Top Five Traits of People Who Teach English Abroad

Have you recently been thinking about teaching English abroad, but wondered whether you’re the right fit for the role?

Teaching English abroad has grown enormously in popularity over the past few years. Through social media and travel blogs, people are sharing their experiences of living overseas – and many of them are doing so by teaching English as a foreign language. Have you ever wondered whether teaching English abroad is right for you?

Here are the top five traits of people who successfully teach English abroad.

Whether it's due to a cancelled flight, an English lesson that doesn't go as planned, or language barrier mishaps, being adaptable is one of the most important traits to being successful at teaching English abroad. Once the initial excitement of moving to a new country settles, you are left to navigate your new city, adapt to new cultural norms, and adjust to your new job. While stressful situations may arise, being flexible and adaptable will lead to a world of possibilities, friendships, and opportunities in your new home.

This one may seem obvious, but moving abroad to teach English requires a genuine respect for the cultural norms of your host country. Some behaviours that might be considered rude in the West are perfectly acceptable in the East. For example, greetings in parts of Asia may involve a simple nod of the head, whereas in Europe, a casual friend might greet you with a kiss on both cheeks.

It’s a good idea to do some research on the country you’re moving to and to remain open to learning new customs and traditions. You might even find that you prefer the more relaxed nature of your new home!

This doesn’t mean you need to be completely fearless or go skydiving or hike Mount Everest. In fact, many adventures begin with a sense of fear – but you take that step forward anyway, ready to experience something new and amazing.

That adventure might be as simple as boarding the plane to move abroad, trying an unusual local dish, or visiting a small seaside town armed with only a few phrases of the local language.

Adventure seekers often make excellent English teachers, because they view each day as a new adventure – even within the classroom.

This was probably my favourite part of living and working abroad in Asia – and something I didn’t realise I valued so much until I returned home. The teaching schedule for English teachers abroad is often far less intensive than it would be back home. There’s minimal work to take home, and lessons at most language schools typically take place in the late afternoons and evenings.

This leaves you with plenty of free time during the day to try new things. Want to take language classes? Go for a morning hike? Try a new hobby like Tai Chi or rock climbing? These are all within reach – and usually far more affordable than they would be back home.

Take this year abroad as a chance to truly explore your interests!

This one is simple. Don’t like children or have no real interest in teaching? Then teaching English abroad probably isn’t for you. Teaching can quickly become a difficult and draining job if it doesn’t suit your personality – and chances are, you already know whether it's a good fit for you or not.

However, if you value the intrinsic rewards of helping others – and love the idea of seeing children light up with smiles when their favourite foreign teacher walks into the classroom – then teaching English abroad could be an unforgettable experience.

You don’t need years of experience or to know every grammar rule by heart. What you do need is empathy, patience, and compassion. And let’s be honest – it’s also a lot of fun!