How to deal with culture shock as a TEFL teacher

A big part of the appeal behind getting a TEFL certificate is the opportunity to travel and teach abroad. 

Moving overseas can be incredibly exciting. The world is full of brilliant places to live and work as an English teacher. Whether you’re seeking adventure, better weather, an opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture, or, quite simply, a change of scenery, the chance of setting up a life in a new location is alluring.

That said, when you first move somewhere new, it can be difficult. If you’ve spent most of your life in one country, adjusting to a new culture can be overwhelming. Along with any nagging jet lag you might be suffering or dealing with different weather, it’s essential to recognise that your mind will need time to adapt.

Even the most seasoned TEFL teachers get culture shock. It’s happened to just about everyone who’s ever travelled, and it’s by no means a negative response to something culturally distinct - it’s a very normal part of the journey.

So, let’s examine culture shock. What is it, how can it be overcome, and what resources are available to help?

What is culture shock?

Firstly, let’s define culture shock. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a feeling of confusion felt by someone visiting a country or place that they do not know,” which neatly sums it up.

Crucially, there’s no specific way culture shock manifests itself. It can take time - you might feel culture shock when you land somewhere or after a few days. It can make you feel disorientated, anxious or even desperate to return to familiarity. All of these feelings are normal, even for the most experienced travellers.

Culture shock can create several feelings: you may feel lonely, lost, unable to communicate, or even angry for putting yourself in a different environment. It’s important not to deny how you feel and to remember that it’s a very common experience! Culture shock can appear as despondency, panic, or depressive symptoms, but again, these are normal, and they do go away.

Doing your research beforehand

So, how do you help to mitigate culture shock symptoms? The more you know about a place before you head over, the less shocked you might feel. While we’re not suggesting people travel unquestioningly from place to place and hope for the best, we’d recommend reading location guides , listening to podcasts, and watching documentaries about your destination.

Read as much as you can. Knowing the history of a place is essential, as it’ll give context to your new surroundings, so hitting the history books is a good starting point. We’d also recommend using sites like Reddit to get an idea of the experiences of other TEFL teachers in particular locales. If you can, speak to people - go on LinkedIn and find teachers working where you plan on going. People like to share advice, and you might make essential contacts before you head over.

When you research beforehand, you can garner good recommendations for things to see and do. Playing the role of the tourist in a new location can be a great way to get over culture shock. Finding out about good restaurants, bars, cafes and sights from people who’ve lived where you plan to move is a fantastic way to adjust to your new surroundings.

Etiquette and understanding cultural differences are super important. Without blowing our own horn too much, we have blog posts on this, so it's good news if you’re moving to Spain , Japan , Vietnam , South Korea, or Cambodia . Contact us if you’d like us to pinpoint a particular country we haven’t covered!

Learning the language

You don’t necessarily have to be fluent in another language to move abroad. For many, the challenge of learning a new language is part of the appeal of moving. However, it can feel isolating if you can’t understand a word anyone is saying, so try to learn some basic phrases before you move somewhere.

With so many language learning apps available nowadays, you can learn on the go. Of course, you can also take up language lessons when you move somewhere. A great plus for language schools is meeting people in the same boat as you and making new friends.

Speak to local people

Immersing yourself in a new culture sounds easy on paper. You just turn up somewhere and go, “Wow, this is great”. Case closed, right?

Well, no. Not quite. It can be difficult - hence, culture shock. However, it’s worth noting that about 99% of the time, people will respect your decision to uproot your life and move. Especially when you’ve moved to where they live, so fascinating did you find the prospect of living like them. Many people will find that exciting and have questions for you. 

Again, getting recommendations from local people will help you to find cool new places to visit, obviously, but it’ll also help reduce feelings of alienation and loneliness. By striking up conversations, you can take cues on etiquette and manners. Ask silly questions sometimes - people won’t mind if your heart is in the right place.

This also applies to talking to your fellow teachers. You’ll need them, just as they’re going to need you. You’ll want to listen to what they tell you because they know the area and what it’s like to teach there, and they might have been in your situation.

Regulating your body

Does the body rule the mind, or does the mind rule the body? We don’t know, but we’d bet that taking care of your health will improve your mental well-being to no end.

Jetlag can make you feel incredibly out of sorts and add to feelings of culture shock. It can also take ages to shift if you try to ignore it, so factor that in when you’ve just landed from a long flight. 

While some teachers like to arrange their travel so they start work as soon as they arrive somewhere, we’d suggest that’s not the best route for everyone. Be kind to yourself; try to have at least a few days to unpack, explore your new locale, and, quite simply, feel your feelings.

Exercise is helpful. Running, jogging, and general gym work can boost endorphins , and if you’re already a gym enthusiast, asserting your workout routine can be an excellent way to start the adjustment process. Walking is always beneficial - get your steps in, familiarise yourself with your surroundings, and try to take it all in.

Sleep . Sleep is terrific; sleep heals all. Enforcing good sleeping habits will help your mental health, regardless of the situation, and that’s especially true if you’ve come off a long-haul flight, you’ve fundamentally changed your life, and you could use some Zs. While we’re on the subject of relaxation, meditation and yoga are tried and trusted stress-busters.

Home comforts

Just because you’ve moved doesn’t mean you have to neglect everything in your life from before. We’re just saying, so you’re 100% clear on that. 

Make time for the people in your life. It’s ok to phone someone, whether they’re a relative, a friend, an old colleague or whoever, and tell them you’re having difficulty adjusting. Or, ring them to hear a familiar voice when you first move abroad.

Whether it’s Facetime, Zoom or even gaming online with your friends - schedule it in. Make it a regular part of your life so you can keep up with all the news from home while exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

Factor in the time difference between where you are and where your friends and family are. That takes some time - no pun intended - but you’ll get into a groove before long. 

It’s crucial to get comfortable in your living space. Personal effects are not superfluous: hang up pictures, get your bedroom looking how you want it to, experiment with furniture, and find a space for the cuddly toy nobody knows about. 

Once you’re settled, booking a trip home at some point is a good idea if you can. No matter how brilliantly you do in your new location - and we’re betting you’ll be fantastic - having something on the calendar for when you feel homesick is never a bad idea.

Mental health resources

We don’t want to spook you here, but culture shock can turn into an anxiety disorder or depression if you leave it unchecked. We’re massive advocates of TEFL teachers looking after their mental health , so we’d be remiss not to point you to resources like United for Global Mental Health and the NHS Anxiety Self-Help Guide . The former will help you to find mental health resources where you are. The latter will help you when you’re feeling panic, which - in case you need reminding - is a perfectly reasonable response to a big move.

Finding online therapy is easier than ever, with loads of fantastic therapists available at the click of a button. 

You’ve got this!

Adjusting to a new culture and backdrop can be difficult for anyone. Ignore social media - nothing is seamless, and adapting to a new living environment can take time.

Just because you feel culture shock doesn’t mean your feelings towards a place are negative. You’re not a bad person. You haven’t made some kind of colossal mistake in moving. You’re a human being having a normal reaction to stimuli. We’re sure you’re special and unique in many other ways, but this time? ‘Fraid you’re experiencing something completely normal.

You’ve got this, we promise.

Are you desperate to explore the world and your potential but unsure which route is right for you? Take our TEFL course quiz and find out.