The Number 1 Thing to Do on Your First Day of School When Teaching Abroad

First Day of School! First Day of School!

Congrats! You’ve put in the work to teach abroad. You’ve applied for the job, you navigated the visa process, you made the move, and now the real work begins.

If there’s just one thing you can do to ensure your first day goes well, here it is.

The Secret is…

Have fun 😊

As simple as that sounds, it’s true. 

There’s so much adrenaline that comes with starting a new job. You’re bound to meet tons of people, get a tour of the school, learn new rules and systems, it can be noisy, and you might even still be figuring out your commute. It can all be overwhelming.

With everything going on, the main thing to remember is to take it all in and make it a fun experience. With this mindset, your outlook on the day can easily be turned from scary to optimistic. 

Introduce yourself to as many staff as you can and be friendly with the students because you’ll be with them for the next nine months. Your first impression will set you up for a promising year in the long run.

You set the tone for your own experience – make it a positive one. 

If You're Able to Prepare Before the First Day

I highly recommend getting in touch with your school contact. You can email or call them to introduce yourself and ask if there is anything in particular they’d like for you to prepare or keep in mind for your new job.

This will work to your advantage so you’re feeling more at ease. In my case, I emailed my office admin before school started and they offered me the chance to choose which grades I would work with for the rest of the year.

It’s also helpful if they can send you any information about the school like the academic calendar. Receiving my school’s calendar allowed me to see all the holidays, events, and early dismissals so I could plan my personal schedule early on.

Channel Your Inner Nemo

It is completely fair to feel the nerves kick in. At the same time, I encourage you to take deep breaths and smile. 

This is an exciting moment in the teach-abroad journey. You deserve to continue the process with your head high so go forth and enjoy. And if you need a boost of inspiration, just remember Nemo’s enthusiasm as he said four little words: “First day of school! First day of school!”

You got this!

If you need more encouragement, have questions, or would like to connect, I’d love to hear from you! Find me on Instagram @travelwithmiv.