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Activities abroad: for languages courses and learning a language

Bundled for languages courses and learning a language

Language courses abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is a language course?
Why learn a language and take a language course abroad?
What do you need to learn a language and take a language course abroad?
To what extent are you insured when taking a language course or a language year abroad?
Where is the best place to go for a language course, or to learn a language abroad?

What is a language course?

A language course is a series of lessons in which you learn the basics of a language in a short period of time.
The average duration of a language course is 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months
A language course differs from a language study mainly in having a lower intensity, lower study pressure and less focus on the scientific side of a language
A language course normally costs an amount comparable to other courses. Sometimes you can “trade” a language course by taking lessons from someone who wants to learn to speak your language

Why learn a language and take a language course abroad?

Helpfulness: once you speak a local language somewhat you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and can also make yourself more helpful
Involvement: once you speak another person's language you become closer to that person. It strengthens your sense of being involved, and part of the local culture.
Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one way to get out of your comfort zone in the Netherlands.
Creativity: learning a language is a way to better use your creativity. For example while searching for descriptions or using hands and feet.
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking

What do you need to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

Being environmentally aware: no matter where you are taught you will always have to consider your surroundings. Each country has its own rules and customs that you will have to follow to a certain extent.
Be organization-conscious: every school or educational institution has its own way of teaching or learning. Here too you will have to take more into account. As well as the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or rather an abundance of money or facilities
Communication ability: already some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must but a great advantage

To what extent are you insured when taking a language course or a language year abroad?

What are the risks?
- Your health insurance coverage may expire if you go to work abroad, for example
- You may become homesick and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do to prevent this and prepare for it!
- You may have problems with the organization you are going abroad with (read more about solving problems abroad
What are the consequences if you end up in the hospital, for example?
- If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay for the costs yourself if you do not have insurance that covers your activities.
Are you insured during a language course abroad?
- A language course abroad will be within your current travel and health insurance if you are not going abroad for too long, will not be doing any paid work or special activities. In other cases, special insurance is often recommended or sometimes necessary
Read more
- Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad (EN)
- Insuring a language course or school abroad (NL)

Where is the best place to go for a language course, or to learn a language abroad?

Learn Chinese in China: e.g. in Beijing
Learn German: (Berlin), Austria or Switzerland
Learn English abroad: Australia (Sydney), England (Brighton, Cambridge, London), Canada (Toronto), Ireland (Dublin), United States (New York, San Francisco), Malta, South Africa (Cape Town)
Learn French in France: Biarritz; Nice, Paris, or in Switzerland
Learn Italian in Italy:Florence, Rome, Siena, Venice
Learn Spanish in Spain: Barcelona, Granada, Málaga, Madrid, San Sebastian, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia
Learn Spanish in the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic
Learn Spanish in Central America: Costa Rica (Turrialba), Guatemala (Antigua), Panama (Bocas del Toro)
Learn Spanish in South America: Argentina (Bariloche, Buenos Aires), Ecuador, Peru
Learn Swahili in Africa: Kenya (Kilifi), Tanzania (Zanzibar)

Teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

What is teaching English abroad?

Where can you teach English abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?
What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?
What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?
Where is the best place to go when you want to teach English abroad?
To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

Where can you teach English abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?

When you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to helping children with their English at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.
As a foreigner, you have the most opportunities as an English teacher at a primary school or as a private teacher.
In addition, there are also opportunities within secondary education and special education.
The general rule is that as the age of the students increases, the requirements for your experience and diplomas also increase.

What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?

Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
Creativity: you can really use your creativity when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
Income: if you teach English abroad, you can often earn enough to pay for your stay. If you have been able to get one of the better positions, you can usually live well on it or save something to be able to travel further afterwards.
Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly look for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.

What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?

Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
Communication skills: knowledge of the local language makes your work a lot easier and of better quality.
Being able to be convincing
Being able to plan
Being able to radiate self-confidence

Where is the best place to go when you want to teach English abroad?

Southern Europe: Spain and Portugal.
Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
Africa: Egypt, South Africa.
Eastern Europe: Hungary, Czech Republic.
Asia: China, Thailand.
Latin America: Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile.

To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid or unpaid work abroad, or at least check your insured situation carefully.
The local organisations generally don't offer or very limited insurance.
There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
During your work abroad in specific cases, you will need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Read more about Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Stage in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

Learning Chinese abroad: what is it, why should you do it and what is the best place to go?

Learning Chinese abroad: what is it, why should you do it and what do you need?

What is a Chinese language course?
Why should you learn the Chinese language and take a Chinese language course abroad?
What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?
What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?
Are you insured for a language course abroad?

What is a Chinese language course?

A Chinese language course is a series of lessons in which you are taught the basics of the Chinese language in a short period of time. Most language schools offer Mandarin Chinese.
A Chinese language course lasts an average of 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months. Due to the large differences between Dutch and Chinese, you will have to study and practice for a longer period of time to master the basics of Chinese.
A Chinese language course normally costs an amount that is comparable to other courses.

Why should you learn the Chinese language and take a Chinese language course abroad?

Networking: Chinese is, after English, the most spoken language in the world. Although most of these speakers live in China, speaking Chinese is now a good way to broaden your career opportunities in more and more professions and countries. Helpfulness: once you speak a local language to some extent, you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and you can also let yourself be helped better
Involvement: once you speak the language of someone else, you become closer to that person. It strengthens your sense of involvement and being part of the local culture.
Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one of the opportunities to step out of your comfort zone in the Netherlands
Creativity: learning a language is a way to learn to use your creativity better. For example, when searching for descriptions or using hands and feet
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking

What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you are taught, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of teaching or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or an abundance of money or facilities.
Communication skills: some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must, but it is a great advantage.

What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?

The coverage of your health insurance may be cancelled if, for example, you go and work abroad.
You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!).
You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in hospital? If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.

Are you insured for a language course abroad?

A language course abroad will be covered by your current travel and health insurance if you are not going abroad for too long, are not going to do paid work or undertake special activities. In other cases, special insurance is often recommended or sometimes necessary.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Verzekeren van een taalcursus of schooljaar het buitenland (NL)

Learning German abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is a German language course?
Why should you learn German and take a German language course abroad?
What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?
Where is the best place to go to learn German abroad?
What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?
Are you insured for a language course abroad?

What is a German language course?

A German language course is a series of lessons in which you are taught the basics of the German language in a short period of time.
A German language course lasts an average of 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months.
A German language course normally costs an amount that is comparable to other courses.

Why should you learn German and take a German language course abroad?

Networking: German is an important language for Dutch people who want to work internationally, especially within Europe, in tourism, trade and technology, for example.
Helpfulness: as soon as you speak a local language to some extent, you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and you can also get help yourself better
Involvement: as soon as you speak the language of someone else, you become closer to that person. It strengthens your feeling of being involved and being part of the local culture. Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one of the opportunities to step out of your comfort zone in the Netherlands
Creativity: learning a language is a way to learn to use your creativity better. For example, when searching for descriptions or using hands and feet
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking

What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you are taught, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent
Being aware of your organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of teaching or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or an abundance of money or facilities
Communication skills: some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must, but it is a great advantage

Where is the best place to go to learn German abroad?

Germany: You will find a wide range of language schools, especially in cities with a university, such as Berlin, Munich, Heidelberg or Hamburg.
Luxembourg: Nice and centrally located in Europe. Luxembourg city is a pleasant city to learn German and apply it directly in your work or studies.
Switzerland: A fairly expensive destination for your language lessons, but you get a fantastic environment in return. The most popular is Zurich, but also look at Bern or Engelberg for your German language school.
Austria: Combine learning or improving your German with a view of the Alps or even a ski slope. Large language schools are often located in Vienna, but you can also find good language lessons closer to the slopes.

What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?

The coverage of your health insurance may be cancelled if, for example, you go and work abroad.
You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!).
You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in hospital? If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.

Are you insured for a language course abroad?

A language course abroad will be covered by your current travel and health insurance if you are not going abroad for too long, are not going to do paid work or undertake special activities. In other cases, special insurance is often recommended or sometimes necessary.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Verzekeren van een taalcursus of schooljaar het buitenland (NL)

Learning French abroad: what is it, why should you do it and what is the best place to go?

What is a French language course?
Why should you learn French and take a French language course abroad?
What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?
What is the best place to go to learn French abroad?
What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?
Are you insured for a language course abroad?

What is a French language course?

A French language course is a series of lessons in which you are taught the basics of the French language in a short period of time.
A French language course lasts on average 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months.
A French language course normally costs an amount that is comparable to other courses.

Why should you learn French and take a French language course abroad?

Networking: French is, after English and Spanish, one of the most important languages in the world. In many countries and regions, French is the first, second or official language.
Helpfulness: as soon as you speak a local language to some extent, you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and you can also get help yourself.
Involvement: as soon as you speak the language of someone else, you become closer to that person. It strengthens your feeling of being involved and being part of the local culture. Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one of the opportunities to step out of your own comfort zone.
Creativity: learning a language is a way to learn to use your creativity better. For example, when searching for descriptions or using hands and feet.
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking.

What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you are taught, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
Being aware of your organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of teaching or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or an abundance of money or facilities.
Communication skills: some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must, but it is a great advantage.

What is the best place to go to learn French abroad?

France: You will find a wide range of language schools, especially in cities with a university.
Belgium: Nice and close. Brussels is the place to learn French and apply it directly in your work or studies.
Switzerland: A fairly expensive destination for your language lessons, but you get a fantastic environment in return. The most popular is Geneva, but also look at Fribourg for your French language school.
Haiti: Combine learning or improving your French with a tropical island. French in Haiti overlaps quite nicely with classical French.
Senegal: Affordable destination for intensive French courses. Dakar has plenty of opportunities for language students.
Overseas areas and exotic French-speaking corners of the world: Not always easy to reach, but with a high exotic content, you can also look for language schools in, for example, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, and La Réunion.

What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?

The coverage of your health insurance may be cancelled if, for example, you go and work abroad.
You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!).
You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in hospital? If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.

Are you insured for a language course abroad?

A language course abroad will be covered by your current travel and health insurance if you are not going abroad for too long, are not going to do paid work or undertake special activities. In other cases, special insurance is often recommended or sometimes necessary.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Verzekeren van een taalcursus of schooljaar het buitenland (NL)

Learning Spanish Abroad: What is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

What is a Spanish language course?
Why should you learn Spanish and take a Spanish language course abroad?
What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?
What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?
Are you insured for a language course abroad?
What is the best place (for you) to go to learn Spanish abroad?

What is a Spanish language course?

A Spanish language course is a series of lessons that teach you the basics of the Spanish language in a short period of time.
A Spanish language course lasts an average of 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months.
A Spanish language course usually costs an amount comparable to other courses.

Why should you learn Spanish and take a Spanish language course abroad?

Networking: Spanish is the second most important language in the world after English. 350 million people speak Spanish as their native language and almost 150 million people speak it as a second language. Spanish is the official language in 21 countries. In Latin America, which is becoming an increasingly important trading partner, Spanish is largely spoken (and hardly any English). It is estimated that within 50 years, half of all US residents will have Spanish as their native language. Helpfulness: once you speak a local language to some extent, you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and you can also let yourself be helped better
Involvement: once you speak the language of someone else, you become closer to that person. It strengthens your sense of involvement and being part of the local culture.
Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one of the opportunities to step out of your comfort zone in the Netherlands
Creativity: learning a language is a way to learn to use your creativity better. For example, when searching for descriptions or using hands and feet
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking

What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you are taught, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
Be aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of teaching or providing education. You will also have to take this into account more. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or an abundance of money or facilities.
Communication skills: some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must, but it is a great advantage.

What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?

The coverage of your health insurance may be cancelled if, for example, you go to work abroad
You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!)
You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad)
What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in hospital?
If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities

Are you insured for a language course abroad?

A language course abroad will be covered by your current travel and health insurance if you are not going abroad for too long, are not going to do paid work or undertake special activities. In other cases, special insurance is often recommended or sometimes necessary.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Verzekeren van een taalcursus of schooljaar het buitenland (NL)

What is the best place (for you) to go to learn Spanish abroad?

Spain: Fiestas, Flamenco, tapas, life on the street, visits to beaches or beautiful cities, from Andalusia to Catalonia: you can learn Spanish in Spain how and where you want.
By combining the course with dance, sports or culture, you can choose your ideal experience of Spain. Courses can be taken throughout Spain, including Madrid, Malaga, Valencia, Barcelona and Salamanca.
Cuba: Enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the Cuban people. You can combine the language course with learning traditional Cuban dance and music or with a diving course.
During a course you can also stay with a host family to really get to know the people and their culture.
Courses are given in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Trinidad, among others.
Argentina: Learn Spanish in vibrant Buenos Aires, at the foot of the Andes or in beautiful Patagonia. After the language course you can participate in volunteer projects to put your Spanish knowledge into practice and really get to know the Argentine people. You can also participate in all kinds of active tours, skiing, horse riding, etc.
Courses are given in Bariloche, Buenos Aires and Córdoba, among others. The courses take place at international language schools and are available at all levels: from beginner to advanced, in a group or individually and from one week onwards until you are fed up.
Bolivia: Bolivia is known as the Tibet of South America because it is the most isolated and highest of all Andean countries. A beautiful country to get to know better, especially in Sucre, which is located at an altitude of almost 3000 meters. During the course, activities are often organized to introduce you to Bolivian cuisine, dance and sights in and around Sucre. You can follow the course in a group or individually.
Chile: You follow the course in a cozy neighborhood of Santiago de Chile at a small and cozy language school. Due to the ideal location between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, there are many opportunities to seek adventure. For example, you can combine the language course with a ski course on weekends. The language school also organizes many weekend excursions, such as rafting and salsa lessons.
Costa Rica: Active volcanoes, beautiful beaches and the impressive tropical rainforest. More than a quarter of Costa Rica is a protected nature reserve, which makes it a beautiful country to study Spanish. There are also ideal opportunities for rafting, kayaking and diving and you can combine your language course with a surfing course or with volunteer work. Courses are given in Playa Tamarindo, San Jose and Jaco Beach, among others.
Dominican Republic: With its clear water, white beaches with palm trees and hospitable people, the Dominican Republic is a true tropical paradise. You will follow the course in the beautiful colonial district of the capital Santo Domingo. Here you can combine Spanish with a cooking course or a culture course, where you will learn more about the background and history of the country. Courses are given in Santo Domingo, among others.
Ecuador: For nature lovers, learning Spanish in Ecuador is a dream; there are countless species of birds, insects and rare plants to be found. A visit to the Galapagos Islands should not be missed. If you also want to get to know the culture, you can combine the course with a cultural program with visits to museums and other sights or with doing volunteer work. Courses are given in Quito, Montanita and Banos.
Guatemala: Guatemala is Latin America in extreme form. Here the volcanoes are the highest and most active and the Mayan ruins the most impressive.
During or after the course in the center of Antigua you can visit the ruins in the jungle of the Mayan city of Tikal, volcanoes and coffee plantations at Lake Atitlán and the market of Chichicastenango where thousands of Indians from all over the region come together.
Mexico: Sun, siesta, tacos, tequila, hammocks and sombreros. During your Spanish language course in Mexico you will notice that this country has even more to offer, such as the impressive Mayan culture, ruins, museums and a beautiful landscape. You can follow the Spanish lessons in small huts in Playa del Carmen, a characteristic colonial building in Oaxaca or next to the swimming pool in Cuernavaca. After the lessons you can enjoy the white beaches or try to master one of the Mexican folk dances. You can also combine your language course with volunteer work. Courses are given in Cuernavaca, Oaxaca and Playa del Carmen.
Peru: The riches of the Incas, the beauty of the landscape, the exuberant fauna and the strong, colorful character of its people make Peru a beautiful country to visit. During a language course in Cusco you are in the heart of the former Inca empire in a language school with its own travel agency that organizes excursions every weekend, so you can go rafting, horseback riding and visit ruins in the area.

Activities abroad: for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

Bundled content for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

Diving abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?

Diving instructor and divemaster abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

Canoeing, kayaking and rafting abroad: what is it and what is the best place to go?

Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

Snorkeling abroad: what is it, what is the best place to go, and are you insured?

Gap year abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?

Activities abroad: home bundle

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Activities abroad: home bundle

Main content and contributions for activities abroad

,,,accommodations, adventure activities, courses, internships, jobs and volunteer projects

...to help another, travel with care, work together , learn to share and inspire with your experience

Activities abroad: for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

Activities abroad: for languages courses and learning a language

Activities abroad: for volunteering, nature and animal care abroad

Activities abroad: for volunteering and social work abroad

Themes: main theme pages for emigration, moving and living abroad

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Activities Abroad: for work and intern abroad

Work Abroad, Work Experience Abroad & Intern Abroad

Community and social work abroad: what is it, why should you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is community work or social work?
Why would you do social work abroad?
What are the core competencies you need, or can strengthen, for social work abroad?
Where is the best place to work for in community and social work?

What is community work or social work?

Social work and community work are often used interchangeably. In English, people often simply refer to 'social work' or 'community work'.
In social work abroad, you help other people with one or more aspects of life that they could use help with. For example, think of projects on loneliness, (financial) self-reliance, language skills, hygiene, preventive care or exercise/sports.
You can also consider your commitment to an organization that focuses on certain social themes as social work. For example, think of helping in a museum or other cultural institution.

Why would you do social work abroad?

Your involvement with others can take on a new dimension by helping abroad. You will experience a deeper layer in the culture and the specific challenges that people deal with.
By sharing your experiences in and with other cultures, you not only strengthen your own capacities, but you can also help with the transfer of knowledge.
By working abroad, you often encounter new sides of yourself and give those sides the opportunity to develop.

What are the core competencies you need, or can strengthen, for social work abroad?

Adaptability
Involvement
Empathy
Flexibility
Collaboration

Where is the best place to work for in community and social work?

Bonaire
Curacao
Brazil
Philippines
Ghana
Guatemala
India
Indonesia
Madagascar
Nepal
Vietnam
South Africa

Grape- or fruit picking: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

Grape- or fruitpicking: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is grape picking?
What is fruit picking?
What are the working conditions?
Why to pick fruits or grapes?
Where can you pick grapes and fruit abroad?
What do you need as a grape or fruit picker?
To what extent are you insured for the risks as a fruit and grape picker?

What is grape picking?

Grape picking is cutting bunches of grapes from the grapevine or vine. The bunches of grapes are removed from the grape plants in one piece and then distributed over the crates.
You often work in an international team from different countries.
The grape harvest is often a relatively short period, the timing of which depends on the local weather; it can sometimes be difficult to plan to arrive at the right wine region at exactly the right time.

What is fruit picking?

Fruit picking is done in orchards where apples, cherries, olives, plums, oranges or other fruit are picked from the branches or from the ground.
Harvesting exotic crops such as cocoa, kiwi, coffee berries and bananas also falls under fruit picking.
Depending on the fruit you are harvesting, you may sometimes have to climb trees or steps or bend down a lot or even crawl.
Fruit picking can be done in all kinds of places all over the world. If you organize it well and know when to be where, you can pick fruit all year round in Europe or the world.
To prepare fruit for picking, a grower often has to do a lot of preparatory work, such as pruning, thinning and weeding. These activities in fruit growing also offer opportunities if you want to work abroad.
Some experience in this area can make the work more fun, and also a lot more lucrative if your payment depends on how much you pick.

What are the working conditions?

In most jobs as a fruit picker, you are paid based on the amount of fruit you pick. However, there is usually a set production level that you must achieve as a minimum, especially if the farmer provides a place to sleep and food for you.
Try not to feel too discouraged at the end of the first day or week if it turns out that some experienced employees have picked three times as much as you. You can always try to copy their technique or ask for advice. After a week or two, your earnings and self-confidence will certainly have increased.
You can often stay cheaply at a nearby campsite or for free at the farmer's own place
How physically demanding the work is depends on the crop you pick and what exactly your duties are around the harvest.
You usually have to be at least 18 years old.

Why to pick fruits or grapes?

To stimulate your sense of involvement: sometimes you work very intensively on a farm for a long time with the same people, you often also sleep in a room with them: you have to like that, but you also make friends for life.
To make the world around you more sustainable: by looking for work in organic farming or permaculture.
To be profitable in a creative way: Some small farmers will not be able to pay you a wage, but offer a place to sleep and food in exchange for work. To gain new experiences: You experience much more during your stay on the farm and when you go to work than when you would travel around alone.
To increase your self-awareness: further away from your familiar environment you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. By going to work you encounter yourself more often, you get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be.
To test your environmental awareness: by living and working in rural areas, you experience a foreign culture in a completely different and more authentic way than when you work in the tourism sector, for example.

Where can you pick grapes and fruit abroad?

Australia: fruit picking
England: fruit picking, especially in southern England
France: grape picking, fruit picking
Georgia: fruit picking
Greece: olive picking
Italy: grape picking, fruit picking
Jordan: fruit and olive picking
New Zealand: fruit picking
Spain: grape picking, fruit picking, olive picking
Thailand: fruit picking
Switzerland: fruit picking

What do you need as a grape or fruit picker?

Professionalism: you often have to work hard and hard, which is why the average slacker usually doesn't last long on a farm or nursery
Flexibility: the weather conditions and the growth of plants don't always go according to plan, which means that your flexibility will often be called upon
Ability to work together: being able to or learning to work together with a group of seasonal workers or with the farm family will always be necessary

To what extent are you insured for the risks as a fruit and grape picker?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when picking fruit or grapes abroad

Your local health insurance normally lapses. You then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Local employers usually do not offer any, or only limited, supplementary insurance.
The risk of accidents is somewhat greater on farms and in the fruit growing business than in other sectors.
A number of specialized insurances offer opportunities to do (temporary) paid work abroad where you run a bit more risk, such as working in orchards or vineyards.

Read more

Internship abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is an internship abroad?
Why should you intern abroad?
What do you need if you want to do an internship abroad?
Where is the best place to intern abroad?
To what extent are you insured for the risks of doing a traineeship and intern abroad?

What is an internship abroad?

An internship abroad means working for a foreign organization for a certain period of time in order to help and especially to learn from it.
For your work, you generally do not receive compensation in the form of salary, expenses or, for example, board and lodging.

Why should you intern abroad?

To gain experience in your own field of work, or in the sector you might want to work in later.
To see yourself at work in a different environment.
To be able to work in a different field and see if you like it.
To use as a stepping stone for a local job with a salary.
To help others with your efforts and skills.
To support organizations or causes you find important in your life.

What do you need if you want to do an internship abroad?

Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you will acquire during your stay abroad
Communication skills: depending on the type of work, you will need a reasonable to good command of the local language.
Independence and/or self-confidence: you will need some form of independence, and your self-confidence will grow through it
Environmental awareness: an important element for your stay abroad
Cooperation skills: also abroad it is important that you learn, or can learn, to cooperate when working with others
Organizational awareness
Empathy

Where is the best place to intern abroad?

When looking for a social internship: Aruba - Bonaire - Curaçao - Ghana - Guatemala - India - Nepal - South Africa
When you are looking for a commercial internship: Australia - Curacao - Spain - United States of America
When you are looking for an internship caring for or protecting animals: Costa Rica - Curaçao - Ecuador - Indonesia - South Africa
When you are under 18 years old: Spanish language courses and internships in Spain (e.g. Salamanca, Barcelona) - Youth internships in Malawi, Uganda or South Africa.
When you travel "as a woman alone" for the first time : Australia - New Zealand - Argentina - Ecuador - Costa Rica - Thailand - Indonesia. - Nepal - Ghana
When traveling 'as a woman alone' with experience: Bolivia - Peru - Guatemala - Nicaragua - China and Hong Kong - South Africa - Kenya - Malawi

To what extent are you insured for the risks of doing a traineeship and intern abroad?

Several reasons may apply why you need separate insurance when doing an internship abroad, or at least check your insured situation carefull
- Local organizations usually offer no, or very limited, insurance
- The risk of accidents is present because you are doing work with which you have little experience, for example
- During your internship abroad, in most countries the coverage of your own health insurance expires. You will then need special insurance to remain properly insured for illness and accidents.
Read more:
- EN: insuring internships abroad
- NL: stage in het buitenland verzekeren

Jobs abroad: what to do, why to do it, and where are the best places to go?

Paid vacancies, internships and volunteer work with organizations and institutions in work fields such as consulting, administration, communications, consulting, finance, health care, legal, social services, management, marketing, environment, education, research, organization, psychology, pedagogy, engineering, tourism and science. With sector information, destination advice and job application tips

See the following pages for jobs and vacancies per sector:

See the following pages for jobs per study field:

Legal work abroad: why should you do legal work abroad and what do you gain?

Why should you do legal work abroad?
What do you gain of doing legal work abroad?

Why should you do legal work abroad?

Involvement in social legal aid in other cultures.
Gaining experience with legal systems in an international context.
Gaining self-insight by stepping out of your comfort zone and leaving your familiar environment behind.

What do you gain of doing legal work abroad?

Adaptability
Courage
Flexibility
Professional conduct
Collaboration
Sufficient (legal) knowledge of the local language

Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

What does it mean to be a sports instructor abroad?
What does it mean to be an outdoor trainer abroad?
Why would you become a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?
What do you need, or what skills can you acquire as a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?
Where can you become a sports trainer or outdoor trainer abroad?
To what extent are you insured for the risks?

What does it mean to be a sports instructor abroad?

A sports instructor is someone who teaches sports in theory and practice. You teach how to master a certain sport, or learn to practice it better.
In addition, you are often busy with all kinds of practical matters concerning the requirements for the sport in question.

What does it mean to be an outdoor trainer abroad?

An outdoor instructor is someone who teaches the theory and practice of an outdoor activity. You teach how to master a certain activity, or learn to master it better.
With many outdoor activities, you pay extra attention to safety while practicing the activity.
In addition, you are often busy with arranging and organising all kinds of practical matters around the activity.

Why would you become a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?

Helpfulness: it is rewarding work that you get a lot in return. You are busy transferring knowledge to others.
Involvement: it strengthens your sense of connection with people and nature.
Experience: You gain unique experiences in another country, in another nature and in another culture.
Sense of freedom: especially when you are working outside in a beautiful environment.
Self-insight: you learn independence, to trust yourself and how to react in difficult situations.

What do you need, or what skills can you acquire as a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?

Empathy: feeling for the people you teach or guide.
Having courage: you should not be too fearful in some sports.
Being aware of the environment, respect for the flora and fauna and the culture in which you work.
Being aware of the organization: you must always be able to remain alert, because you are responsible for yourself and your students.
Flexibility: the weather conditions and seasons, the physical condition of yourself and your students can have an influence.

Where can you become a sports trainer or outdoor trainer abroad?

A short list of popular outdoor destinations

Australia
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Germany
Iceland
Norway
New Zeeland
Switzerland
United States

To what extent are you insured for the risks?

Are you insured as a sports instructor abroad?
When you become a sports instructor, special rules apply and there are also specific insurance policies that take into account the risks you can run into
Read more:Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Verzekeren van activiteiten als sportinstructeur in het buitenland (NL)

Paid work abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is paid work abroad?
Why should you go to work abroad for pay?
What do you need if you want to work abroad?
To what extent are you insured for risks when doing paid work abroad?
What are the most popular countries to do paid work abroad?

What is paid work abroad?

Paid work abroad means that you have a temporary or permanent job with a foreign employer or that you have been sent abroad by a Dutch employer.
For your work you generally receive compensation in the form of salary, expense allowance or, for example, board and lodging. In addition, the better jobs may also reimburse you for your travel to and/or from work.

Why should you go to work abroad for pay?

To gain experience: by working abroad, your work experience increases within your own field but generally beyond. You experience much more during your stay abroad when you go to work than if you were already traveling around.
To strengthen your empathy: by working in another culture, you often strengthen your own ability to put yourself in another person's shoes. The differences in culture, ways of working and ways of communicating make you accept or take other pieces as they are more quickly. Your own perspective quickly becomes wider, broader and, in particular, more flexible.
To increase your stress resistance: you regularly work under reasonable or great pressure; working in a different culture can be a drain on your stress resistance. Especially due to pressures that may arise because you have to communicate in a different language, perform new work or receive limited coaching. Yet for almost everyone, these experiences contribute to greatly increasing your stress resilience precisely because of them.
To discover and accept your own qualities: further away from your familiar surroundings you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you really want. It is precisely by going to work that you encounter yourself more often, get to know

What do you need if you want to work abroad?

Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you will gain during your stay abroad.
Communication skills: depending on the type of work, you will need a reasonable to good command of the local language.
Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need some form of independence, and your self-confidence will grow through it.
Being environmentally aware: an important element for your stay abroad.
Collaborative ability: also abroad, it is important that you learn, or can, work together when working with others.

To what extent are you insured for risks when doing paid work abroad?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when doing paid work abroad:
During work, internship or volunteer work abroad in many cases, you will then need special insurance to remain insured for illness and accidents.
Local employers usually offer no, or limited, additional insurance.
The risk of accidents is present because you are doing work with which you have little experience, for example.
Some specialized insurances offer opportunities to do (temporary) paid work abroad. See the pages on insuring paid work abroad and the pages on your medical expenses abroad.
Read more: travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: betaald werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

What are the most popular countries to do paid work abroad?

All countries
Australia: working holiday, agricultural work, health care
Austria : tourism, winter sports
Canada: working holiday, agricultural work
Curacao: hospitality, communication
France: tourism, agricultural work (fruit picking), au pair
Greece: hospitality, tourism
Italy: tourism, winter sports , teaching (English), au pair
New Zealand: working holiday, health care
Portugal: tourism, helpdesks
South Africa: tourism, helpdesks
Spain: hospitality, tourism, teaching (English)
Switzerland: tourism, winter sports
Thailand: teaching
United States: working holiday, au pair

Teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

What is teaching English abroad?

Where can you teach English abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?
What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?
What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?
Where is the best place to go when you want to teach English abroad?
To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

Where can you teach English abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?

When you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to helping children with their English at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.
As a foreigner, you have the most opportunities as an English teacher at a primary school or as a private teacher.
In addition, there are also opportunities within secondary education and special education.
The general rule is that as the age of the students increases, the requirements for your experience and diplomas also increase.

What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?

Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
Creativity: you can really use your creativity when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
Income: if you teach English abroad, you can often earn enough to pay for your stay. If you have been able to get one of the better positions, you can usually live well on it or save something to be able to travel further afterwards.
Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly look for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.

What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?

Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
Communication skills: knowledge of the local language makes your work a lot easier and of better quality.
Being able to be convincing
Being able to plan
Being able to radiate self-confidence

Where is the best place to go when you want to teach English abroad?

Southern Europe: Spain and Portugal.
Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
Africa: Egypt, South Africa.
Eastern Europe: Hungary, Czech Republic.
Asia: China, Thailand.
Latin America: Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile.

To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid or unpaid work abroad, or at least check your insured situation carefully.
The local organisations generally don't offer or very limited insurance.
There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
During your work abroad in specific cases, you will need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Read more about Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Stage in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

Working for an international organisation abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where should you go?

What is working in the non-profit sector or at an international organisation abroad?
Why would you work at an international organisation?
What do you need if you want to work abroad for an NGO?
Where is the best place to work for international organisations?
To what extent are you insured for the risks when working for an NGO abroad?

What is working in the non-profit sector or at an international organisation abroad?

'Working at an NGO' is in fact a collective term for the many functions that this type of organisation offers: from lawyer and accountant to social media campaign leader and from biological fieldworker to investigative journalist.
Depending on your expertise, the sector in which you want to work for a non-profit organisation and the country you want to go to, your options will vary greatly.

Why would you work at an international organisation?

To gain experience: by working abroad, your work experience increases within your own field of expertise but also outside of it in general. During your stay abroad, you experience much more when you go to work than if you were already travelling.
To strengthen your empathy: by working in a different culture, you often strengthen your own ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes. The differences in culture, working methods and communication methods ensure that you accept or accept other things more quickly as they are. Your own perspective quickly becomes broader, more spacious and especially more flexible.
To increase your stress resistance: you regularly work under reasonable or great pressure; working in a different culture can be an attack on your stress resistance. Especially due to pressure that can arise because you have to communicate in a different language, have to perform new tasks or receive limited coaching. Yet for almost everyone, these experiences contribute to a significant increase in your stress resistance.
To discover and accept your own qualities: further away from your familiar environment, you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. It is precisely by going to work that you encounter yourself more often, you get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be.

What do you need if you want to work abroad for an NGO?

Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you gain during your stay abroad. Communication skills: depending on the type of work, you will need to have a reasonable to good command of the local language.
Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need a certain form of independence, and your self-confidence will grow as a result.
Being aware of your surroundings: an important element for working for an international organisation abroad.
Collaboration skills: networking, both inside and outside your organisation, is crucial for finding a (next) job at an international organisation.

Where is the best place to work for international organisations?

Popular countries to work in, for an international organisation

Belgium
Curaçao
France
United States
Switzerland

Countries where many NGO projects send employees

Bangladesh
Brazil
El Salvador
Ethiopia
Philippines
Ghana
Haiti
India
Madagascar
Nepal
Sint Maarten
Zimbabwe

To what extent are you insured for the risks when working for an NGO abroad?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad with an international organisation
During work, an internship or volunteering abroad your local health insurance most of the time lapses. You will then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Local employers generally do not offer any, or limited, supplementary insurance.
There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience, or because of challenging local working conditions.
A number of specialised insurances offer options for (temporary) paid work abroad.
See the pages about insuring paid work abroad and the pages about your healthcare costs abroad.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Betaald werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

Working at an ecolodge, guesthouse or hotel abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is working at a hotel, hostel, ecolodge, guesthouse or B&B abroad?

Why would you work at a hotel, guesthouse or ecolodge abroad?
What do you need if you want to work at a hotel, hostel or ecolodge?
What is the best place to go when you want to work at a hotel, hostel or ecolodge abroad?
To what extent are you insured for risks if you work at a hotel, hostel or ecolodge abroad?

Activities: the work can range from reception work and maintenance work to sometimes managing a local employee
Salary: from room and board to a salary that allows you to provide for yourself
Accommodation: In most cases, you will stay at the accommodation itself. Sometimes you sleep in a tent or you can bring your own tent

Why would you work at a hotel, guesthouse or ecolodge abroad?

To stimulate your sense of involvement: you often work very intensively with the same people at a hotel or accommodation for a long time, you often also sleep in a room with them: you have to like that, but you also make friends for life. To make the world around you more sustainable: by looking for work at an ecolodge or sustainable accommodation you can combine your work and interests nicely.
To be profitable in a creative way: Some owners will not be able to pay you a salary, but offer a place to sleep and food in exchange for work.
To gain new experiences: During your stay abroad and when you go to work, you will experience much more than if you were to travel around alone.
To increase your self-awareness: further away from your familiar environment, you will discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. By going to work, you will encounter yourself more often, get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be.
To test your environmental awareness: by living and working in special places in the world, you will experience a foreign culture in a completely different and more authentic way.

What do you need if you want to work at a hotel, hostel or ecolodge?

Be environmentally aware: wherever you work, you will always have to take your environment into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent
Being aware of the organization: every organization also has its own way of looking at hospitality and hospitality. Here too, you will have to take more into account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities
Communication skills: knowledge of the local language is not a must but it is a big advantage and in addition you will often have to be able to communicate well with the guests of the accommodation where you will be working
Professionalism: on some days and certainly during the high season you will have to work hard
Flexibility: the weather conditions, the behavior of animals and the growth of plants do not always go according to plan, which means that your flexibility will often be called upon
Collaboration skills: being able or learning to collaborate with local managers, owners and employees

What is the best place to go when you want to work at a hotel, hostel or ecolodge abroad?

Working in backpacker hostels: Mexico, Peru, New Zealand
Working in hotels: Spain, Austria, Curacao
Working in ecolodges: South Africa, Costa Rica, Caribbean, Malawi

To what extent are you insured for risks if you work at a hotel, hostel or ecolodge abroad?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid work abroad
During work, internship or volunteer work abroad the coverage of your own local health insurance normally expires. You then need special insurance to remain insured for illness and accidents. Local employers usually offer no, or limited, supplementary insurance.
There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
A number of specialized insurances offer opportunities to do (temporary) paid work abroad.
See the pages about insuring paid work abroad and the pages about your health care costs abroad.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Betaald werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

Working in education and teaching abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is teaching abroad?
Where and what can you teach abroad?
Why would you teach or help at a school abroad?
What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in education abroad?
What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a volunteer or intern?
What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a paid employee?
Are you properly insured if you are going to teach abroad?

What is teaching abroad?

If you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to volunteering at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.

Where and what can you teach abroad?

As a non native English speaker abroad, you have the best chance of a job as an English teacher at a school or as a private teacher.
For all other subjects, from music to mathematics, the possibilities are more limited.
In addition to teaching English, there are also many Dutch people who work as a Dutch teacher or German people who work as a German teacher or French people who work as a French teacher. Not only at Dutch, German or French schools but also at foreign educational institutions where the language is offered as a study or subject.

Why would you teach or help at a school abroad?

Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
Creativity: you can use your creativity well when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly search for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.
Self-insight: there is no better mirror for your own development than a classroom full of children or involved students.

What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in education abroad?

Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
Communication skills: knowledge of the local language is not a must but is a great advantage.
Being able to be convincing
Being able to shape planning
Being able to radiate self-confidence

What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a volunteer or intern?

Argentina: for example teaching street children in Buenos Aires
Bolivia: from teaching English to helping at a local village school
Cambodia: from teaching monks to helping in special education for blind or disabled children
Ghana: for example teaching English or mathematics in the countryside of Ghana.
Guatemala: helping with teaching around Antigua
India: for example teach children from slums or women and offer them more future prospects in this way.
Kenya
Middle East: in many countries in the Middle East there are opportunities to teach English, paid or unpaid
Nepal: including opportunities for internships and research internships in the field of teaching.
Thailand
South Africa: for example teaching sports in the townships

What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a paid employee?

Aruba: working in lower vocational education, secondary education or secondary special education.
Bonaire: teaching at a primary or secondary school in various subjects
China: At the moment, more than 300 million Chinese are learning English. No wonder that most (well-paid) jobs in education can be found in China.
Brazil: Many opportunities to teach within large companies and the thousands of language schools spread across the country; from small villages to the big cities.
Chile: often has a relatively higher demand for English teachers.
Suriname: for example as a teacher in the interior of Suriname.
Italy: there has been a high demand for English teachers in Italy for a long time, for example in Rome.
Spain: working as an English teacher teaching Spaniards who want to improve their chances on the job market.
South Korea: for the more experienced teacher.

Are you properly insured if you are going to teach abroad?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid or unpaid work abroad, or at least check your insured situation carefully.
Local organisations generally offer no, or very limited, insurance.
There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
During your work abroad, the coverage of your local health insurance normally expires. You then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Stage in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

Working in the hospitality or entertainment industry abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

Working in the hospitality or entertainment industry abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to

More to follow, check for now the sector page, or check:

Working with children abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go? *

Working on a cruise ship or sailing boat abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go and are you insured?

What is working on a sailing yacht or cruise ship abroad?
Why would you work on a boat or cruise ship abroad?
What do you need if you want to work on a ship?
To what extent are you insured for the risks?
What are the most beautiful routes in the world by boat, ship or cruise?

What is working on a sailing yacht or cruise ship abroad?

Working on a cruise ship or sailing yacht can consist of one or more roles that can or must be fulfilled. Staff on a cruise ship or large sailing yacht can be roughly divided into three types.
The highest in rank are the officers, which includes the captain, but also the doctor and the management staff.
Then comes the staff, which includes shop staff, casino staff, serving staff with customer contact, beauticians and independent shop owners.
The lowest in rank is the crew, which includes the stewards and catering staff without customer contact, but also the cleaners and the lowest technical staff.

Why would you work on a boat or cruise ship abroad?

To gain experience: by working abroad, your work experience increases within your own field of expertise, but also outside of it in general. You experience much more during your stay abroad when you go to work than when you would already be travelling
To strengthen your empathy: by going to work in a different culture you often strengthen your own ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes. The differences in culture, working methods and communication methods ensure that you accept other things more quickly or take them as they are. Your own perspective quickly becomes broader, wider and especially more flexible
To increase your stress resistance: you regularly work under reasonable or great pressure; working in a different culture can be an attack on your stress resistance. Especially due to pressure that can arise because you have to communicate in a different language, have to perform new tasks or receive limited coaching. Yet it is true for almost everyone that these experiences contribute to the fact that your stress resistance increases significantly
To discover and accept your own qualities: further away from your familiar environment you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. By going to work you encounter yourself more often, you get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be.

What do you need if you want to work on a ship?

Professionalism: you often have to work hard and a lot. Furthermore, a positive appearance and being easy to get along with are important qualities. You are a fast learner and enjoy working in a multicultural environment.
Service orientation: especially if you have a lot of contact with the guests, their wishes always come first.
Being flexible: Do you not need to know weeks in advance exactly what your day will look like, but is it enough to find out at the moment? Then you have a good attitude
Communication skills: On a ship you get different guests every trip and it is important that you get to know them as quickly as possible in order to tailor everything to their wishes.
Collaboration skills: even abroad it is important that you learn, or can, collaborate when you are working with others

To what extent are you insured for the risks?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid work abroad.
During work, internship or volunteer work abroad, the coverage of your Dutch local insurance normally expires. You then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Local employers usually do not offer any, or limited, additional insurance. When working on ships, you may already be insured by your employer during your work. This varies per ship and employer
There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
A number of specialized insurances offer options for (temporary) paid work abroad. See the pages about insuring paid work abroad and the pages about your health care costs abroad.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme

What are the most beautiful routes in the world by boat, ship or cruise?

What is the best place to go: the beautiful and famous (top 10) sailing trips

Along the Ionian Islands in Greece
Along the Turkish coast
Across the Andaman Sea
From Bali to Sulawesi
From Grenada and the Grenadines to the rest of the Caribbean
Along the coast of Norway
From Colombia via the San Blas Islands to Panama (or vice versa)
Sailing through the Grand Canyon

What is the best place to go: the beautiful and famous (top 10) cruises

Greek Islands (Rhodes, Santorini)
Caribbean Islands (St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Curacao)
Chile: Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales
The Nile Cruise (all of Egypt by boat)
South Pacific (including Papeete, Bora Bora)
Fjord Cruise (towards the North Cape)
Antarctica (fascinating)
Panama Canal
World Cruise (for example 98 days from Rotterdam/The Netherlands)
Southeast Asia

Working on a farm abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?

What does working on a farm abroad involve?
Why should you work on a farm abroad?
Where is the best place to go for farm work abroad?
What do you need if you want to work on a farm?
To what extent are you insured for the risks of working on a farm or in livestock farming

What does working on a farm abroad involve?

Working on a farm means that you work temporarily as a seasonal or summer worker for an agricultural company. This can range from working as a fruit picker in France to herding cattle in Australia and from milking organic goats in Chile to working together within a permaculture community in the tropics.
Employment: There is always a chance of work if you knock on a farmer's door. Many farms, especially in Europe, but certainly also in Australia and New Zealand, are usually looking for assistance, especially during the busy seasons. Small-scale farms often have work for unskilled (or non-agriculturally trained) people and will also be more open to a construction with room and board.
Activities: There is a huge variety of seasonal jobs within agriculture and livestock farming. It can help to have experience with driving a tractor, horse riding or other work on a farm, or to have at least some feeling for working with machinery or farm animals.

Why should you work on a farm abroad?

To stimulate your sense of involvement: sometimes you work very intensively with the same people on a farm for a long time, you often also sleep in a room with them: you have to like that, but you also make friends for life.
To make the world around you more sustainable: by looking for work in organic farming, permaculture, or for example in the production of goat cheese, you can nicely combine your work and interests.
To be profitable in a creative way: Some small farmers will not be able to pay you a wage, but offer a place to sleep and food in exchange for work.
To gain new experiences: During your stay on a farm and when you go to work, you experience much more than if you were to travel around alone.
To increase your self-awareness: further away from your familiar environment, you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. By going to work, you encounter yourself more often, you get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be. To test your environmental awareness: living and working in rural areas allows you to experience a foreign culture in a completely different and more authentic way than, for example, working in tourism.

Where is the best place to go for farm work abroad?

Australia: working holiday, agricultural work, fruit picking
Canada: working holiday, agricultural work
Chile: fruit picking, livestock farming
France: agricultural work, fruit picking, grape picking
Italy: agricultural work, fruit picking
Ecuador: tropical agriculture, coffee, cocoa and permaculture
New Zealand: working holiday, fruit picking, agricultural work
Spain: olive picking, viticulture
South Africa: ecolodges, ranches

What do you need if you want to work on a farm?

Professionalism: you often have to work hard and hard, which is why the average slacker usually doesn't last long on a farm. Flexibility weather conditions, animal behaviour and plant growth do not always go according to plan, which means that your flexibility will often be called upon.
Collaborative skills: being able to learn to work together with a group of seasonal workers or with the farm family will always be necessary.

To what extent are you insured for the risks of working on a farm or in livestock farming

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for (paid) farm work and agricultural work abroad.
During work, internship or volunteer work abroad your local health insurance normally lapses. You then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Local employers generally do not offer any, or limited, additional insurance.
The chance of accidents is somewhat greater on farms than with other types of work. A number of specialized insurances offer opportunities to do (temporary) paid work abroad where you run a bit more risk, such as working on a farm.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Risicovol werk in het buitenland verzekeren: van sportinstructeur tot boerderijmedewerker (NL)

Medical internship and healthcare internship: what is it, why should you do it and are you insured?

What are your tasks and duties as a co-assistant or intern in medicine?
What are your (internship) tasks or duties as a care provider?
What are your (internship) duties as a nurse?
What do you get out of it? Why would you do an internship abroad?
What do you bring with you? What do you need if you want to do an internship abroad?
To what extent are you insured for the risks?

What are your tasks and duties as a co-assistant or intern in medicine?

As a co-assistant or intern, you will often work with the ward doctor or the head nurse.
As the co-assistant or when the internship progresses, you will be given more and more responsibility and will increasingly work independently, under supervision.
You will often participate in the morning and afternoon handover, the visits, the Multidisciplinary Consultation (MDO).
You will also learn to perform a number of medical procedures.
It goes without saying that your duties will be expanded as you progress through your co-assistantships or internship. For example, as a 6th-year co-assistant or intern, you will be able to do much more yourself.

What are your (internship) tasks or duties as a care provider?

A care provider is someone who provides care to people, so this includes various professions.
You help people who need extra care, for example the sick or people with a disability.
You not only provide care to patients, but also to their families. It is important that you teach those involved how to deal with the situation or illness.
A care provider provides personal care, social and medical care and provides information and advice.
The care is completely focused on well-being and living. You also help with household tasks, such as tidying up, cleaning and cooking.

What are your (internship) duties as a nurse?

As a nurse, you perform duties such as personal care, wound care and administering medication and injections.
As a nurse, you often provide a variety of nursing care to patients.
Nursing technical procedures include, for example, inserting an IV, a stoma, catheter or a (stomach) tube.
You observe the patients in the department and sound the alarm in time with a colleague or a doctor in the event of a deterioration in the patient's condition.
Depending on the specialism, specific nursing procedures are also added, such as taking a blood gas test in the Intensive Care Unit or the Emergency Department.
You also prepare the rooms and equipment for patients and do administrative work. Both doctors and nurses spend a lot of time documenting the patient's medical data (the current status, changes in the treatment plan including medication).
In addition to these activities, you also supervise patients; it is important that you help them in how to deal with a situation, such as an illness. As a nurse, you give instructions and advice to the patient and you are the first point of contact for the family in the department. The conversations with the family are usually conducted by the attending physician.

What do you get out of it? Why would you do an internship abroad?

To gain experience in your own field of work, or in the sector where you may want to work later.
To experience yourself working in a different environment.
To be able to work in a different field of work, and see if you like it.
To use it as a stepping stone for a local job with a salary.
To help others with your commitment and skills.
To support organizations or goals that you consider important in your life.

What do you bring with you? What do you need if you want to do an internship abroad?

Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you will gain during your stay abroad.
Communication skills: depending on the type of work, you will need to have a reasonable to good command of the local language.
Independence.
Being aware of your surroundings.
Ability to cooperate.

To what extent are you insured for the risks?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for an internship abroad, or at least check your insured situation carefully.
Local organisations generally do not offer any, or very limited, insurance.
There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
During your internship abroad, in most countries, the coverage of your local health insurance expires. You will need special insurance to remain properly insured against illness and accidents.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Werkzaamheden in het buitenland in de zorg en medische sector verzekeren bij werk, stage en vrijwilligerswerk (NL)

Werken op een camping of bushcamp in het buitenland: wat is het, waarom zou je doen en waar kan je het beste heen?

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Activities abroad: for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

Activities abroad: for languages courses and learning a language

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Activities abroad: for volunteering and social work abroad

Themes: main theme pages for emigration, moving and living abroad

Mountaineering abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?

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Activities abroad: for volunteering and social work abroad

Bundled content for volunteering and social work abroad

Working with children abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go? *

Working in education and teaching abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is teaching abroad?
Where and what can you teach abroad?
Why would you teach or help at a school abroad?
What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in education abroad?
What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a volunteer or intern?
What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a paid employee?
Are you properly insured if you are going to teach abroad?

What is teaching abroad?

If you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to volunteering at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.

Where and what can you teach abroad?

As a non native English speaker abroad, you have the best chance of a job as an English teacher at a school or as a private teacher.
For all other subjects, from music to mathematics, the possibilities are more limited.
In addition to teaching English, there are also many Dutch people who work as a Dutch teacher or German people who work as a German teacher or French people who work as a French teacher. Not only at Dutch, German or French schools but also at foreign educational institutions where the language is offered as a study or subject.

Why would you teach or help at a school abroad?

Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
Creativity: you can use your creativity well when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly search for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.
Self-insight: there is no better mirror for your own development than a classroom full of children or involved students.

What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in education abroad?

Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
Communication skills: knowledge of the local language is not a must but is a great advantage.
Being able to be convincing
Being able to shape planning
Being able to radiate self-confidence

What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a volunteer or intern?

Argentina: for example teaching street children in Buenos Aires
Bolivia: from teaching English to helping at a local village school
Cambodia: from teaching monks to helping in special education for blind or disabled children
Ghana: for example teaching English or mathematics in the countryside of Ghana.
Guatemala: helping with teaching around Antigua
India: for example teach children from slums or women and offer them more future prospects in this way.
Kenya
Middle East: in many countries in the Middle East there are opportunities to teach English, paid or unpaid
Nepal: including opportunities for internships and research internships in the field of teaching.
Thailand
South Africa: for example teaching sports in the townships

What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a paid employee?

Aruba: working in lower vocational education, secondary education or secondary special education.
Bonaire: teaching at a primary or secondary school in various subjects
China: At the moment, more than 300 million Chinese are learning English. No wonder that most (well-paid) jobs in education can be found in China.
Brazil: Many opportunities to teach within large companies and the thousands of language schools spread across the country; from small villages to the big cities.
Chile: often has a relatively higher demand for English teachers.
Suriname: for example as a teacher in the interior of Suriname.
Italy: there has been a high demand for English teachers in Italy for a long time, for example in Rome.
Spain: working as an English teacher teaching Spaniards who want to improve their chances on the job market.
South Korea: for the more experienced teacher.

Are you properly insured if you are going to teach abroad?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid or unpaid work abroad, or at least check your insured situation carefully.
Local organisations generally offer no, or very limited, insurance.
There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
During your work abroad, the coverage of your local health insurance normally expires. You then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Stage in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

Community and social work abroad: what is it, why should you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is community work or social work?
Why would you do social work abroad?
What are the core competencies you need, or can strengthen, for social work abroad?
Where is the best place to work for in community and social work?

What is community work or social work?

Social work and community work are often used interchangeably. In English, people often simply refer to 'social work' or 'community work'.
In social work abroad, you help other people with one or more aspects of life that they could use help with. For example, think of projects on loneliness, (financial) self-reliance, language skills, hygiene, preventive care or exercise/sports.
You can also consider your commitment to an organization that focuses on certain social themes as social work. For example, think of helping in a museum or other cultural institution.

Why would you do social work abroad?

Your involvement with others can take on a new dimension by helping abroad. You will experience a deeper layer in the culture and the specific challenges that people deal with.
By sharing your experiences in and with other cultures, you not only strengthen your own capacities, but you can also help with the transfer of knowledge.
By working abroad, you often encounter new sides of yourself and give those sides the opportunity to develop.

What are the core competencies you need, or can strengthen, for social work abroad?

Adaptability
Involvement
Empathy
Flexibility
Collaboration

Where is the best place to work for in community and social work?

Bonaire
Curacao
Brazil
Philippines
Ghana
Guatemala
India
Indonesia
Madagascar
Nepal
Vietnam
South Africa

Teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

What is teaching English abroad?

Where can you teach English abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?
What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?
What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?
Where is the best place to go when you want to teach English abroad?
To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

Where can you teach English abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?

When you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to helping children with their English at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.
As a foreigner, you have the most opportunities as an English teacher at a primary school or as a private teacher.
In addition, there are also opportunities within secondary education and special education.
The general rule is that as the age of the students increases, the requirements for your experience and diplomas also increase.

What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?

Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
Creativity: you can really use your creativity when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
Income: if you teach English abroad, you can often earn enough to pay for your stay. If you have been able to get one of the better positions, you can usually live well on it or save something to be able to travel further afterwards.
Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly look for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.

What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?

Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
Communication skills: knowledge of the local language makes your work a lot easier and of better quality.
Being able to be convincing
Being able to plan
Being able to radiate self-confidence

Where is the best place to go when you want to teach English abroad?

Southern Europe: Spain and Portugal.
Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
Africa: Egypt, South Africa.
Eastern Europe: Hungary, Czech Republic.
Asia: China, Thailand.
Latin America: Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile.

To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid or unpaid work abroad, or at least check your insured situation carefully.
The local organisations generally don't offer or very limited insurance.
There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
During your work abroad in specific cases, you will need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Read more about Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
Read more: Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Stage in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
Read more: Werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

Volunteering abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is volunteer work abroad?
Why should you volunteer abroad?
What do you need if you want to do volunteer work abroad?
Where is the best place to volunteer abroad?
To what extent are you insured for the risks of volunteering abroad?

What is volunteer work abroad?

Volunteer work abroad means that you work abroad for a certain period of time at a foreign project or organization to help, learn or transfer knowledge.
You usually do not receive any compensation for your work in the form of salary, expense allowance or room and board.
Projects that have little or no income themselves will generally ask volunteers for compensation for the guidance or for the room and board provided.
In the case of an intermediary organization, this compensation can also be made via the intermediary organization.

Why should you volunteer abroad?

To help others with your efforts and skills.
To support projects or goals that you consider important in your life.
To gain experience in your own field of work, or in the sector where you may want to work later.
To see yourself at work in a different environment.
To be able to work in another area and see if you like it.
To use as a stepping stone to a local job with salary.
Because you don't think it's necessary for a project to incur extra costs for your presence while they really need every dime.
Because you have already raised money for the project or organization where you will be working

What do you need if you want to do volunteer work abroad?

Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you gain during your stay abroad.
Ability to communicate: depending on the type of work, you will need to have a reasonable to good command of the local language.
Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need a certain form of independence, and this will increase your self-confidence.
Being environmentally aware: an important element for your stay abroad.
Collaboration: also abroad it is important that you learn, or are able to, collaborate when you work with others.
Be organizationally aware.
Empathy.

Where is the best place to volunteer abroad?

If you are looking for social volunteer work: Curaçao - Ghana - Guatemala - India - Nepal - South Africa
If you are looking for corporate volunteer work: Australia - Curaçao - Spain - United States of America
If you are looking for volunteer work caring for or protecting animals: Costa Rica - Curaçao - Ecuador - Indonesia - South Africa
If you are younger than 18 years old: Spanish language course with volunteer work in Spain - or volunteer work for young people in Malawi, Uganda or South Africa
If you are looking for volunteer work and are traveling for the first time as a 'woman alone': Australia - New Zealand - Argentina - Ecuador - Costa Rica - Thailand - Indonesia. - Nepal - Ghana
If you want to gain experience 'as a woman alone', go to: Bolivia - Peru - Guatemala - Nicaragua - China and Hong Kong - South Africa - Kenya - Malawi

To what extent are you insured for the risks of volunteering abroad?

There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when volunteering abroad, or at least you should carefully check your insured situation.
- Local organizations usually offer no, or very limited, insurance.
- There is a risk of accidents, for example because you are doing work with which you have little experience.
- During your volunteer work abroad where you receive more than €190 per month in compensation (or, for example, food and housing), your Dutch health insurance coverage will normally lapse. You will then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
Read more about insuring volunteer work abroad.

Activities abroad: for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

Bundled content for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

Diving abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?

Diving instructor and divemaster abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

Canoeing, kayaking and rafting abroad: what is it and what is the best place to go?

Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

Snorkeling abroad: what is it, what is the best place to go, and are you insured?

Gap year abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?

Activities abroad: home bundle

Access:

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Activities abroad: home bundle

Main content and contributions for activities abroad

,,,accommodations, adventure activities, courses, internships, jobs and volunteer projects

...to help another, travel with care, work together , learn to share and inspire with your experience

Activities abroad: for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

Activities abroad: for languages courses and learning a language

Activities abroad: for volunteering, nature and animal care abroad

Activities abroad: for volunteering and social work abroad

Themes: main theme pages for emigration, moving and living abroad