Teaching Overseas: How to Choose a Destination

(This post was written by Lindsey Harper Mac.  Please welcome her as a new contributor to adaptivelearnin.  You will see other posts from her within the next few weeks, so stay tuned.  We always welcome guest contributors.  If you are interested in joining the team please contact us.)

You’re about to graduate and the world lies before your feet. You could, like a majority of people head down the road most traveled and straight onto your career path, or you could choose to explore the world before settling down. If you’ve been itching to explore foreign destinations but haven’t a clue about how to afford a lifestyle abroad, you might want to consider teaching English in another country.

In some countries, native-English speakers are in demand as teachers. These countries, which include but are not limited to Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, offer English teaching positions that can be relatively high paying. Most teaching positions also include housing and some even pay for your flights.

If this sounds interesting to you, then take a look at the following examples of countries that offer teaching positions abroad. They might just have you packing your bags and renewing your passport before you know it.

South Korea

South Korea has a reputation for offering competitive salaries, approximately $1,700 to $2,500 a month, depending on your qualifications. Your housing will typically be provided and, in some cases, even your round-trip airfare will be covered. South Korea also has a lower cost-of-living than Japan, another popular teaching destination. Most English teaching positions in South Korea do require a four-year bachelor’s degree, while a teaching certificate is generally preferred, but not always required.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia pays some of the best teaching-abroad salaries in the world, about $3,000 to $4,500 a month tax-free, plus free housing. Unfortunately, teaching job opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are often limited to men, and competition can be extremely high for these opportunities. These positions typically require a four-year degree, with teaching certificates preferred, but not required.

For the experience

In some developing countries, you may not get paid at all and; in fact, you may have to pay for your own housing, flights and other incidentals. Doesn’t sound like much of a bargain, right? However, the volunteers who go on these trips, which are typically in poor developing African nations such as Sudan, do so not for monetary benefit but for the experience of working with populations who need assistance.

Preparing to teach abroad

Before choosing a country in which to teach, consider all the variables. For example, Dubai generally pays its English teachers well, but this country also has a relatively high cost of living. Hours, too, can vary. In some countries, such as Japan, students attend school for longer periods of time than in other countries.

Insurance for teaching abroad is important, especially if you will be working in a developing country. Make sure to evaluate policies carefully to determine exactly what your insurance for teaching abroad will cover. Unexpected medical expenses can put a damper on your time overseas and potentially lead to financial problems when you return to the United States.

Teach abroad, broaden horizons

Teaching English abroad is a great way of seeing the world while gaining experience that can make your resume stand out – particularly if you learn how to speak another language because of your experience teaching abroad. Plus, you will get to meet new people and immerse yourself in a new culture, often while getting paid for an exciting opportunity.

Written by Lindsey Harper Mac.  Lindsey is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. She specializes in writing guest posts on social media and education. Currently, Lindsey is completing work on her master’s degree.  You can get a hold of her on Twitter at @Harpermac11.