Global Perspectives: A SLP's Journey Working Abroad #8 (Location: Indonesia)
Kassidy is from the U.S. and moved to Indonesia to work at an international school. Continue reading to learn more about her experience working in Indonesia and how she had to learn more about dynamic assessments due to high student population from various cultures and linguistic backgrounds. Thank you Kassidy for sharing your story!
What are your name, pronouns, and your job/professional title?
Kassidy Bennett, MS, CCC-SLP (she/her)
Tell me about yourself. Where did you initially move from (before you worked abroad) and what graduate school did you attend?
Prior to moving abroad, I lived in Arizona for 17 years. I attended the University of Arizona for both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. After I graduated, I moved to Phoenix (where I had lived prior) and began working in private practice providing therapy in clinic and home-based settings. I quickly burned out with the structure of this position and after 1.5 years I transitioned to working in schools. I think worked predominantly at the secondary level for a contract company in which I was placed at several different schools over the next six years within the school district.
Why did you become a SLP?
I actually came across the field of speech-language pathology though my friend when we became roommates and I learned more about it from her. I was undecided with what I wanted to do, but I wanted to study something that was somewhat related to providing care to others, without going down the medical school path. Speech-language pathology seemed like the perfect blend of science and care. I delved in one semester by taking three classes and thankfully I immediately fell in love with all I was learning. I haven't looked back since!
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 just completed four years of working at an international school in Indonesia. I was the SLP at the middle school campus for students in grades 6-8.
What type of cases do you typically work with (e.g., AAC, multilingual, articulation, Autism, feeding, cognition/swallowing, etc.)?
The majority of my students have language and learning deficits. I also continue to support students with articulation. Some of my students were diagnosed with Autism, however many have characteristics of Autism, but have not yet been diagnosed. I did provide social skills support with weekly group sessions. Working at an international school, we often have students who are referred for evaluations and English is not their primary language. Therefore, I have completed several evaluations to determine if a student has a language disorder vs language difference.
Where did you apply for this SLP international job and how was the application process?
I found the job posted on the ASHA careers website, which is actually not super common for international school positions. It is more common to see these jobs advertised on Schrole and Search Associates. I initially sent my resume and either a cover letter or introduction letter. I immediately was contacted for an interview via Skype with the Principal and lead counselor. After the initial interview, the school followed up with collecting references from three of my supervisors/colleagues. I was then contacted a few weeks later for a second Skype interview with the Principal and counselor, which was mostly to check if I had questions for them. My third and final interview was also virtual with the Head of School and Deputy Head of School. Shortly after, I was officially offered the position.
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.)?
I was officially hired at the end of March which is late in the international school world, especially for Asia. I immediately had to start the process of acquiring documentation for my work visa. This included: new passport, FBI fingerprint check, IRS tax information, health check-up with blood tests, etc. The school paid for all of this as part of my relocation package. They also paid for my flights over and gave me a large cash 'settling in' allowance. Housing is also provided, so when I arrived I moved into a furnished apartment. Honestly, it is amazing what a large international school provides for support and benefits to make the transition as comfortable as possible. I'm very grateful for all that was provided. We also had nearly a week of orientation for all new hires in which we learned about the school and learned about living in Indonesia.
What motivated you to pursue work opportunities abroad as an SLP?
My insatiable love of travel and immersing myself in different countries and cultures. I was always a dream of mine and as I was finding it more difficult to do my job well in a state that does not provide adequate funding in education, I knew I needed to look elsewhere for work to stay in the profession.
How does the pay rate, cost of living, and quality of life compare to living in your home country?
The actual salary I received was lower than what I earned in the US, however when factoring in cost of living and that my housing was covered, I actually saved a LOT of money and lived very comfortably. I did not need to buy a car and buying groceries to cook at home was very affordable. My main expense was travel. I was to go on incredible vacations without having to budget to strictly. Part of this was because of the pandemic as well.
What specific challenges do you face working abroad as a SLP?
One challenge is that SLPs are not very common in international schools. That means that some teachers are not familiar with our position and what role we can play in the school. I had to do a lot of education for my colleagues over the years and even in my 4th year, some only then began to realize the scope of what I could provide for students. I also was assigned as a 'co-teacher' in English classes with my students who had language disorders. In some ways this was nice to be able to help them in the classroom and directly support their coursework, but other times I felt that it wasn't the best use of my specific skillset and some of the time I was more of an assistant. On a therapeutic level, I found it challenging when I first arrived to update my cultural awareness/competency. I delved into the research on assessing students who are EAL (English as Additional Language). I became much more adept at conducting Dynamic Assessments.
What are your favorite things about working abroad as a SLP?
I love that I have a manage caseload size and so I am able to provide significantly more support to students than I would be able to in the US. Some of my students I worked with every day. I also was able to collaborate with my learning support teachers and other teachers in general with much greater team involvement. Parents are also very involved and supportive, so you really do feel like a team. I was also supported by administration and felt I could ask for what I needed and it would be provided for me. The principal was actually very involved in students with learning support needs, which is not something I experienced at most public schools. It really does feel like students who are neurodiverse get the support they need to be successful.
What are the most significant differences between practicing as a SLP in your home country versus abroad?
The most significant difference in an international school vs a public school is the caseload size and a more balanced workload. In terms of the caseload, the most significant difference is that the students attending the school have less significant needs (e.g., there are no students who use AAC or are in a self-contained classroom), however there is a larger diversity of student backgrounds so the cultural considerations are more of a factor.
How does your experience working abroad influence your perspectives on diversity and cultural sensitivity in speech-language pathology?
Working abroad in an international school has absolutely helped me to grow in my awareness and perspective in terms of diversity awareness and cultural sensitivity. I had many experiences, especially in my first year, that led me to research, seek out professional development, and consult with colleagues so that I could minimize some of my western and American biases, and also learn more about Eastern cultures that I had not been exposed to working in Arizona. I'm very grateful for the experience because it only led to me growing as a clinician.
What advice would you give to other SLPs who are considering working abroad for the first time?
I'm forever grateful for the experience I have had and I think I was very lucky with the position I accepted for my first international posting. Not all international schools are as prominent and able to hire an SLP. If someone is considering working at an international school, it's important to find out exactly what the expectations are in the role, because it may look much different than in a public school in your home country. Find out how much autonomy you have to manage your own schedule, if there are any co-teaching obligations, how many meetings you have to attend regularly (because at my school there were a lot), if there are any non-teaching obligations (such as running an after school club one semester), and of course, what the compensation package includes. You want to make sure that you can live comfortably with the salary and the additional benefits such as housing, insurance, etc. Most schools have an initial contract requirement of 2 years, and the the option to renew annually or sometimes for an additional 2 years.
How do you handle homesickness or any potential challenges related to being far away from family and friends?
I did get homesick at first and I flew home for Christmas my first year and then again in the summer. Since we had long summer holidays, I could go home for about 6 weeks and visit with family and friends which was very nice. I have regular video calls with my parents about once a week and then I also try to schedule video calls with friends back home when we can and that has helped us to stay connected. The important people in your life will still make the effort to talk and be in your life despite the distance.
Any other information, stories, and experiences that you would like to share?
I really enjoyed my four years at the international school I worked at in Indonesia. It was a difficult decision, but I decided to transition to a new opportunity and not return for another year. After resigning, I came across a private practice opportunity in Germany, so I will be moving there in September 2023. I'm looking forward to shifting to a slightly new role and setting after ten years in the school system.
Can SLPs contact you for more information? How can they contact you?
I do not have a professional social media account (although maybe I should!), however for anyone interested in seeing the travel lifestyle of an SLP living abroad, I actively share on my Instagram account @just.a.vegan.girl Feel free to follow and DM me if you'd like to connect!
