Why Teach English?
WHY go abroad to teach English in a foreign land?
Why not!
Why not indeed. When you can live a dream of traveling and seeing the world, learning of new cultures and all the things that our schools forgot to teach us!
Why not, when some people are saving up to US$1000 and more, paying off student loans and paying off debts – ALL while literally seeing the real world out here.
Teaching English is the path that many people take when they want to travel the world and still earn enough money to live well and support themselves without drawing on savings.
And, you really can have a great time and enjoy this work as you experience the greater world and its cultures.
Tens of thousands of teachers of English ply their trade around the world to support their travel habit and their desire to experience, learn about and understand the greater world at hand. A year abroad is like another four-year degree!
TEFL Newbie supports the idea and wants you to help you make good decisions about it. Is teaching English abroad the right thing for you? Is it the right time for you? Can you meet your goals by heading overseas? Do you have realistic ideas about what living abroad is like? Do you understand the stresses and problems involved while working in a culture with different ideals and expectations?
Understand that life overseas offers a much more challenging (and rewarding!) environment than you are used to in your home country.
TED’s Tips™ #1: Beware, life abroad can be addictive!
I headed overseas 20+ years ago as a Peace Corps Volunteer and then as an English teacher and have enjoyed it so much that I don’t really ever intend to live in the USA again. It is a great place to visit and I enjoy seeing my family – but I know what they are missing!
TED’s Tips™ #2: Go TO something – don’t run AWAY from something.
People who have a goal of something they want to see and do, to accomplish – are far more likely to succeed overseas. People who “run away” from their problems always take them to their new location. They are their problem – though they will never figure it out (of course!).
TED’s Tips™ #3: Do your research. Go abroad with realistic expectations.
It is important to know if this is the life for you. And the only way to get a good handle on that is to have a reasonable idea of what the situation is on the ground at your desired destination.
More than a few nice people have contacted me over the years asking about jobs in luxury resorts, as I live on a tropical island with many luxury resorts on it. These potential teachers are often expecting that they can get free lodging in a nice five-star villa and eat free meals at the resorts fine restaurants and live a jet-set lifestyle.
Wow – sign me up!
Now . . . resort teaching jobs can be some of the best English teaching jobs in the world, but I am sorry to tell you that they aren’t going to house you in a US$3000 a night villa while you work there. Nor are they likely to start uncorking expensive champagnes as part of your “meals on the job” benefit.
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Stay tuned, we will get to all of these issues and much much more.
EnjoY!
Ted
Tags: Jobs Abroad, Jobs Overseas, Teach English, Teaching English, Work Abroad, Work Overseas
Research your Job | Ted | 
August 13, 2009 9:42 AM
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