Global classrooms: Personal teaching stories
Name: Michael
Current Teaching Position: Elementary School Homeroom Teacher
Country of Placement: Malaysia
Accompanied By: Spouse and child (born while teaching overseas)
Teaching Experience: 12 years
Years Teaching Overseas: 10 years
Why did you decide to teach overseas?
Originally, it was all about the adventure and trying something new and exciting. That feeling became quite addictive the more we did it. New places, new people, new food, new experiences. Once we did it once, we realised we could continue to live this pretty amazing life. It made us realise the world is much bigger and has so much to offer. Each country and culture is different, and you learn and grow as a person from the experience. There are hard times and challenges, but they are some of the times you cherish when you look back.
Then it became about experience, opportunity, adventure, money, and a better life than we had in our home country. While you don’t get into teaching to make loads of money, you do want to be comfortable and well looked after. International schools give you that opportunity, and some of the packages are really hard to say no to and can set you up well for the future.
Lastly, we valued actually living in new and different places instead of just being tourists for a week. The experience is so much more rewarding and real.
What do you enjoy most about your current placement?
My current school is very diverse and multicultural. My class is made up of students from all over the world, which is quite unique.
What do you love about where you live?
Malaysia has a nice balance of everything. After living in South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Japan, we appreciate how easy it is to live here. English is widely spoken, the quality of life is great, the cost of living is cheap, the food is awesome, and we are in a travel hub, making it easy to hop around Southeast Asia.
What tips would you give someone on how to choose the right school and/or country for them?
- Do your homework on the school. Ensure they have accreditation or are working towards it. whichschooladvisor.com is a good place to start and utilise online communities to ask questions such as Facebook groups.
- Use international school review websites for more insights but take information with a grain of salt.
- Talk to teachers currently working at the school.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions in the interview. Ask about challenges, student demographics, EAL students per class, and teacher retention rates.
- When choosing a country, it depends on your priorities. Some have high savings potential but may be tougher to live in. Others might be dream spots but with lower savings. If you have a family, consider their needs as well.
What would you say to teachers unsure about whether to take the leap and teach overseas?
- Why not? It’s a no-brainer for teachers from NZ, UK, USA, etc. Whether for 2 years or 20, many teachers at home wish they had done it earlier.
- You learn a lot from other teachers and new education systems.
- It’s a low-risk leap. International schools provide flights, housing, community support, etc. Even if it’s not what you imagined, you can complete your contract, have awesome experiences, and move on or back home.
How do you decide when to move on or select the next placement? What factors do you consider?
When looking to move one sometimes it’s just time, and you know it. You get that itch for a new experience. When looking for a new placement it’s best to start early (schools hire from as early as November) and use an agency to help you find a job. Agencies have contacts, job listings, and databases (Editors Note: psst – we know a good one!) Doing it alone means your CV might not be seen. Look at the whole package (salary, benefits including tuition for kids, flights, housing, insurance, etc.). Ask people about the school.