What are the common difficulties in a student teaching abroad story?

A student, Mark, taught in Japan. His subject was mathematics. He was amazed by the discipline and respect shown by the Japanese students in the classroom. But he also noticed that they were shy about asking questions. So, he tried to create a more relaxed atmosphere. He introduced group work and problem - solving activities. Through this, the students became more active in learning math. Mark also learned a lot about Japanese culture during his stay there, which influenced his teaching methods in a positive way.

One common horror story is getting placed in a school with no teaching resources. You might expect basic things like textbooks or a whiteboard, but end up with nothing. Another is having to deal with extremely unruly students who have no respect for the teacher. For example, students constantly talking over you or even throwing things in class. And then there's the issue of cultural misunderstandings. You could do something innocent, like pat a child on the head, which might be offensive in that culture.

One common difficulty is the lack of family guidance. For example, my parents didn't know how to help me choose the right courses or majors. Another is the financial stress. Since my family had no experience with college costs, it was hard to plan for it.

One horror story is getting stuck in a school with no proper teaching materials. I once taught in a remote place abroad where there were hardly any textbooks or educational resources. It was a nightmare trying to plan lessons without the basic tools. Another is dealing with extremely unruly students. I had a class where the students were constantly disrupting the class and there was little support from the school administration to discipline them.

The time difference is a big problem. For example, when one is awake and ready to talk, the other might be sleeping. Also, the cost of traveling back and forth is high, which can limit the frequency of their meetings.

In France, I had a student who was very shy at first. But as time went on, through various English - speaking activities like role - plays, she became more confident. By the end of the semester, she was able to give a presentation in front of the whole class in English without any hesitation. It was really inspiring to see her growth.

When I was teaching English in Spain, I noticed a cultural difference in the learning style. Spanish students were very social in the classroom. They liked to have group discussions and debates in English. It was challenging at first to manage the noise level, but then I realized it was a great way for them to practice speaking and expressing their ideas. I also got to learn a lot about Spanish culture from my students during those discussions.

One common difficulty is the paperwork. There are often a lot of forms to fill out correctly. If you make a mistake, it can delay the process.

Financial problems are common. One single mom has to pay all the bills alone. Also, lack of time is an issue. She has to take care of the kids, do household chores, and may also need to work.

One common difficulty is the lack of physical presence. You can't just hug or hold hands when you want. Another is the time difference, which can make it hard to find a good time to talk. Also, there might be trust issues as you can't always see what the other person is doing.