As an introduction to this article about "My Worst Expat Colleagues as an ESL Teacher," it's crucial we recognize that when teaching English, cultural exchange is key. You'd expect your worst expat colleagues in China to be the ones who consistently disrupt lessons or have poor communication. However, this wasn't always the case. My experiences with these teachers were sometimes a mix of dismay and hilarity, highlighting the unpredictable nature of working in a foreign educational setting.
In comparison to other work environments where one might encounter bad behavior from co-workers, teaching English as an ESL teacher is unique due to its cultural immersion nature. This made the worst expat colleagues I worked alongside stand out even more. They wouldn't follow through on lesson plans or consistently teach poor material that they claimed was "interesting" but actually wasn't so much for students. The disconnect between their expectations and the reality of the classroom created a sense of frustration that was hard to ignore.
My most hideous colleague, we'll call him Jack here and now—probably due to his general demeanor—would always be a hindrance when giving lessons because he barely had anything prepared despite claiming otherwise. He'd then proceed into class repeating what I assume are generally deemed "uninteresting" subjects that don't pertain so much to our students' interests at all. His lack of preparation and engagement left a lasting impression on both students and staff, making it clear that his approach was far from effective.
One might assume these worst expat colleagues were problematic due to their intrinsic nature of being lazy; this is however not the case with my colleague Jack, who managed teaching ESL well enough when he tried. The problem came from his consistent inability and lack of effort towards lesson plan creation, which ended up creating an aura around him where students felt uncomfortable. This highlights the importance of preparation and adaptability in ESL teaching, as even well-intentioned educators can struggle without the right tools.
The "Find Work Abroad" link (https://findworkabroad.com/) is a great source for those looking to teach ESL abroad but not ready or well-prepared. If you're like me and haven't found yourself able enough yet, I recommend taking some classes at the site—which has been my personal experience with teaching English in China. The resources available on such platforms can be invaluable for educators seeking to improve their skills and confidence before stepping into a classroom.
As we continue this piece on our worst expat colleagues through Jack's stories about him being drunk during class hours, "the very thing that defines ESL teachers across entire cities," then it would be easy to assume he'd never amount for anything due to his consistent lack, but you should consider all aspects. While some behaviors are clearly detrimental, others might stem from external pressures or personal struggles that aren't immediately apparent. This complexity makes it difficult to judge colleagues solely based on surface-level observations.
In my experience working with these problematic co-workers, I found the biggest problem wasn't their capacity or technical knowledge—rather, it was simple poor work ethic on behalf of them, which got me wondering if teaching ESL could get so little recognition from authorities when everyone else has put in effort. This raises important questions about the support systems available to educators and the expectations placed on them in foreign teaching environments.
I've come across many expat colleagues who exemplified Jack's characteristics throughout my time working with these teachers. Each shared similar frustrations but had the capacity to improve—a fact that would likely change once they began putting more thought into lesson plans. This suggests that while some educators may struggle initially, there's potential for growth when given the right opportunities and resources.
In contrast, I've also seen some of our teaching ESL students being quite interested and active after just one class where an interesting story or even well-taught grammar was introduced by their teacher. So, although we found ourselves facing worst expat colleagues in China—whose characteristics are exemplified through Jack's consistent lack as a lesson plan creator—there might still be hope for them if they took the "Find Work Abroad" route of teaching ESL abroad like I did, which worked well enough.
In conclusion to my article about worst expat colleagues from an ESL teacher's perspective in China, this has been a very mixed bag. Despite having some bad experiences with Jack and his ilk, there is still hope for these teachers as seen when they put thought into lesson plans rather than taking things easy like I once did myself before finding the "Find Work Abroad" route of teaching ESL abroad, which worked well enough to pertain my students' interest in class.
As I have gained more understanding about how "Find Work Abroad" functions for its users looking to teach ESL abroad, my own experiences with teaching English in China has provided me a perspective that would be well-suited towards any aspiring teachers seeking work through the aforementioned website—which can indeed provide you much needed support. With this understanding and also Jack's consistent lack of putting thought into his lesson plans being contrasted against all other colleagues I have met who were able enough to pertain students' interests with taught ESL classes, my search for an expat job has provided me a chance where "Find Work Abroad" functions well by providing needed support and also provides you much sought-after jobs teaching English abroad.
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