It’s no secret—being a digital nomad has become the new dream job! But while many people are interested in working remotely, only some take on the adventure of teaching abroad. What’s the best option for you?
I had this same question when I was moving to Costa Rica. I wanted a job that gave me a reason to be in a foreign country for an extended period of time, but I also wanted to make a good living for myself!
Fast forward three years and I have now have had the experience of doing both! For two years I worked as an international teacher in a Costa Rican private school. This year I have been working virtually for an American company while living abroad for several months of the year.
Working virtually and teaching abroad are two very strong options that have both positives and negatives. I’m here to help figure out which is the best option for you!
Let’s take a closer look at teaching abroad.
Teaching overseas is a great option for anyone who wants to continue building their resume while having the experience of a lifetime. Teaching is one of the only jobs that you can find literally anywhere. It’s also a job that guarantees a decent standard of living in almost any country around the world!
What does teaching abroad mean?
Teaching abroad refers to working as a usual payroll teacher in a country that is not your own. Schools that employ foreign teachers are known as international schools. International teachers play a strong role in enhancing language instruction in bilingual or multilingual schools. Foreign teachers will usually be in charge of half of the subjects in the school (for example, math, science and English). They will teach them in their native language (usually English). With this model, students are learning English from native speakers and spending half of their day immersed in the language!
As an international teacher, you will generally work alongside other foreign teachers and national teachers (or teachers native to that country). Because of this, teaching abroad is one of the most authentic ways to experience a country! You will learn what it means to be a part of the workforce of this country, as well as be immersed in the language and culture.
What are the Pro’s of teaching abroad?
1. Finding community
Meeting people in foreign countries can be difficult, but teaching in an international school means you’ll be going in with a build-in friend group. You’ll get to meet and work alongside a lot of different people everyday! This will inevitably lead to more invitations and more friendships. Many international schools also have end of semester parties. Working in an international school means that there will be many events throughout the year, which provide even more opportunities to connect with and meet new people.
In just a few months, you can develop a large network of people in a new country! My international school community became my family in Costa Rica and my biggest support system abroad.
2. Authentic experiences
Teaching abroad is a great opportunity to experience a country authentically and thoroughly. You will get to work alongside native people from the country you’re working in.
When I was living in Costa Rica I learned so much about the Costa Rican holidays and how they are celebrated. I tried foods that I wouldn’t have normally ordered in restaurants. I also experienced the patriotic celebrations firsthand! It was an amazing experience to see how much pride and love they have for their country!
Working alongside locals is also one of the best ways to learn a language! This is immersion in its purest form.
3. Built-in support
If you need help buying a car, renting an apartment, or finding a specific kind of doctor, chances are you will have a coworker that has experience in that area. The same goes for housing or if you are moving and need a large car to transport your things. There are a lot of unforeseen things that come up when living abroad. It’s nice to have a community that you can turn to when you need advice or help!
Beyond the people you work with, schools can also provide a lot of help to their international teachers. Many times your school will hire a lawyer to help their international teachers get their residency. My international school also brought doctors right to the school for bloodwork and eye exams. There are a lot of perks that can come with working in an international school!
Finally, working in an international school means that you can mean that you are eligible for residency! Getting your residency in another country can mean that you pay much less to get into national parks and that you need to leave the country less often. This is different for each country, but I know that there are many advantages to being a resident in Costa Rica.
Ready to start teaching abroad? Here are the steps to take to land a teaching job in an international school.
What are the Cons of teaching abroad?
1. Lower salaries than working for your home country (usually)
Although there are many benefits to working abroad, one potential downside is the change in salary. Working for an international school often means that you will be earning a lower salary than you would earn in your home country. However, this varies by the country! It’s also very important to recognize that your salary directly relates to your living expenses.
In Costa Rica, my salary was about half what I was earning in the US as a teacher. However, my living expenses were also cut in half.
2. More restrictions than working virtually
Working in an international school means that you’re on their school calendar! School calendars are different in other countries, so this is something to keep in mind when looking for an international school. How similar is their calendar school year to your family’s work schedule? Will you still be able to make it to the holidays and get-togethers that matter to you?
In addition to the yearly calendar, what does your school’s daily schedule look like? My international school’s schedule was from 7:30am-4:00pm. By the time I got home it was 4:40pm. This left very little time in the day to get out and experience Costa Rica, especially when the sun would set by 5:30pm.
3. Commitment
Most international schools generally want you to commit to working there for two years. Some schools only require you to stay for one year, but this seems pretty rare. This longer commitment can be a disadvantage because you don’t always know what you are signing up for when joining an international school. You can do all the research, but you don’t really get to know the “beast” until you’re in it!
Either way, it’s important to be true to your word! Student-teacher relationships can be very close at international schools. It’s really disappointing for students when their teacher leaves before the end of the school year, so keep this in mind when committing to a school.
What are the Pro’s of working virtually?
1. Higher salary
More money means more flexibility. That means you can go to your home country more often, without feeling stressed about how much you are spending. It could mean living in your dream apartment, with a view of the ocean!
There are many unforeseen expenses when it comes to living abroad, such as buying necessities for your apartment, doctor visits, gym memberships, and more. Having a higher paying job can make for a less stressful experience abroad.
2. Flexibility
Working virtually means you are not constrained to traveling on the weekend! If there’s an event in a nearby country that you’d like to visit, you can pick up and go!
Also, since you are not tied to a specific area or country, if you don’t like where you are you can simply leave and try somewhere new! This flexibility opens you up to traveling around to all different regions of the country you are living in.
What are the Cons of working remotely?
1. The time change
The time change you experience when going from your home country to the country you’re moving to can be positive or negative. For me, I start working at about 6am when I am in Costa Rica, but I can clock out at 2pm! In Germany, however, I started work at 2:30pm and didn’t finish until 10:30pm. Exploring was limited to weekends or weekday mornings.
2. Digital nomads can cause gentifrication.
When demand rises, so does the price. As working remotely in exotic places has gone up in popularity, so has the rent
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2. It can be more difficult to make friends.
One of the major advantages of working with a local school is the pool of people you will be working with! If you are moving to a country and working virtually, you are more on your own for getting to know people.
There are ways to make friends abroad. The secret is in intentionality. If you are very intentional in meeting people in your area, you will be sure to make friends.
Here are some tips for meeting people abroad:
- Stay in hostels on the weekend! – This is a great way to meet fellow travelers! Although many people will only be traveling for vacation, you have a good likelihood of meeting someone who is living abroad, just like you.
- Sign up for exercise classes! – Check out the local yoga studios or try a Crossfit gym in the area. This is a great way to make friends.
- Spend time in public places – Although it can be uncomfortable at first to go out and explore on your own, it’s worth it. Get coffee at the local coffee shop, do yoga on the beach, sit and watch the sunset at a restaurant, check out the local farmer’s market! Chances are you’ll run into someone who is doing the same.
- Meetup App – An App for designed to help you meet others! In this app you can see what kinds of events are going on in your area and join a group of people that are doing something you’re interested in. I’ve heard of Meetup groups going hiking or spending the day at the beach.
Final Thoughts on Teaching Abroad vs. Working Virtually
In recent years, the digital nomad has become a strong option for people looking to live abroad. While I think working remotely has many benefits, teaching abroad undoubtedly provides a richer experience. Generally, people that are interested in teaching in another country are looking for a culturally immersive experience, or maybe to even learn the language!
While working a virtual job can enable you to work from anywhere, teaching in a school gives you the opportunity to know the culture, language, and lifestyle of that country authentically.
Sometimes when working abroad, you will have to take a pay cut. You’ll also go through some culture shock and have to learn to thrive in situations that are beyond your comfort zone. When I took my job as a fourth and fifth grade teacher at an international school in Costa Rica, I took a significant pay cut. However, I grew so much as a teacher (and as a person). I learned so much more Spanish and I became a true local in a Central American country! Although I have since moved on from that job, I wouldn’t have traded those two years in the international school for anything in the world.
Whatever you choose, if you make the gutsy decision to move abroad, you will undoubtably make some amazing memories and have the experience of a lifetime.
Wondering how to get started teaching abroad? Learn more here!
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