Let’s face it, teaching English abroad is generally a young person’s game. At least half of your colleagues will be fresh out of University.
Most of them will only be in it for a year two at the most. You may find yourself surrounded by people you can’t even relate with.
If you’re American for example, you might find yourself in a staff room filled with Brits, Kiwis, Aussies etc. This, at least for me, was one of the positives of teaching English abroad even over 40. But, there are others, as well as challenges too.
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Teaching English abroad. Is over 40, over the hill?
Regardless of what your nationality is, if you’re teaching English abroad and you’re over 40, you will be in the minority. Many will question why you started teaching English after you turned 40. When most expect you to be the “typical” 40 year old they recognize from back home. Some may even look at you as being eccentric.
Teaching English abroad over 40 can be a life-changing experience and very rewarding. You may even have fun once you get over the initial stumbling blocks of having to relearn your own grammar of the language you’ve been speaking since your first words.
You see, non-native speakers learn English differently than native speakers do and you will have to learn all the terminology while becoming confident in explaining the nuances of English grammar and vocabulary.
This might make you feel a little stupid. Teaching English over 40 can do that to you, if you let it.
However, there are advantages to teaching English over 40, that you have that your young colleagues might not have. Like being taken more seriously by business clients and adult students, etc.
Is there an age limit to teaching English abroad?
In general no officially. There may be the exception of some countries in the Middle East, but there is no real age limit to teaching English abroad.
However, as I’ve mentioned above, some countries in the Middle East do have a mandatory retirement age somewhere around 55 or 57.
So if you plan on going to the Middle East and you’re hitting 50, this is something you might want to consider. Especially considering that the Middle East has traditionally held some of the best paying jobs in teaching English abroad.
What countries pay the most for English teachers?
The highest paying jobs for most English teachers have traditionally been in the Middle East.
With all that oil money and opportunities for people in those countries to send their children abroad for education as well as traveling, have made learning English in great demand.
These oil rich countries and their citizens have no problems dropping some serious cash for the English teaching services of native English speakers.
Other countries in more out of the way places like Central Asia, even some countries in Asia itself, can pay higher salaries for English teachers as well. Especially China, although that is rapidly changing.
However, the real money, if you want to call it that, in English teaching is in teaching private lessons. You’ll make way more money per hour teaching privately than you ever will for a traditional English language school or courses.
Although English teaching is certainly not the road to riches, if you play your cards right and settle in with a good reputable school which charges higher than average prices for their courses, you will have access to students who can afford to pay for a private tutor.
You may find that you will make more money teaching private students, many of which you’ll get from your regular English teaching job at the school you work for, than you will from the school itself.
Other teachers find that private lessons are a great way to supplement their income and even save a little money so they can go traveling around after they’ve completed their contracts.
Is there age discrimination for English teachers over 40?
In general no. But there are times where schools prefer to have a younger, “hipper” teacher and will gravitate towards younger faces. It’s a question of money and advertising.
The same reason why some native speaker teachers in some countries are discriminated against because of their color.
Even though they are native English speakers, qualified etc. some countries want a “white face”. This unfortunately can be the sad state of affairs in some places, but it is something that you will need to deal with because if you are a person of color, you may be discriminated against.
However, you can also be discriminated against if you are over 40 teaching English. Like I said above, some schools want the young fresh faces from university so they can present their school as a modern hip and youthful place, just like popular western culture that their students see in movies and TV.
Also older teachers are more difficult to be manipulated and intimidated by the terms of some contracts that English schools notoriously provide. Forcing many unwittingly susceptible teachers in working longer hours, payment terms, etc.
Many times schools can intimidate younger and inexperienced teachers to work hours they normally didn’t agree to and other conditions that are outside of their contracts.
Whereas older English teachers have more life experience in general and are less tolerant of these types of abuses.
In addition, younger teachers can generally be paid less than older teachers.
If you’re over 40 you’re less likely to settle for a rock bottom salary than, if you’re fresh out of university looking for a place to party for a year.
Is teaching English over 40 just another midlife crisis?
Teaching English over 40 is not like buying a sports car or getting plastic surgery done in a way to compensate for your lost youth.
However, teaching English over 40 can be a welcomed life change. It will give you the opportunity to experience the world, looking from a more experienced and different perspective.
Many times you will appreciate the experience of teaching English more after you’ve reached 40, than if you had started teaching English fresh out of university.
You may find that teaching English over 40 can be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ve ever had. Not only by experiencing new cultures, but in the teaching itself.
Many times when you’re over 40, nothing could be more rewarding than helping others. Teaching is a great way to do that.
Teaching english abroad over 40, conclusions.
Teaching English abroad over the age of 40 can be a very rewarding and even life-changing experience. However, teaching English over 40 is not without its own pitfalls.
To make the most out of teaching English abroad, you will need to learn how to anticipate and possibly mitigate the drawbacks, while enjoying the rewards. Your life experience will help you in doing that.
I highly recommend that if you find yourself in a rut and don’t like the direction your life is taking you, try teaching English abroad for a year. It will give you new experiences and fresh perspectives on your life that can enrich you moving forward.