By Josh Butterworth. Josh is Impact Teaching’s Thailand Program Coordinator, and he lives in Thailand.
We’ve seen it all over many years of helping new teachers start their adventures abroad. From quiet confidence to outrageous arrogance, and subdued shyness to outright socially awkward. But something unites all of our teachers, they almost always succeed. This is because they share three key attributes that allow them to flourish in a new job, in a new country, and embrace the whole experience.
Maybe these attributes were not fully formed when we first met for their interview, maybe not even by their first day of school, but they were always there.
And if you already have these traits, or at least possess the desire to develop them, then you’ve got it in you to take on the world as a teacher abroad.
Independence
The first key attribute independence. Simply choosing to leave your home country and become a teacher overseas is an indicator of an independent individual, or someone who is seeking to become one. Stepping out of your comfort zone with the confidence that you can survive is something our teachers must do, but it’s not guaranteed that everything will go to plan.
Difficult times can arise, that’s normal in any walk of life, but they are amplified when overseas and far from the support systems you’re used to. Independent people are willing to face these struggles and overcome adversity. By no means to they have to do so alone, but they are motivated to maintain a positive attitude whilst solving any issues, rather than letting them get them down. Tough times don’t last, tough people do.
Teaching abroad is a process of growth, and the majority of our teachers are not what we’d class as ‘fully independent’ at the start of the process, but they very quickly become so. If you are interested in teaching abroad then you have the seedlings of this, if you’ve signed up then the sprouts are starting to grow, and you will be a flower of independence within six months of teaching abroad.
Flexibility
The next important trait is flexibility. This is a broad term that can relate to many elements of being a teacher overseas, but in essence is the ability to accept a lack of control in a positive and understanding manner. The motivation to live in a country other than your own could be perceived as evidence of a flexible person, but it’s impossible to fully appreciate the enormity and necessity of it until you actually have the experience yourself for the first time.
Let’s take school for example. First, you will need flexibility in that you are likely to be the last person to be told anything, and are expected to navigate around the schools ever-changing schedule. You must accept it all with a smile and display no resentment. It is the way it is and you can’t change it. Getting frustrated won’t help, and it’s actually quite freeing when you’re able to take it all in your stride, but it takes a while. Being flexible with the working culture within your school is absolutely integral to success and happiness within the workplace.
But then we have daily life, for which I a refer to a slightly different type of flexibility. Whether you’re in Budapest or Beijing, the culture will be very different to that of your own country. Accepting that people do things differently, and that you must too, to have the best time, is what makes our teachers enjoy and embrace the experience to the fullest.
Compassion
Possibly the most important attribute you need to teach abroad is compassion. We know, not all our teachers are motivated solely by a desire to educate, travel and a chance to see the world is often what brings them to us. But compassion is what builds their very special relationships with students, colleagues, friends and everyone they meet. Without this the experience lacks richness and connection.
Empathy, like flexibility, comes in many forms. One of which is an understanding and care for other people’s needs. A lack of empathy usually accompanies teachers who do not see the need to work hard for their students and colleagues, people who look up to them in numerous ways. This leads to a breakdown in relationships and can make the whole school experience unpleasant, not what we want for our teachers. Luckily, they all seem to have empathy and go on to create specials bonds that last a lifetime.
Empathy also comes into the equation in daily life. It’s an ability to understand and appreciate other people’s flaws and differences, then look for the good in them. This is crucial in a culture that is unlike your own, and will be a dealbreaker on whether you form healthy relationships that make your time as a teacher abroad one that is special and memorable.
But if you’ve read on this far on the article, thank you, and I bet you do have a fair deal of all three of these attributes. If you don’t feel like they are all fully developed yet, remember what I said, teaching abroad is a process of learning and you can grow on the job.
If you’re ready to start your adventure today, we’re here to guide you.
We have programs in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Hungary and Poland.
Where will you make your impact?
