The people you meet along the way are a big part of what makes an incredible TEFL adventure. Making new friends as a first-time TEFL teacher abroad can be intimidating for many. After all, you’ve already had to adjust to a new job, culture, and way of life! But it helps to have people to turn to for support, advice, and to share your unique experiences with.

If the prospect of meeting new people and forming new relationships abroad makes you nervous, keep reading because we have some great tips to help you out.

Get to know your colleagues

Work is an excellent place to start looking for new friends because it is where you will spend most of your time each week. Your coworkers could be local teachers, foreign ESL teachers like you, or a mix of the two. They can significantly assist in settling in, offering advice and support on the job and navigating life outside of work.

Join a sports club

If you enjoy sports, consider joining a club or taking classes. Participate in an amateur football league. Begin your mornings with a yoga class. Look for parks to run in your area that you can do on weekends. Alternatively, try something new! Sports are a great way to meet people who share your interests, and many clubs also host social events.

Learn the language

You are hired as a TEFL teacher because of your English skills; you do not need to speak your students’ language. However, teaching English abroad is the best chance you’ll ever have to learn another language, and there are several reasons why you should take advantage of it! It will not only help you navigate day-to-day life (grocery shopping, ordering in restaurants, etc. ), but it will also help you connect with others. Signing up for a language class or participating in a language exchange will introduce you to a diverse range of people.

Use Meetup 

Meetup is a social networking app that helps people connect. The app allows you to find groups and events based on your interests or even start your own! Meetup groups can connect you with people who share your interests, whether they are hiking, philosophy, art, technology, or a book club. As previously stated, language exchanges can be an excellent way to meet new people, and there are usually many language exchange events listed on Meetup. Simply search your location to see what events are scheduled!

Say yes 

Take advantage of opportunities to socialise; instead, say yes! Take someone up on an invitation to do something, whether grabbing a drink after work or accompanying them to an event. Making new friends and meeting new people is difficult if you spend all your time at home, so try to say yes more than you say no, especially in the early stages of your teaching abroad adventure.

Take the initiative

Did you enjoy spending time with someone? Have you ever met a friend of a friend who you thought was interesting? Take the initiative and follow up! Send them a message to say you enjoyed their company and invite them to coffee sometime. According to studies, it takes approximately 50 hours spent with someone to transition from acquaintance to casual friend, and nearly double that to become proper friends. This means that to make new friends; you must put in the effort and create opportunities to spend time with others. Don’t just sit around waiting for other people to contact you!

Put yourself out there!

Some people are more outgoing than others and can quickly strike up a conversation in any setting. However, making new friends as an adult can be difficult if you are shy and introverted. However, as our previous suggestions show, putting yourself out there and creating opportunities to meet new people is critical. Remember that most people would welcome more friends!

If you’re looking for other travelling tips, why not read our blog here?