On a Gap Year

Age: 27

College or University:
University of Lancaster and Manchester Metropolitan University. My first degree was Ecology. My postgraduate work is a Masters degree in Conservation Biology. I would like to run a training scheme to prepare people for and send them to participate in conservation overseas - so, if you want to work with lemurs in Madagascar, turtles in Greece or parrots in Brazil, I'm your man!

Why a gap year:
My previous job was UK-based, in international development. Just before my contract ended, I came across a position teaching English in Brazil. The training course was in Spain, so it meant an extra month and country added to my gap year. I packed my bags, and off I went to Barcelona for a month.

How:
It was very easy. I saw the advert in the careers office and e-mailed my application. As soon as the acceptance came through, everything came together like clockwork. A few days later, my acceptance on the TEFL course came through. I handed in the notice on my flat in Manchester and returned to North Wales for a month. Then I packed my bags for Spain…

The experience:
I am teaching English at a new English -language school in a Brazilian city called Cuiabá. Cuiabá is a boom-town, and most of the people wanting to learn English are young professionals. We teach them for an hour, then there is a bar outside where we can relax and the students can practise their conversation! The busiest periods are from 5pm until 10pm. Outside those hours, the days are free.

The worst thing:
I’ve had to be resourceful enough during the day to keep myself and my brain occupied so as to prevent boredom. Also, I share the same living area as my boss, so I've had to remain professional at all times.

Advice:
Do a gap year in nature conservation- preferably where the sun shines. Make sure it’s going to be a valuable experience that you can add to your CV, rather than just a round the world ticket. Make sure all your documentation is OK before setting off, and take your favourite cassettes. You'll be amazed at how nice it is to have some familiar music with you.