Hi Reader,
Here's something I've noticed after years of teaching abroad and talking to dozens of international teachers for my book.
Most teachers who want to teach overseas never do it.
Not because they can't. Not because they're unqualified. Not because the opportunity isn't there.
Because nobody ever told them it was genuinely possible for someone like them.
So they stay. Same staffroom. Same commute. Same slow drift towards a retirement they're not even sure they want. And every year, quietly, they wonder.
If you're one of the wonderers — this one's for you.
What teaching abroad actually looks like
Let me paint a quick picture, because I think a lot of people have the wrong image in their head.
This isn't a gap year. It's not backpacking with a whiteboard. It's not trading your career for an adventure.
International school teaching is a profession. A well-compensated one. We're talking a full salary, free or subsidised housing, flights home, health insurance — and in many cases an end-of-contract bonus on top. For a lot of teachers, it's the first time in their career they actually save money every month instead of watching it disappear into rent and bills.
I've taught in Southeast Asia. I'm currently based in Thailand and heading to Shenzhen, China in August. My first posting abroad wasn't the plan — it was the beginning of the plan. One decision led to another, and here I am, years later, still going.
That's how it works for most international teachers. The first posting isn't your destination. It's your entry point.
But here's what surprised me most
When I interviewed teachers for my book — people who've taught in Singapore, China, the Philippines, the UAE, Vietnam — they didn't lead with the money.
They talked about who they became.
Cait walked away from something safe and never looked back. Warren turned international teaching into a deliberate, methodical career strategy that most people would never think to attempt. And almost every single person I spoke to said some version of the same thing:
"I wish I'd started sooner."
Every time. Without fail.
There's something that happens when you remove the familiar. You find out what you're actually made of. You grow faster. You make real connections faster. You stop coasting and start actually living the career you got into teaching to have.
The excuses (I've heard them all)
I know what you might be thinking, because I've had these conversations a hundred times.
I don't have the right qualifications. You probably do. Most international schools want a teaching degree and classroom experience. That's it.
I don't have enough experience. Many schools actively recruit early-career teachers. Experience is an advantage, not a requirement.
I have a family. So do plenty of international teachers. It's more complicated — it's not impossible. Dependent visas, family housing, school places for kids — these are real options at many schools.
I've left it too late. Teachers make lateral moves into international education in their forties and fifties. Regularly. The best time to start was five years ago. The second best time is now.
One last thing
Nobody is coming to recruit you from your current staffroom.
The decision comes first. The research, the applications, the recruitment fairs — all of that comes after. But you have to decide.
And if you're sitting there thinking "maybe one day" — just remember every single teacher I've interviewed said the same thing about starting sooner. Don't let that be you in five years.
If you're ready to figure out where to start, I've put together a free checklist that walks you through exactly what you need to do to get started teaching abroad. No fluff — just the practical steps.
👉 Grab the free Getting Started Checklist here — International Teaching Readiness Checklist.pdf
And if you want the full picture — the stories, the mindset shift — I just published a video that goes deep on all of it.
👉 Watch the video here
Speak soon, Mark
P.S. That "I wish I'd started sooner" line? It's the most common thing I heard across every single interview. Don't let it be yours.
Talk soon,
– Mark
The Footloose Teacher
🎥 YouTube Channel | 🌐 Website
P.S.
If you’re newer around here, welcome! This community is all about helping teachers build a life of adventure, purpose, and financial freedom — often in places you never expected. Glad you’re here. 🌍
