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Q:
Is there an upper limit on the age of people who can teach overseas? - Asked by Elaine Bauman
A:
Pam:
No. We have taught with people of all ages. If you are in good health, you will be able to teach overseas. Maturity is important because it shows that you will be able to weather the changes of living in a new environment. Those who have seen more in their lives are more adaptable.
Q:
Is there anywhere you wouldn't recommend working? - Asked by Suzanne Kiltille
A:
Pam
As a woman, I would think twice about working in a country which has repressive attitudes toward women, although it doesn't seem to bother other female teachers as the pay is often very high. I wouldn't want to work in a country with an unstable government. Two good friends of mine are in Indonesia and it was scary last spring when the students were rioting and foreigners were scrambling to get out of the country, although they say that it is now safe and there are no problems. Because the local currency devalued so intensely the dollar is king and they are living like millionaires. We decided to leave Bulgaria finally because there was a water crisis and we had water rationing two out of three days. I wouldn't want to live in a country again where water was a problem.
Igor
Please note that what Pam calls "repressive attitudes towards women" can mean quite a different thing in the local culture. For example, in some countries in the Middle East women are not allowed to drive, so the school will assign drivers to their female teachers. From the local viewpoint, though, it's not discrimination but protection and a sign of respect.
Q:
How much can you make working overseas? - Asked by Janie Ahtila
A:
Pam
This depends entirely on your job, in which currency you are being paid and in which country you are working. In Spain, I wasn't able to save much money but I lived very well on my salary and traveled Spain extensively. Cafes and restaurants are abundant in Spain and most people spend very little time at home. Most of my friends would go home to nap or to sleep and that was about it. If housing is included in your contract you will be much better off financially
Igor
Salaries and benefits vary greatly from school to school, from $15,000 to $80,000 for teaching positions, and $25,000 to $120,000 for administrative jobs. The real question is not how much you are going to make, but how much you'll be able to save. If you have free housing, no utility bills, no taxes, no car payments --
and if the cost of living is low -- even a modest salary overseas is still better than huge paychecks at home that have to cover these expenses.
Q:
Do you teach all ages or can you choose the age of your students? - Asked by David Hill
A:
Pam
It depends on what sort of job you have. I was hired to teach first grade in Spain and then second grade in Bulgaria. If you teach at a language academy you will have to teach five or six classes per day, and you probably will not get to choose what age level you will teach. You may be able to ask for one group that is your preferred age. And sometimes you can make a little extra money by teaching an after-school activity or sport, or by tutoring privately in town. Right now I teach English to students in grades two to five, which is nice because I interact with lots of kids.
Q:
Do you have to speak the language of the country you're teaching in? - Asked by Jonas Ethan
A:
Pam
No. When I taught in Spain it was actually an asset that I didn't speak Spanish because it forced me to speak English with my students. However, you will pick up the language while you live there. By the time I left Spain, I was conferencing with the parents in Spanish.
Igor
In Bulgaria, the school community was truly international and the common language was English. We took lessons for two years while we lived there, but we never mastered the Bulgarian language. It makes everyday life a lot easier if you know the host country's language, but you don't need it at all to get a job overseas.
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