Job Discussion Forums

[DrVanNostrand]

This thread might be helpful to anyone considering or approaching a move abroad.

To all you experienced expatriate teachers, what would you consider to be the pros and cons of teaching/living abroad?

What things keep you going and what things threaten to drive you away?

What advice would you give to anyone considering or approaching such a move?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

[naturegirl321]

What keeps me going is that now abroad is home. I have a family, house, car, etc. And that I can have a good life here. Possibily open a language school.

What's threatening to drive me away is the low salaries.

[denise]

The pros:

* I get to do a job I love.

* Most of my colleagues in most of my jobs have been open-minded, free-thinking, aware of the world around them, and just a joy to talk to and work with.

* Traveling is sort of built into the job. I don't have to plan or save money for months to go somewhere new.

* I have friends scattered all over the world--it's nice to get postcards and maybe even a chance to visit them.

* In my current job, I have a higher standard of living than I would have teaching in the US.

The cons:

* I do occasionally get fed up with the host culture. Living in a different culture is nowhere near as glamorous and exciting as going there on vacation.

* Most people list distance from family and friends as a con, so I guess I should mention it. But... having been in this job for 9 years now, many of my friends are in this field too. And I've been lucky not to grow apart from those back home. Yeah, I don't see them very often, but when I do I don't feel that sense of awkwardness that many people have mentioned (no common interests, no common grounds for discussion topics, etc.).

I think the most important thing for newbies to keep in mind is that TEFL is still a full-time job. Yes, you will get to live in cool places, meet/date new people, etc., but you will also have to work more or less 40 hours a week (class time + prep time). If you don't enjoy the job itself, your life abroad can be unpleasant.

d

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Op,

you'll get very different answers depending on the length of time people have been away and how they approach what they do. Some people go overseas to stay in one country for more or less the rest of their lives, and some go to a new country every few years.

I'm really, really hoping I'm one of the former. The pros are the same as anyone who emigrates- better life etc. The cons are the same as anyone who emigrates- language and culture issues etc.

What keeps me here is that I love my job, and my life.
What threatens to drive me away are wages, job insecurity that you cannot control, visa running out right at the moment you have no job.

[Glenski]

A generic response is about all that's worthy here. Otherwise, it's country-dependent in most cases, IMO.

It also depends on whether one is 22 years old or 55, single or married, has kids or not, wants to remain abroad or not, etc.

Pros
1. Good way to learn about other cultures.

2. More convenient way to date/marry a foreigner.

3. Sometimes an easier way to get ESL/EFL experience.

4. Great immersion for learning a foreign language (although not a guarantee that one will learn anything).

5. Depending on the agreement between your country and Japan, you may be able to write off all you earn abroad on your taxes. (Americans can do that up to a certain amount, roughly $87,500 this year.)

Cons
Plenty, depending on circumstances!
1. One may find that the gap on their resume is detrimental when returning to the homeland, especially if one wants a different (non-teaching) job.

2. Earning tons of money may not be possible. Country and lifestyle dependent.

3. One may lose touch with friends and family, or just be lonely as hell. Even a year can do this, and if you can't/don't return home or maintain a lifeline, it can make matters worse.

4. Doing something stupid may put you in a foreign jail. NOT good!

5. There will probably be a gap on your social security (or whatever your country calls it) contributions. Definitely so for Americans.

[Nabby Adams]

I idsagree with the poster who said that, " Living in a different culture is nowhere near as glamorous and exciting as going there on vacation."

I find that living in country is far better than traveling there. The exoticness gets absorbed right into the skin rather than just splashing the face.

The con is that I can already see that compared to 15 years ago things are changing and will continue to do so.

15 years ago.................."so you're an English teacher" the intonation rising, ment you're a winner

Today............................"so you're an English teacher" the intonation is now falling, meanings you're a bit of a loser.

Not that clear cut of course, but in most countries they now realise that English teachers aren't exactly the cream of the crop. But 15 years ago....Oh the red carpets I walked down.

[Justin Trullinger]

I wasn't doing it 15 years ago- But I have to say I'm most comfortable in places where it's just a job, neither loser nor winner.

I don't want to be worshipped or pandered to as the first real English teacher people have met. (And I have been)

I also don't want to be looked down on as yet another native speaker who isn't a "real teacher." (and I have been.)

Lot's of places I think this is getting to be more normal...


Best,
Justin

PS- The major pro of this job is how much fun it is!

[denise]

[JZer]

[JZer]