How to Become A Teacher Abroad

In 2014, I still was not sure about my life's trajectory so I looked into teaching abroad and this is the tale of how I became a teacher in China.

On the tail end of my master's degree studies in Belgium, I was completing my now archaic masters thesis about mobile applications for the City of Brussels concerning tourism (there were about 2 mobile apps for tourists to explore Brussels). I somehow wrote the thesis with all of my app research with recommendations AND was looking for full-time jobs literally everywhere at the same time.

I was having trouble finding jobs in Brussels and Europe at large because I do not have EU citizenship. No one would sponsor an entry-level worker, understandably especially with an economic recession still going on. I wanted to stay in Europe. I loved the lifestyle I had created for myself and wanted to continue this, but this wasn't in the cards. I applied for jobs back in the US, but Skype interviews were not really a thing yet. I kept looking and landed on a Google search for teaching English abroad. I loved working with children with all of my babysitting, camp counselor, lifeguard, and au pair experience, so teaching seemed like a natural course for me.

A lot of websites at the time seemed like scams because of the sums of money they requested for job placement or other unnecessary resources. I kept searching for a placement company that wasn't dodgey and I stumbled upon Teaching Nomad. I struck up a great rapport with many of the employees that would last for years. At the time, Teaching Nomad specialized with teacher placements around China in private schools and after school English language centers.

Teaching Nomad interviewed me via Skype; we had a few good chats about teaching philosophies, China's academic culture, certifications, and the process for employment and visas. I landed a job at an international school on the outskirts of Shanghai teaching first grade as a homeroom teacher. This job was a big privilege and I took everything very seriously. I was excited about this opportunity to push myself in my career more, get to work with students again, and explore the world.

My only knowledge of China stemmed from my undergraduate art history classes (Hello Terra-cotta Warrior Army! Hello white and blue porcelain!) and some elements of cultural food items. I had no knowledge of Mandarin, especially since I was still learning French at the time. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I was down for the ride. A year goes by quickly anyway, right?

After I finished my thesis, I was able to fully focus on finishing my required TEFL 120-hour certification and getting documents ready for my Chinese visa. Gathering the paperwork was a full out adventure! It was difficult since a lot of my documents were in the US at my parent's house and I had to obtain a lot of new things from the US government, like a FBI background check, while I was still in Europe. Teaching Nomad sent all the Chinese documents needed to my parent's house in Florida.

I went back to the US before moving to Shanghai to see family and finish everything up with the visa process. I had all my US documents and documents sent to me from Teaching Nomad in order and sent it all to Houston's consulate general (Florida fell under this location's jurisdiction). Once I got the notice my visa was approved, I flew to Houston to pick my passport and documents up to save time. I had everything with me and booked my one-way ticket to Shanghai right then because the school year was about to start in about two days' time.

This is the beginning of one-year teaching in Shanghai, China which turned into four years! I loved China and will write more reflections about my time there. Over-arcing advice: if a chance like this is possible, take it!