Debunking Myths about International Teaching

When I first moved to Thailand, it was just to teach English to Thai local students. Regardless of being dreadfully unqualified, the company I was working with told me that people usually did it for the experience and qualification would come in due time. It wasn’t a “career kind of thing” but more of a resume booster. (Yes this was actually said to me.)

Well, here I am, many years later, no longer teaching English, but now teaching Maths at an international school. After being here for so long, I’ve gotten quite a few messages inquiring about teaching and some accusing me of never working and thus wanted to set the record straight about what this life is actually like.

Myth: Local Schools aren’t like real schools

Fact: They ARE real schools, but my presence there serves a different purpose

What’s the difference between teaching in a Local School and an International School?

The biggest difference I have found is that you are in each place for different reasons. My experience only deals with Thai local schools, but after speaking to some friends teaching in other countries, the same conclusions were reached.

When you are hired at a local school, you are mainly there for exposure.

At a Thai school, parents are excited because their student is being exposed to a Native English Speaker (NES) in ways they otherwise might not be. When I was teaching at my Thai school, I wasn’t teaching students new information, but rather cementing the old knowledge they’d acquired from their Thai teachers.

When you are hired at an International School, you are hired because you are a qualified or competent teacher in your field.

For instance, while I was teaching students about verbs and sentence structure at my Thai school, the English teachers at my current international school are teaching about theme and getting students to analyze text.

Local Schools can also literally be anywhere in the country while International School tend to be in bigger places of business where expats live.

Myth: Teachers abroad don’t actually teach, they just travel

Fact: We do BOTH. We follow a fairly strict school calendar and travel during our free time

How do you travel all the time?

Because it’s EASY when you live abroad. Tickets are cheap and transportation is aplenty.

From Chiang Mai, RT tickets for Bangkok are a little as 15USD if I time buying tickets correctly. I’m a short hour flight away from countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Busses are in tall supply here ready to take me to new cities multiple times a day.

I’ve never lived in Europe, but I imagine it would be similar to living there….but just a fraction of the cost.

I also prioritize travel above everything else.

Even though living in Asia is cheap, the money you’re spending doesn’t feel real. Coming from the states, its bright colors and different sizes (even to this day) feel like monopoly money and if I’m not paying attention, I’ll wake up to find it’s all gone. (This has happened tooooo many times)

So I’ve instead spent a lot of time turning down daily coffee and weekly drinks to save what I can here and there and I put that money towards a plane ticket instead.

Myth: It’s hard to get a job teaching internationally

Fact: It’s not. There are plenty of options out there to help you find a job that suits your needs.

How do I get a job at an International School?

There are many ways to get into international teaching, but first and foremost, you’ll generally need a teaching degree, or be in the process of getting one. Unlike getting a gig teaching English at a local school, where you need only a TESOL and a Bachelors Degree, most international school require you to have a teaching license from your home country.

There are also agencies whose main goal is to help find you a job. Search Associates is one of the more popular agencies but there are many others who work just as well.

Depending on where you live, there are also teaching fairs that will sometimes hire you right on the spot if they like you enough!

How do I get a job at a Local School?

Most of that information can be found here. But it’s essentially the same as getting an international job with a slightly different process.

While it’s possible to just walk into different schools at the beginning and end of each year and hand them your resume, most people use an agent. Typically, there is some program from your home country that will set you up with a TESOL course and a company to help you find a job.

Myth: Hanging with locals is dangerous

Fact: It’s only as dangerous as you allow it to be.

So what are the locals like?

I can only speak for the Thai locals, but they are honestly some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. Many of my coworkers have Thai friends and are in Thai language classes. It really enhances the experience of living here.

I feel like if you are going to go through the trouble of moving your life across the world, you should also take some time to know the people of the country you are inhabiting.

In SE Asia in particular, I have never felt unsafe. That being said, my guard isn’t usually ever all the way down. I’m widely aware of my surroundings and make sure to keep my valuables close.

Myth: Other countries don’t have the things I need

Fact: All countries have your basic necessities

But can I find things from home?

Yes and no.

All the basics are easily found here and there are number of export shops that expats will do their shopping at. However, as it is a different country, they do have different standards and if you are quite fond of a particular something, do some research to find out if they have it where you want to live.

When I first came here, I had no idea that stick deodorant was not a thing in Thailand and had a mini panic attack before I got my mom to send me some.

Myth: I won’t be able to support myself abroad

Fact: In general, teaching abroad is cheaper than living back at home.

How much money do you make?

Currently, it’s not much. But considering the cost of living here, I make enough to save and pay bills from home and travel a little on the side.

However, from some of the job postings I’ve seen and after talking to other teachers, depending on your field and qualifications, you can make anywhere from 30,000 – 70,000 USD or more a year.

Plus with cheap cost of living in most countries, the amount you’d be able to save is unreal.

Did I mention that housing and annual flights are usually thrown into this deal too?

On any given month that I stay in Chiang Mai and don’t travel, I pay about $250 a month on food and $150 on rent and utilities. As a part of my contract, I have a monthly stipend for rent which is usually $400 for a 2 bedroom house.

Myth: I’m missing out on important life events back at home

Fact: You probably are, but you’re simultaneously forging your OWN path as you do so.

Living abroad is not for everyone.

It’s as difficult as it is amazing. Most of the time I’m running around screaming that I can’t believe I’ve been living this way for so long! But every now and then I’ll get so homesick I can’t move.

But regardless of the events I’m missing, being abroad is the way that I am supposed to be living. I’ll go home for the really important events, but I’ve learned I can support my friends from Chiang Mai just as well as if I was living in another city or state from them.

Now that I’ve said all of that….

Teaching internationally is not that much different from teaching at home. It’s the same as living anywhere else just in a unfamilar location. I’m still living my best life on a daily basis. I still have bosses who frustrate me and I have kids who don’t do their homework.

I go out and buy my own supplies when my school budget tells me no. I plan curriculum and then come home and work some more.

The biggest difference comes from location. The people that thrive abroad are the ones who are okay with sitting in uncomfortable situations. The ones who are flexible and down for a little adventure.

So if that sounds like you, then I encourage you to try out for this new adventure. You’ll never know what it’s like until you’re in it. If it doesn’t work, home is always waiting for you, and you’ll be satisfied knowing that even though it didn’t work out, you damn well gave it your very best anyways.

And if it does work out, then man oh man do you have the adventure of a lifetime ahead.

Always rooting for you
xo
-Ari

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