Job Discussion Forums

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Hi, all!

I have a BA in English and will complete an M.Ed in August. I have been teaching (abroad) for more than ten years, and I'm a US citizen.

I would really like to get into the International School scene, but for the better gigs one needs to be licensed. I'm sort of at a crossroads in my career (yes, this is a career for me ), so I am thinking about whether to continue in school management or to get certified and go for an international school. I'm interested in international schools not only because of the money, but also because I'd like my children to attend them as well.

If I did choose to get certified, I understand this would take time and money. I do have a family, but we could make it work. However, I'd obviously like to spend as little time and money as possible to do so.

Now my questions:
1. Does anyone know if there are US states which are easier/faster than others to attain certification in? (I know a bit about the "fellows" and "alternative" licensing, but from what I've gathered these require a two-year commitment to get your 'full' license. Please inform me if I'm mistaken.)
2. Will an M.Ed help expedite the process of getting certified (FYI, I didn't start the program with certification in mind)?
3. Is it possible for an American with my background to get certified in another English-speaking country, such as Australia, NZ, South Africa, or the UK?

I would appreciate any advice/insight you could offer. Thanks in advance.

[CarolinaTHeels]

Florida has a good alternative online certification program. 9 months. (TeacherReady)

Texas has some good ones also. But it is not online. 1 yr course work then 1 year teaching in Texas. (TexasTeachers)

Program with that is alternative certifications isnt nearly as appealing as people that got licensed through a traditional education degree.

Those are not for a Masters though.

[fladude]

Florida has a faster one that that... but you have to be a Florida citizen for at least a year. AFAIK all alternative certs in Florida require you to be a state resident.

That said most of the 2 year ones involve you working at a school and getting paid, so that's not bad. International schools want 2 years of experience in your home country anyway, so............

Its better to just do it and get it over with.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Thanks for the insight, you two. The alternative license is a possibility, and two years isn't a prohibitive barrier.

Have any Americans out there had experience with getting licensed in another English-speaking country?

[Matt_22]

You don't necessarily need two years of experience to get a job in an international school, nor do you need experience working in your home country. Sometimes you don't even need certification. It's definitely possible for experienced teachers with degrees and CELTAs to land jobs at international schools - you just won't have any chance at any of the top-tier schools. If you're almost finished with an M.Ed then you'll have a pretty decent shot in my opinion. If you are also enrolled in a certification program, your chances are even better.

I also think it's misleading to say that most international schools care about work done in your home country. I met with the Vice Principal of a local IBO school here in Indonesia, and he advised me that experience internationally would be looked upon roughly the same as experience in one's home country. The issue for beginning teachers is that they can find schools to work at of professional standard quite easily back in their home countries. Abroad, however, they might have to get their feet wet teaching at a school with a questionable reputation.

Word of warning, however: the transition from ESL teacher to international school teacher is not to be taken lightly. There are a lot of aspects to the international school teaching career that are easily overlooked. At the same time, the rewards can be significant. If you do a certification program while abroad, while still teaching ESL, you'll likely have to do your practicum at a nearby international school. That would give you a great opportunity to see if you feel suited for that career path.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Actually, I do have experience in an IB MYP program (although it was brief). While the classroom atmosphere was quite different--and I did a lot more paperwork--I can't say that the teaching was very different.
Are those international schools who hire teachers without a license much lower-paying?
I'm starting to think about perhaps doing a short stint in South Africa to get a HDE or PGCE and go from there. The cost for tuition at a one-year PGCE program, travel and living expenses in South Africa would be roughly equal to just the tuition at a US program.

[fladude]

[Matt_22]

I agree with a lot of what fladude is saying. If you start at an international school without a certificate, you likely sneaked in on a local package and you won't have the benefits of flights and accommodation like expat teachers will. That said, I think there are quite a few schools in Asia that could still offer decent savings ($1000+ per month) despite the discrepancy - perhaps enough to offset the cost of a certification program.

However, I still disagree about the "home country experience" factor. I think other factors are far more important - such as spouse (trailing vs teaching), number of children, subject taught, international experience, etc.

For example, let's say you're a hiring manager at Tapei American School, and you are deciding between the following two candidates:

Candidate #1

2 years employed at lower-tier international school (many of which have IB programs)
2 years employed at IBO world school (for example, Tianjin International School)

Candidate #2

4 years employed in the US (for example, Highland Park HS in Dallas, Texas)



All else equal, the hiring manager is going to prefer candidate #1. Not only is there proven teaching experience abroad (in the same region no less), but the candidate has also been teaching IB for four years - versus no exposure for the candidate working in the states.

[EFLeducator]

[Isla Guapa]

[johnslat]

Dear Matt_22,

While I haven't taught in an "international school", I wonder if that experience would be much different from teaching 5th and 6th grade in a local parochial school here in Santa Fe or, for that matter, teaching in Head Start. I've done both (I also taught GED in the penitentiary) since I returned from teaching EFL overseas for twenty-two years (all to adults.)

So, I'm not sure if my experience would be relevant - but, on the chance that it is, I certainly didn't find all those jobs to be "totally different." Oh sure, there were SOME differences, but those were superficial ones. The basic teaching skills and abilities required were essentially the same in all of them.

I had no difficulty adjusting to the various circumstances. So I wonder if you could be more specific about this statement:

"There are a lot of aspects to the international school teaching career that are easily overlooked."

What would some of those aspects be?

Thanks,
John

[sohniye]

[fladude]

[johnslat]

Dear fladude,

Actually, Matt_22 wrote that - I just quoted it. But thanks for your input.

Regards,
John

[Matt_22]