What is a Gap Year?

Quite simply this is a year off from studying. It has been common practice for students in Australia, England and other European countries, as well as many leading prep schools in the U.S. to take a year off between the time they finish High School and before they enter college. Some students take a year off during their college years and others take a year off in the period after completing  college and before continuing with  higher educational programs. “ Gap Years” and “ Gap Year Programs” are now becoming the trend in the U.S. They are becoming increasingly popular with students, parents  and colleges.

Why take a Gap Year?

Students take “Gap Years” for a variety of reasons but the most common reason is that they feel they are not ready for college. They don’t feel that their high school experience has prepared them adequately for college life.  Completing a “Gap Year Program”  can  be a very rewarding experience for a student and can do wonders for their personal development and growth. It gives them the time and opportunity to gain the state of  preparedness for college that they previously lacked.

Parents naturally want the best for their children and want  to provide them with the best education possible. Sometimes it feels like we live in a very fast pace society where the pressure is to rush  our children through high school and college as quickly as possible.  Perhaps that became acceptable as the “norm” because everybody else was acting in  the same manner.  Unfortunately, this does not help ones personal development and may be quite damaging. Every year this causes  many  high school students to inform their parents that  they are not going to go to college. While this may be very  disappointing for parents to hear,  at least now they can sit down with their children and  discuss an appropriate  “Gap Year Program,” and have peace of mind in knowing that their children will be able to acquire the necessary self  preparedness for college, and that they will in fact attend college next year.

It is interesting to note that the trend among many top universities, including Harvard, is to encourage students to take a year off and  complete a “Gap Year Program” before entering their first year at university.  Students who explore and experience the world  more before going to university or college,  tend to be more self aware,  more mature and focused than their peers.

Island TEFL Gap Year Program

Become a volunteer,” Travelling Teacher” in a tropical paradise in Thailand

Thailand is often referred to as “the land of a thousand smiles”

This program was originally designed to offer “Gap Year” students the opportunity to make a difference  by  volunteering to provide English language instruction to Thai students in poor schools throughout Thailand.  It has since been expanded to offer English language instruction  to  people employed, or hoping to gain employment,  within the Travel and  Tourism industry in Thailand. Most of these people  do not have access to English language instructors.

The vast majority of Thai schools do not have foreign English teachers. Thailand has  an urgent and constant need for native English speakers and you can help immediately. Wherever you choose to be of service, your students will have two things in common. First, they will have tremendous gratitude for your time and attention. Second, they will only have  a very basic level of English language skills, so don’t worry if you have never taught before, or  if you have  never taught English before!

Island TEFL provides Gap Year Students with  three broad options.

       Option 1             Option 2             Option 3 

For more information on Gap Year Program please contact gapyear@islandtefl.com