10 Things You Should Know Before Teaching Abroad

Many of you have likely considered spending a year teaching abroad in a foreign country. Teaching abroad can truly be a life changing experience. It’s a great way to travel, immerse oneself in a foreign culture and make a difference all at the same time. That said, preparing to move abroad can sometimes be stressful! With that in mind, we have created this helpful and handy list:

#10. Buy Some Essentials Before Arriving

Unless you know you will be living in the middle of nowhere, we guarantee you will be able to locally buy everything you need to survive. Food, clothing, toiletries; thanks to the efforts of globalization all of these items are readily available in just about every corner of the globe. When I left to teach in Taiwan, I brought two enormous suitcases and two carry-ons filled with items I could have easily bought at any number of stores in my new neighborhood.

Many airlines have also raised fees for excess baggage. Carefully consider each item you pack and ask yourself is it worth the extra cost.

#9. Make Sure You Bring Enough Money With You

Establishing a new life in a foreign country can be costly. Of course, how much money you should bring with you is dependent upon the country you will be living in. However, expenses you didn’t anticipate will inevitably arise and even if you have a job waiting for you that first paycheck won't appear overnight. Here are a couple expenses to keep in mind:

Bottom line, save as much money as you can in advance. This will go a long way towards preserving your financial health during the expensive first few months.

#8. You Still Need To Pay Taxes Back Home

Many people are surprised to learn that they are still required to file taxes while working overseas. Unfortunately, most countries don’t turn a blind eye to expats. Before you go, check with a tax expert and get the facts straight. Generally, you will not need to pay any taxes in your home country, but you will almost certainly still need to file paperwork yearly.

#7. Learn Some of the Language in Advance

The whole experience of teaching abroad can be scary. You will be moving half-way around the world to work with people you have probably only corresponded with via phone and email. If that is not scary enough, you will now be living in a foreign environment and likely unable to communicate even the most basic daily commands. This can be a very stressful environment if you are not prepared.

Our advice - learn as much of the language as you can prior to arriving. Start by learning words related to food to help avoid any unintended surprises during your first few meals. Knowing just a few key words can mean the difference between enjoying your first few weeks or feeling utterly lost.

#6. There Will Be Good Days and Bad Days

Living overseas can often sound perfect and carefree. Your life abroad will certainly be filled with interesting experiences, new friends, and a dynamic lifestyle. Yes, it will be amazing on more levels than you can imagine, but there will also be some very unglamorous days tucked between the good ones. There is no avoiding them, but you’ll be able to manage the tough times more effectively if you accept that not everything will be easy.

Culture shock is a very real phenomenon; research it and educate yourself. This knowledge will make your feelings easier to recognize and deal with when they inevitably arise.

#5. Coming Home is More Difficult Than Leaving

As much as you will enjoy your life abroad, eventually it will be time to return home. Home represents family, friends, and all of the things you missed while away.

In reality, returning home can involve a difficult transition period. You quickly realize that what you have just experienced can probably never be recreated. No one but yourself (and those who lived it with you) can possibly understand what it meant to you.

Hang in there; you’ll eventually get through the difficulties of returning home. After all, you just lived, loved, triumphed and flourished in a foreign country. You’ve literally taken on the world. Reverse culture shock? Relationship changes? Restarting a career? Bring it on!

#4. Take a TEFL Course

Many new English teachers have very little teaching experience prior to moving abroad. Anyone considering teaching abroad should look carefully at TEFL courses, even if you only plan to teach for one year. As long as you take an effective course, the extra time and cost will pay off in the classroom. Plus, your students deserve to get the best from you!

#3. Contact Teachers at Your School

Before you sign a contract with a school that you have never visited, always, always, always directly contact a teacher currently at the school. Warning flags should go up if a school refuses to give you their contact information.

Feel free to ask any questions you like, but one question you should definitely ask is whether or not they are staying, and if they are leaving, why? Don't be afraid to back out of a contract if the current teachers don’t have positive things to say about their experience at the school.

#2. Teaching Abroad is Still a Job

While there will be many opportunities for adventure, teaching English abroad is first and foremost a job. All jobs require hard work and you should treat this job with the same respect and responsibility as any job back home. Don't be fooled into thinking that teaching abroad is a working vacation. Many English teaching job postings only mention time spent in the classroom, typically 20-25 hours/week. In order to be effective you will definitely need to spend additional time outside the classroom preparing lesson plans. Also, remember that you have a real responsibility to your students, co-teachers and the school. Don’t sign a contract with a school if you aren’t 100% committed to doing a great job.

#1. Be Respectful of Your Host Country

This may sound obvious, but unfortunately it’s often not the case. Always remember that you are a guest in the country and act accordingly. Be respectful of your co-workers and of everyone you interact with. Remember that you represent your entire country and locals will form an opinion based on their interaction with you. That is an important responsibility and one which every expatriate should take seriously. There will be times you might think, “We do this MUCH better at home”. Resist the temptation to express this feeling, particularly if you can’t do so in a respectful way. There are often deep historical and cultural reasons behind the way things are done. True cultural sensitivity and understanding comes from trying to understand not just what the locals do, but how they think.