The Olive Atlas

Three years ago, I’d left the country one time. Right now, I’m in the hotel room of my 16th country, after having had dinner on the beach. I used to scroll past travel influencers, convinced that their lives were unattainable. That is… until I found that teaching could make travel possible.

I’m not rich. I don’t own a business, or work as an influencer, taking videos of myself everywhere. I did it all while working a remote job, tutoring, teaching, and picking up side hustles. The result? I traveled to nine countries a year after I graduated from college without going broke.

I’m breaking down teaching abroad jobs that allow anyone to travel. No gimmicks, no get-rich-quick schemes. Just speaking from real-life experience.

Teaching is the Gateway to Travel

Moving overseas feels unachievable without a high-paying job. The truth is, there is a huge demand for jobs everywhere.

If you want to make travel affordable, move abroad. A plane flight across the Atlantic (advice from an American) is what will cost you the most, so getting a teaching abroad position in another country is like making your job a passport, allowing you to get into countries and live in places you never thought possible. 

Moving to another country- even just for 9 month teaching contract- will save money in travel costs to and from your home country. Once in another country, plane flights and train tickets will be significantly cheaper. You’ll be able to visit places for a weekend for a fraction of the price. 

You don’t need to move overseas to travel more, but it does make visiting several other countries in one region far easier. For example, by settling in the UAE, I was 5 hours away from Europe and North Africa, and 5 hours from Japan. It was easy and affordable to jump on a plane to go to Athens for the weekend.

The best part? You don’t need to follow a one-size-fits-all teaching gig. There are plenty of options within teaching that can fuel your passion for travel. These are various versions of teaching that I’ve seen or used successfully. 

5 Teaching Jobs that Can Fuel Your Travel

1. Teaching in Schools Abroad

As long as you hold some kind of degree and speak English, you can teach. Teaching can be an intense job with long hours, but it’s also needed everywhere. Countries in Europe are always looking for English teachers. And you don’t even need ot know a second language. You can teach higher-level sentence structure in high school and speak in English the whole time.  

In countries of the Middle East, especially in the Arabian Peninsula, most people grow up speaking English. Your job is to perfect grammar, syntax, and writing. Plus, in places like the UAE and Kuwait, teachers get paid summer off, and get round-trip tickets to their home countries for free each yearly contract. 

A plus is that when teaching abroad, you also get large chunks of time off: school breaks, summers, and often, teachers in Europe and the Middle East have better benefits than American teachers. With more time off, and proximity to other countries, traveling simply becomes easier. 

2. Private Tutoring (Online or In-Person)

Similar to teaching abroad, tutoring is needed everywhere. And these days, you can do it online. https://www.superprof.com/ allows anyone to sign up as a tutor. You will need to make a profile and market yourself, so it takes a bit of work to get going. Once you have momentum, it’s a steady gig as you’re following students through an entire semester or school year.

You can tutor any kind of subject you have experience in, at multiple levels: college, high school, and school-age. Do a science or math degree? Great. Or perhaps business or literature? Whatever your experience, as long as you prove yourself as a good tutor, you’ll have a job. 

3. Substitute Teaching

Schools need a substitute teacher who will come in when a teacher is absent. The job itself is easy. You aren’t creating a curriculum or responsible for parent-student conferences or even grading. It’s simply teaching a lesson, walking through worksheets, or turning on a movie– something the teacher sets up. 

Essentially, you will be on a list to call if the school needs a teacher. It’s not guaranteed work, but it is flexible, and it isn’t mandatory that you work.

To get these kinds of roles, you often need to have some sort of relationship that gets you in the door, like knowing a parent or previously tutoring a student. But once you’re in, you can ask about being a substitute teacher. 

This kind of job is perfect if you have another online job, and have some flexibility to also teach for a side income. It’s not ideal as the main gig, as it isn’t predictable or consistent. But perfect for getting that extra $200 to fly to Rome for the weekend. This job is all over Dubai- and a great way to substitute income if you’re living or working abroad.

4. Teaching English

This is a specific category of person who specializes in teaching English. While there is a skillset needed, it’s easy to pick up if you know English or are a native speaker. 

As a native English speaker, these are things that are subconscious to you, but others need help with. You can easily build lessons specialized to different topics: business English, scientific English, etc. Often, these things may feel like second nature if you’re a native speaker, but they are needed for those who want to learn the language. Capitalize on these skills!

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You can teach in a school, online, or as a tutor. I taught English to a family’s children, and then to a young professional, who knew some English but needed more confidence in Business English to further her career. It’s needed everywhere.

5. Hybrid Jobs and Side Gigs

The truth is, I tutored and taught English, and began writing online as well. When I moved abroad, I was working a remote job. I also focused on building skills: coding, writing, and teaching. 

Some things worked, and some didn’t. The point is, I began investing in skills to find ones I liked and ones I didn’t. In the age of the internet, so much can be learned online. Search for skills you’re interested in online, and invest in yourself. Education is right at your finger tips.

The Real Perks

Teaching is an incredible way to travel. Sure, it gives you a visa, but it immerses you in another culture. It gives you a chance to learn from your students, just as they are learning from you. When you teach, you’re connected to the people and community of a culture. 

It’s only a perk that it’s easier to travel to other places. But if you choose to simply stay in a small town that no one knows, it’s still worth it. Living cross-culturally will deepen your understanding of what it means to be human as you connect with others who are different and yet even more similar to yourself. 

Tutoring didn’t just give me a visa — it gave me belonging. Every country I’ve lived in has taught me more about curiosity, generosity, and what it means to be human.

Three years, sixteen countries, and countless students later, I’m still convinced: teaching is one of the best passports in the world.

Hi, I’m Olivia. I write content about my experience living abroad, budget travel, and the human experience. Follow along on Medium, or subscribe to The Olive Atlas for advice on how to get more out of your travel experience.