You’ve packed your bags, booked the one-way ticket, and landed in a place you’ve dreamed about for months — or maybe even years. Everything’s new, exciting, and just a little surreal. Then, at some point between trying local snacks, navigating unfamiliar streets, and figuring out how to say “Where’s the bathroom?” in the local language, it hits you: you feel off. Maybe overwhelmed. Maybe even a little sad. That’s culture shock.
Culture shock isn’t a sign that you’ve made the wrong decision. It’s simply part of the process. When you move abroad to teach English, especially for the first time, your brain and body go into overdrive trying to adjust. New smells, routines, expectations, even how people cross the street — it can all pile up and leave you feeling disoriented.
But here’s the good news: you’re not alone. Every TEFL teacher, whether in bustling Tokyo or rural Colombia, has felt it to some degree. The trick isn’t to avoid culture shock — it’s to recognize it, understand it, and learn how to move through it with grace. Let’s take a closer look at what’s actually going on when culture shock strikes — and how you can handle it without losing your spark for adventure.
Understanding Culture Shock
Culture shock is more than just missing home or not liking the food. It’s a psychological response to being immersed in an environment that operates on unfamiliar rules — spoken and unspoken. Suddenly, things you took for granted — how to greet people, how to navigate public transport, what counts as polite — aren’t intuitive anymore. That disorientation creates emotional stress, even if everything around you seems objectively exciting.
There are four commonly recognized stages of culture shock:
- Honeymoon Stage: Everything feels like a dream. You’re energized by the novelty — the colors, the language, the people, the pace.
- Frustration Stage: The cracks start to show. Misunderstandings, communication breakdowns, or simple things (like paying bills) become draining. This is when homesickness often kicks in.
- Adjustment Stage: You begin to find your rhythm. Routines settle, cultural norms start to make sense, and your confidence grows.
- Acceptance Stage: You feel at home — or at least comfortable navigating your new environment. You’re still learning, but you’re grounded now.
These stages don’t always follow a perfect timeline. You might cycle through them more than once, and that’s completely normal. One moment you’re confident ordering street food in the local dialect; the next, you're crying because you can’t find peanut butter. It’s all part of the experience.
Understanding these phases helps take the edge off. It shows you that what you're feeling isn’t a personal failure — it’s a completely natural response to living outside your comfort zone.
Why TEFL Teachers Are Especially Prone
Moving abroad to teach isn’t quite the same as going on vacation. You’re not just a visitor — you’re building a life. That means more pressure, more responsibility, and more chances to feel overwhelmed.
First, there's the expectation to perform. You might be jetlagged, confused by local customs, or struggling to adapt to new food — but your students still expect a great lesson. You’re thrown into a work environment that may operate very differently from what you’re used to. Teaching styles, classroom behavior, and even attitudes toward English education can all catch you off guard.
Then there’s the language barrier. It’s one thing to not understand a menu — it’s another to navigate contracts, landlord negotiations, or staff meetings in a language you barely know. That kind of daily uncertainty can wear you down over time.
Cultural expectations around authority, age, and politeness also vary. In some countries, students may bow when they greet you. In others, they might treat you like a peer. What feels like respectful silence in one culture could be considered disengagement in another. Learning to decode those differences takes time — and a lot of patience.
And then there are the external factors: weather shock, unfamiliar food, dealing with visa or housing issues, or the emotional toll of being far from loved ones. All of these things combine to create a unique pressure cooker for TEFL teachers abroad.
But being prone to culture shock doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for the job. In fact, the very nature of this work — adapting, connecting, learning — builds resilience. The more you recognize what’s causing your discomfort, the more power you have to work through it.
Preparing Before You Go
The best way to handle culture shock? Don’t walk into it blind. While you can’t eliminate it entirely, preparation can take the edge off.
Start by researching more than just tourist info. Learn about the country’s values, history, and current events. Dig into how schools operate there, what teachers are expected to do, and how foreigners are typically perceived. If you’re going to Thailand, for instance, understand the importance of face-saving and why public criticism can backfire. If it’s Japan, learn about the role of hierarchy in the workplace. These insights can help you navigate early interactions with a lot more ease.
Don’t just read guidebooks — look for first-person accounts. TEFL forums, Reddit threads, and expat blogs are goldmines of honest advice. Look up your school (if you already have one) and see if past teachers have shared anything about their experience.
Join online communities before you arrive. Facebook groups, Discord channels, or WhatsApp groups for TEFL teachers in your destination are a great way to get answers to questions that Google won’t cover — like how strict landlords are about deposits, or which mobile provider is best.
And finally, take care of logistical basics ahead of time. Set up mobile data, find a temporary place to stay, plan your airport arrival, and exchange a bit of local currency. The fewer unknowns you face on day one, the easier it’ll be to ease into your new reality.
Learn the Local Language (At Least a Little)
You don’t need to be fluent to function abroad — but learning even a handful of key phrases can make a massive difference. When you can ask for directions, order food, or greet someone in their own language, daily life becomes less stressful and more rewarding. The awkward guesswork fades, and so does that sense of helplessness that can creep in when everything feels foreign.
Start with apps like Duolingo or Pimsleur to build your basics. If you’re more of a visual learner, LingQ and Memrise might suit you better. Want to practice real conversation? Try HelloTalk or Tandem, which connect you with native speakers for language exchanges — great for both vocabulary and cultural insight.
Once you arrive, consider joining an in-person language class. These not only give you structured learning but also introduce you to other newcomers. You’ll often find your classmates are in the same boat — new to the country, figuring it out day by day. That shared experience can spark friendships and ease the transition.
Most importantly, locals usually appreciate the effort. You don’t have to speak perfectly — just showing that you’re trying is often enough to earn smiles, extra help, and maybe even a compliment or two. It builds bridges, breaks down walls, and makes you feel more connected to the place you now call home.
Build Relationships — Locals and Expats
Connection is the antidote to culture shock. Building meaningful relationships — both with locals and fellow foreigners — can completely change how you experience your new environment.
Local friendships help you understand the culture from the inside. Whether it’s a co-teacher, a neighbor, or the barista who starts recognizing your order, these relationships give you insight into how people live, think, and relate. They also provide language practice, cultural clarity, and opportunities you might not otherwise stumble upon.
At the same time, expat communities offer a different kind of lifeline — one built on shared experience. They know what it’s like to feel lost in translation or overwhelmed by paperwork. Look for them through Facebook groups, Meetup events, language exchanges, or simply by striking up a chat at your local gym, cafe, or coworking space.
Follow your curiosity. If someone invites you to a birthday dinner, a hike, or a festival — say yes. Even if it feels awkward at first, these small social risks often lead to the best memories.
That said, be mindful of the expat bubble. It’s tempting to only socialize with other foreigners — especially when they speak your language — but too much insulation can actually increase culture shock. Aim for balance: global support, local integration.
Take Care of Your Body First
It’s hard to process cultural differences when you’re running on fumes. Physical exhaustion makes emotional resilience harder — so before you tackle new routines, make sure your body has what it needs.
Jet lag can throw your internal clock into chaos. If possible, give yourself a few days buffer before starting work. Let your system adjust slowly instead of forcing it to adapt overnight.
Stick to the basics: sleep well, stay hydrated, eat real food, and move your body regularly. You don’t need a fancy gym membership. Walk around your neighborhood, do yoga in your apartment, or look up local dance or martial arts classes — anything that gets you moving.
When you’re tired, it’s tempting to push through — but sometimes, the smartest thing you can do is take a nap, cook a familiar meal, or go to bed early. Rest isn’t giving up. It’s what helps you show up fully the next day, ready to meet the world again.
Create a Safe and Familiar Living Space
Your living space is more than just a place to sleep — it’s your anchor in a sea of change. In a new country where everything else feels unfamiliar, having a cozy, calming home base can do wonders for your sense of stability.
Don’t wait months to decorate or “settle in later.” Unpack your bags. Put up some photos. Hang a scarf you love, buy a plant, or play music that reminds you of home. These small choices turn a room into a refuge.
Create daily rituals that ground you. Maybe it’s making coffee the same way every morning, journaling after work, or lighting a candle while you unwind. These habits give rhythm to your day and help you feel in control.
If your space feels cold or temporary, it can amplify feelings of disconnection. But when it’s warm, familiar, and distinctly yours, it becomes a powerful tool for emotional regulation — a place to recharge before heading back into the unfamiliar.
Stay Connected to People Back Home
When everything around you feels unfamiliar, staying connected to people who already know you can be a powerful source of stability. These are the people who won’t blink when you vent, cry, or ramble — the ones who remind you who you are, even when you feel out of place.
Make it intentional. Schedule regular calls or check-ins, even if they’re short. Don’t wait for the perfect moment — just carve out a time and stick to it. Messaging apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, WeChat, and LINE let you stay in touch easily across time zones, and shared calendars can help you coordinate calls when your schedules don’t match up.
This doesn’t mean clinging to the past. It means anchoring your identity while you grow into your new environment. Staying in touch helps reduce homesickness and gives you a soft place to land on hard days. You’re not choosing between “here” and “there” — you’re building a bridge between both.
Be a Tourist (At First)
There’s nothing wrong with acting like a tourist when you first arrive. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to start falling in love with your new home. Visit the temples, eat the street food, snap the photos — let yourself be amazed.
Don’t pressure yourself to blend in immediately. Lean into the novelty of it all. Say yes to the food tour, the day trip, the museum walk. These positive early experiences create emotional “anchors” — memories you can look back on when things get tough.
This mindset — being a temporary tourist — is also a great way to ease into deeper cultural understanding. You don’t have to “get it all right” at once. You’re exploring, learning, adjusting. And by saying yes to the adventure, you start to write your own version of what life abroad can be.
Expect Emotional Ups and Downs
Culture shock doesn’t follow a straight line. You might feel on top of the world on Tuesday and completely overwhelmed by Thursday — and that’s normal.
There will be moments when it all feels too much. A small misunderstanding might leave you frustrated, a rainy day might hit harder than usual, or homesickness might sneak in unexpectedly. Don’t take those low moments as signs you’ve failed. They’re just part of the cycle.
When the tough days come, ride them out with self-compassion. Be gentle with yourself. Journal, take a walk, cry if you need to. Then let it pass. These moments don’t define your experience — they’re part of the process that helps you grow.
Mental Health Matters: Know When to Get Support
There’s a difference between normal culture shock and something deeper. If you find yourself feeling chronically anxious, isolated, panicked, or depressed, it’s time to take it seriously — and get help.
Online platforms like BetterHelp, Talkspace, or TherapyRoute connect you with therapists who understand the expat experience. Many offer flexible pricing and time zone-friendly scheduling.
In some countries, you’ll also find international clinics, embassies with counseling lists, or local NGOs that support mental health in multiple languages. Reach out — even if you're not sure it “counts.” Early support is always better than trying to tough it out alone.
Remember: getting help is not weakness. It’s resilience in action. And it doesn’t make you any less capable of teaching, adapting, or thriving abroad.
Culture Shock as Growth: What You Learn Along the Way
Culture shock isn’t just a phase to survive — it’s an experience that shapes you. The confusion, discomfort, and even frustration you feel now are actually forging skills you’ll carry for life: empathy, adaptability, emotional intelligence.
Teaching abroad means constantly stepping outside your comfort zone. That’s where growth lives. Once you’ve navigated one tough adjustment, you’ll be more confident when the next one comes. You’ll start to notice how much more patient, observant, and compassionate you’ve become — not just with others, but with yourself.
Over time, those challenges become stories. And those stories become your strength.
Conclusion: This Is Part of the Journey
Feeling out of place doesn’t mean you made the wrong choice — it means you’re doing something brave. Culture shock is normal, temporary, and human. It shows up, shakes things up, and eventually gives way to something deeper: connection, understanding, and personal growth.
So be kind to yourself. Stay curious. Ask for help when you need it. You’re not alone — and you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just becoming someone who can thrive anywhere in the world.
Helping teachers find jobs they will love.