| Where is the best place to teach overseas? It is hard | | | | international school in a country where the majority of |
| to decide where to go when you look at the scope of | | | | the population speaks English! In many countries in |
| unique and exciting experiences that are available in | | | | Western Europe, for example, a large proportion of |
| the different regions around the world. This article is | | | | the population speaks English fluently, so the language |
| designed to give you information regarding the way | | | | barrier is practically nonexistent. |
| your decision about where to teach overseas can | | | | To make friends who are expatriates but not teachers |
| affect your lifestyle while you are teaching abroad. | | | | you can join groups like the Hash House Harriers (who |
| Leisure Activities | | | | organize group runs) and national groups like the New |
| Choosing the best place to teach overseas may be | | | | Zealand Society. |
| tied up in the kinds of things you like to do outside of | | | | Domestic Help |
| work. You can continue many of your favorite leisure | | | | Teachers with children that are looking to teach in a |
| activities while you teach overseas, or take up new | | | | country with a lower cost of living than at home will |
| ones. Many international teachers move to regions that | | | | discover that the lower cost of living also carries |
| allow them to indulge themselves in this way. | | | | across into the cost of child care too, particularly |
| If you ski, then Europe and Korea are options you may | | | | in-home child care. |
| consider. You can teach in Vienna for example and | | | | When you teach abroad you can choose to live and |
| take a train to the slopes for the weekend. | | | | work in a country where you will be able to afford a |
| Divers tend to look for international schools in Thailand | | | | nanny. Many international teachers with children employ |
| or the Philippines. Thailand currently has many more | | | | nannies, especially in South East Asia where the cost |
| international schools than the Philippines, so you are | | | | of living is very low, and as a consequence, local |
| more likely to find a teaching job there. | | | | salaries are low too. |
| Because most international schools are situated in | | | | Even teachers without children can enjoy the benefits |
| urban or suburban areas, there is usually a wealth of | | | | of domestic help in countries where domestic helpers |
| activities you can take part in. While living in Bangkok I | | | | are relatively cheap to employ. Nearly all of my |
| have attended Indian musical evenings organized by | | | | colleagues have maids or cleaners who come in and |
| the Indian Embassy, attended numerous balls, learnt | | | | take care of everything from cleaning the apartment |
| how to ride a horse and taken numerous dancing | | | | to doing the food shopping and collecting dry cleaning. |
| lessons in many different styles. My colleagues are | | | | Finally |
| more adventurous than I, they run in marathons, | | | | There are many different factors to consider when |
| compete in triathlons, mountain bike, dive, play golf, and | | | | you are deciding where the best place to teach |
| the list goes on. | | | | overseas is for you. But the main thing to keep in mind |
| To find out if you will be able to continue your hobbies | | | | is that while you may have a wish list of where you |
| in different countries you can search on the internet or | | | | want to go and what you want to be able to do once |
| check out the 'activities' section of the relevant Lonely | | | | you get there - it may not work out the way you |
| Planet Guide. | | | | planned. |
| Making Friends | | | | For example, there may be no teaching vacancies in |
| At home you probably have many friends outside of | | | | your specialty in the country of your choice in the year |
| work, this can be difficult to achieve when working at | | | | in which you are applying. Or, there may be schools |
| an international school, especially if you frequently | | | | very interested in employing you but not in the region |
| move around to different schools. | | | | you were hoping for. |
| One key ingredient to making friends with local people | | | | The key to being happy and fulfilled when you are |
| can be how much effort you are willing to put into | | | | teaching abroad is flexibility and a commitment to |
| overcoming the language barrier. Learning the local | | | | making it work for you. It is not going to be just like |
| language will also help smooth your life in your host | | | | home, you will face challenges, and that is the best |
| country. | | | | part of teaching overseas, no matter where you |
| To avoid this issue you can choose to work at an | | | | decide to go! |