Preparing to Teach Abroad – Taking a Look at Yourself

Alex Hopkins has worked with Teachanywhere for more than 3 years and is responsible for helping teachers achieve their international dreams, helping to secure them teaching posts in schools throughout the world!  In this blog he provides his invaluable insight on the qualities needed to succeed in International teaching and how he and the team at Teachanywhere can help....

Teaching abroad can be a dream come true. It can be an escape from the rat race and an invaluable opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture. There are few better ways to meet new people and broaden your outlook on life. With so many new international schools springing up across the world it has never been easier to build a new life outside of the U.K. The golden rule is to know what you are getting into and make sure you are making the right move for the right reasons.

We recognise that choosing to relocate to a new country is a monumental step. It’s not just a change of job, but also a new lifestyle, often in a different culture.  You will often be faced with unexpected pitfalls and obstacles that will test you. To prepare for this we find that it helps to identify and embrace your shortcomings so that you’re ready to tackle unforeseen difficulties head on.

There are many qualities needed to teach abroad, but the major ones are:-

·         Adaptability

·         Courage

·         Perseverance

·         Resourcefulness

·         Congeniality

·         And last, but certainly not least, a sense of humour

A good starting point is to take a good hard look at yourself. Are you the sort of person who can get by on your own in unfamiliar situations? Are you a natural problem solver who is able to keep a balanced perspective and make the necessary compromises to fit into an alien culture? What have your life experiences taught you? Are you an optimistic person who has been able to cope with life’s ups and downs? These are all vital traits for international teaching.

Being informed is the key to your success and we are here to give you as much information as possible about the schools we work with and their locations. It is also invaluable, however, if you do some research of your own. Have a think about the destinations that appeal to you – what type of climate suits you? What is your priority in finding a job abroad – professional development, money or a better work-lifestyle balance?

It always helps when teachers approach us with a clear idea of what they are looking for. This will also help you in an interview situation – schools like to see that you have a good understanding of both the country you’re planning to go to and also of your own internal goals. Showing your passion for a location and a school at interview stage is vital.

We are here to guide you through the job-hunting process and make things as easy as possible for you. With the right preparation and personal insight teaching abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your career. You are about to embark on a daring, life-changing adventure. You should be informed and you should be self-aware but, above all, you should be very excited.