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.

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.