Realities of Teaching English Abroad

So, you want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Well, you've come to the right place. I’m a seasoned English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and recruiter with over twenty years of experience in the ESL industry. I’ve taught English all over the world and have experienced my fair share of ups and downs – from heart-racing earthquakes mid-class to heart-warming bear hugs at the end of a course.

It’s time to confess a few things that ESL teachers don’t always tell you. Keep reading to uncover the realities of teaching English abroad, along with the reality checks that help keep it all in perspective.

Yep, it's true. I’m not going to lie – the first month living and working in any new country is a huge transition and can feel overwhelming. You’ll have to find somewhere to live, open a bank account, sort out your phone, master a new curriculum, get to know your colleagues and students, work out how to navigate your new city, and depending on where you’ve decided to have your adventure, you may even need to learn a whole new language to top it all off.

Reality Check: As strange as it sounds, this is one of the reasons ESL teachers move from country to country and continue doing what they do. The adrenaline you feel from dropping yourself into a foreign land where everything around you is unfamiliar, and then slowly finding your feet and becoming the master of your brand new life, is exhilarating – and addictive! There’s no better way to test your mettle and prove to yourself what you’re really made of.

If it's your first ESL job abroad and you need a bit of help, no problem. These days, you can find ESL schools that support you every step of the way, helping with your initial transition and taking most of the burden off your shoulders.

I hate to break it to you, but teaching English abroad is a real job. If you’re imagining catching a few waves in between classes, you’ll be sorely mistaken. You’ll have set work hours, lessons to plan, and students’ work to mark. You’ll teach lessons when your students want them – in the afternoons and evenings, on weekends, and during the summer holidays. You’ll be asked some tough grammar questions, so you’ll need to know your stuff. Teaching English abroad isn’t a walk in the park; you’ll be working hard.

Reality Check: Yes, you’ll work hard – I’m not denying it, but you’ll also play hard too. Your mornings might start with a quick gym session, followed by a language exchange over coffee before heading to school. Your evenings could be filled with impromptu karaoke nights with colleagues, your weekly expat football league, or grabbing a quick bite at a local food stall before heading to the latest club. Your weekends will be packed with day trips to nearby cities or even a quick jaunt to a neighbouring country.

When you teach English abroad, you’ll be busy both in and out of the classroom – but that’s exactly how we like it.

There’s no sugar-coating this one: you will miss at least one major family event back home while you’re teaching English abroad. It might be your grandma’s 70th birthday, your cousin’s wedding, or your little sister’s graduation. Whatever it is, you’ll need to accept that life at home will continue without you, and you won’t be able to return for every single family gathering. And while I’m on a roll, let’s throw in Christmas – you’ll miss a Christmas or two, and that’s just the way it is.

Reality Check: Yes, you’ll miss out on a few things back home, but the experiences you’ll have overseas will more than make up for it. And trust me, by the time you get home, your family will have forgotten all about it – they’ll be too busy checking out your photos. As for Christmas? Don’t sweat it. I’ve had some of the best Christmases I’ve ever had while living abroad. Picture this: a tiny Asian living room, 20 expat friends, colleagues, and random locals all crowded around with wonky party hats on, digging into our makeshift Christmas dinner of roast turkey (a miracle we found one in China!), frozen pizza, steamed fish, our neighbour's famous pork dumplings, some random sushi, and mountains of 7-Eleven donuts. Best Christmas ever!

So, there you have it – no big dark secret. The reality of teaching English abroad is that some days will be good, some will be even better, and others may not be so great. But either way, you’ll have a great story to tell. Take the leap today and find out for yourself!