Is Teaching English Abroad Hard?

Q: Is teaching English abroad hard?

 Simple A: Yes. 

Complete A: Yes, but it’s worth it.

When I was offered my first position teaching English abroad, I (quite naively) didn’t get too nervous. After all, I spoke English as easily as I ordered breakfast tacos: how difficult could it be to impart knowledge so ingrained in your everyday brain?

Is teaching English abroad hard? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Read on!

Uhm… yeah. No. Because let me tell you a secret about teaching English: the language is the least of your focus. Next to disciplining tough dudes, getting kids’ attention, inspiring conversation, trying to make lessons relevant to everyday life, setting the line between “teacher” and “friend”, coming up with fun classroom games, and attempting to figure out just what you are expected to impart is gonna take a lot more time than explaining grammar rules or expanding vocabulary. And, actually, all that stuff is a lot more important than straightening out ABC’s.

After the final exam, students will remember your enthusiasm and new way of thinking. They’ll appreciate the extra time you spent chatting with them after class, the chocolate chip cookies you brought, and the funny video clips played in class. And you’ll recall the silly skits, the Facebook requests (to be accepted only after the term ends, of course), and the thank-you notes that still come years later.

Are there petty reasons why not to teach English abroad? Yes. It’s not for everyone and there are difficult moments. But, no matter how frustrating it seems, there are evergreen reasons for how worthwhile the work is. Teaching English abroad is an exchange of time and effort, and the more you devote to the task, the more you will walk away with. While teaching a language, you learn a lifestyle worth more than an A+.

So, just what is it like to teach English abroad?

Beyond answering your question “Is teaching English abroad hard?,” I want to lay out some #realtalk about the life of an ESL teacher abroad.

Exact scenarios vary drastically, depending on which country you’re based in and what kind of gig you have: public school, private school, one-on-on tutoring, etc. Hours, school systems, class sizes, and students` ages vary, so there is no one accurate description.

Don’t be surprised if your classroom abroad has the bare minimum equipment.

Con: It’s difficult to really know what you’re getting into. With so many options and differences between cultures and programs, every teaching abroad experience is as unique as every kid’s brain.

Pro: Such a diversity of options allows you to create a scenario that you’re genuinely interested in. Don’t sign up to teach 28 5-year olds in rural Nicaragua if you don’t like young kids. Don’t teach the winter semester in Lithuania if you don’t like the cold. Personalize and prioritize! Research programs and read reviews. The time spent finding the one is totes worth it.

[For example, I was teaching all subjects to 9-12 grade in three different high school “types,” all in English. Definitely a bit of everything. While the “full language immersion” concept sounded interesting to experiment with, the next teaching post, I looked for something that was limited to English classes. I would rather spend time creating fun games than researching atomic particles and geometric theorems for hours before being able to put together a dry Powerpoint.]

Nonetheless, there are a few common themes across the teaching abroad sphere. If you’re considering teaching abroad, keep this in mind:

Potential challenges to prepare for

New Job, New Country

It’s not easy being the new kid on the block. 

Not only are you taking up a new job, but you’re also moving to a foreign land. Talk about being out of your comfort bubble! Give yourself plenty of time to research teaching tips and general info about your new land: basic phrases, cultural customs, dress code, climate, etc. Cultural shock is going to happen anyways, but you can minimize transplant trauma by getting familiar with what you’re getting into. 

Arriving some time before school starts in order to sleep off jetlag, orient yourself geographically, and transition mentally to the new zip code is always a good idea. Being away from home takes some adjustment; use all resources available! Host families, the school board, program organizers, and friends-to-be are great to offer guidance and answer your own questions.

What is it like to teach English abroad? Many connections, smiles, and hugs!

Teaching Requires a Lot of Preparation

There is a universal joke that teaching is 25% research and 75% acting. Abroad, those statistics might be most accurate of all! The first few weeks of teaching abroad are going to be the toughest, not only because you’re getting to know a million kids and learning the layout of the school, but also because you’re pretty much going to be thrown head first into the class syllabi. 

My first week, I was teaching 21 hours; 12 different classes and 13 different subjects. Each class had their own required lesson plan, but I didn’t get them until a couple of days before school starting- and even then, they were extremely vague. It takes a bit of interpretation, making judgment calls, and researching everything from neutrons to symbolism in Frankenstein before coming up with interesting presentations for class. I’m no math or science wiz, but I had to play the role when on stage. Don’t lie. But don’t be shy.

The beginning ain’t easy. Don’t give up. Plow through. Buy a big agenda and highlighters. It gets better and it’s worth the investment to begin the semester organized.

It Takes Time to Sync

As weeks roll by, you learn to reuse concepts and know what kind of activities to prepare for each class. You begin to share materials with other teachers, figure out the grading scale, and learn to improvise assignments. 

Likewise, life outside the classroom begins to fall into place. It’s not instantaneous, but you make new friends, find communities for your old hobbies, pick up new activities, decorate your room, bond with your host family/roommates/pet fish, know bus routes by heart, discover your favourite café, and learn where to buy what. Abroad is always going to be different, but with some effort and an open mind, it starts to feel like another home.

Adaptation is gradual and not a linear route, but remember that a bad day (or keep) doesn’t mean that you’re not adjusting. Soon enough, you’ll be picking up local slang and wearing the latest fashion trends.

A fear of the unknown is a bad reason on why not to teach English abroad.

Balance is Key

Scheduling both new work responsibilities and exotic adventures into your agenda is never easy. Work should be your priority, but you should also make the most of living abroad. Plus, we all know that a sunny gelato or friendly espresso are actually very beneficial for productivity. 

Make effort to make time to explore the city, travel on (occasional) weekends, pursue a hobby, befriend locals, learn the language, see a concert, eat all the tapas, and relax with your favourite Netflix show (with foreign subtitles). Working in the classroom requires “me time,” external stimulation, and caffeine. When happy and well-fed, drafting relatable lesson plans and having the heart to discipline unruly kids is a lot less daunting.

Things Don’t Always Go According to Plan

Despite our best intentions, sometimes things don’t work out how we want. Maybe the screen projector isn’t working and you prepared a slide show. Maybe you lost a kid during the field trip. Maybe no one laughed at any of your cleverly-thought-out puns.

It’s best to take the classroom as a microcosm of the world at large. It’s impossible to have control over every factor and every kid all of the time. All we can do is improvise, make the best of the situation, and always have a Plan B. At the end of the day, it’s the minds you inspired and the effort you put in that determines the grade.

In summary: Is teaching English abroad hard? Yup. But do it anyway

Make a difference! Even if teaching English abroad is hard, the work is worth it.

So, in summary, what is it like to teach English abroad? It’s a sprinkle of courage, a dash of commitment, and a thick binder full of notes. It’s not just star stickers and chalkboard drawings. It’s grading and researching and talking slowly and getting up early and not always having potty breaks. It’s tough. It’s brutal. It’s at times exasperating.

 But it’s also glorious. It’s wonderful. It’s infinitely rewarding. It’s a lesson that you’ll never forget and always cherish, just like that fellow teacher than invites you to sit with her during lunch break. It’s the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Answering the question “Is teaching English abroad hard” is a no brainer. Yes its hard, but it’s also 100% worth it.

Get Matched with Teaching Jobs Abroad for FREE