Preparing to Teach English Abroad: Tips on What to Pack

Packing your suitcase can be a daunting task when there are so many things you need to remember to bring with you on your travels abroad. Review the list below to ensure you have thought about everything you need to pack prior to your departure.

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Essentials
General Living Items
Items to Take for the Classroom

In the US, we enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. Do not expect it to follow you! Pack enough so that you are comfortable but not so much that you are limited by your luggage.

Essentials

	Documents (passport, visa, birth and marriage certificates) and copies of documents
	Airline tickets and photocopies of your airline tickets and itinerary (with phone numbers, if possible). Keep these separate from the original documents. Copies of your ticket provide proof that you indeed purchased the ticket; if you lose the original ticket, having a copy will help speed up the reimbursement process.
	Extra passport photos
	Health insurance and contact information
	Criminal check, if completed
	International driver’s license, if obtained
	Prescription medication
	Traveler’s checks, credit cards, ATM cards
	Copies of traveler's checks, credit cards, ATM cards, etc.
	Copies of your credentials
	Proof of vaccinations
	Money
	Spare glasses and a lens prescription
	Portable smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

General Living Items

	Appropriate clothing for the classroom
	Clothing suitable for the climate and traveling the country
	Wallet and money belt
	Personal items, such as a mini photo album of your loved ones
	Take with you the contact information for your family, friends, accountant, lawyer, etc.
	Take some favorite luxuries (to spoil yourself), such as music, ipod or mp3 player, books, etc.
	Camera, charger, batteries
	Writing journal
	American souvenirs for gifts
	Hygiene products, such as deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, brush, comb, cosmetics, and toiletries, as they may not be available in your destination country.
	An electrical adapter, as you may need to use your portable appliances before discovering where to purchase one
	Specialty food items, such as tea, snacks, etc.
	Sentimental items, such as pictures and knick-knacks; this will help ease Culture Shock and the transition of moving to another country.
	Luggage tags
	Guide Book and maps of your destination country
	Phrase book

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Items to Take for the Classroom

	A few educational games (Scrabble®, children’s word association games)
	An English dictionary
	A concise grammar book
	Writing paper, pens, etc. (just in case some of these items are not readily available)
	Glossy catalogues and magazines with lots of pictures
	Additional teacher resource books and English game booklets
	American souvenirs for students
	ESL teaching resources, such as lesson activities, lesson plans, classroom and teacher resources, theory and research, and additional resources.

For more information on things to do before your departure, view and print the Preparing to Go Checklist.

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