Working as a teacher abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is working as a teacher abroad like?

• A classroom far from home, students from different backgrounds, and education that is sometimes tightly organized and sometimes requires improvisation.
• Teaching abroad is rarely routine work. You teach, guide students, develop or adapt teaching materials, and collaborate with local colleagues or international teams.
• You can work as a paid teacher, teaching assistant, intern, or volunteer.
• Responsibilities: the responsibilities vary by level of education and country, and often include:
  • Teaching a subject (often English, sometimes other subjects).
  • Preparing and adapting teaching materials.
  • Guiding students individually or in groups.
  • Evaluating learning outcomes and progress.
  • Participating in school or community projects.
  • Coordinating with colleagues and school management.
• Working conditions: Work can be paid, an internship, or volunteer work. Contracts range from short-term projects to multi-year appointments.
• Salaries vary greatly by region and type of school.
• Volunteer work often includes room and board.
• Paid positions sometimes include perks such as housing or visa support.
• Workload can vary from light to intense.

What are the reasons for working as a teacher abroad?

• To feel involved: you work intensively with students and immediately see the impact your efforts have on their development.
• To strengthen communication skills: you learn to explain, listen, and switch between levels, languages, and cultures.
• To develop creativity: you learn to teach with limited resources and devise solutions that fit the local situation.
• To become environmentally aware: education allows you to see firsthand how culture, norms, and opportunities interrelate.
• To increase self-awareness: teaching in an unfamiliar context is an effective way to get to know yourself better.

What skills and motivations do you need to work as a teacher abroad?

• Communication skills: explaining clearly, providing feedback, and adapting to your audience. Empathy: understanding how students learn within their cultural and social context.
• Self-confidence: projecting calm and clarity to a group.
• Flexibility: handling unexpected situations, schedules, and levels.
• Organizational awareness: working within the structure and rules of the school or organization.
• Helpfulness: intrinsic motivation to contribute to development and education.

What are the best countries and locations to work as a teacher abroad?

• Countries where you can easily join as a volunteer or intern: Nepal – educational projects and shadowing internships, Ghana – English, sports, and primary education, Cambodia – regular and special education, Guatemala – education around Antigua, India – education for children and adults, South Africa – education and sports in townships.
• Countries with high demand for (paid) English teachers: China, South Korea, Japan, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Middle East.
• International education: International schools worldwide – for qualified teachers.

What are the risks of working as a teacher abroad, and are you insured against those risks? 

• What are the risks of working as a teacher abroad?
  • Unsafe work environments are common: infrastructure, health risks, political instability, and social norms.
  • Stress levels often rise due to overly large classes, language barriers, and cultural differences.
  • It's not uncommon for someone to contract a contagious or local disease, be unable to work for a period, or even have to be flown home.
• Are you insured while working as a teacher abroad?
  • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad.
  • Local employers generally offer limited or no supplementary insurance.
  • There's a risk of accidents, for example, because you're doing work with which you have little experience.
  • During work, internships, or volunteering abroad where you receive compensation or a salary, your own health insurance coverage in your home country may be cancelled.
  • See the pages on: insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.