Graduates - Letz Live - GAP Year - Boarding Schools - Australia, Botswana, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdon, Uruguay, 16

Just because you have finished your secondary schooling doesn’t mean Letz Live cant help you!

We have dozens of schools that are interested in applicants with a little more ‘worldly’ experience! You don’t have to have studied education at university, some of our past ‘GAP Grad’s’ came from diverse fields of study.

There are significant perks to being a ‘GAP Grad’ with Letz Live. These can included added responsibilities and roles within the school, improved living arrangements and even a more generous weekly allowance (wage).

Being a ‘GAP Grad’ provides you with a great opportunity to live and see the world before commencing employment in your chosen career. Who knows, you may even find that working in a school environment is for you!

If you are interested, pop us an email to GRADUATES@LETZLIVE.ORG or visit your universities’ career information office.

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GRADUATE TESTIMONIAL

Taking a year off to travel and work abroad is a hard decision to make in the middle of a university degree. For me it meant leaving friends, my job and long term boyfriend behind and settling in for the 25 plus hour trip to the other side of the world. I chose England to be my home for the next year, a relatively safe choice considering it was English speaking, I had relatives there and had been there before, and still I was daunted by the weight of my decision to leave. Conventionally, people take a GAP year after finishing high school and before university. It wasn’t until faced with my final year of a journalism degree that I decided that I needed a well earned break.

During the year there was not one second that I regretted taking a GAP year with Letz Live. I lived and worked in a junior school boarding house that sat on the side of the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire. The houses themselves were hundreds of years old and had many well known previous residents including the author of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis. He claimed that the school and surrounding area was the inspiration for the mythical land of Narnia. Staying in such a beautiful and historic place was so different to what I was use to at home.

While away I had a lot of time to think about where I wanted to go with my degree and even got some work experience at a couple of newspapers abroad. If nothing else I came back with a lot more life experience which is always an asset to a perspective employer.

A GAP year not only gives you life essentials and great memories, but is the most economical way to see the world. Not only was I earning Pound Sterling but I also received the school holidays off in which it was easy to jump across to Europe. In my travels I visited about 40 different countries, from Central Europe to Russia, the Baltics and Africa. I know, I will never get an opportunity like a GAP year again in my life and I would recommend it to anyone considering a break from study, be it uni or high school.

Katherine (Griffith University)

Being in my penultimate year of a dual degree in International Business/ Business I had become desperate to travel but wanted to ensure that it would benefit my degree in some way. It was then that I decided to do a ‘GAP’ year abroad working in a school which I hoped would enable me to incorporate the international business aspect of my degree as well as my future plans to do a Diploma in Education.

Working in a school abroad has provided me with the perfect base to gain work-related skills whilst providing numerous holiday opportunities to develop life skills. Not only have I learnt many tricks of the trade to being an engaging teacher, but also the great value of tolerance and flexibility.

My everyday duties at Terrington Prep Hall School, North Yorkshire, include assisting in the boarding house before and after school, aiding with English (yes, it turns out us Aussies can teach the English a thing or two about ‘their’ language), History, Maths, Latin and French across various age groups, relieving for absent teachers, taking individual lessons for children with learning difficulties and coaching the school’s hockey teams. In addition to these responsibilities I was asked to assist in weekly band practices which led to an all-expenses-paid trip to Belgium.

Whilst living in Terrington over the last 7 months I have managed to travel to Poland, France, Belgium, Scotland and Ireland. With the month long Easter holiday approaching I am planning to tick even more countries off the to-do list.

Without Letz Live I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to experience all these things or to live in the beautiful British countryside amongst the backdrop of numerous Harry Potter scenes, Heart Beat and of course Emmerdale!

Sarah (Griffith University)

England – there are no words to describe how stunningly gorgeous this quaint little country is. Filled with green rolling mountains, gorgeous humble homes, shopping that will make you go just a little bit crazy with the credit card, a nightlife that will always guarantee you a great time and not to mention the locals – always so approachable and lovely – am I forgetting that they LOVE Australian’s?

England is without doubt the perfect home away from home. I have actually studied a year already at university and am currently enrolled in Education (Secondary) when this opportunity presented itself - I snapped it up knowing that I would not be disappointed.

I have landed the most fortunate position at a very elegant school in Yorkshire. I can honestly say that everything about my school is amazing. I have many positions here – including working in the boarding house, reception, medical centre, and foundation (4 year olds). We work 10 days on and then get 5 days off – where we are free to explore this country – or nearby countries!! Everything is so close and accessible that adventure is a stone throw away.

Recently for half term I went to France, to Les du Alps to ski. It was absolutely fantastic – the people that I met, the things that we did and the scenery we experienced was a real treat!! I have plans to go to Egypt in four weeks time for my Easter holidays, which no doubt will be amazing!!

All I can say is thanks to Letz Live for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime!!

Cassandra (University of Southern Queensland)

Deciding to take to a Gap year, to work and travel abroad, during my University degree was a tough decision. One that involved leaving behind my mates and family, rugby and cricket team and having to sit through a 25-hour plane trip.

I am currently placed in a little town called Lewes, which is in East Sussex in England. The town has a very old school English feel about it, with many historic sites to visit. The town also has over 25 pubs, so you’re never short of a pint or two on the weekend! I have recently joined the local rugby team, which is a fantastic way to meet the locals and experience rugby here in the northern hemisphere.

My roles at the school involve boarding house duties, supervising schoolyard playtime breaks and afternoon activities. I also work amongst the lower school, assisting with the students reading and classroom duties. This experience, working in the lower school, will be extremely beneficial to me when I return to Australia to commence my Bachelor of Teaching (Primary).

During my recent mid-term holiday, I among 120 odd GAPs went to Ireland for a weeklong tour of the country. The trip was unreal, a lot of sightseeing, mixed with the Irish nightlife - it was definitely a worthwhile trip. I have many future trips planned, which include a snowboarding trip to Spain in Easter holidays, a big tour of Europe in the summer – visiting as many countries as possible. I also plan to go to Oktoberfest, Egypt and Prague and to further explore England.

During my Gap year, I haven’t had any regrets and the time I have spent here has already surpassed any expectations that I had previously set. I would thoroughly recommend Letz Live to any student wishing to put study on a hold and take on a GAP year.

Anthony (Queensland University of Technology)