Five Life Lessons from Teaching Abroad

I have been teaching in China for over a year and a half now, and during that time I have learned some life lessons (some easier to learn than others) that I think everyone should read before making the plunge to teach abroad. These life lessons might sound cheesy, but they truly are a reflection of my time abroad. I have learned more about myself and my goals, expectations, strengths, and more from my time in China than all of my post-secondary education put together. After all, experience is the best teacher!

When I first came to China to teach English, I thought that teaching abroad was something only young 20-year-old Americans did during their gap year. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at my centre and met a diverse range of colleagues from various ages, backgrounds, and nationalities. What I quickly realised was that, for many, teaching abroad wasn’t just a job: it was a career. Over the past 16 months of teaching, I’ve seen numerous colleagues, myself included, discover that teaching abroad can develop into a fulfilling career. Of course, you can stick with teaching and specialise in that area, but many don’t realise that there is a lot of `behind the scenes' work involved in teaching as well. From managers and engagement specialists to content creators, quality assurance, and more, teaching is more than just a classroom. You can develop countless skills that will serve you well throughout your career.

As I mentioned before, I have met some amazing people through my centre and teaching abroad in general. I have met lawyers from South Africa, snowboarders from Australia, and young tattoo artists from China. One of the best things about teaching abroad is that the people are fantastic! Your colleagues will become friends whom you will keep in touch with for the rest of your life. Moreover, working in another country means you will meet so many locals who can show you the authentic flavour of your city and country. Having diverse friends and co-workers has opened me up to many different viewpoints, experiences, and pieces of advice, and I truly believe I am a better person because of it. Plus, it’s a great way to build a global network!

A lot of people I know teach abroad because they are still figuring out their passions in life. In my case, I discovered that teaching is one of my passions. For some, teaching might just be something they do for a couple of years, while for others, it’s a lifetime pursuit. What’s great about teaching abroad is that you get to experiment. You might love all parts of teaching, or just a few, but that’s okay because you’re one step closer to understanding your wants, needs, and strengths in the workplace. For example, perhaps you find that you love lesson planning, enjoy explaining complex grammar concepts, or coming up with fun educational games. Each of these skills reveals something about you: maybe you're analytical, you like presenting concepts from different angles, or you're a creative type. The classroom is such a diverse working environment that you’re sure to find something you're passionate about.

Even after more than a year and a half of teaching, I find that I am still learning new and better ways to teach. One of the best things about teaching abroad, in my opinion, is that no two days are ever exactly the same. I’m someone who always craves variety in the workplace; I tend to get bored at a job after about a year. This complacency is almost impossible as a teacher, due to the unpredictable nature of children (and often adults, too!). The field of teaching is always evolving, constantly finding new ways to incorporate psychology, learning habits, human behaviour, new media, and more. You can enter a class well-prepared, expecting a certain outcome, and leave the class realising something you hadn’t even considered before. Some might not enjoy that teaching keeps you on your toes and forces you to be flexible, but I absolutely love it! I know it might sound like a cliché, but I do genuinely believe that sometimes I learn more from my students than they learn from me.

The road to teaching abroad can be winding, circuitous, and meandering (word of the day); but this is half the fun! For some, teaching abroad is as easy as buying a plane ticket. For others, it takes years of meticulous planning. Either way, those who teach abroad quickly realise that the real adventure comes when you least expect it. There are many different paths one can take, but travelling these paths is worth it – I promise! I never expected to be teaching in one of the biggest cities in the world, but I wouldn’t trade my experiences for anything. Be prepared for teaching abroad to challenge your expectations of what adventure can be.