Some people think of teaching English abroad as some kind of paid vacation, or sight-seeing with a paycheck. It’s definitely not that easy. But in the end, it’s worth the challenge.
It was twelve years ago when I called my parents up and announced that shortly after graduation I would moving to Japan to become an English teacher with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. Dead silence. I don’t think they thought they heard me correctly. “So you’ve studied Spanish for eight years and you’re moving where?”
Yeah. It was perhaps, one of my less logical decisions, but there were adventures to be had and money to be made.
No, I didn’t speak Japanese, or really know anything about Japan or teaching, but they gave me (along with 3,000 other native English Speakers from around the world) a job anyway. So I got on a plane.
I didn’t really think about it that much until about the second hour I was in Tokyo. All through the airport there was this gauntlet of foreigners every few feet with signs for JET and big smiles. I got settled into the hotel and then went out to stretch my legs.
I rounded the corner outside the hotel and looked around to find I was the only foreigner in sight. Moreover, every single sign was in Japanese and completely unintelligible to me.
That’s when it hit me…this was not Wisconsin, this was not even Spain, which while foreign was still familiar and comfortable. Japan was an entirely different experience than anything I had known. And it just got deeper.
After 3 days in Tokyo, I was whisked by train to a place called Yashiro where me and the other JETs in the Hyogo prefecture would meet our supervisors. It was this surreal kind of game show—a Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner on steroids, where foreign teachers were lined up on one side and Japanese employers were lined up on the other side, each of us sweating like pigs in our formal business attire.
Then they called my name and I rushed down the aisle to meet my supervisor for the next two years.
The car ride away from Yashiro was one of the longest of my life. I had left behind the bright lights of Tokyo for swampy green rice fields buzzing with giant cicadas. My supervisor was a man of few words. We just kept getting farther and farther away from civilization and each town we passed he would say “This is Kasuga.” And then at the town limit he would say. “That was Kasuga.” It went on this way for about 2 hours until he finally said “This is Kaibara.”
This was the town I couldn’t even find on the map to show my parents where I was going to live.
The next two years were filled with adventures, like the first time I walked into a classroom and my entire class screamed because they had never seen a black person in real life. It took them a full 15 minutes to calm down after that and then I was supposed to teach, something I had never done and expected to have some kind of instruction in before actually having to do it.
I joined a soccer team and competed nationally against other hung-over English teachers. I did sake shots with the old men from the Board of Education and learned the words to every Beatles’ song so I could take part in karaoke. I visited as many hot springs as I could and both fascinated and terrified people with my tattoos and large brown nudeness.
It was a time of travel and laughter, ridiculous situations, embarrassment, and great learning. I did even manage to teach some English and even learned some Japanese.
More than a decade later, despite the absurdity of it all, I can honestly say that moving to Japan was one of the better decisions of my life. I was afforded a unique opportunity to become a part of a community, to teach, and also to learn from my students and their country. Compensation aside (and I was surprisingly well compensated between my salary and subsidized car and housing), I gained an experience that has truly served me well.
Professionally, it gave me access to my first job as a study abroad leader, which turned into three summers spent guiding high school students through Hokkaido. Seeing Japan through their eyes helped me to see how far I had come since the days of being that awkward new teacher sweating through my button down shirts and stumbling on my indoor slippers.
Personally, the gains were even greater. It was there in my little country town, with nowhere to hide that I learned how to really be myself.
There were some hard times, some dark moments where I felt isolated, but I learned how to get through it. Knowing I survived helped give me perspective when things got even tougher on my next expedition (tune in for Part 2!)
Japan gave me the gifts of fortitude, the confidence to laugh at myself, and the ability to communicate and connect with people outside the boundaries of words.
Was it worth it? Absolutely.
What can one do after they taught abroad for 5 years? I graduated in 2004 and worked in sales until 2008 and have been teaching abroad since that time. I fear i am stuck abroad forever now because they will only see me as a teacher. Do you have any advice or have you heard anything about this type of situation?
Hi James, no worries. Teaching has a lot of transferable skills. Will see about writing an article to address your concern fully. Reagan
The problem is my degree is not in education it is journalism/psyc. Even If I dont want to be a teacher am I unhirable now having taught 5 years overseas. Do you have experience with people who went back in a situation like mine?
Yes. One of my friends stayed in Japan for about 7 years then came back with no interest in teaching. She was able to find a position doing HR work based on her previous degree. The important part is that she was able to market the transferable skills she gained while abroad. It also helps to actually put some energy into whatever you are interested in doing. For me it was writing, so I started blogging and writing articles. You are not unhireable. Just keep applying.
Hi Reagan, want to say congratulations it could not have been easy…but then if you want easy don’t go anywhere right? I am so happy you had a life enriching experience. This post is really for James though. You can DEFINITELY find work having taught for 5 years plus abroad but you need to market yourself as a brand or product. Think of (and I know this term gets banded about a lot) your transferable skills. I will give you a list of ideas that had popped into my head immediately after reading about your concerns; Contact a publishing house that publish TEFL guides and educational books, they may need someone with as much teaching experience as you, contact a travel publications company, contact a tour company or travel company in the regions you have worked in. You can definitely go into sales after this most likely in the region of travel and booking tours or adventure excursions depending upon the area you worked in for example if you worked in Columbia this would be a great advantage, imagine being able to conjurer up images of the places you have been to to clients you wish to recruit. Oh did I say recruit? I think I did… you could become a tefl recruiter for an ESL agency, you more than anyone knows the ins and outs of teaching tefl and so can give the budding new freshmans an insight to what it s like whilst coaxing them in the right direction gently whilst getting paid for the pleasure. I also like Reagan know someone who has made the transition from ESL teacher to HR manager in just 2 years. Ok so what next? You could google and get involved with overseas aid work having been a teacher and do an internship which can then lead you into paid work with Oxfam or Volunteering overseas ..this can lead to work with international NGO’s such as Amnesty international. You could start up your own charitable project and get funding from the government or join one. You could also apply to do work as a freelance writter for web based content or blogs. Basically James as I am sure you were told when you first qualified with your TEFL the world is your oyster. Don’t give up… have an open mind and the opportunities will open up to you. Think out side of what you believe you are capable of. Good luck mate and Reagan thanks for such an inspirational post. James please post back and let me know how you got on!!!
I dont want to work in anything related to TEFL or Education. I want to get out totally from education related stuff. This is not what I studied in College. I didn’t know that this is something you get stuck with forever, i guess lack of foresight and planning on my side. I did it to be able to live abroad and thats it. I had a career in IT Sales before. Is it impossible to go back to a prevous line of work after you have worked overseas teaching? Maybe I have to make up a story about how I had my own business or something. I don’t want to be in anything to do with TEFL anymore. Sorry, but your ideas were nice. It seems anything related to TEFL even the non teaching stuff is extremely low pay you will never own a house and be able to take care of a family etc.
Hi James,
It’s never too late. If you want to go back to IT, you should. You might need to get some additional training or spend some time volunteering at an organization you want to work for, but if that’s what you want to do then don’t let anyone stop you. Also, don’t lie. That will bite you in the ass. I really enjoyed teaching, but I also love community organizing, art, and writing. These are my passions. I have not yet figured out a way to make writing and art into a sustainable income, but I was able to buy a house with my day job money. Not to sound too much like Annie, but there is always a way. Just decide what you want and keep after it.
Hi Reagan, really enjoyed the articled. When I was fresh out of University 3 years ago, I was seriously considering teaching abroad, in Korea or Japan. However, while I was pursuing that, I ended up getting a full time job that pays a decent salary with benefits. After 2 years in this job, I am beginning to feel very restless and want to do soemthing more in life, like live abroad for a while and have those amazing experiences. I feel very reluctant to leave this comfortable, secure job and go into the unknown, especially since I do not know what I will do when I get back. As sensible a person as I am, I cant help but get rid of this feeling that I want to do something more and bigger in life. I mean, sitting in an office for 7-8 hours a day just is not for me, even if I do make a decent salary. I cant help but keep thinking that life is so short, and you always regret the opportunities you did not pursue. Could you provide any advice? I know the decision is ultimately up to me, but can you help me justify why I should leave a secure job at home to teach abroad, because I need to justify it to myself first. Thanks!
Hi ART,
I think it’s better to regret the mistakes you make than the ones you weren’t brave enough to endeavor. Not all of my experiences abroad have been good, but I learned a lot through it all. Moreover I’ve learned a lot about what makes me happy. I’m just not a 9-5pm office job kind of person. When I force myself into that box, it makes me miserable. Comfortable is not the same as happy. I like comfort. I enjoy a steady paycheck and knowing how my mortgage is going to get paid, but there is something truly beautiful about really taking the chance to live my passion. My day job ended in October. Since then I have been writing, painting, and volunteering and it has been incredible to finally give myself the time and space to explore what life could be like if I prioritized my happiness. If you are searching for something bigger, my advice is that you go find it. The gifts I’ve received from these last few months have been varied, unexpected, and amazing. Whatever you decide, I wish you luck.
Reagan
Hello Reagan..loved reading your articles. I’ve been teaching English In South Korea for 8 months now. My contract was only a year, and it’s that time where I have to make a decision whether to stay or go back home. As the only black woman in my town , you can imagine the roller coaster of emotions and experience. I had decided to return home, due to the fact that I felt I was wasting my time and talents because I’m unable to pursue my passions in music and arts being in a foreign country. although as much as I love the money and the opportunity to travel teaching abroad offers,which i love tremendously. I can’t help but feel this way, I don’t mind teaching at all. I’m just not Passionate about it. what advice would you offer young people who have passions, talents and interests in other professions that have embarked on teaching in a foreign country.
Hi T.K.
Thanks for your kind words about my articles. My advise is always to follow your passion. If teaching doesn’t make your heart sing then either find ways to integrate music and art into your teaching or leave it behind all together. I think traveling abroad is great because it is so intense. It’s a time where we our uncomfortable and contrast is easy to see. We quickly discover what we like and what we hate and that is useful information for choosing your next path… Doesn’t mean you chose wrong this time. I think every experience adds value to our lives, even the challenging ones. Good on you for wanting more and giving yourself permission to explore that feeling. Good luck next year!
Hello! I’ve really enjoyed all of your posts. I have a question, I want to teach abroad as an opportunity to study abroad (In Russia) Is this possible, I know the Visas are limited? Thank you! Any advice would be great!
Thanks. :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about teach english.
Regards
Hi Reagan,
I came across this article while I was searching for teaching jobs overseas. I just recently got certified in TEFL. I’ve either been teaching or working in the school for the past 7 years. More than anything I want to go to Japan to teach. I’ve tried so many programs but weren’t successful. Now I’m expanding my interest to South Korea, Thailand, and China. Is there any advice or direction you can point a lost and almost hopeless fellow like myself?
Heeey,
First off thank you for explaining your experience when most people say how their experience’s were they leave out a lot, im thinking of doing the same thing I think japan is amazing from what iv seen/heard and I really want to move out there, iv always wanted to learn Japanese and go over there to translate manga but also to teach English, im going back to college this year to study English and get a diploma also im going to be taking a TEFL (teaching English in foreign language) course, iv read some good and bad comments about teaching English (mostly that its crap, I wont last because nobody over there wants to learn English and that the pay is awful) but as you’ve experienced it yourself I was wondering If you could tell me if teaching English in japan is a good career move? I have my heart set on doing it but some information about it would help.
x
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Problem is pay and conditions for English teachers in Japan have deteriorated substantially since 2001. Would you still recommend it in the drastically diminished conditions of 2016.
Hello! I’ve really enjoyed all of your posts. I have a question, I want to teach abroad as an opportunity to study abroad (In Russia) Is this possible, I know the Visas are limited? Thank you! Any advice would be great!