Being a primary teacher abroad is a lifestyle that I love and one I often get questions about. How much money do international teachers get paid? How different is it? What is an international teaching day like? How would people make friends? Where to teach abroad? Which country is best for teaching jobs? (👈🏼 if these last two questions are you, check out my teaching abroad quiz). It is something that so many teachers are interested in. Perhaps this is you!
In Australia, it is prevalent to know someone who has been a teacher in the uk. And it is not uncommon to hear about Aussie teachers who teach in other parts of the world also. We also get a lot of British and Irish teachers flocking to our schools too. Teaching as an expat has been one of the best career decisions I’ve ever made. But honestly, when I started my degree, this was not where I thought I would end up. But I am so glad I am here!
When I started my university degree, I initially wanted to be a School Psychologist (which is why my degree was a double degree in Psychology and Primary Ed). However, after my first placement, I fell in love with the classroom. It surprised only myself. My family all say that it was obvious as I loved teaching. I did after all have many part-time jobs teaching (Outdoor Recreation, Swim Teaching, Tutoring etc.).
But even with my love for the classroom, I definitely thought that I would end up working in a very high need area. I did CPD while still at university on working with aggressive children and aggressive parents and did a placement at a school where this training came very much in hand. So I really never thought that I would be teaching abroad, especially not long term.
But that all changed when I did study abroad for my Education degree.
Study abroad in Sweden, especially the placement subject in a Swedish primary school, really opened my eyes to my students as global citizens. It sparked a passion in me to foster that spark within them. I got to see a whole new perspective on what it means to be a teacher. I got to see how culture and politics influence an educational system in ways I had never really considered. Study abroad for my Education degree was one of the best decisions I ever made. Once I returned home, I did a placement in an International School in Sydney, and I was sold. I realised how exciting and fulfilling it was for me to work in a school where international mindedness was interwoven through every aspect of the school community.
Being a primary teacher abroad is something I get so many questions about. I know I love to research, so I thought I would pay it forward and write it down parts of my story for future primary teacher abroad.
So here are my 5 reasons why I became an International Primary Teacher Abroad:
1. Teaching abroad matches my life passions.
There is so much more to my life than just being a teacher. I think this is a hard one to say out loud because so often it gets portrayed that teaches who literally give everything to their students are good teachers, and those who don’t are lazy or selfish. Yet this just isn’t true. Teaching is my day job. When I am on the job, I give everything to it. I am constantly looking for ways to support my students and improve as a teacher.
But when I am not on the job, I take care of Kirstie, the woman who is so much more than just a teacher. I have hobbies and passions and dreams for my future. When I take care of myself, I am more able to give 120% of myself as a teacher. My life is more enjoyable. I make memories and dream and plan about what I could do next. I enjoy time with my family and friends. And one thing I love to do is travel. But I don’t want to travel full-time.
And I love being in the classroom. I love the routine of it all, I love having my students to focus on and regular co-workers to talk to and work alongside, I love to come home to my place with my housemates and cook dinner in my kitchen and go to sleep in my bed. However, I also love to travel. I love to explore new places, to see new cities, to learn new languages. Being a primary teacher abroad gives me the best of both worlds. I get the comfort of home and a routine, with the ability to travel regularly as I please.
2. I love to learn. Whether it be new cultures, new languages or new pedagogies – I love it all.
I love learning – I love learning about new cultures, which is why I love learning languages. I love experiencing things in ways that I would never have had at home. Even minor cultural differences, like the desire to be on time in Sweden, a party starts at 7, not 6:59 or 7:01, or going pumpkin picking in fall for Halloween or being cozy inside on snowy days in the winter.
And if there is one thing I have learnt from teaching internationally, it is that there are many ways to do the same thing, and it really depends on who you are teaching more than one finite strategy that works for all kids. This experience really links in with Culturally Responsive Teaching.
I also just love to learn in general. Different things are taught in different Curriculums. One thing I have absolutely loved learning how to teach here in the UK is Religious Education (RE). Every grade from Reception get explicit RE lessons that teach children to understand others and celebrate religious/non-religious diversity. In Australia, we didn’t have an all-inclusive RE subject. There is so much I don’t know about other religions, such as Hinduism and Sikhism. I have loved learning them and learning how to teach them, where I would never have gotten this opportunity for learning in Australia. And now, more than ever, inclusive curriculums that celebrate diversity is needed.
3. My passions as an expat teacher centres around Global Citizens and International Mindedness.
A passion that sparked to life from my study abroad was my passion for developing Global Citizens. I was teaching internationally in a Swedish School around the time that terror attacks were taking place all over Europe, and one occurred in Stockholm. It really made me realise how small the world really this, and how my students at the time were so much more connected to the world than I could have ever thought. Australia can sometimes feel so far removed from the rest of the world, yet this is not true. My students, regardless of where I teach, will grow up and take their place as the decision-makers of the future. More so than that, they are already a part of our world and very capable of making change. Look at Greta Thunberg as just an example. Big change can come from small acts done on repeat.
As a teacher, I now think bigger than my locality. My passion is for making global citizens regardless of whether they are 5 or 15. Now, it’s not that you can’t do this in public schools. However, I want to work in a school that matches my passions, where it is interwoven through all aspects of the school, from the school-wide networks all the way into my classroom. I want to work where the school embrace the UNESCO Global Goals, where we consider where we live and how we can make a difference.
4. I love being at the forefront of technology pedagogies and having the resources to do this as a primary teacher abroad.
This one is probably why there is an honest part in the title because I really don’t like to admit it out loud as I feel like it completely overruns the other reasons. It’s definitely not the only reason I choose to work abroad, but it is one of the benefits that I enjoy. Generally, private schools have more access to resources, and as someone who is very much into integrating modern technology into the classroom to enhance learning, this is a huge benefit.
I also find that there is more generous Professional Development offered through international schools. There are more chances and opportunities, supported by the schools to grow and develop as a teacher. I love inquiry-based learning, which is something (primarily because of the International Baccalaureate) that is rampant in international schools. Also, I have found that there are programs or pedagogies that are very popular in the UK that have yet to reach Australia that I love, such as Talk4Writing. I love that I get the opportunity to have access to this learning as I see so much use for it wherever I teach.
5. The ever elusive Work/life balance – a teaching abroad dream.
It has long been rumoured that we should teach abroad if we desire a healthy work/life balance. Yet, I think this depends on the person just as much as the school. It’s not like there is less work, but I think it is a mindset of internationally teaching, even teaching in London. It is also my experience and the experience I’ve heard reflected by other Primary teachers abroad that their workload is just as high, if not higher. Still, there is more support around it and more release from face to face teaching, especially in international schools. This isn’t the case in the UK. The workload is higher, especially the pressure, but I still have a healthier work/life balance here.
When you first move to a new country, you suddenly get to build your own new life. There are no prior commitments, no plans set, your weekends and weeknights free. You get a blank slate. Everything is suddenly free, and you get to build your own life. Generally, people who teach abroad also want to travel and like to make the most of every opportunity, whether it be summer holidays, weeks off or even just weekends. Most move to live a lifestyle and create that themselves.
A healthy work/life balance doesn’t just fall into your lap – it is built intentionally, but I feel like living abroad creates space for you to do that.
Teaching abroad isn’t some magical dream, though. I have a job, and students, who have families at a school that has pressures just like any other school. I go through the ups and downs of normal life, but in school holidays, I visit friends in Germany or go to Romania for a week. On weekends I go to the coast or see the sights in London or even go to Luxembourg. Teaching abroad isn’t for everyone, and perhaps, isn’t forever.
But my guess is if you’ve read this far, then being a primary teacher abroad is possibly for you, and I am glad you’re here.
Want to know more about my time in the UK:
Check out this post on the 4 big lessons I learnt as a new grad teacher teaching abroad
Want to know more?
These are some Podcasts I love which share stories from those who have been teaching internationally and two guides from BIG websites that deal with Teaching Abroad jobs.
A Short Guide to Teaching Abroad but Teaching Abroad Direct
Check out the Teaching Abroad Podcast here!
