Is teaching english abroad a good idea? (employment, applying, degrees)

[Rlarson21]

I'm 24 with two bachelors degrees. I went to college late in the game. I am single with a cat.

I am not the person who likes the nine to five office thing. I want to go to grad school but I need a change of pace soon.

I usually get tired of a job around the 3 year mark. I have been with my current job for 2 and a half years.

I live in North Dakota where the unemployment rate is at 3.5%. I would plan on living in Fargo (which is an hour away from my city) which is our biggest and only city when i get back and maybe going back to grad school part time while working full time.

I am scared about being abroad by myself with no support for a year, but i have to find a way to get out of my rut.

I hate my call center job and i've lived in the same town my whole life which is not easy considering that i'm a minority (gay) and this is a smaller community.

What should i do?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Rlarson21

I'm 24, single, with a cat.
I'm gay, n North Dakota
lived in the same town my whole life

have to find a way to get out of my rut.
need a change of pace soon

two bachelors degrees
want to go to grad school
maybe going back to grad school part time while working full time.

scared about being abroad by myself
plan on living in Fargo when i get back

Is going down to the Cities for work and Grad School just too common and pedestrian an option?
Or is it that you really just want to do some world traveling?

What should i do?

Go and see the world. Make some friends. You're only young once.
If you don't need fancy... there are many ways to do it rather cheaply.
Deal with what you have to deal with when you have to deal with it.

hth

ps: As to the teaching English thing... that's really hard to make work and especially so if the intention is to do touristy traveling across that continent as well. ie most of these jobs require a static location for the duration and offer rather little in real pay.

[peet111]

Where do you want to go? Do you just want to break even or actually gain money?
A friend of mine taught English in Korea many years ago and is now considering going to another country as he was laid off and has been turned off in his current prospects. However, he had previously travelled a bit prior to committing to that arrangement. Even then, the situation at his first institute was made difficult by sticking him with a familiy that didn't speak any English who treated him with hostility even though they were paid. He also had to take on additional students to keep ahead of the money flow. But he was paid fairly well and given a 3 week leave where he went to Japan and all over Southeast Asia.

So for him, it was a lot of hardwork and required a ton of patience but eventually he enjoyed it and got into a routine just like one would here.
I think the best idea is to research as much as possible and maybe find a way to practice teaching locally. See if it's something you can do.

[Hammer71]

They are always hiring for overseas teaching jobs, and depending on where you teach, you can actually save some money. You can live in a different culture, learn a language, and meet all sorts of interesting people from all over doing the same thing. Check out Dave's ESL cafe and Say Kimchi Recruiting. I've thought about doing the same thing as the job market is just pathetic in my region. Good luck!

[MNTroy]

I know someone who has been teaching English in Korea several years ago and loves it. He can basically speak Korean which is always a plus in this interconnected global community.

I hate my call center job and i've lived in the same town my whole life which is not easy considering that i'm a minority (gay) and this is a smaller community.

I am not sure about every country in Asia but generally Koreans want to have White-Americans to teach English---or that has been generally the rule. Thing may have changed, so don't let that discourage you from applying.

Good Luck!