The Benefits Of Teaching Abroad

[International Expat]

If you've ever thought about becoming an international educator, it's time to stop dreaming and start doing. There are many personal, professional and financial reasons to make it a reality, so why not step up and do it?

One of the top reasons to start teaching abroad is that you will be in demand and treated with an incredible amount of respect. While teachers in America are getting paid less and less and jobs are hard to find, the demand for teachers who speak English in other countries is continually growing. You can often make much more money teaching abroad than you can at home – and finally feel that your skills are valued.

This comes from the fact that most countries realize if they want to compete in the global marketplace, they need English skills. Therefore, they are willing to invest in native speakers who can provide them. You'll find yourself offered small class sizes, pension opportunities, competitive salaries and many other benefits. (Perhaps, most importantly, most countries offer free health care for people who work inside their borders.) Many schools even offer housing or housing allowances.

This attitude is reflected in the student body itself, which really wants to learn what you are there to teach, which means international educators often have higher job satisfaction levels than those who stay at home.

You'll also get to experience other cultures, learn new languages, and see the world. This helps you become a more well-rounded person, while also giving you skills that make you more competitive if and when you return to the American workforce. This will also help you make international contacts that can help you if you ever decide to go into business.

The IRS also offers significant tax breaks to people who spend most of the year outside our borders – and who doesn't like avoiding the IRS if possible?

What many people really like is that they can change jobs easily. You aren't stuck in one school or even one country for an extended period of time. If after a year of teaching in Madrid, for example, you decide you want to see Asia, you can easily find a teaching spot in Japan or Vietnam!

Over the course of your international teaching career, you'll meet all kinds of interesting people from around the globe. You'll feel your life constantly moving forward instead of being stuck in neutral. Many people find their future spouses while teaching abroad, and nearly all make friends that last a lifetime.

Job security, financial incentives, a chance for adventure, and the flexibility to work where you want to are all part of the full package that comes with teaching abroad.

It's even easy to become qualified. Many schools simply require that you are a native English speaker. Others will require that you become TOEFL certified, but that can be accomplished after taking a quick and fairly inexpensive course. However, the big international schools will require their teachers to have a valid USA teaching certification.   This is also fairly easy to get with a bit of work. 

So, if you've ever thought about teaching internationally, what's holding you back? The world is yours to explore and learn from, while you teach others the valuable skills they need to thrive.

cc Michael 2016