Would You Come Back? What Former Malaysia-Based Foreign Teachers Say

Quick Answer: Former foreign teachers reflect overwhelmingly fondly on their time in Malaysia, and many say they would happily return — missing the food, the affordable comfortable lifestyle, the warm people, the savings, and the easy regional travel. Some do return; others carry the experience as a career and life highlight. The common verdict is that Malaysia was a positive, often formative chapter, and the willingness to come back speaks to how well it’s remembered.

Looking back

There’s no better gauge of a place than how people feel about it once they’ve left and gained perspective. So what do former foreign teachers — those who taught in Malaysia and have since moved on — say about their time, and crucially, would they come back? Drawing on the common sentiments such teachers express, this is an honest reflection. The headline, reflecting the broad consensus, is warmly positive: most former teachers look back very fondly, miss a great deal, and many would happily return. The willingness to come back is itself a telling verdict. Here’s what teachers who’ve experienced Malaysia and moved on tend to say, looking back on their time there.

What former teachers miss most

Ask former teachers what they miss, and the same things recur. The food, almost universally — the cheap, diverse, delicious hawker fare and dining that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. The affordable, comfortable lifestyle — the ease of living well and saving on a teaching salary, often sorely missed back in higher-cost home countries. The warmth and friendliness of Malaysians. The savings (and the financial freedom they brought). The easy, cheap regional travel that turned weekends into adventures. And the community and friendships formed. These recurring ‘misses’ — food, affordable comfort, warm people, savings, and travel — paint a clear picture of what made Malaysia special and what former teachers fondly remember about their time there.

Would they come back?

On the central question, the common answer is a warm yes — many former teachers say they would happily return to Malaysia, and a notable number actually do, whether for another posting or even to settle longer-term (see our MM2H guide). Even those who don’t return often speak of Malaysia as a place they’d gladly go back to, or recommend unreservedly to others. Of course, individual circumstances (family, career, life stage) shape whether returning is practical, and not everyone’s path leads back. But the prevailing sentiment — ‘yes, I’d come back’ — is a strong endorsement. When people who’ve left still want to return, it says a great deal about how positively Malaysia is remembered by those who taught there.

What they’re glad they did

Beyond whether they’d return, former teachers often reflect on what they’re glad they did — and a recurring theme is gratitude for having taken the leap. They’re glad they embraced the experience, made the most of the lifestyle and travel, built friendships, saved money, and grew personally and professionally. Many regard their time in Malaysia as a career and life highlight — a formative, enriching chapter. Common reflections include wishing they’d explored even more, connected even more, or stayed even longer. The overwhelming sentiment is not regret but gratitude and fondness. Former teachers are typically glad they went, glad they embraced it fully, and glad for the rich experience Malaysia gave them — a strong testament to the destination.

Lessons for current and prospective teachers

What can current and prospective teachers take from those who’ve been and gone? First, reassurance: the strong fondness and willingness to return suggest Malaysia tends to deliver a genuinely positive experience. Second, encouragement to make the most of it — since former teachers’ main ‘regrets’ are usually about not exploring, connecting, or staying enough, the lesson is to embrace the food, travel, community, and lifestyle fully while you’re there. Third, perspective on the trade-offs — the things people miss most (affordable comfort, food, travel, savings) are exactly Malaysia’s strengths, so value them while you have them. The collective wisdom of former teachers is simple and encouraging: go, embrace it fully, and you’ll likely look back as fondly as they do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Would former foreign teachers return to Malaysia?

Overwhelmingly, many say yes — they reflect very fondly on their time and would happily return, with a notable number actually doing so (for another posting or to settle longer-term). Even those who don’t return often speak of Malaysia as somewhere they’d gladly go back to and recommend. Individual circumstances shape whether it’s practical, but the prevailing ‘I’d come back’ sentiment is a strong endorsement.

What do former teachers miss most about Malaysia?

The same things recur: the food (cheap, diverse, delicious), the affordable comfortable lifestyle and the savings it allowed, the warmth and friendliness of Malaysians, the easy cheap regional travel, and the community and friendships formed. These recurring ‘misses’ paint a clear picture of what made Malaysia special to those who taught there and have since moved on.

Do teachers regret their time in Malaysia?

Rarely — the overwhelming sentiment is gratitude and fondness, not regret. Former teachers are typically glad they took the leap, embraced the lifestyle and travel, built friendships, and saved. Their main ‘regrets’, if any, are wishing they’d explored, connected, or stayed even more — which is really a testament to how much they valued the experience.

Bottom Line

Perhaps the truest measure of teaching in Malaysia is how former teachers feel once they’ve left and gained perspective — and the verdict is warmly, overwhelmingly positive. They miss the food, the affordable comfortable lifestyle, the savings, the warm people, and the easy regional travel; many say they’d happily return, and a notable number actually do, whether for another posting or to settle longer-term. The prevailing sentiment is gratitude, not regret — teachers are glad they took the leap and embraced the experience, often regarding their time as a career and life highlight. For current and prospective teachers, the lesson from those who’ve been and gone is simple and encouraging: Malaysia tends to deliver a genuinely positive experience, so go, embrace the food, travel, community, and lifestyle fully — and you’ll likely look back as fondly as they do.

References

Expat.com Malaysia community guides
InterNations Malaysia community
ISC Research – iscresearch.com