Amanda Kendle was born and raised in Western Australia but left in her 20s to teach English in Japan, Slovakia, and Germany, before returning to Perth to continuing teaching English to foreign students in Australia before her travel-loving son was born. Her travel blog, NotABallerina.com, is celebrating its tenth birthday this year,  and she also runs a social media and blogging consultancy business - in between trips!

What motivated your decision to teach abroad? How/why did you choose where to go?

Initially, I was just really, really keen to leave my hometown of Perth, Western Australia. It's one of the most isolated cities in the world and although I'm happy living back here again now, I really needed to get out for a while. I was working in education but hadn't specifically thought about teaching English until I saw an ad in the newspaper to teach English in Japan at one of the major language schools. I got the job, and off I went, without giving it much thought.

How did you find your job? What resources did you use?

When I got my first overseas teaching job, it was by chance that I saw an ad in the newspaper - this was back in 2000! After that, I got a job in Slovakia from the ESL job ad board at Dave's ESL Cafe website (which I see is still going strong). Then, I really wanted to work in Germany (as I'd studied German at school), so I wrote to language schools in Germany asking if they had vacancies and got lucky. When I returned to Perth and wanted to continue working in ESL, I took a printout of my CV around to various schools until someone hired me.

Amanda Kendle with students in Japan.

What was your experience like? Can you share some favorite memories - and challenges?

I've had four very different ESL teaching jobs in four different countries, but I loved them all for varying reasons. I found teaching in Japan to be very special because the students treat you with so much respect. Although I did have some challenging students of retirement age who didn't even know the English alphabet, and we were forbidden from speaking any Japanese with them, so that was tricky. My favourite memories are probably all based on the fascinating people I met - building my first ever snowman with a Slovak student, trying some nameless and unusual foods with Japanese students, getting to know a high level Russian banker (who I subsequently lost on an excursion - oh no!).

What skills did you develop from your experience? Do you feel changed from your teaching experience abroad?

My experience teaching abroad changed me utterly, both personally and professionally. In my current career, the skills I learnt from teaching ESL abroad - especially presentation skills and confidence, being inventive and innovative when faced with challenges, and being able to relate to a wide variety of people - have helped me enormously in running successful training courses. Personally, my understanding of different cultures and the ability to empathise better with people has helped me in many facets of life.

Amanda Kendle - a word game with Slovak students in Bratislava.

Any advice for teachers thinking about working overseas? What are some highlights or things that you gained or changed your perspective?

I would encourage everyone with even the slightest interest to work abroad - it will be life-changing and even if it is sometimes tricky - language barriers, cultural barriers, financial barriers - it will be worth it. I've been back home for seven years now, but I still notice the impact of my years abroad in my everyday life.

How has international education impacted or influenced your cultural identity?

In a sense, I'm much more Australian now in that I have been able to define what that is, by comparing Australia to other countries; in another sense, I'm less Australian, because I have assimilated many bits of other cultures into my daily habits and customs.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

One of my absolute favourite things about having taught abroad is that I am still in touch with so many of the students I met. (Also, I married one!) I love that thanks to social media, I can still see what these people are doing in their daily lives and we can easily reminisce about our times together.

Amanda Kendle in Germany during the World Cup, with Italian students learning English

#TeachAbroadBecause Learning About Your Students Changes Your Life

All photos courtesy and copyright Amanda Kendle