As the weather steadily turns colder and memories of sunshine fade away, it’s never too early to start making plans for next summer. Think about where in the world you can be, all things you can do there, and the memories you’ll be creating not just for the next winter, but for the rest of your life....Sounds like the perfect opportunity for summer teaching abroad programs!

School’s out for summer and teaching abroad programs are calling your name a little louder than the ocean waves.

A summer spent teaching abroad will be a summer well spent—same skills, different (and more exotic!) classroom. As a native English speaker, you have the opportunity to choose practically anywhere in the world, and the odds are that your skill set will be high in demand there for eager students looking to improve their own mastery of the language. It’s a win-win; not only will you embark on a transformative experience abroad, but you’ll be giving back to your host a useful skill that will take them far in the modern global economy.

And while summer English teaching jobs are the easiest to procure, the same goes to educators of all other subjects as well. A summer teaching abroad program is a great way for aspiring teachers—or, really, any globally adventurous individual–to do something productive, meaningful, and extremely fun while living and growing in a foreign country. Plus, not only will it be personally beneficial to you and your pupils, but it will also look great on a resume moving forward. Employers of all kinds love work experience abroad.

From one busy hallway to another, you’re tireless in your pursuit of changing the world through education. You’ve earned yourself a gold star.

Starting to warm up to the idea? Here’s some more helpful information about summer teaching abroad programs that can help nudge you closer from motivation to action—let’s discuss the pros and cons of summer teaching abroad programs.

The perks of summer teaching abroad programs

Summer teaching English abroad programs offer tremendous value for teachers in their convenience and concentrated impact. If you want to teach abroad but can’t sacrifice the time during the work or school year to do so—or if you’re just looking for a meaningful way to spend your break—then when it comes to teaching abroad programs, summer is the perfect option.

1. Length

A benefit of summer teaching abroad programs is their shorter duration than equivalent semester-long or year-long programs. Educators who want to get a taste of teaching abroad without committing themselves to the full time experience can opt for 1-3 month programs that fit squarely in a busy academic year schedule.  

2. Structure

Summer teaching abroad programs are generally more relaxed than their academic year counterparts for teachers, meaning that you can enjoy more freedom from a rigid curriculum—i.e teaching toward a standardized test. Teaching during the laid-back summer months can be a less intensive and more enjoyable experience overall than when school is in full gear.

3. Cultural Differences

A summer teaching abroad for teachers will prove to be an intensive growth experience as you learn to navigate the nuances of education within an entirely new culture. In the short-term, this can make for some exciting and humorous everyday happenings in the classroom; in the long-run it will challenge you to see the world through an entirely new, broadened lens of understanding.

4. Pay

For all the many benefits of teaching abroad over the summer, let’s not forget that you can also get paid for your services. Talk about the best summer job that you’ll ever have. Different regions of the world pay different rates to foreign teachers according to demand; the highest salaries generally go summer teaching English abroad programs, because native fluency is the most valued skill set.

All year you wait for your classroom to be empty...but then… you feel empty. Fill the void with summer teaching abroad for teachers!

The potential downsides to summer teaching abroad programs 

Summer teaching English abroad programs are a great way to accelerate your growth as an educator while travelling to see the world. That being said, they do also offer some drawbacks compared to academic year programs—not the least of which being, you may not get your fill.

1. Length

While the shorter duration of summer teaching abroad for teachers allows for greater flexibility on your end, it also means that you won’t have as much time to form relationships with and develop your students. You may find at the end of the summer months that you don’t feel quite ready to move on yet; there’s definitely something to be said in this regard to committing to the endeavor for the long haul.

2. Structure

While teaching during the summer months gives you a greater degree of freedom in a more relaxed education environment, this may mean that you’ll have less administrative and classroom support than you’d enjoy during a regular school year. You’re students may also be more restless and less focused. Sometimes, even during the summer, a little structure can be a good thing.

3. Cultural Differences

While learning to navigate cultural differences will be a tremendous growth experience, it can also be quite frustrating when you’re dealing with something like classroom management. During teaching abroad programs, summer programs especially, you won’t always have the same kind of time to adapt to the ways of your new home, and the outcome can be somewhat overwhelming at times in front of a class.

4. Pay

While there are many paid opportunities out there for summer teaching abroad programs, you will also find that some schools are less willing to pay you for such a short-term commitment. Many summer teaching abroad programs are volunteer-based as a result, so be sure to keep this in mind while you’re filtering through programs.

[What to Look for in ESL Teaching Jobs]

The smile on your student’s face is priceless—no matter the season.

6 recommended summer teaching abroad programs

There are a lot of different teaching abroad programs for the summer out there, some of which are paid and some of which are volunteer based. Be sure to scan far and wide to find the right fit for you, and read plenty of reviews while you’re honing down. Here’s a few of our top choices for teaching abroad programs over the summer to get you started in the right direction.

1. WorldTeach: 7-10 Week Summer Programs in 6 Different Locations Worldwide

WorldTeach offers some of the best summer teaching abroad programs of varying lengths all across the world, from Brazil to Morocco to Nepal. The programs are volunteer-based and also offer the opportunity to become TEFL certified for free while you are abroad.

2. Greenheart Travel: Teach English in Spain in a Homestay with Greenheart Travel

Greenheart Travel offers the opportunity to live with a host family in Spain for 1, 2, or 3 months over the summer while tutoring them in Spanish for 15 hours a week—and spending the rest of your free time as you will. This is a volunteer-based program that focuses on complete cultural immersion throughout the Madrid and Granada regions.

3. MediaKids Academy: Teach English in Thailand for May

Media Kids Academy partners with public schools across Thailand to offer summer English teaching abroad programs during the academic semester beginning in May. For student-teachers who kick off summer early, this is a great opportunity to get a taste of international education in one of the hottest markets in the world.

4. Trellis: Travel with Purpose. Train, Teach, Work Overseas

Trellis offers 3-month non-profit programs in Vietnam and Japan that prepare you for a future in teaching English with training, over 150 hours of in-classroom experience, and job-placement assistance afterward. This is a good program for aspiring international educators who are serious about a longer term career in the future.

• Related: Read Trellis summer teaching job reviews 

5. Global Nomadic: Paid Teaching + TEFL Training in Costa Rica

Global Nomadic’s summer teaching abroad program and TEFL training course is a two-month endeavor that will provide you with certification to teach English as a second language, while also giving back daily to your local community in Costa Rica by working with students of all ages. The program consists of 4 weeks of training, then 4 weeks of teaching.

6. Projects Abroad: Teach English in South Africa with Projects Abroad

Projects abroad offers volunteer teaching positions—in English and in other subjects—located all across South Africa. Aspiring educators can get a head start during their summer vacation by contributing their knowledge and skills towards elevating the opportunities of their host citizens in a variety of ways.

[Browse ALL Teaching Jobs Abroad Now]

School’s (not) out for summer

You can still spend weekend relaxing by the pool, if that’s your kind of thing.

A summer teaching abroad program is the perfect opportunity to spend your free months in a fun, adventurous, and productive way. Even if you’re not aiming to be an educator in the future, placing yourself in a new cultural context and working every day intimately with your hosts will be an unparalleled growth experience. Who knows—maybe a summer of teaching abroad will even change your mind!

Research thoroughly to find the perfect program in the perfect place that fits what you want out of the experience —then read reviews, reach out to alumni, and contact the program provider to gain more information. Soon enough, you’ll be on your way to what has the potential to be the greatest summer of your life.

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