What I Wish I Knew Before My Teaching Abroad Experiences

Hi—I’m Julia Zaremba. And here’s my experience teaching abroad. ☆ I had absolutely no idea what to expect the first day of school, with my shiny new shoes, packed lunch, and folder full of notes I quickly discarded. As I got off the morning train commute, I began to freak out a bit. Would they like me? Are they nice? Where do I sit at lunch? Do we get potty breaks?

Basically, the first day of teaching abroad is just like every first day of school you had-- times ten. There’s all the doubts, worries, and questions (plus some additional ones, like Did I get on the right train? and How does the espresso machine work?), and all of the introductions, school orientation tours, and sighs of relief at the end of the day (I survived, none of my students have two heads, and I even made the goth dude laugh!). It’s like going to school for the first time, but backwards. With a bit more responsibility. But, in the end, with all the desire to fit in, be liked, find cool new friends, and not trip over yourself as before.

My own teaching abroad experience started with a host family in a little village outside of a little town I was teaching in, a few metro stops outside of Milan. And an utter lack of experience, having been contacted last-minute to teach English to a high school. The immersion teaching method meant that I had to teach all of the subjects (yes, even physics and gym, which I thought I was done with forever) to about 20 different classes ranging from freshmen to seniors. It was a LOT of lessons plans to come up with (I definitely learned a lot more about volcanic movements than I cared for, and sang the entire Grease soundtrack enough to recite it backwards), and a lot of different types of students to work with. But teaching English abroad experiences also opened my eyes to a lot of things about myself: that living with big families isn’t for me, that I love grammar and literature, that not all pop music is bad, that friends abroad are even more beautiful than Venetian canals.

And a few other lessons that I still hold dear to me.

11 major takeaways from my teaching English abroad experiences

1. It’s just as important to speak the local language as it is to teach others English.

Going abroad bearing the important weight of teaching the universal language, we sometimes lose sight that there are other equally-important languages abroad… such as the local one. Make an effort to pick up as many local words and cool slang expressions abroad as you do to impart English enlightenment; not only will you have a significantly easier time communicating with students/coworkers/everyone, but you’ll come to understand the fun and hardships of learning a new language.

2. Life (even abroad) isn’t always la dolce vita.

Living in Italy was one crazy Vespa ride through a crowded metropolis, complete with endless potholes, red traffic lights, and really amazing views. For the most part, it was beautiful sculptures from 600 years ago (my private high school did have its own chapel, complete with a stained-glass window on par with Notre Dame), champagne at la Scala, and delicious focaccia, but there was also plenty of frustration. Between endless lessons plans, bizarre grading schemes, lack of green juice, and Italian bureaucracy that moves at a snail’s pace, there was exasperation sprinkled in these teach English abroad experiences. Good thing Italy has a hand gesture for every intense emotion- and plenty of wine for long weeks.

3. Wearing heels gains respect.

Especially in a fashion-centered city such as Milano, first impressions do matter. Dress nicely, stand up straight, put on some heels, and at least look like you know what you’re doing- even if you don’t even know which corridor your first class is in. Carry yourself with confidence, look people in the eye, and act like you’re a pro. Like dogs, kids can smell fear—don’t give any unnecessary bait. Gain respect first, then work on the rest. Discipline was probably the most difficult part when it came to my teaching abroad experiences, both because of Italy’s long history of denying authority and the general lack of interest in English. Be a cough cookie- with a creamy gianduia interior.

4. Life lessons continue outside the classroom walls.

Learning starts in the classroom and continues into every park trail, city duomo, museum, and little cobblestoned street. You’ll face plenty of challenges at school, and even more outside of it: embrace the entire experience. Similarly, try to come up with lesson plans that students can take away with them after the exam. Relevance is the key to being listened to; make English more than just grammar and vocabulary, but an entire different way of thinking. Come up with ways to involve interest, make learning accessible, and try to make lessons universal.

5. Not everyone learns the same.

Not only did I have the minds from three different high school types (the classical, tech, and social approaches), but also from five different grade levels. I had some really brilliant students, and some with learning disabilities- often within the same classroom. It’s difficult to vary teaching methods in order to engage everyone, as well as to set a pace everyone is comfortable with. But, flexibility is key. Be patient, personalize, and persevere.

6. Be prepared.

Pack smartly before you go (take the local work dress etiquette into consideration), read up on teaching abroad experiences, review all of the legal paperwork, keep up with lesson plans, have a big, bright calendar for all due dates, tidy your room, and wake up ready to confront anything. You can’t plan for everything, but it helps to be organized, both inside and outside the classroom. Mismatched socks aren’t as cool in Milano as in San Fran.

7. Make the right friends.

Make friends with the passionate teachers at school; see what makes them successful, ask for help, and take advantage of their contagious sparkle of enthusiasm for teaching. Likewise, find inspiring friends abroad that you can share hobbies, problems, and apperitivi with; becoming part of a community can save your sanity when feeling like a fish out of water abroad.

8. Not all teach abroad experiences/programs are created equally.

A couple of times in the semester, we had group meetings in some scenic Italian town with the entire crew from my teaching organization. People always shared stories, and I was always impressed by how wildly different the teaching abroad experiences were- even within the same program. So, keep in mind some basics when looking at programs: age groups, classroom sizes (or private classes), teaching methods, extra expectations, housing and payment procedures. There are pro’s and con’s to each program, so it is important to find the one that matches your personality the best. Don’t sign up for a homestay and teach kindergarten mobs if you want a solo space and want to work with troubled teens.

9. Try new things (and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself).

One of the biggest advantages of getting teachers from abroad is that they come with a completely different perspective. So, do find out what is expected, but don’t be afraid to introduce new teaching methods and projects. Try new things, make mistakes, learn, and try again. Continue this idealogy outside of the classroom as well; don’t be afraid of language slips, take up new activities, and give eating dinner at 22:00 a chance.

10. Draw the line between school and home.

I certainly wanted every student to magically love me, but I did refuse every Facebook friend request from anyone ten years younger than me. Be accessible to the students, but don’t blur the line between “friend” and “teacher.” Also, lesson planning can go late into the night, but do make an effort to set a limit to how much schoolwork you take home. If you are getting paid for 25 hours a week, don’t spend 100 hours on extra work: you can become a workaholic when you are back home, not when there is an entire new country to explore.

11. Always answer “sì!” to “caffè?”

Whether a student offers you a plastic cup from the vending machine between classes, a co-worker invites you to the bar during lunch break, or the cute stranger in the piazza nods to the corner café, don’t turn down this social gem. Say yes to opportunities, especially those that are essential to the local culture: most bonding happens over that tiny cup of espresso in Italy.

Is teaching English abroad worth it?

Correct answer: yes! Teaching abroad is a great option for those looking to go abroad, especially since it puts some moolah into your bank account to fund future travels. It’s a learning experience that gives enough structure to add a meaningful routine into daily life abroad, but still leaves enough freedom to explore and adventure. Teaching English abroad experiences offer an invaluable chance to grow as a person, step out of the comfort zone, learn a new language, make a positive impact upon the world, and put a bright, shiny star sticker on top of your resume. It’s like an entire degree compacted into a single semester, full of hands-on activities, and enough extra credit experiences that you’ll be at the top of any college or work application stack. Plus, with the international network you make abroad, there will be lifelong opportunities to inspire and engage in for years to come.

Teaching English abroad experiences offer automatic entrance to the cool club in school, mostly because you get to be called Professor in another language and you get access to a global map of work posts. While a solid application is the main factor, a mere undergraduate degree and TEFL certification (totes worth it!) opens up career opportunities in over 75 countries. And every one of those teaching listings varies as much as the terrain, languages, of each country. So, whether you want to teach in a small school outpost in the Canadian snow blizzards or in a tropical shack in the Dominican Republic, there is a story waiting to be written by you- and a classroom of eager students.

Ready to experience teaching abroad?

What you get out of the experience is what you put in, so if you want the travel story of a lifetime, pack in all of your idealistic enthusiasm, colorful clothes, and bright plans to change the world for the better, and become part of a teaching force abroad. Not only will you inspire dozens of chipper kids to save the world (in English, of course), but you will learn more than you taught and come away with more than you brought.

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