15 Reasons Why You Should Teach English Abroad!

Have you ever dreamed of living abroad? I’m sure you’ve seen videos on the internet of people having the time of their lives in countries like Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain, and many more.

You’re probably wondering, what kind of work do they do to have that extraordinary lifestyle? The answer is TEACHING ENGLISH! 

Teaching English abroad is one of the best ways to work and live in a foreign country legitimately. It is an opportunity that will provide you with enough pay and time to enjoy life.

It’s also a great way to kick start your career in a high note and will lead you to many incredible opportunities in the future.

In this article, I have come up with 15 great reasons why you should teach English abroad! It’s never too late to take the journey of a lifetime!

You Can Make and Save Money

Depending on where you are, teaching English can be a great way to earn a substantial income. Salaries in East Asia are usually around $2000-3000 a month while you could earn up to $5000 a month in the Middle East!

Some may think that the salary teachers receive in Asia or other places is significantly lower than the average in their country. However, it’s essential to consider the factors which enable you to save more money.

The cost of living is generally lower in the East, so saving up to 50% of your salary is achievable!

With more savings potential abroad, you’ll be able to pay off your student loans and other debts sooner than expected and still enjoy life.

Remember…how much you can save depends on your lifestyle choices!

My top pick for the best country to teach English in is Japan. This country is known for its unique culture and high quality of life. You can begin your TESOL career in Japan with a salary of around $2500, which increases annually.

Countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are known to pay some of the highest salaries for ESL teachers, with figures ranging up to $5000 a month plus benefits!

Plenty of Free Time to Travel

On average, you will work around 15-25 hours a week as an ESL teacher abroad. You will also have many days off and free time to travel around the place you’re in or to neighboring countries. National holidays, summer, and winter break are also great times to travel!

With all the money you save from your salary, you will have chances to travel to new destinations every year and see things you haven’t seen before.

Traveling from countries like Japan and South Korea is far more affordable than the US or Australia. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore different locations and cultures when teaching abroad.

If you’re still in your 20’s or straight out of college, why not spend a year abroad teaching English? You’ll have none of the responsibilities that you’ll carry later on in life, like a mortgage, bills, or even a family.

Your 20’s would be the perfect opportunity to travel to a foreign country and gain valuable life experience. Teaching English abroad makes that possible!

Evergreen Job Market

The ESL market is HUGE. There are thousands of opportunities in small countries like Korea alone. The demand for English language education has rapidly increased due to globalization and international relations. Learning English is a compulsory subject in almost every school, and companies are requiring their employees to learn English to enter the global market.

No matter where you are in the world, it’s guaranteed that there will be a TEFL opportunity. Other industries may soon die out due to automation and other factors, but the ESL industry will always be booming.

International Work Experience Makes You Stand Out

International work experience is attractive to many employers, especially in industries that have a global focus. Teaching abroad proves that you can live, work, and interact with people from a different background and is practical work experience.

If you decide to leave the ESL industry, your experience abroad is still valuable. It will show that you’re an independent leader who doesn’t mind stepping out of their comfort zone. It makes teaching abroad a precious experience, both professionally and personally.

You Can Make a Difference in People’s Lives

The English language dominates the world. To some people living in developing countries, learning English is a gateway to better opportunities.

It’s heartwarming to hear stories of your student’s success after graduating from your class. Maybe that little boy from a small village ends up becoming a successful doctor or lawyer because you taught him English. It’s emotional just thinking about how much of an impact you’ll have on the lives of others as an English teacher!

By helping students with their English language learning, you are directly helping them increase their chances in life. That makes it all worth it!

You Can Make Many International Friends

Many new expats may feel a little nervous when arriving in a foreign country for the first time. Everyone speaks a different language, and you don’t know how things work…

The best way to become integrated into a new society is to make friends! Teaching English abroad will connect you to people from all walks of life. You will make friends with other teachers, locals, expats, students, etc.

There are so many activities and events that provide opportunities to meet new faces and make lifelong friends!

The social norms of making friends may be different than in your home country. That’s totally ok! You will learn how to adapt to your new environment and meet some awesome people.

You Can Make Business Connections

Not only will you make friends, but you will have the chance to network. Excellent opportunities come part and parcel with international business connections.

There are regular networking events that you can attend. You may also use applications like Meetup to find these events or join a Facebook group.

Networking and making business connections as an ESL teacher abroad will help you progress your career further in the future.

You Will Learn a New Language

When living abroad, you’ll have to adapt to your new environment. Part of that means learning the local tongue. You’ll need to know to do things such as buying groceries, travel, and making friends.

Learning a new language may seem complicated, but having constant exposure to the language will make your progress faster. With your new local friends, you’ll be able to converse and improve every single day!

Some TEFL programs in China also offer free Mandarin lessons after work, so you’ll have the opportunity to learn a brand new way to communicate!

You Will Be Immersed in a Different Culture

Learning a new language is just the first step. You will also start to learn about the history, culture, and customs of the country in which you’re working.

You’ll see how things are done differently here than back home and experience different customs. There will be many cultural festivals for you to attend, and the more you get involved, the more you’ll feel like a local.

You may also begin to learn more about your own culture as well. It may be difficult for those who have spent their whole lives in their country to understand under cultures. As someone who has taught English abroad, you will be the bridge between many different peoples and ideas.

You Will Gain Personal and Professional Development

Traveling to teach abroad may seem simple, but it requires strong qualities like determination, patience, and willingness to explore new things. When living in a foreign country, you will develop desirable traits such as independence, leadership potential, intercultural communication, and many more.

Dedicating yourself for a year as an English teacher in a school or language center abroad will prove to employers that you are someone who never quits. You’ll be seen as someone who always gets the job done.

These outstanding personal qualities will boost your professional development and turn you into the best version of yourself!

You Can Meet Someone Special

Traveling abroad is an adventure! You may just find the perfect match in your country of employment.

Dating is an essential aspect of cultural immersion. You will meet many potential partners on various dates and learn a lot about how relationships work abroad.

Many people have a desire to date people abroad or are looking for a person with a stable career and income. Teaching English abroad could see you taking wedding vows in just a few years!

It’s a Respectable Job

The role of a teacher is considered sacred in many cultures. Locals will respect you for traveling thousands of miles to teach in their country, and you will be placed in an honorable position in society.

Your students will look up to you as a role model and will greet you every lesson with big smiles and attentiveness. Your peers will also think highly of you, as someone who is making a difference in the world.

Being a teacher will also make you feel great about yourself. You will wake up every morning with a clearly defined purpose in life and a great social position.

So Many Benefits!

There are so many work benefits provided by your school or ESL company. Usually, you will be provided with subsidized housing or an allowance to find accommodation. Other benefits include;

• Healthcare
• Tax-Free pay for the first year
• Yearly bonuses
• Round flight trip reimbursements
• Paid vacation days including national holidays
• Sick days
• Free lunches
• Paid to attend extra-curricular activities such as school trips
• Language classes

Your workplace may even provide more benefits. All you have to do is ask.

You Will Start a New Life

Living abroad provides the opportunity to start fresh. You may have issues back home that you would prefer to leave behind. Moving to a new country will enable you to forget about those things and focus on the present.

Moving to a new country gives you the chance to reinvent yourself. You can flip the switch and analyze yourself. What do you like to do, who are the type of people you want to meet, etc.

Living abroad changes you. You will start to like new things, think differently, and learn more about yourself. You may enjoy living abroad so much that you’ll never go back home! It’s your life, go and live it to the fullest!

With your students, co-workers, new friends, partner, and social circle, you will be able to create new memories and cherish them for the rest of your life. You sill start a brand new life as a respected member of society, someone that people admire. You will be an independent, strong-minded, professional person of culture, all because you took that big step to teach English abroad.

It’s Simple to Get Started and a Straightforward Job

The requirements for becoming an English teacher are not that difficult. What you absolutely must have is a bachelor’s degree in any field and a TEFL Certification.

An undergraduate degree will take a few years to complete; however, a TESOL certification is obtainable at any time.

Once you have these, you’ll need to do some job hunting online and find a company or school that’s willing to hire you. Once you have a letter offering you employment, a health and criminal check, and some money saved, you’ll have all the requirements to apply for a work visa. After that, your journey to teaching English abroad begins!

Teaching English is not the easiest job. There will be times where you have to face significant challenges in your career. Sometimes you will come across students who are an absolute nightmare to teach, and other times you’ll have to overcome non-work related incidents.

Teaching English may not be easy, but it’s not extremely difficult. Through the guidance of the Engage-Study-Activate methodology and lesson plans, you will be able to teach any student and bring out excellent results effectively.

There are so many reasons why teaching English abroad is the best choice for you! There are endless opportunities available all year round, decent pay, and plenty of free time in a low-stress environment.