Job Discussion Forums

[elliot_spencer]

Hey, as a serious career teacher which would you prefer , a job with the BC or an International school..

Remember if an intl school it's an ESL post so the salary is a bit lower than other teaching subjects (about £1500 a month over let's say maths which pays about £1800+).

Thx

[spanglish]

I'd take the BC. But the International School route seems to offer more flexibility to move around the world (for example, Brazil) and better pay. I'd still take the BC.

[naturegirl321]

I'd do the intl school route. BC is good, but seems like some people get stuck in the same routine.

[Kofola]

There are great differences, but not in terms of career - in my opinion.

The question is who do you want to teach? Primary or secondary school children or adults? If the former then the international school, where there will be more opportunities for developing professional skills - insets, training sessions, guidance etc relating specifically to child psychology, learning etc. If the latter then BC, which is more set up for adult education (although it does have young learners too-but lacks the really specialist CPD aspect in this area imo).

[sistercream]

Can't speak for the rest of the world, but in Hong Kong a big downer of BC teaching is it's often in split shifts.
There's also a huge range of international schools - some are "state schools abroad", which can be very nice if they are run from a country which treats its teachers well (Germany, for instance). Other schools run a syllabus from a different country/ies but without oversight from "home". Then there are those which just try to teach in English and put "international" in the name so parents will pony up big $$$$$$$.
I'd probably go the international schools route, but be as fussy as my degree of experience allowed me to be in choosing the schools.

[elliot_spencer]

Hi, sorry. I should have been clearer. When I said international school I should have said a kind of International school. It's an IGCSE ALevel secondary school for Chinese students. It's basically a British secondary school offering IGCSE and Alevels to Chinese kids who want to go to uni in the UK and therefore need GCSEs and ALevels.

[spiral78]

I'd prefer the International School as the hours are likely to be better (and possibly benefits, but you'll know that for sure). Further, I would expect greater latitude and autonomy in pedagogical terms - I think I'd find the BC prescriptive....obviously just my feeling!

[Sashadroogie]

Prescriptive - yip. Plus paperwork, paperwork, then some more. And always, it seems, against a background of the risk of terrorist attack...

[spiral78]

I forgot about that 'targeted' feeling
A real extra buzz added to lessons.

I totally enjoyed working in the very prominent downtown buildings of monster oil companies, with heavily-armed guards stationed every three metres along the sidewalks. Walking down the street to work feeling as though there might be a bulls-eye painted on my back - the (perceived) American imperialist collaborating with the oil demons

Giving up that US passport at the earliest possible.....