Global Perspectives: A SLP's Journey Working Abroad #10 (Location: France & Japan)
Dr. Dionna Latimer-Hearn is from the U.S. and moved abroad twice, once to France to work as a English Teaching Assistant and the second time to work as a SLP at the US Naval Hospital’s early intervention program in Yokosuka, Japan. Continue reading to learn more about her experience working in both countries. Thank you Dr. Dionna for sharing your story!
What are your name, pronouns, and your job/professional title?
Dr. Dionna Latimer-Hearn (she/her(s), Speech-Language Pathologist, Public Scholar, and Educational Consultant
Tell me about yourself. Where did you initially move from (before you worked abroad) and what graduate school did you attend?
I have worked abroad a few times. The first time was immediately following my undergraduate studies at Northwestern University. I had majored in Communication Sciences and Disorders and minored in French Studies. I was hired by the French Embassy to work as an English Teaching Assistant in a few schools in Montargis and Amilly, France (an hour south of Paris by train). I was in France for an academic year in this role.
After completing my graduate studies for my Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology, I held a short consulting position for clients in Stella Plage, France. I spent six weeks in France for this assignment.
The second time I moved abroad for work was immediately after my wedding. My husband was in the US Navy, and he had orders taking us to Yokosuka, Japan. We lived there three years; I worked for the US Naval Hospital’s early intervention program as a speech-language pathologist for two years.
Why did you become a SLP?
When I discovered this profession, it was at a time when I was wholeheartedly committed to studying something related to language and culture. Also, I have always been interested in science, so when I took my first course in the field of communication sciences and disorders, I fell in love with the fact that it centered communication and language and required a lot of science too. After that there was no turning back.
What city and country do you currently work in, what setting do you work in (e.g., international school, clinic, university, research, etc.), and what age range do you currently work with? How long have you been working abroad?
I have worked abroad for a total of 4 years, but I currently work in Grand Prairie, TX. I work for myself as an SLP, public scholar, and educational consultant. I also serve as the Education Director of REACT Initiative, Inc., nonprofit organization that I founded in 2008. REACT Initiative, Inc. advocates for equity in education. In my current roles I work with people of all ages.
What type of cases do you typically work with (e.g., AAC, multilingual, articulation, Autism, feeding, cognition/swallowing, etc.)?
Throughout my career, I have worked with global majority and/or historically marginalized populations in educational contexts. I have primarily served bilingual learners and speakers of African American English.
Where did you apply for this SLP international job and how was the application process?
My application process and onboarding for the position in Yokosuka, Japan was a bit different since I was in Japan as a military dependent when I was hired. You can apply for jobs like the one I held by visiting USAjobs.gov.
What did the process look like for you to move abroad (e.g., obtaining visas/work permits or sponsorships, finding a place to live, moving, SLP licensure, etc.)?
For my position in France, the process for obtaining my visa and work permit was handled by the hiring agency. I had more difficulty obtaining simple things such as a bank account and a place to live. It seemed I couldn’t get one without the other, so that took some help from some of my work colleagues. Once I finally secured a permanent address, I was able to open my bank account and get other things I needed such as a cell phone. I now appreciate the difficulty I had because it has allowed me to be more empathetic when working with families who have relocated to the US.
Moving to Japan as a dependent of someone in the US Navy was a little easier. The process was primarily handled by the US Government and the administrators at the US Naval Hospital. There were also systems in place for dependents of members of the military to get permission to work overseas.
What motivated you to pursue work opportunities abroad as an SLP?
I love everything that has to do with culture and language. I have been to over two dozen countries since my first trip abroad. I always seek to gain a better understanding of myself and the world around me and there is no better way to do that than by spending significant periods of time immersed in other cultures.
How does the pay rate, cost of living, and quality of life compare to living in your home country?
The stipend for my position in France was roughly $1000 a month. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but for someone fresh out of college who is paying only $75 in rent, it was perfect. I was only required to work 12 hours a week, so the pay was fair for the work that I was doing at the time. The perks were immeasurable. I spent a lot of time traveling since I only worked on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. In all, I saw 13 countries in Europe during my time in living and working in France.
Life in Japan is very expensive. Working for the US Naval Hospital in Japan paid well (GS-12 at the time). It would’ve paid better had I been the sponsor rather than the dependent. Sponsors qualify for Cost of Living Allowance or COLA which is untaxed income in addition to your salary that helps make living on the new economy more reasonable. It essentially equalizes purchasing power for those stationed abroad with those who hold similar positions in the US. Since I was a dependent and we had relocated on my spouse’s military orders, he received COLA (clearly this still worked out to my benefit).
What specific challenges do you face working abroad as a SLP?
The biggest challenge of working in Japan was that I was not fluent in all the languages of the families we supported. The families we served primarily spoke English, Japanese, Tagalog, and/or Ilocano. It was great to work with bi-/multilingual learners; I love doing so. I speak two dialects of English in addition to French and Spanish so my knowledge of service delivery in those languages was helpful, but I wanted to be more effective in providing needed services.
Learning the customs of the new country/culture can be challenging at times, too. This was particularly true for me during my first trip abroad. It became less of an issue in subsequent travels.
What are your favorite things about working abroad as a SLP?
I just love being immersed in different cultures and languages. Every day looks different. Every day is an adventure! I also like being able to travel to other countries close to wherever my new home might be.
What are the most significant differences between practicing as a SLP in your home country versus abroad?
Since I practiced on a military installation (technically still US territory), there were not a lot of differences in service delivery. One thing our early intervention team made sure to do was to center the culture, language, and daily routines of the families we served. Because there were many cultures represented and a significant variety of lived experiences, it was important to follow the family’s lead on identifying how best to support the child(ren). We also did a lot of caregiver education to provide context for the work we were doing since some families had limited exposure to US special education/early intervention processes.
How does your experience working abroad influence your perspectives on diversity and cultural sensitivity in speech-language pathology?
My travels have immensely enhanced my ability to consider varied perspectives, center cultural humility in my work, and effectively engage with diverse groups of people in a way that celebrates their identities and cultures. We need more of this in our profession.
What advice would you give to other SLPs who are considering working abroad for the first time?
Go for it! It will be an amazing, life-changing adventure!
How do you handle homesickness or any potential challenges related to being far away from family and friends?
During my first time living abroad, I was alone and experienced homesickness a lot. I had a close friend from college who was working in Paris while I was in Montargis. She and I would connect and spend a weekend engaging in activities that were closer to our lived experiences in the United States (e.g., eating certain foods, seeing an American movie in English, going shopping, etc.). I corresponded with friends and family when I could. Some family and friends came to visit me as well.
In Japan, I experienced some homesickness, but it was to a lesser degree since I was with my immediate family and we had military bases with more Americanized foods, activities, etc.
Which other cities/countries have you worked in as an SLP? Tell us about those experiences (for those that have worked in multiple locations).
I have visited over two dozen countries. These are a few trips/experiences that relate to our profession: • I did short-term language immersion programs in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Puerto Rico through a program called Amerispan. I loved these because they afforded me the opportunity to experience the cultures and explore language pertinent to our profession (I tailored all of my assignments to things that we might discuss as SLPs). This was invaluable in serving Spanish-speaking students in the US. • I participated in a People to People travel program to Cambodia and Vietnam. This trip was arranged for SLPs and gave us an opportunity to meet professionals and learn more about the development of the profession in both nations. Though I don't really enjoy group travel, it was a great experience overall. • I presented and received an award for my research while attending the World Education Research Association World Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. Participating in international conferences is a great way to experience diverse perspectives and visit a new country. • I have served clients in Mauritius and Burkina Faso remotely. My travels and language experiences were vital to effective service delivery and support for clients in both locations.
Any other information, stories, and experiences that you would like to share?
I created a podcast called The Culture We Speak to explore issues related to culture, language, and education on a global scale. It may be of interest to those who’d like to learn more about working with diverse populations in the US and abroad. This group also has a corresponding Facebook group here: www.facebook.com/groups/theculturewespeak/.
I also founded REACT Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit organization that advocates for equity in education. We are an ASHA Approved CE Providing organization and we work with individuals and organizations in the US and abroad. For more information, please visit www.iREACT.org.
I wrote a book called Unexpected Places about my time in France.
Can SLPs contact you for more information? How can they contact you?
If you are interested in learning more about me and my work, feel free to connect by visiting my website www.dlhearn.net or emailing me at dlhearn@yahoo.com
Additional information, including Facebook and Instagram resources for serving culturally and linguistically diverse populations, can be found by visiting linktr.ee/dlhearn
