Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
10 REASONS TO QUIT YOUR BORING JOB & TEACH ABROAD
10 REASONS TO QUIT YOUR BORING JOB & TEACH ABROAD
1) See the world
One of the most common reasons for people to teach abroad is because they want to travel. Travel is one of the most eye-opening experiences a person can have. The problem with it, however, is that it can be expensive. Fortunately for you, by financing travel with well paying TEFL teaching jobs, you can see the most exotic places on earth. For example, Taiwan offers some of the most amazing sights and activities in Asia. But even more than that, it’s a central location to take a quick flight to China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and the rest of Southeast Asia. Teach in South America or Europe, and you could visit as many countries by train or bus!
2) Broaden your horizons while you teach abroad
Just visiting a place for a few days is cool, but try living in a different country for months or years! The truth is, the food in many of our home countries just isn’t as tasty as in the markets of Asia or the kitchens of South America or Europe. And there is nothing that makes your friends back home more jealous than talking about an amazing trip to a place they’ve never even heard of. On top of it, you’ll notice that your ideas about your home town and life back home will change. You will come to truly understand how and why cultures are different. And your tastes of everything from food to friends to fun will grow in ways you’d never imagine.
3) Learn a whole new skill set
Tired of your menial job as a server, bartender, or cubicle monkey? Drop all that and do something that makes a difference in the world. Get experience in a needed and valuable field instead. Learning to teach gives you solid teaching skills you can use later. Not only do you learn how to manage a group of people, the ins-and-outs of education theory, and mastery of the English language, but you also gain skills in organization, leadership, and time management. All of these skills obviously transfer very well to other industries. Plus, it looks way better on a resume than “server at Applebee’s”.
4) Learn a new language
One thing about teaching abroad is that you’re doing it in a country where English is not the first language. Take some of that paycheck and sign up for a language class. Speaking Chinese can’t in our globalizing economy. Picking up decent Spanish gives you access to one of the biggest and most dynamic growing regions in the world. Plus, few things impress locals more than a foreigner who can hang with the language. And remember, adding a second language is another huge resume booster.
5) Make new friends
Hanging out with the same crew since high school is lame. While you teach abroad, not only will you meet amazing people from different places and speaking different languages, but you’ll also have awesome coworkers who share a lot in common. Those who teach abroad are usually adventurous, intelligent, and social, so you won’t have any trouble fitting in with that crowd. The people you meet will be more than just friends; they’ll have an impact on your decisions, beliefs, and overall outlook on life.
6) Make (and save) money
When you teach abroad, you’ll find the cost of living in many places to be lower than your home country. Paychecks will be more than enough to live comfortably and some schools will pay for housing and meals! TEFLers in East Asia frequently put away around $1,000 USD per month, and it’s not unheard of to save upwards of $1,500 with cash to spare. With that surplus, you can spend some cash on the finer things! Like more exotic vacations or nights on the town in a new city. Or even better, you could put it away to deal with those monster student loans piled up back home (you’re not alone!).
7) Become an Entrepreneur and/or get that Graduate degree
More and more expatriates start new businesses in their adopted homes. Many of these entrepreneurs are former English teachers who were ready to get creative and make those big bucks. Become a travel photographer or blogger, open up a coffee shop near the beach, or start that something you’ve always dreamed of.
It’s also common for TEFL teachers to attend graduate programs at world-class universities while teaching at the same time. Many of these programs, in fields from international relations to environmental sustainability, are much less expensive than their counterparts in your home country, and these go-getters are able to simply pay out of pocket for cutting edge degrees. Believe it or not, some countries give out scholarships to foreigners so high, that you’re paid to get a Masters!
8) Focus on your health
Forgot about your health with that busy schedule? That’s normal. Unfortunately, the western lifestyle stresses our minds and waistlines. Finally have the chance to get away and enjoy a healthier culture. While you teach abroad, you’ll often be paid a full time salary for 25 hours of work per week! With all that free time, you can take up new hobbies like Yoga in Bali, Kung Fu in China, meditate in Japanese Zen Temples, try Thai boxing classes, or even learn the ways to Enlightenment in the Indian Himalayas.
9) Full Healthcare Benefits
Health care costs in many western countries (read: the US) are out of control. Why not protect yourself while working in a country with better and cheaper health systems? For example, teaching jobs in Taiwan offer FULL healthcare AND dental in exchange for ONLY 6% reductions from your pay check each month! Got hurt climbing in the beautiful mountains on the weekend? No worries! Drop by the ER for a visit and pay less than $10 USD. Came down with a cold? Get a full week’s prescription of medicine from the clinic for $4 USD! Don’t worry, it’s not a hole in the wall neither. Hospitals there are state-of-the-art and run by some of the best (English-speaking) physicians in the world. Think about it…
10) Grow Independence
Teaching abroad will change you. You’ll see yourself differently after even a few months. Being far away from everything familiar forces you to reach, grow, and bend in ways you didn’t think you could. You will learn to approach strangers who don’t speak a lick of English and somehow communicate your ideas. You’ll try new activities and learn about things you didn’t even know existed. You’ll have to find an apartment, open a bank account, and work with people from all over the world. You’ll learn to navigate different languages, cultures, and expectations. So extend yourself – dive into a new culture, inspire hungry minds, and become a better you. Teach abroad.
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