Language education has always been a part of a comprehensive teaching curriculum. In most parts of the world, proficiency in a second language, most commonly English, is even considered as a prerequisite for social status and future success. South Korea is no exception — in addition to being taught at school, Korean students often attend classes at private academies to become more proficient in English. Coming from English-speaking countries, teachers at language schools give Korean students an opportunity to grasp how a language works from the most natural perspective — the perspective of a native speaker — a chance given nowhere else. Foreign teachers, therefore, work towards a good cause of spreading the most instinctive and legitimate knowledge of a language across the world.

There are many reasons why South Korea, alongside Japan, China, and Thailand, see an increasing number of native English speakers settling as language teachers. Among them is teaching for the purpose of travel. Many Asian countries provide a relatively straightforward and easy way for language teachers to move to the country. The idea of exploring the world while passing the knowledge of one’s own native language to others has attracted many travel bloggers, journalists, and fresh graduates, and has even become a lifestyle for many. Such a trend, being perceived in almost as many colors as a dream, is a simple solution for those who would like to experience the nomadic lifestyle while spending their time productively.

More importantly, for those who find passion in the sole process of teaching, moving to another country for that purpose is quite a rewarding experience. They get a chance to not only practice their art, but also familiarize themselves with teaching practices abroad and further refine their craft. There are significant cultural and psychological differences between nationals and foreigners, with some differences even identified in brain structure, especially between Korea and Western countries. Instructors thus put themselves in a completely new teaching environment, where a lack of bias and prejudices are required for a smooth learning process. After spending several months, and at times years, getting accustomed to the new domain, foreign teachers become better at adapting to changes, questioning the orthodox ways of thought, and spotting fundamental differences between cultures — the qualities essential for a broad, clear view on life.

Korea’s strong media presence, advancing through the popularity of K-pop and K-dramas, is one of the prominent reasons thousands of English speakers choose the country as their destination to reap the aforementioned benefits. Many people equate the non-realistic lifestyle portrayed on Netflix with the ordinary lifestyle of an ordinary Korean. Such fallacies are often too vibrant to be suppressed, which makes an increasing number of people stray away from their own cultures, burn bridges with their home, and move to Korea. This is such a popular phenomenon that a new term has been coined to describe diehard Korea fans — “Koreaboos”. Experiencing the reality of life in Korea may lead to a harsh disappointment. Nevertheless, the exposure to the Korean lifestyle through media may also have an advantageous aspect; it allows newcomers to the country to feel more familiar and adapt more quickly.

Just like many other aspects of life, moving abroad is usually not as easy as one might envision. But with all of its shortcomings, the most obvious of which is discomfort, building a career as a language teacher abroad is a rewarding and enriching experience. Whether one is moving for a couple of months or for ten years, the path towards self-actualization will always be full of ups and downs, both leading to a more fulfilling experience. Appropriately evaluating one’s priorities and abiding by them is one of the most important factors in one’s satisfaction with life; therefore, it is important to remember that the practical benefits that come with teaching abroad should be among the reasons for such an important life decision, not a carefully curated scene or image. If approached from a realistic, unbiased perspective, being a teacher abroad will leave an unforgettable impression and result in a more complete view on the world.