10 Things to Consider When Choosing a Teaching Job

1. Language

Do you speak the language of the country where your potential job is? If you’re going to a modern city where there are a lot of foreigners, there probably will be a lot of people there who speak English, and the locals will likely have at least a basic command of the language. But if you’re thinking of taking a job in a small town in the rural mountains of Japan, you can expect to be one of the very few people there who speaks English.

Although you might have plans to use the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local language, not being able to speak with anyone at the beginning can leave you feeling isolated and lonely.

2. Culture

How different is the culture from your own, and how flexible are you? One of the biggest cultural dividers is East and West. If you take a teaching job in Europe, even though there will be lots of things that are different from home, there will still be enough that is similar to your way of life back home, making the transition there relatively smooth. On the other hand, everything in Asia will be different. Are you prepared for that?

3. Political Stability

What’s the political history in the new country? Keep in mind that developing countries might not have the same stability that developed countries do, though don’t necessarily hold their history against them. Vietnam and Cambodia are two examples with fairly recent political turmoil that are now perfectly safe for tourists and teachers alike.

4. Closeness to Home

How easy will it be to go home if you need to? You never know what life will bring. Do you want to be stuck in the back reaches of Siberia, a week’s train ride away from the nearest airport? Maybe you do, but doing a little research on the town before you go wouldn’t hurt.

5. Popularity

How many other people have gone before you? If the country is a popular destination for English teachers, you can be sure that it’s a good possible choice for you. People keep going there for a reason. However, those places are more accustomed to foreigners, so you may feel more like a tourist than a teacher there. If you prefer to blaze new trails, you might want to avoid the well-worn path in favor of a less popular location.

6. Length of Contract

How long do you want to spend in your new country? Many contracts are for one year, which is enough time for you to experience the country without too much of a commitment. However, if this is your first overseas teaching job, you might want to look for a six-month contract instead, to see how you like living abroad first. If you’re a seasoned traveler, you might search for a job that offers a longer contract so you can really dig into the new culture. Whatever you decide, you should stay away from jobs that don’t include a contract at all, unless you want to wind up stranded.

7. Working Hours

Are you a morning person? Then you probably don’t want to take a job at an adult English school. Adult classes tend to be in the evenings and on weekends, sometimes running as late as 10 o’clock at night. Children’s schools tend to have a more traditional schedule, starting at 7 or 8 o’clock in the morning, though you’ll probably still have to work on the weekends. Business schools will have the most conventional work schedule, with nights and weekends off.

8. Benefits

What benefits besides salary does the job offer? Many English schools offer housing for teachers, or they may give teachers a housing allowance, which is separate from your salary. If there’s no housing allowance, you’ll have to pay rent out of your own pocket, so be sure to consider that when negotiating your salary. Some other benefits include flight reimbursement, paying visa application fees, and even health insurance. Shop around for the best package.

Why do you want to teach abroad?

9. Cost of Living

How does your salary translate into the local currency? $700 a month might not sound like a lot, but if you’re going to a developing country, you’ll be surprised at how much that amount can stretch. On the other hand, $700 won’t go very far in a Western European country. Check out the cost of living indexes to be sure that what you’ll be earning will cover your daily expenses and leave you enough at the end of your contract to buy your ticket home.

10. Personal Connections

Do you know someone who lives in your prospective country? Does your neighbor have a cousin whose friend from high school lives there? Contact them and find out what it’s like there. Personal connections are important anywhere, but especially in a foreign country. You’re going out into the great unknown. The more connections that you have established before you go the better.