain a deeper cultural understanding,
you’re able to travel in that country, build friendships, gain new experiences and
understand a language the way its spoken by the locals. This is by far the best way
to learn and being multilingual offers several professional, social, and cognitive
benefits.
Before you jump into learning a
language abroad there are a few
things to consider. First, duration,
think about how long you’d like to
go for. This can be dependent
on where you go, the schools
and courses available. You can
find short weeklong courses to
full semesters so be sure to look
around at the full range of options
available.
Another thing to keep an eye
on is your finances, you may be
surprised about how cheap or
expensive a new place is, so
do your research beforehand,
budget to make sure you are able
to do everything you’d like to and
if needs be consider getting a job.
Finally, check you have the right
visa, this can be time consuming
and may take a few trips to your
target countries embassy but you
don’t want to arrive at your new
school only to be turned away.
34 35

If you are interested in learning a language abroad and aren’t
sure where to start, then worry not. We have the perfect
partner for this piece, CESA languages abroad. CESA language
abroad was established in 1980 and has since then gone on
to place thousands of individuals in language courses abroad
regardless of age or linguistic ability. CESA languages abroad
work with several schools right across the world and assess
each one personally to ensure you are getting the most
appropriate language course for your needs.
The good people at CESA languages abroad have been kind
enough to recommend a few of their favourite places to learn
a new language.
Spain
Spain is a vast country with many
distinct and proud regions. However,
there are a few unifying factors
such is its difficult history, fantastic
food, and amazing weather. The
language of Spain is the second
most spoken language in the world,
by number of native speakers, so
it’s fair to say learning it will serve
you well. CESA languages abroad
offer a range of courses, both long
and short term, for all levels, in
several cities including Barcelona,
Seville, Malaga and Valencia. Extracurricular
activities such as art,
diving, surfing, sailing and dance
can all be arranged.
Should you want to travel further
afield to learn Spanish then CESA
languages abroad offer courses
in Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and
Ecuador.
36 37

Italy
A land renowned for its history,
food, culture, and art as well
as its spectacular cities, Italy
for many is the perfect travel
study destination. CESA
languages abroad are fully
equipped to offer courses right
across the country. Courses
in Milan, Venice, Rome, and
Florence are particularly
popular and offer a great
learning environment. There
are over 50 programmes,
gap year and A-level courses
available. Should you want a
more immersive experience
then CESA languages abroad
can arrange cooking lesson,
wine tastings, singing classes
and art history tours.
Japan
Japan is on the bucket list of countries for so many
people. The country is home to beautiful landscapes,
an eclectic culture, modern cities, good food and
friendly locals. So, what better way to explore Japan
then to learn Japanese when you are there. CESA
languages abroad offer course in three distinct
Japanese cities. The large sprawling metropolis of
Tokyo, the historic capital Kyoto, and the northern
modern city of Fukuoka. On offer is the JLPT exam
preparation course, gap year courses and program
tailored specifically for teenagers.
To find out more check out https://cesalanguages.com/
38 39

Channing House, Upper Rowe Street,
Wexford Town, Y35TH2A
Tel +353 0 53 9122908
info@slaneylanguage.com
Slaney Language
Centre
Language School | Ireland
Established in 1999 the Slaney Language Centre is a fantastic language
school where a personal approach takes precedence and positive individual
support is offered to each student. Small personable classes combined with a
professional, dedicated, and motivated teaching team ensure as a student your
learning development is maximised.
Courses are plentiful and varied; whether you’re a complete beginner, teenager,
retiree or are looking to simply improve your current level of English, you’ll find
a course tailored to your needs and requirements. One unique course available
is the English and Golf programme for junior and senior golfers, this course is
a fantastic opportunity to improve your English and play in some of Irelands
stunning golf courses.
You couldn’t ask for a better place to
stay in Ireland than Wexford, where the
school is located, and locals are extremely
friendly. The town is a hidden gem on
the tourism scene and home to plenty of
fabulous restaurants, bars, and attraction.
The county of Wexford itself is famed for
its natural beauty so be sure to get out and
enjoy a few trails. The Slaney Language
centre team are happy to offer advice
on things to do and can even arrange
activities and excursions.
Accommodation can by arranged by
the Slaney language centre. You can
get lodging in a bed & breakfast or selfcatering
apartments. However, for a
culturally immersive, unique, and local
experience we recommend a homestay
with a local family.
Overall, the Slaney Language Centre is
a fantastic school with a great team, a
good variety of courses and a dedication
to ensuring you have a wonderful
experience.
40 41

Learning French
in France
French is a global language and for
many an attractive proposition to
learn. It’s the language of romance,
beauty, a rich culture, and a deep
history. It will also serve you well on
your travels, it can take you all over
Europe, North Africa, North America,
some Caribbean islands and even
some Oceanic islands. So, if you do
decide to take the plunge and learn
French there is no better place to do it
than the French Republic, France.
The great thing about learning French
in France is there are several great
schools to choose from. Schools
located all over the country, from
Normandy right through to Nice,
so you shouldn’t have any trouble
finding a location that suits you. We
recommend checking out the French
in Normandy, a school profiled on the
following page.
When learning French in France
you will get an immersive
experience into the day to day
use of the language, the culture of
the people and the mannerisms.
You are basically placed in an
environment where you are
expected to speak French, so
you’ll make quick strides in
improving your fluency. You also
won’t want to miss the chance to
travel around to different cities,
regions, and attractions. This itself
presents a unique opportunity to
learn more about the language
as you’ll pick up on regional
differences in accents and tone,
at the same time with a basic
understanding of the language
you’ll be better equipped to go off
the beaten path.
To sum up learning French is
great, learning French in France
even better!
42 43

26 bis Rue Valmont de Bomare
76100 Rouen, France
Tel +33 2 35 72 08 63
www.frenchinnormandy.com
French in Normandy
France | Learning Experience
For most of us a culturally rich and educational trip to France is nothing but
a romantic dream, however those smart enough to attend the French in
Normandy Language school this dream is a reality.
Open since 1992, the French in Normandy Language school is an independent
institution popular with individuals from all over the world. All teachers are
qualified, supportive, experienced, and friendly so you know you are in good
hands.
Courses are extensive, certified, and varied meaning there is something for any
level, from beginner to business. The teacher training courses are innovative
and dynamic, whether you are a French teacher or a teaching another subject
and would like to improve you French, this course is not to be missed. Further
extracurricular courses offer a great opportunity for cultural immersion, French
cooking classes, art, tourism management and pottery courses are all on offer.
The school is in the beautiful city of Rouen,
the capital of Upper Normandy. It is easily
accessible from anywhere in the city, has
ample parking and there is plenty to do
nearby. There is plenty to do in the area,
the city is historic and bustling while the
surrounding area is a delight to explore.
The school is happy to help should
you need accommodation during your
stay. This includes the unique option
of a homestay where you can live with
a host family during your time in the
city. This allows for full immersion into
French language, culture, and norms. For
something, a little more private student
residences and apartments can also
be arranged.
For a complete learning experience in
France we advise you to look no further
than French in Normandy Language
School!
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Volunteering

Volunteering
Abroad
Volunteering abroad and helping others
is one of the most rewarding things
you can do. If done right, you can firsthand
see the impact you’ve made on an
individual or group and it is something
you will always cherish. This alone is a
powerful motivator however, many of
us wouldn’t know where to start when it
comes to volunteering abroad. Worry not
however as we have put together our top
tips for those looking to get started on
volunteering abroad.
Find the Right Organisation
There are hundreds of organisations out
there that organise volunteer trips abroad.
Not all organisations are the same, some
are specialised by industry, some by
destination and others are questionable
ethically. So, its crucial you do your
research on an organisation, find out as
much as you can, look at online reviews,
projects offered, financial documents and
even speak to past volunteers.
Research Destinations
Most of us will have an
idea of where we want to
go but it is important to
do a deep dive into your
chosen city, country, or
countries. This is so you
can better understand
the culture and structure
of the place. You need to
consider issues such as
language, diet, climate,
and accessibility. For
example, if you can’t
drive it may not be ideal
to go somewhere rural or
if English isn’t commonly
spoken you may find it
difficult to settle in.
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Match your Needs
It is ideal to choose a project that matches
your needs, you’ll find it more rewarding and
motivating. For some of us the needs are
career focused so volunteering abroad will be
for work experience and job CV’s. For others
it may well be a passion for which you already
have experience and would like to give back.
Whatever it maybe it’s important to find a
project that matches your needs.
Check if its financially viable
It costs money to be able to volunteer abroad. Think about
placement service, food, flights, leisure activities and equipment.
Before you begin, we recommend you sit down and get a handle on
your finances. Is a trip abroad financially viable? If it isn’t, research
different ways you can fund this. You can ask friends or family for
help, run a fund-raising campaign, apply for scholarships, and even
consider a bank loan.
Understand Time
You need to think about how long you’d like to commit.
Sometimes this decision isn’t always in your hands
and is dependent on the type of volunteering, goals,
and finances. For teaching projects, a minimum full
semester is perfect to really benefit the students.
Whereas for a manual labour volunteering an extra
pair of arms for even a week will go a long way.
Be Prepared to Work Hard
You need to work hard, no matter what the project or how
long you are there for. To get the most fulfilling experience and
make a difference hard work is needed. Sure you may take it
slow at the start as you need a few days to settle in to your
new surroundings but if you don’t commit to giving it your all is
there any point in being there?
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Volunteering Projects
with International
Volunteer HQ
When it comes to volunteering there
are many different types of projects
and its important you find something that
suits your interests, is close to your heart
or is beneficial in a professional capacity.
Volunteering requires dedication, motivation,
energy, and money, so finding the right
project is key not just to benefit yourself but
also those for whom you are volunteering
help.
To help us understand the different
projects out there we have partnered with
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), the world’s
leading volunteer abroad organisation. IVHQ
brings people from more than 150 different
countries together to make a difference in
over 50 destinations, with 300 projects on
offer. IVHQ handle all aspects of volunteering
abroad and cater to a broad range of groups
such as solo travellers, families, students,
teenagers, retirees and much more. Should
you volunteer with IVHQ you’ll receive a truly
local and immersive cultural experience.
IVHQ have been kind enough to share with us their top 5 volunteer projects. If
you’d like to find out more check out their website at www.volunteerhq.org
Childcare
The aim of these projects is to provide essential care and support to children
in under-resourced kindergartens, community centres and after-school
programs. These projects allow volunteers to pass on skills and abilities to
children, build meaningful connections and experience a new culture through
the eyes of a local. IVHQ offer childcare projects in 43 destinations across the
world including exciting places such as Kenya, Peru, India, and Ecuador.
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Medical and Healthcare
Environment and Conservation
These projects give volunteers the brilliant opportunity to
work alongside experienced healthcare professionals to help
increase the access and quality of medical services. The
project range is diverse, and anyone is welcome from premed
right through to qualified professional as well as those
specialising in certain fields such as dentistry, nutrition, and
physical therapy.
On these projects’ volunteers are essentially tackling key
issues of our time such as climate change, toxic air, pollution,
and the destruction of natural habitats. The ultimate aim
is to protect and preserve the natural world. Projects
range from jungle, island, and coastline conservation to
urban environmental initiatives, eco agriculture, marine
conservation, and organic farming.
Teaching
The main aim of teaching as a volunteer is to
increase access to education, improve quality of
learning for students and expand minds for future
generations. These projects are usually based in
slums or rural areas where access to education
is limited. Students benefit from improved
literacy, vocational skills, and enhanced career
prospects. Whereas volunteers benefit from the
work experience and the opportunity to make a
difference to an individual’s life.
Bali, Morocco, China, and Thailand are just some of
the great locations offered by IVHQ to teach.
IVHQ supports more than 3000 volunteers on medical projects
across 23 destinations. Superb location includes Nepal, Costa
Rica, Tanzania, and Ghana.
Wildlife and Animal Care
One of the more commonly thought of volunteer
activities, wildlife projects involve working with
endangered animals with the aim of protecting them
for the best chance of survival. Animal care projects
are more hands-on and involve rescuing, caring and
rehabilitating animals.
Guatemala, Mexico, and Tanzania are just a few of the
locations with brilliant wildlife and animal care projects
that IVHQ are involved in.
IVHQ offers a wide range of Environmental Conservation
projects in 25 beautiful destinations around the world.
Madagascar, New Zealand, Philippines, and Puerto Rico to
name a few.
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Volunteer and Travel
For a lot of us part of the attraction
to volunteering is the prospect of
travelling and seeing the world. But
traditionally when you volunteer you
only ever travel to the one place and
can explore the surrounding area which
may be fine for some but not others.
Now however with the advent of social
media and digital networking there is
a way to travel regularly to new places
and continually volunteer. It’s simple,
as a volunteer you agree to contribute
an amount of time per day to working at
say a hostel, in exchange for lodging and
sometimes even food which is provided
by the host. You get all the benefits of
volunteering and at the same time can
visit more new places in one single trip.
The extent to what you’ll receive depends on
where you volunteer homestays for example
are more likely to include full room and board
whereas hostels may only include room and
breakfast. The kind of work varies you could
be helping out on a small farm in the middle
of nowhere to doing maintenance work at city
hostel to collecting wild mushrooms in a forest.
If you’d like to find out more and about any volunteer abroad opportunities check out - https://www.workaway.info/
56 57

The Beauty of Learning
a Language Abroad
CESA House
Pennance Road, Lanner, Cornwall, TR16 5TQ, Great Britain
https://cesalanguages.com/
58 59

thawards.com