From needlessly fancy watches to timeshare vacation homes, everything seems to be a “lifestyle” nowadays. I always laugh when I hear about these “lifestyle choices,” because they’re nothing compared to what I think is a real chance to alter how you see the world and yourself: teaching English abroad.
Going overseas to teach English can, sometimes in a space of weeks, change your profession—and your perspective—dramatically. Everything and everyone around you will change when you go abroad, and you will change too—and, for the better.
For those of us who really crave “something else,” who want to change not only our surroundings but also our wold view, teaching English abroad is the chance to do just that.
I’ve been living abroad for over 20 years. I’ve traveled to distant lands, seen exotic sights, and soaked up sun and surf on more of the world’s best beaches than a lot of the “rich and famous” you’ll see in celebrity magazines. That same lifestyle—my lifestyle—is waiting for you.
And, unlike paparazzi-chased film stars, English teachers abroad have the time and the local connections to experience traveling overseas at a far deeper level. Even other long-term tourists who spend a month or a year globe-trotting won’t get the same understanding of foreign culture as you will from teaching abroad. When you’re a teacher, you spend all day, every day sharing your time with (and gaining experience from) a diverse bunch of students, co-workers and neighbors. It’s this diversity that makes the world an interesting place—and that makes teaching English my chosen profession.
On top of that, you’ll get the chance to really delve into the language spoken in your host country if you so choose. You’ll know more about the quirks and foibles of their culture than most people get from studying guidebooks or watching a travel show on TV.
So, that’s my sales pitch for this wonderful lifestyle…are you wondering how much this will cost you?
Ha! Cost? Nothing! They will PAY you to embrace this lifestyle. Is that the deal to end all deals or what?
TED’s Tips™ #1: Of course, being an EFL teacher isn’t for everyone, but if you recognize in yourself that you have a strong, insatiable curiosity about the world and the amazing, incredible people living in it, then there’s a good chance it is right for you.
TED’s Tips™ #2: Don’t just sit at home! Make the most out of your life! Explore and learn what the real world is like. Don’t rely on the mind-numbing, fear-mongering TV programs to tell you.
- Teaching Internships in China
Here at TEFL Newbie, we’re always interested in getting informative guest articles from teachers who have experience abroad.