Below, please find 'some' helpful tips if you want to work overseas. As I am in China, most contents are based on my Chinese experience.
1) Do not over-expect. Your employment will provide for your basic needs. Satisfaction and happiness is up to you.
2) Check you motivation for going abroad. It is desirable that there is a balance between self and the love of teaching. I have seen some who take teaching just to support their 'wandering' lifestyle and they were never happy or fulfilled. Only those who look at teaching as joy and fun will benefit the most. Those who wake up in the morning and think of the day's teaching activity as a chore will never be happy.
3) Most training centres (Aston, Disney, Cambridge, etc) have complete set of teaching materials. Don't let this make you too reliant and impede your creativity. These schools usually require you to teach all four skills; reading, listening, writing and speaking.
3) Most public schools require you to teach only Spoken English. The other skills are taught by local English teachers including verey good grammar instructions. These schools usually provide you with a textbook with which to relate your speaking lessons.
4) Some schools provide you with a local teaching partner, some don't. It is my personal preference to have no local partner.
5) Employment packages will always be larger and more attractive in major metropolitan area. However; standard of living could also be very high. Also mobility (traffic) may be more challenging. Be especially descriminating when choosing heavily industrialized cities. Air pollution may pose a health risk.
6) China has so many holidays and usually foreigners on contract are not paid. One particular holiday is Spring Festival / Chinese New Year. Most schools give their foreign teachers at least one month unpaid holiday. Some could go as much as two entire months.
7) Exercise professionalism when dealing with employers, school admin and co-teachers. You may need their references when you decide to change employers.
10) When you get an employment offer, do your homework. Get as much information about the city from the internet or from the hiring agency. Ask as many questions as you want. Look up the company on the internet...some of them are on a blacklist.
11) One of the most important book you must make sure you have is 'English is Stupid' by Judy Thompson.
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