Motivations for Teaching Abroad [International Index] [Job Seeking and Interviewing] [International Schools] [Teaching & Living Abroad] [Recruiting Fairs] [Key Resources] Advice from Anthony & Roe Examine your motivations before investing time and energy in a job search. Employers and job seekers alike often cite the following positive motivations: Opportunity to be immersed in another culture To enhance language and professional skills Opportunity to explore other parts of the world To seek new experiences and adventures Escape is not a reason to go abroad. In most instances, problems of depression or discontent, marital discord or romantic disillusionment, boredom or burnout, are not diminished but intensified in unfamiliar surroundings. Kathleen L. Johns, while a principal in Lisbon, Portugal, touched on the feelings expressed by many overseas educators about the rewards of their experience: "A successful overseas teaching experience gives one the realization that there is a world outside of the United States. One gains the concept of internationalism which is lacking in people who understand only nationalism. One sees firsthand the interaction of world politics and economics. Of course, there is also the wide opportunity for travel, for seeing beautiful historical and natural sights, for meeting people of other nationalities, and for gaining the broad background necessary to good teaching. "We like the excitement of traveling, we like the interesting people we meet; the motivation to experience something new was one of the primary forces for us in seeking an international job." " I really wanted to go someplace different…if an exotic image comes to mind, it's India. And, I was afforded quite a career opportunity (curriculum coordinator) in New Delhi." "One of the reasons I chose Peace Corps was because I wanted to see if I actually liked teaching before I committed to further education. I also wanted to travel & wanted to do some good in the world and make a difference. It was easy for me to see that Peace Corps would really help me decide whether or not I'd love teaching & I discovered that I did." "There are several bad motivations for seeking an overseas job, it may seem trivial, but if you say, "I am just getting out of a relationship", they know you're not at a good place in your life to make the decision to go overseas." "Part of my motivation was to see how other people live. Becoming a member of a minority, culturally or a linguistic minority, is a very humbling, but extraordinarily rewarding experience. I felt that I hadn't seen everything I needed to see before I was ready to settle down." [back to top] [EPO Main Index] [College of Education] [University of Iowa] Copyright © The University of Iowa ed-epoweb@uiowa.edu