The International School Route
How to Start an Overseas Teaching Career
By Cory Scott
A school in France.
The opportunities for U.S. citizens to teach overseas are as varied as they are plentiful. From applying for a stint in the Peace Corps to casually picking up work at any of the thousands of language institutes around the world, there is truly something out there for everyone. However, a slightly more competitive (and much higher paying) option exists for teaching professionals seeking a longer-term overseas commitment.
Advantages of International Schools
Nearly every capital city in the world plays host to what I'll call an "international school." Some—like the school where I teach now—are known as "American" international schools, while others call themselves "colleges." Despite the discrepancy in their names, these independent, K-12, U.S.-accredited schools all have a common goal: to provide high-quality, American-curriculum education to a primarily expatriate clientele. They boast outstanding facilities, diverse student bodies, and extremely competitive salaries and benefits for teachers.
The students themselves, though, are the very best reason to teach at any international school. As sons and daughters of diplomats, aid workers, missionaries, and successful business people, the students tend to be well-informed, motivated, and exceptionally tolerant. Many have lived all over the world, and most speak several languages. Simply put, they are a delight to teach.
Quality of Life for the Teacher
But the students are not the only delightful aspect of teaching at an international school. Altruism aside, there is travel, and, of course, there is money. Over the last school year, my wife, two daughters, and I had the good fortune to explore Thailand, Malaysia, Hawaii, and Spain. Frankly, we wouldn't have been able to manage this feat if it weren't for the outstanding financial package offered by our school.
Typically, international educators can expect to make what they might at a private school in the U.S. Bear in mind that your salary will be tax-free under U.S. laws, and rarely will you be required to pay host-country taxes. In addition, most international schools provide their teachers with furnished housing, roundtrip airfare at the beginning and end of each contract, attractive retirement programs, full tuition remission for dependents, and comprehensive medical coverage. Two of the three schools I've taught in even gave me the use of a car.
It is common for a teaching couple to live comfortably and travel on one salary and bank the other, particularly if they are teaching in a developing country. If you sign on in a city like Paris or London, though, all bets on saving are off.
Placement Agencies and Job Fairs
Securing a teaching (or administrative) position at an international school is relatively straightforward. The
International Educator, International School
Services,
and Search
Associates are highly regarded placement agencies that work as liaisons between international schools and teachers looking for jobs overseas. They organize recruitment fairs in the U.S. every February, and you can count on at least one fair taking place on the East Coast and one on the West Coast.
Tips for Landing An International School Teaching Position
-
Take steps to ensure
that you are qualified to teach at an international
school. Generally, schools require that applicants hold a valid teaching certificate and a bachelor's degree in their subject area. They also ask that you have at least two years of full-time teaching experience.
-
Begin your search early. Organizations
like The International
Educator, International
School Services and Search
Associates begin to fill spaces for their winter recruitment fairs in the early fall. While the schools will know precisely what openings they have for the following school year in January, completing your file by mid-October is a good idea.
-
Contact schools directly
in the late fall by sending a brief cover letter and
a resumé. Don't expect much more of a response than a "thank you" or a "We look forward to seeing you at the job fair" since schools won't know their vacancies yet, but you'd be wise to get your name and information in their files.
-
Do your homework. Learn as much as possible about schools that interest you by reading about them online. Almost all overseas schools have extensive websites that can provide valuable insights into the school and its community.The Office of Overseas Schools,
which the State Department administers, lists international schools by region and provides information about teaching overseas.
-
Attend a job fair. hese massive conferences are the best way for candidates to meet administrators face-to-face. Very few international schools will hire a first-time overseas teacher without conducting an interview first. The University of Northern Iowa hosts a popular UNI Overseas Teaching Job Fair in February, for example, and here are some more teacher
recruitment fair resources.
-
Bring a stack of resumés
with your picture attached. verseas administrators see dozens of candidates for a single position during each of the three or four conferences they attend, so having a face attached to a name can be very helpful.
-
Be flexible. If you go into the process thinking you'll only be satisfied if you find a job teaching Advanced Placement English in Brussels, you'll be disappointed. By all means, target a region or a continent, but don't discount other possibilities. My wife and I went to our first recruitment fair thinking we were bound for Asia, but we spent two thrilling years in Cairo.
|
CORY SCOTT is a teacher and writer living in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he teaches at the American International School. He has also taught at Cairo American College and The American Embassy School in New
Delhi.
|
