5 Reasons Why YOU Should Teach Abroad

We now live in a world once thought crazy enough to be Science Fiction. The combined knowledge of humanity is accessible by a few swipes of your fingertips. We live in a world where cars are beginning  to drive themselves, crypto-currency now exists and we have man made technology living on alien planets. Oh! Lets not forget the Sea Hawks won a Super Bowl. The world is becoming smaller and the people in it need a way to span the globe, bridge cultural gaps and communicate with each other. Where am I going with this? English. It's hard to believe this language, whose origin began in the backwoods of Europe so long ago, has risen to become one of the "global languages" of the modern world.

Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan

Nearly 3 years ago I became a teacher; More specifically an English teacher living abroad. In those years I've had experiences that have altered my ideas of what life is, how it should be lived and opened my eyes to the limitless possibilities this line of work, and more importantly this world, have to offer. Here are my top 5 reasons you should give teaching English as a foreign language a shot!

Some of my youngest students throwing up the dubs

#5 To Learn More About Your Language

Poetry?

If you take the journey and begin teaching English abroad you will indeed have to learn more about the language. At first you'll think, "I`m a native speaker! I know everything I need to know to speak fluently. Teaching it will be a breeze!" Then someone will ask you a question that you do not have the answer to: "Why do we need articles (a, an, the, some)? Why does English have 3 theres and 3 to's (they're, there, their/ too, to, two)? Why do you say 'turn on the light' when you aren't turning something?" Many of these questions will come up. Sometimes you will know the answer, sometimes you will guess and other times you will simply have to tell them, " I don't know..." and if you're a good teacher this will be followed by, "... but I'll find out!"

                                              

You'll begin to think about the language as it truly is. Something that is alive, something that continues to evolve as the world around it races ever faster into the future. This can be a scary thing at times. We often take our first language for granted. We know how to use it but not how it works. If you want to be a successful teacher, or more successful at using your language, learn how it works!

Sky Tree Tokyo, Japan

#4 To become Cultured

Kenchoji Temple in Kamakura, Japan

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” - Saint Augustine

I'm a big believer in the aforementioned quote.  Imagine you are a humble goldfish living your life inside a tank in some home in suburbia. For you, life revolves around getting fed and swimming around the only world you know. Sure, you can see outside of it, you can gain some insight into the outside world from the feisty teenager who plays his/her music too loud for your little fish ears. Alas, you only have the faintest understanding of what's out there. If you are able to read this post you are truly blessed. You live in a world where you can learn just about anything. You can see your house from space, watch cat videos endlessly on YouTube or learn the history of the Samurai on audio books  But, you can't truly live the experiences the outside world has waiting for you unless you get up off your bum and get out there. If you don't you'll never know what the streets of Seoul smell like after the rain, how the lovely Japanese toilets warm your buns during the winter or how fulfilling it is when someone who in the past didn't even know you existed now hangs on your every word and calls you teacher or sensei.

An older gent enjoying the Lotus lantern festival activities in Seoul, South korea

Teaching abroad isn't just a learning experience for your students but also for you. You'll quickly learn the taboo's (for heavens sake don't stick your chopsticks in rice while eating with Japanese people), the curse words (especially you folks braving the wild lands of Korea), and just how similar humans are despite the culture gap. Of course not everything will come quickly or easily. It will take you years to master their language, to understand the customs, and most importantly to stop trying to compare your culture with theirs. Hopefully you'll grow to see all sides of both their culture and your own: the good, the terrific, the bad, the horrific and the beautiful.  Doing this will open the doors of your own mind to accept the good, disregard the bad and be open to all of the thousands of different views you'll come across. Essentially teaching abroad will either force you to grow as a human or crush you under the weight of your own preconceived notions of what this world is.

Confucian Academy in South Korea

#3 To Make an Impact

“Words are a pretext. It is the inner bond that draws one person to another, not words.” 
― Rumi

Whether you're teaching children or adults you will influence peoples lives, hopefully for the better. Teaching a language isn't solely about the grammar points or vocabulary, it's about giving people a voice. It's giving children a gift, a tool if you will, that they can use to make friends, to learn about the places outside of their bubble and perhaps allow them the opportunity to succeed on a global scale.

Shuri Castle in Okinawa representing Taiwan, Japan and 'Merika

For adolescents and adults you're giving them a shot to pass tests to get into high school/college or pass a work exam. You're also giving them the opportunity to increase their circle of friends allowing the world to become one step closer to understanding itself. Unfortunately you may not be remembered by these people 5-10 years down the road; but there will be things you taught them that they will keep forever. (Do you remember who taught you the word "platypus"?) Teaching is a job of giving and even if that gift isn't fully realized by others you can stand tall knowing something you gave will last a lifetime for someone else.

DakGalbi with Korean friends/students

#2 To Meet the Other Half of the World

The Gimhae massive. Folks from the UK, South Africa and  the USA.

Want to have an incredibly diverse group of friends who hail from all over this blue globe we call earth? Teaching abroad will give you your shot! Whether you're looking for love, friendship, a few buddies to play poker or shoot hoops with they can be found. Currently my Facebook feed is filled with posts from people on every continent (except Antarctica ... penguins still can't use computers yet... sigh) many of these folks teach abroad. Many of them still keep in contact and we often live vicariously through each others adventures. Before teaching I may not have ever known these amazing people existed! Now, it's hard not to jump up and do the hokey pokey when I chat with them or see the amazing adventures they have been on.

Bowling in Japan

Brits and Yanks enjoying baseball in South Korea

You'll also make a connection with the native people of where you are teaching. It can be a great chance to learn about their culture, study a new language or have a good time with. Often enough these acquaintances will become friends and you can share in exploring their country or culture with them. They'll share their life, their thoughts and will love hearing about yours as well. And if you're phenomenally lucky you'll find love! Many people find foreign boyfriends/girlfriends and I've even had a few friends find the love of their life! Take a second and think about this for a moment. Right now, thousands of miles away, in some place you've never dreamed of planting your feet, could be your future best friend, the future co-parent of your children and your in-laws (the last one may or may not be such a sugary concept). Take a chance! What you're looking for could be out there waiting!

I found my Love abroad

#1 To Have Fun

Afro Panda Halloween 2013

Teaching abroad should be fun! It wont always be easy, but it should generally be fun. Whether you're the adventurous type (scuba, rock climbing, epic bike trips, theme parks or climbing tall things) or the more laid back (laying on the beach, camping in the wild, reading a book at a cozy little cafe) you will find a chance to enjoy what you are doing outside of work. Now, work can be fun too! Maybe you'll dress up for Halloween or Christmas; Have a beach party; go on field trips or just enjoy the time with children and adults. With all you've got enjoy the little moments that make you smile, laugh and relish the fact that you are alive, and living a dream.

Oktober Fest in Busan South Korea

Another day at the office. Student beach party 2013

Sometimes you just have to let loose. Photo has been edited to protect the not so innocent

 Lastly, it's important you do your homework before choosing a place to work. If you have an overseas interview ask to talk to several of the foreign staff members or the person you'll be replacing to get a better idea of the work culture you'll soon be in. Lastly, make sure it's a good fit for you. If you don't like children don't take a job where you will be teaching children all day! If you hate the cold don't go somewhere you'll freeze to death! Or you'll end up wasting everyone's time in the process. Good luck!

For all you foreign teachers out there what have your experiences been? Is there anything you would add to this list? Please feel free to share in the comments section below! Thanks for reading!

Don't be scared to comment!

EDIT: Here are a few starting resources for anyone looking to teach abroad:

Japan: http://www.jetprogramme.org/ , http://www.interacnetwork.com/recruit/japan.html , https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/

Korea: http://www.peoplerecruit.com/e_page/index.php?move_dir=etc&sub_page=menu01 , http://www.teachaway.com/teach-english-korea/epik-english-program-korea-public-school-jobs-korea

Also utilize your google-fu ! There are TONS of jobs out there! 

Tokyo: The Trip There

Over the past week I was fortunate enough to be able to take a trip to Tokyo, Japan. Now, many of us have seen Tokyo on the television or the interwebs at some point in our life ... Yet still I feel it's necessary to give you a few fun facts. First Tokyo, as it stands today, isn't just one city; it's actually a "metropolitan prefecture." This means that it is comprised of many self-governing cities all connecting into one giant city comprised of 23 wards. Just how big is it? Well, with over 39 million people it is the most populated city on the planet. This is part 1 of the story of my time in this wonderfully diverse city.

     ^Shinjuku^

I set out from Naha International Airport at around 7:30 PM after receiving a ride from my lovely girlfriend (THANK YOU!).  I breezed through check in and security in less than 5 minutes. Heck, I didn't even have to take out my ID or get patted down in an unholy way like I always do with American TSA! The airline I chose (Air Asia) is generally a pretty cheap way to fly between Okinawa and mainland Japan. Though, I don't ever recall Having ever been on one of their flights that hadn't been delayed; an unfortunate side effect of flying on small airlines. Well, with the usual delay of about 30 minutes I was starting to become worried about catching the train once I arrived at the airport in Tokyo.

      ^bored I the lobby^

My hotel was going to be about a 20 minute ride from the airport, which when multiplied by the price of taking a cab would be an outrageous amount of money. The last time I took a cab it cost me ¥1,000 (about $10 USD) to get out of the airport and by the time I got to my hotel (a five minute ride) it cost me ¥2,500 (roughly $26 USD)! Needless to say I didn`t want this to happen and I would be cutting it close.

        ^leaving on a jet plane^

Finally the moment arrived to board the plane. We, the sleepy passengers, walked in 3 file lines out onto the tarmac. I thought it would be kind of weird of me to snap a shot of the plane, so I did it quickly and stealthily. Though after hearing the sound of shutters closing all around me I realized it was a rather common practice here in Japan. People were even posing in front of the plane before boarding.

     ^airplane^

Once we entered the plane I was taken slightly aback due to a foggy white substance pouring into the plane cabin. I soon noticed it was an on-board humidifier meant to keep passengers hydrated during the ride. A brilliant idea! I was lucky enough to get an aisle seat near the back leaving me near the rear exit and of course the lavatory. My seatmates were an Okinawan couple going to Tokyo on a trip. From the looks of it they were rather newly married. They cuddled like two high-schoolers who hadn't seen each other for TWO periods. 10 minutes after the seat belt sign had been turned off they needed to use the bathroom, together. Now, I don't believe they entered the same lavatory (major props to them if they did) they made this same trip several more times through out the two hour flight. Each time they would tap me on the shoulder and give me a "I gotta go look." It doesn't matter what language one speaks we can all recognize that look Finally we entered Tokyo's airspace and made our decent into the city.

    ^ humidifier action^

 We exited the plane, jumped on a bus and were shuttled to the main domestic terminal. All I can say is thank goodness I didn't check any bags. While the others were waiting to collect their bags I had a mission to complete. I bolted toward the basement train station. Myself and about 10 other passengers were running through the halls, down escalators and eventually into the train station as fast as our weary traveler legs could carry us. After arriving I quickly purchased a ticket (about $1.50USD), went through the gate, down another set of stairs and onto the platform with only a few minutes to spare. As myself and the other plane passengers stepped foot on the platform we each breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The train arrived exactly on time (such efficiency!) and since the airport is the last stop each of us were able to get our own seat. If you know how crowded public transportation usually is you'll recognize how much of a treat these opportunities are. It's like playing musical chairs and everyone wins a nice tasty cake at the end.

     ^just in time^

I made it to my stop and I was consumed with three thoughts: getting food, finding my hotel and why did Tokyo smell like hot dogs. Outside of the station I located a hot dog stand answering my malodious question. 

     ^Them crazy eyes and the smell of      hotdogs^

Soon I found my hotel, the Center Hotel Narita. It had a cozy little room near the station that offered complimentary breakfast, air conditioning, and a typical hard-as-a-rock bed. 

    ^Center Hotel Narita^

The front desk clerk was kind and once he realized I hail from Okinawa he showed a very excited side of his personality. He told me it was his dream to travel there with his family one day. Following check-in I consumed an all too classy meal consisting of convenience store sandwiches and two tall cans of Chuhi. After which it was time to hit the hay and prepare for the next days journey toward Kamakura and of course destiny.

    ^Bed time at last!^