Where in the world should I teach? How to find the best destination for you!

Published on 8th February, 2019 by Andrew Wigford. Published in For Candidates / TIC News

With so many options available, it’s difficult to know where to focus your search for an international teaching job. If you’ve read our recent blog, Top Ten Countries for Teaching Jobs in 2019, and are still unsure of where you’d like to teach, read below some extra pointers to help you create a destination shortlist. And also join us at our International Teaching Seminar in Cardiff on Saturday 2nd March. It’s free and you’ll learn all the essential details about teaching abroad. Places are limited so sign up now!

Identify your priorities


Start by thinking about your lifestyle; what is most important to you? Do you want to be close to restaurants, bars and shops? Close to an airport so you can visit home? Close to nature, or beaches or in the heart of a town or city? Write down a list of your key priorities.

Location, location, location


Once you’ve written your list, think about the location that would best match these priorities. This could be a metropolis, a developing city, a small town, or somewhere very remote.

Hot or cold?


Have a think about which kind of climate would best suit you and your lifestyle. Would you prefer to live in a hot country, somewhere like the Middle East for example, somewhere more temperate, or somewhere cold, like Kazakhstan or Russia? 

Culture and Customs


What are the main cultural differences between your home and the countries you’re interested in moving to? Research the different social customs and traditions in each country. It’s essential to respect the culture you’re living and working in; ask yourself whether you can you live by their rules?

Disposable income


Read our teachers’ stories or ask your recruitment manager to get a sense of how much disposable income you’ll have. Find out about the typical cost of rent and everyday necessities. If you intend to do a lot of travelling, it’s important you work at a school where you will have enough spare money to make the most of this, otherwise you may end up frustrated! And if travelling is important, think about how your location might provide easy access to countries or places you’d like to visit.

Cuisine


Have you got any food intolerances? Are you a vegetation, or a vegan? Make sure that the cuisine of the country you’re interested in suits your lifestyle. If you’re gluten intolerant, for example, life could be challenging in Italy!

Communication


Check to see if there are any communication rules or limitations within the countries you’re interested in. Some countries have restrictions on social media, China being a key example. How will this affect your ability to contact friends and family?

Schools


Once you’ve narrowed your search, start to research international schools. It’s vital to make sure the school suits you. Ask yourself lots of questions; what is different about the school you’re looking at, compared to the school you taught at previously? How do students learn differently? How will you adjust to the changes?

Much more advice like this will be shared at the forthcoming TIC seminar for teachers. If you or your friends are thinking about working overseas, come and find out more. It’s free to attend and is a great way to learn about the opportunities that are right for you. We hope to see you on Saturday 2nd March in Cardiff!

Like this post? Share it!

Andrew Wigford

Andrew is Managing Director of TIC. He has been involved in international education both as a teacher and Headteacher for over 25 years and has worked in Germany, Colombia and Austria. He set up TIC recruitment in 2005 to help teachers find great jobs in great international schools.