1. TEACHING POSITIONS ABOUND
The teaching jobs listed on the web site abound. Some of the jobs are
ESL and English related and others are for elementary school teachers.
While most unemployed educators struggle to find a position, those who are
not afraid of adventure can leap into a cross-cultural experience. Worldwide
job listings that cry out for educators are added daily and not just in the
spring and summer. Some of the teaching positions require specialized
credentials, but many only require a university degree and little or no
experience. It takes a tough person emotionally, physically and spiritually to
go this route, but the rewards are usually very gratifying. (If you are a
Christian, make sure you take a Bible, Christian music, books, etc. that you
will need to maintain your inner strength and take them covertly if you travel
to an Islamic nation.) The avenue is wide open to gain teaching experience
for the inexperienced and to earn a tax-free income of up to $70,000 a year
(the last time I looked at the tax regulations). The salary in some countries
is paltry and more of a ministry, but in others it is comparable to earnings in
the U.S. At first, overcoming your fear of the unknown may be your
toughest battle, but the rewards in the end are worth it. Personally, I spent
two years teaching in Japan and five years teaching in Saudi Arabia, and
even though it was difficult at times I would not trade those experiences for
anything. Intercultural understanding can seldom be had with short-lived
relationships.
Here are two web sites that may open the door to a new adventure:
1) Dave’s ESL Café or eslcafe.com for secular positions listed under Job
Center Home Page and the International Job Board
2) Association of Christian Schools International or acsi.org under Jobs and
their Overseas Openings