We’ve all heard it before— the best way to experience a new country is to live there rather than just to visit. But there’s truth behind the cliche. There is something different about living somewhere out of your comfort zone, whether that’s a few months or a few years, and there are lots of opportunities to do so. Everyone should get this chance, and one of the easiest ways to do it is to get a job overseas, such as volunteering, internships, tourism, start-up businesses. Often recent college graduates turn to teaching positions; while it is one of the most common routes, it is always in high demand. Teaching Nomad opens a whole new world to those who are looking to teach something other than English to kids (though this is a fantastic way to get involved and make a difference!). International schools for expats, local private schools, even adult education centers all look for competent teachers in a variety of fields.
What’s so amazing about properly immersing into the culture by working internationally is being exposed to things that you would never get out of a guidebook or Facebook photos from a friend’s vacation: the slang, tips on buying local, how to avoid tourist-packed crowds, where to find the hole-in-the-wall to get the best comfort food, you name it. You are in touch with the people, not just the place.
I am really looking forward to teaching abroad as part of the building blocks for my career. Now more than ever it is important to focus our attention on girls’ education, especially in countries that have a social history of keeping girls in domestic roles instead of sending them to school. It is time to guarantee equal education in order to maximize our potential—that’s where I hope to come in. As a Global Studies undergraduate at UCSB, one idea for my future is getting involved with non-profits, corporations, and government departments that work towards finding new ways to sponsor schools, hiring teachers, speaking to religious and authoritative figures about allowing girls in schools; anything to emphasize the importance in the result of educated women. For me, Teaching Nomad is a great place to start. It will provide me with handson training and immediate placement in classrooms, where I not only can become a part of the community, but also learn first-hand where help is most needed and what can be done. Plus, it will give me invaluable experience as a teacher so that if and when there comes a time where I am no longer working directly with a school, I will still have an understanding of what works and what doesn’t for those “on the ground”.
Teaching abroad would not only get me give me the chance to pursue my career, it will also provide me with the opportunity to experience more of the world. Much like in Europe, in China and the Middle East, where Teaching Nomad’s jobs are based, countries are close together, which makes it easy to hop from place to place as weekend trips—not to mention the summer vacations! Even cities within the host countries themselves offer a diverse range of language, food, religion, and history.
I want to be able to see as much as the world as I can, not just from a plane window or the back of a taxi, but living in it. And teaching abroad can get me farther than I ever thought possible, not just in what I will experience but the change I will leave behind.
About our company: Teaching Nomad is an American owned and operated education recruitment company based in Shanghai, China. Our goal and purpose is to help great teachers find great teaching jobs. Year round, we have hundreds of teaching job vacancies. Whether your goal is to be an ESL teacher or teach in an international school, we have a teaching job for you. You can browse jobs online at www.teachingnomad.com/job-search for the latest job openings. Teaching Nomad is here to make teaching in China easier, so please feel free to reach out and contact us with any questions or inquiries!
