Why You Should Teach Abroad in Your Thirties
Do you feel like you are stuck in a rut? Have you ever been surfing the web and suddenly seen an advertisement of a young twenty-something traveling around the world without a care? Have you seen said advertisement and then said “I would love to do that, but, I’m too old.”
Perhaps, you think that taking a break from your job to teach English overseas will kill your career or end any future job prospects you may have when you return to your home country. Perhaps you think that there is no one over the age of 30 who is living abroad while teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). I’m here to tell you that the opposite is true. When I left the United States to teach English in Daegu, South Korea, I was 30-years-old. I decided to leave the U.S. because I felt dissatisfied with the direction my life was heading in. I wanted to gain experience living and working overseas before returning to my home country. Whether you are in need of a break from your current job or want to change careers, teaching ESL in your thirties is STILL an option for you. Every year, there are many mid-career professionals who leave their jobs in order to teach overseas. I’m here to share with you a few reasons that you should consider teaching abroad if you are over 30.
Finally Pay Off Debt and Save Money
Are you paying off your student loans or credit card debt? Teaching ESL abroad may be an option for you! In some Asian countries it is possible to save hundreds of $$$ each month! While I lived in South Korea I was able to pay off the remainder of my student loan AND most of my credit card debt. Of course, the amount that you are able to save depends on your lifestyle and your location. After I finished my three years of teaching, I left Korea with a small nest egg that I used to volunteer in Mexico, backpack in Central America, and attend a professional conference after I returned to the U.S.
You Have Lived!
When we are in our twenties, most of us are still discovering who we are. In your thirties, you have more life experience and understand how to be a professional on the job. These are skills you can bring to your new job as an ESL teacher overseas. Because you have already started a career, you have proven that you are able to handle the professional and personal “highs and lows” of a life and job in a new country. This maturity and experience may prove invaluable to some English language institutes who are looking for someone that will take teaching seriously and show that they will value and respect the local customs of their new home.
Transferable Skills
Teaching abroad can strengthen your resume in many ways you may not expect. Moving overseas to a foreign land is not easy! You will become more adaptable to change, tolerant of different types of cultures and people, as well as gaining a greater understanding of the ways in how people communicate around the world. You will become mentally stronger and feel more prepared to handle sudden changes in your professional and personal life abroad when, and if, you decide to return to your home country.
Become Proficient in a Second Language
Have you always wanted to learn Spanish? Well, teaching in Latin America may be for you! Intrigued by Chinese culture? Head to a cosmopolitan city like Beijing or Shanghai to teach and take Mandarin lessons on the side! Even though it may be not as easy for us thirty-somethings to retain a second language after our teenage years it IS still possible. Wherever you decide to teach, I highly recommend learning at least a few basic phrases in the local language. The locals will appreciate your effort to learn their native tongue and it will make your everyday life more rewarding.
Well, there you have it. A few reasons in favor of taking a mid-career break to teach English overseas. Whether you are interested in paying off debt, learning another language, or simply want to explore, teaching abroad is possible for you! Don’t let anyone ever tell you that it is too late to teach English overseas. Whenever you return to your home country, your friends, family, and a job will still be there for you. It is okay to not follow a linear path (college > job > house > family) if you don’t feel like that is for you. So get out there, friends. Take a career break. Start a new job overseas. Travel. Teach. There are limitless options out there if you are willing to step outside and take the leap. I believe in you.
