For the Money or for the Experience? The Moral Dilemma of International Teaching — Black Edition (8/9)

At what point is the pay high enough to compensate for a lower-quality experience? I argue never, read on to find out why…

But the money is amazing, and you don’t have to pay tax!

The long-standing fallacy of international teaching.

Though income considerations may seem universal, for BAME teachers, there are other considerations which may not factor into the typical budgeting advice.

Before we begin, if you are looking for a community of teachers in preparation for an international role, or are interested in connecting with those who are, please join our LinkedIn community to support teachers investigating their next opportunity: BAME International Teachers Support Network (Free Resources).

Now don’t get me wrong, we have all seen the jobs in Singapore and Dubai with salaries for teachers or HOD’s which are tens of thousands higher than state teaching jobs. For any teacher working in the state sector, this will make your mouth water and may have been the first concept which made international teaching seem attractive. In reality, you would be remiss if you think that this does not come with serious expectations regarding work ethic and/or the challenges presented by the students.

When looking at international teaching jobs from a financial perspective, remember the following to ensure you have a positive experience:

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is

Large pay packets are to provide compensation for a number of things, it is not generally a school saying that they are simply able to pay what appears to be significantly higher than the market rate.

The compensation may address concepts as specific as healthcare not being free in the country that you are going to, or as general as the location simply not being very attractive to international teachers. I recall browsing through a job offer in Bermuda with a wage in excess of $100k, but quick research advised that this was a moderate to low income as a reflection of the high cost of goods, imports, and flights there.

There are many teachers who spent several years teaching in lucrative roles often in locations in the Middle East to save up a large amount of money. Yet many of them also spoke to the fact that it was not their best international experience. The money did not right all of the challenges that they faced whether in workload, cultural expectations, or the simple challenges of living in that location as a migrant worker.

Anecdotally, the experience at very high-paying schools can be brilliant but many of these schools can also be described as sterile. The locations can be quite isolated (as a comparison to expectations in Europe or Asia), culturally homogenous, or involve an element of risk. This can lead to experiences which are enjoyable in only a transient and superficial way if at all due to these challenges.

On the other hand, there can also be stringent work expectations and very long working days. Whatever a school is paying you, they will expect to get that value back through the labour you provide. This may be reflected in extra-curricular responsibilities, regular weekend work, early start times and late finishing times as a standard, or high volumes of paperwork through testing and tracking expectations.

Now with all of these serious considerations, it is important to note that there are excellent schools where you can have a brilliant experience with a high salary. It is simply crucial that you are critical and engaged in how you look at the salary and understand the lifestyle that it is aiming to provide you with.

As stated in previous articles I encourage you to speak deeply with people who have worked in the schools or locations you are aiming for, and ask them about what they enjoyed and what challenges they faced. I hope that all people reading this have the opportunity to find a great international teaching job with a high salary.

Lifestyle over income

Your questioning in the interviews can ensure you understand what the salary provides and explain why it is set at that point. To find out more about how to question and research effectively, please click here and here. It is crucial that you identify what you are willing to exchange for the money that you earn.

The foundational consideration is the lifestyle you want, your expected monthly expenditure, and expected monthly savings. Though this is commonly addressed on recruitment sites presently, there is an element specific to the BAME teachers.

Undoubtedly international teaching, relative to the location, often pays more than teaching in your home country or a ‘state’ school. But, living as a foreigner, attempting to source things from home, frequently flying, perhaps having to source more expensive ‘niche’ items such as BAME haircare products etc may lead to a much more expensive lifestyle than you had before.

Typically, the very high wages you may see in locations such as Bermuda, Panama, or Monaco, are normalised against the high cost of living in those locations — make sure you research thoroughly.

In other cases, locations in the Middle East which may have exceptional wages, may also have challenges regarding isolation, challenges adapting to local life, and challenges dealing with privileged students thus needing a higher wage for staff retention.

Though it is important to have baselines regarding what you are happy to earn, it is critical that you prioritise the living experience and daily life if you wish to be successful and happy in your international placement.

When travelling abroad be clear on your intentions regarding saving, the lifestyle you wish to lead, and how much this may amount to. A number of good recruitment agencies, such as Search Associates, will include basic calculations of what you can expect to save each month based on the salary and location and how much you intend to travel.

With a few exceptions, such as schools that pay a large end of contract bonus, you will generally be making some form of compromise between the life you want to lead and the savings you want to make for the future. Budget before you even accept the job to give you realistic expectations, and don’t forget to factor in your pension contributions!

Don’t be blinded by the numbers, remember there is a person behind them — YOU

No amount of money is worth the loss of your comfort and sanity and the income advertised on the job does not always correlate with what you might expect to be a good quality of life in that location.

Prioritise your ability to live your life and attain any goals and requirements that you have set yourself. There is nothing wrong with viewing an international job as an opportunity to save a large sum of money for 2–4 years but be prepared for the environment and lifestyle you may have to endure during that time.

Key Points:

• The income is not everything, always prioritise your lifestyle, comfort, sanity, and any personal targets whether financial or social that you have set.
• It is crucial to factor in things which you may take for granted in your home country such as free healthcare which may take a chunk out of your income — simultaneously keep an eye out for salaries which include generous benefits such as private health insurance, annual flights etc.
• Research broadly and deeply, and get an idea of what your monthly expenditure would look like in that country accounting for specific items that you may need to source (even if being sent in packages from home) while you are there.
• High paying jobs are high paying for a reason, it is often a reflection of the workload, entry requirements (many of these jobs require an MA or graduating from specific universities), cost of living in the area, or even the challenges of living in the area.
• Have clear financial goals — are you there to save a lot while living simply, to spend everything while saving in experiences and memories, or is there a balance you wish to strike?

Have you found a school that you are excited to apply to? How and why did you select it? Do you have any concerns about the process or any potential barriers? Feel free to share your stories with me here on Twitter @dsinclair17 or here on LinkedIn.

Check out the articles below to find out more about how to get the best from your international teaching experience!

· Abstract

1. Introduction: My Perspective on Teaching Internationally — Black Edition

2. Introduction: Why You Should Teach Internationally — Black Edition

3. How to Secure an International Teaching Job — Black Edition

4. Safety Checks: How to Research the Locale of your International Teaching Opportunity — Black Edition

5. Three Reasons Why International Teachers Quit and How to Buck the Trend — Black Edition

6. Navigating the Expat Community as an International Teacher — Black Edition

7. How I Used Dating Apps to Find Companionship as an International Teacher — Black Edition

8. For the Money or for the Experience? The Moral Dilemma of International Teaching — Black Edition

9. International Teaching; It’s Okay to Say No — Black Edition