Frequently Asked Questions

Teaching Across Borders (TAB) takes place during your final Fall semester. The application process begins the year before:

• After-Degree students apply in their 1^st Fall semester, when they are taking their EDUC 400s
• Concurrent students apply in their 4^th Fall semester, when they are taking their EDUC 400s
• Four-Year BEd students apply in their 3^rd Fall semester
• Community-Based students apply based on which program pathway they are in (see above)

In other words, if you are already in your final fall semester, you are not eligible to apply for TAB - be sure to apply the Fall before your final year!

Visit this page for information about the online written application. When applications are open, you can apply on Elevate here.

Mathematically, yes. The more placements you choose the higher your chance. However, we are looking for suitable candidates who are prepared and committed to go to whichever placements they choose, so choose only those placements you are willing to go to.

No, students must be in good standing (minimum GPA 3.0), but after that requirement is met, the GPA is not considered as a part of the selection process. 

All specializations are eligible to participate in TAB. There are numerous funding opportunities at various levels.

Yes! Community-Based students are also eligible. The same criteria and application dates as for on-campus students apply.

There are several ways to fund your TAB experience:

• University funding
• Student Union funding
• Support for study abroad programs through Alberta Student Loans
• The Werklund School of Education awards TAB participants a stipend (typically $500 per participant). The award letter will be sent at the beginning of May with a planned payout of June.

You must take EDUC 525 and EDUC 535 in summer because in the fall they are not run as online courses. Taking them in summer lightens your load in fall to be able to do the volunteering in schools in the host country.

Yes, there are synchronous meetings included in these courses. The TAB Team ensures you are in the correct section based on your placement location. These specialized sections work with your placement location’s time zone so that you have a fairly normal class time.

TAB is considered a co-curricular opportunity, which means you do not receive academic credit but it is designed to support and compliment your course work and experiences in your BEd program.

Yes. You are taking two courses online while abroad and then Field III counts as your third course in the Fall semester.

No. Participating in TAB is non-credit and does not replace Field III or any other Field experience. All TAB students must return to complete Field III as part of their degree and provincial accreditation requirements.

It is technically possible to do both, but not necessarily recommended because TAB and BEd Honours would be two large, competing priorities. Students interested in doing Honours and TAB should consider that they:

• have to find a supervisor who would agree to meeting over Zoom while abroad
• would likely be writing their honours paper while they are abroad
• likely need to have everything completed before the students start Field III

Your volunteer teaching placements will likely be teaching English but depending on the placement there might be opportunities to practice the local language with students and staff.

TAB operates outside of the Study Abroad office, but we follow many of their processes. TAB students are still eligible for some Global Learning awards. 

In placement countries where English is not a primary language, will we be able to teach in English or will we have to teach in the country’s main language as well? 

You won’t be required to teach in the placement country’s language, but we recommend starting to learn the language before you go on TAB to have a basic knowledge of the language.

Likely yes, but it depends on the placement. Placement liaisons will likely advise you regarding accommodation. In previous years, homestay or residence options were available, but most TAB participants use AirBnB or other short term rental options now. 

You can book your flight once the TAB Director has given you the go-ahead. This will vary by placement and is dependent upon the liaison at the partner university. In general, you will book a flight to arrive between September 1-7 and if you plan to travel on your own, you can book for earlier, provided it works with your visa, you make your own arrangements for housing and arrival at the airport, and you arrive at the host destination on the date the liaison stipulates.

You are asked to be back by a date in late October or early November to be determined based on the start of Field III. That date will be listed in the Statement of Commitment you complete after you are placed. You will need to attend the TAB Return workshop a few days after the return-by date.