This term is being used more and more each day, and many wonder if such a lifestyle is realistic, practical or even attainable in view of everything that has happened in the last 18 months. In this newsletter, we will address the top 7 questions that people are asking about Digital Nomads, and how it is connected to being a "Mobile Teacher."
Watch out for our "30 Day Action Plan" in our next newsletter!
1. What is a Digital Nomad?
Basically, it is a person who earns a living working online in various locations of their choosing, rather than a fixed business location. They often work in coffee shops, co-working spaces, or public libraries, relying on devices with wireless internet capabilities like smart phones and mobile hotspots to do their work wherever they want. Sometimes this is also called, "location independent," or "working remotely." But since the outbreak of Covid-19, "working remotely" is often used to refer to just working at home, so in this newsletter we will stick to the definition that refers to someone who can easily move from one location to another.
2. Why Become a Digital Nomad?
🏡 Many of the places where Digital Nomads live and work are WAY more affordable places to live than N. America and Western Europe. By greatly reducing monthly living expenses, this frees up more time to do what we love. How about working only 2 or 3 days a week or only 20 hours a week? Is this just a dream? Absolutely not. Imagine that your housing only costs $50-600 US a month, or is free? (more on how to find free accommodation in future newsletters...) Some people love to travel, others would rather put down roots. Being a "Digital Nomad" does not mean that you move every week or even every month. Some people decide to stay at least a year or even longer in a certain country or area. The idea is that, once you break free from the typical North American or Western European lifestyle - you are now free to find places and a way to live that actually aligns with your goals! Some people spend 6 months in once place, but when it gets too hot there, they go somewhere cooler, or vice versa. So the expression "Digital Nomad" can have quite a wide definition - and for us here at Lexica Training Institute, we think this mindset can be very helpful for those whom are thinking of trying out their hand at teaching a language online and supporting themselves abroad.
3. Don't all Digital Nomads live in RVs or vans? I don't have an RV or fancy Mercedes-Benz van, so - where will I live?
Some do, but there are many who do not. For example, please go to the Airbnb website, and answer "I'm flexible" to the question, "Where do you want to go?" When the accommodation options come up, change the price to filter to MAXIMUM of 25$ CAN a night. (about 20$ US) or make it a maximum of $700 for a month long stay. You will find HUNDREDS of beautiful places to stay all over the world! - Brazil, Bolivia, Cambodia, Colombia, Czechia, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Indonesia, Italy, Martinique, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Tanzania, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam. A simple search done this way shows that there are many low-cost housing options abroad, including if you check the box, "Entire Place/Have a place to yourself." Some of them are on the beach, others are in the mountains. Yet others are on farms, on boats, yurts, towers, mansions, you name it!
And this is just one example of how you can find VERY affordable housing just about anywhere - without breaking the bank! Of course, once you get there you can negotiate your own prices personally and save even more money. In addition, by using LOCAL housing search websites - you can make sure that you are paying local rates.
4. How Do Digital Nomads Make a Living?
There is just about no end to what you can do to make a living online - as the last 18 months have shown, but let's list just a few here.
Accounting
Customer Service/Call Centre work
Travel Agent
Design
Editing
IT
Marketing
Project Management
Product Testing/Customer Feedback/Quality Analyst
Recruiting and HR
Sales
Software Development
Teacher/Tutor
Transcription
Translation
Virtual Assistant
Blogging/Writing/Content Creator
Social Media Support (tons of small and larger business really struggle this!)
Since it is something we do ourselves, we are more than able to help you get set up teaching online. After taking our 5 day training course, our graduates get that huge confidence boost that they need to get started. Some start teaching privately right away, and others get started either as volunteers or working for online schools. For online tutors that decide to move abroad for any period of time, we can use the term MOBILE TEACHERS. Please see our Instagram page ⬇️ for free digital guide that highlights which schools are hiring at the moment.
5. How Much $$ Can I Make as a
Mobile Teacher/Digital Nomad?
Don't ever work for less than 30$ (CAN) or 25$ US an hour! Your time is very precious. This is absolutely attainable and we can show you how to do it. And this is just the starting rate. Right now, 30$ Canadian an hour is the going rate for a tutor of any kind in Canada. However, if you specialize in specific fields such as, "English for Health Care Professionals;" or "English for Real Estate Agents;" or "French for Tourists;" etc, you can charge much more. No, you will not be rich by any stretch of the imagination. But, you will be rich in experiences, have lots more time to do what you love and make tons of new friends all over the world! Sign me up! And with much lower monthly living costs -- you will heave a big sigh of relief and might even be able to save a bit for a "rainy day!"
6. How Do I Become a
Digital Nomad/Mobile Teacher?
Most of all, it starts in your heart ❤️ and in your mind 🧠. All of us who have lived in "comfortable" countries for any period of time have grown very accustomed to this thick, heavy "security blanket" that we think we need to be happy and feel secure. However that "security blanket" comes at a very heavy price! It means working long hours, paying exorbitant rent for housing, mortgage and car payments, student debt, credit card debt, stress and worry. But, as recent world events have shown, there is really nothing that is absolutely secure and safe, so why be tied down with all those heavy loads??
As travel becomes more and more possible - and by following all safety guidelines, it is totally attainable to relocate to another location and stay there long enough to have a sense of routine and productivity in your life.
Take a moment to think about well-known people who usually have "nomadic" lifestyles - athletes such as olympians and football payers who compete all over the world (many of them are almost never at home, or they just lease furnished apartments for limited periods of time to train in a certain area - and some athletes are traded to another team at the drop of a hat and have to relocate each season); volunteer workers who spend months-on-end supporting refugee camps, educational facilities, construction projects, orphanages; scientists and photographers who travel widely to study wildlife and other phenomenon. Think of others from the past whom inspire you personally. The thing that many people who achieved great things have in common is this: They were not tied to a physical location. After you have decided in your heart and mind that you want to greatly simplify your life and make space for new experiences, the next step is to put your plan into ACTION.
7. Where Can I Get More Information?
The best thing to do is research, research, research. Do you like TikTok? - then follow accounts that are talking about how to do it.
The same applies for any other Social Media platforms. It is good to look at, and connect with a wide variety of people who are working online successfully and also have left the "comfort and safety" of their home countries.
For example, this TikTok account is a fun place to get started. Lots of great advice and tips from someone who has been a "Digital Nomad" for years!
Of course, many Digital Nomads and Mobile Teachers were grounded for most of the last 18 months, but as more and more people get vaccinated - things are opening up again and there is SO much to do! Right now is the time to think about how you can greatly simplify your life and what your goals are. Right now is the time to start planning.
Talk to people who are not tied down and have been able to leave their homes in the past and have enjoyed many wonderful experiences in other cities or countries over the years. They are your BEST resource. And then, make an "action plan," and get moving! Take it one day at a time. Don't be afraid to get rid of lots of stuff. (we will blog about this next process next time.) Even if you end up putting some stuff in storage for 12 months to jet off to some exotic location, it will be there when you come back!
For those of you whom are ready to get started and would like to learn how to become an online Language Instructor/Digital Nomad/Mobile Teacher, we have spots left in our upcoming courses.
Join us for our next
5 day TESOL Certification/
Language Teaching/Language Learning Seminar
which will take place
October 18 - 22, 2021
on Eastern Standard Time.
Use this code - GOTEACH! to save $50 on our next course.
Register Here ⬇️
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