Long-haul international travellers make money during their travel by answering any job vacancies they can qualify for. But some take it a step further by applying for long-term positions covered by their visa terms. A favourite occupation among travellers is teaching—specifically, teaching English as a Second Language.
Given the daily stress associated with teaching, why do travellers opt to go through this route to finance their travels?
Your Qualifications Can Shoe You In
As an international traveller, chances are you have the means to finance your travel in the first place. That means having the necessary qualifications to maintain a decent-paying job. Qualifications can come in the form of a valid teaching certificate or a degree in the area they are applying in.
International schools, in particular, look for teachers with credentials or a mindset geared towards the larger world. Public and private schools looking for part-time instructors need teachers that have unique specialities.
British School Manila (BSM), as an example, may have job vacancies; look for teachers who are qualified to handle students from different countries and can adjust quickly to a U.K. school system. The New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities in Manhattan may want teachers with a strong humanities background regardless of their specialities.
Pick Up and Go
Teaching niche subjects or trades do not always necessitate staying in one spot for too long. Online ESL teachers, in particular, can pick up their work anywhere while travelling everywhere. Steady pay that can translate into afternoons on sunny beaches for just a few hours of work? Savvy travellers live that life.
Even when teaching at a physical school, travellers can still explore their surroundings. Foreign English teachers in South Korea can have a decent nightlife in Seoul or weekends at Jeju Island while earning decent cash. Rural-minded travellers can explore nature and expand minds in Nicaragua.
Improve Your Career
Work experience is hard to come by when travelling unless your transit is related to work. By teaching abroad, you’re flexing your skills by expanding them. Your CV also improves with the experience and makes it look more attractive for recruiters on the lookout for fresh talent.
Teaching abroad is beneficial not just for teachers, but for every professional. By holding a job in a foreign land whose culture, language, and way of life is the complete opposite of their home country, travellers show to recruiters that they are adaptable. Getting hired abroad means a traveller’s skills translate to different countries and industries; teaching means they adapt their work experience every day.
Securing a teaching position abroad also shows that a traveller is aware of the culture of their host country. Furthermore, they can translate that familiarity into forming solid lines of communication with their bosses, co-workers, and students. Leadership skills are also developed when teachers work to capture their student’s attention and maintain it while helping them reach their goals.
Financial and Personal Benefits
Foreign teachers make bank through perseverance, raw skill, and a good school. Travellers can double their financial gains while teaching by looking for positions that offer accommodations. Through smart saving, travellers can easily top off their bank accounts and gear up for another round of flights or train rides.
Lastly, the phrase “finding yourself” is overused but it rings true for individual travellers. They may not have the guts to try teaching at home, but in a foreign land, they can try and see if education is their true calling.
