Job Discussion Forums

[Voyeur]

In my continuing quest to understand the current topography of the overseas teaching environment, I have some questions about being a certified teacher in international schools.

1. If you don't get 2 years experience at home, and do find a job at an international school, will that lack of experience continue to haunt you? Can you work your way out of it with (eventually) experience at quality international schools?

2. I'm a Canadian, but might get certified in the UK (with Canadian certification as well), but I doubt I'll get 2 years experience in Canada-- though I might get it in the UK or another of the major English speaking countries. Will it matter which country I get the experience in?

3. How important is the age range you specialized in at teachers college? I like teaching Primary, and would likely specialize in that at Teachers college. Will that mean I will only be able to teach those age ranges overseas?

4. Is International School work typically as demanding as work at home, i.e. 10+ hours a day, 5+ days a week when you are not on holiday? Obviously, there is no free lunch, but are there less demanding (and less well paying) positions?

5. If I have a 3-year BA in Canada, and then take a 1 year B. Ed. (so no honours BA), how would that affect me, both overseas and in the unlikely event I returned to Canada or another major English-speaking country?

6. How important is it to get a Masters eventually?

7. If you remain overseas, do you have to do any kind of coursework in the countries you are certified in to retain your status over the years?

I know I have asked a lot of questions, but I'd appreciate any comments, answers, or advice on even a few of them. Thanks again.

[nomad soul]

Since your topic isn't related to TESOL, I suggest you look at teachaway.com's site for useful info about qualifications generally required for teaching in int'l schools. They also have a toll-free number if you wish to contact them with your specific questions.

[Voyeur]

International Schools are frequently discussed here, so I never thought of it like that--but could it be that I'm actually "off topic" for the entire board?

Thanks for the tip on teachway.com.

[Xie Lin]

Yes, you are right; they are frequently discussed here, and you might well get some helpful advice and information. I would do both--follow nomad soul's suggestion of browsing sites specific to international schools, and also continue wirh your discussion here. If you haven't already, search for "international school" threads here. There are several that discuss qualifications, and may partially answer several of your questions.

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[Voyeur]

Thanks for the advice. Trust me that I have scoured Dave's for all relevant information, and also searched the Googles. These are points where even though I already have some idea of the answer, it would be nice to talk to someone with current experience.

[timothypfox]

While I'm pretty happy as an ESL teacher at a private school in Japan, the economy being as it is warrants keeping your ears to the ground to be prepared for the next step.

If I am forced to move on say in the next 2 or 3 years, I thought about segueing into work at international schools.

I have an MS in TESOL and a NYC Teaching License in TESOL and another NYC Teaching License in Dance. I have close to 5 years of public school high school teaching experience in NYC, and going on 3 years a the Junior/Senior high school where I work in Japan. In addition, several years of conversation work experience before that in Japan, Montreal and NYC.

I have an account with tieonline.com which seems to have listings around the world.

For those of you who have greater familiarity than I do with ESLing at international schools (or for those of you who've asked around and know more than me from talking to people):

1. Are there many jobs for people at international school with public school ESL teaching certification (from Canada, the UK, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand) around the world?

2. For these types of jobs, what application materials do you typically need to prepare? (i.e. a powerpoint highlighting your teaching/travel experiences, a youtube video of you teaching, a resume - OF COURSE, a recent photo, 3 references - emails and telephone #s, 3 actual letters of reference from recent/your current employer, an esl website, some kind of online profile site like linked in if you have one... etc...)?

3. A lot of the jobs I found on tieonline.com (presumably also on other similar job sites) request teachers with PYP, MYP or AP training/experience. I understand these are part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma leading to some of the high school courses being advanced placement university credits, and is highly recognized as a strong qualification to enter highly ranked universities around the world.

Can you get ESL teacher jobs at international schools without PYP, MYP, AP, and IB experience or training?

Is it a good idea to find a place to do courses for this kind of training before beginning your job search, or are there enough places that might let you work without it?

4. Many international school follow Western style Canadian, American or UK curriculums. Is the teaching style alignment to these? i.e. Would an ESL teacher following a US curriculum need to follow NCLB and focus on a student centered balanced-literacy approach to teaching (for example)?

5. How is the workload at international schools? Can you typically expect 5 classes a day with a lot of prep time done at home? Most weeks are Mon. to Fri. with long holiday periods?

Thanks in advance if you have any information for international school-minded ESL teachers.

[rayman]

Hey Voyeur,

I will do my best to answer your questions based on my experience.

[Voyeur]

Thanks so much Rayman. Great advice.

[Guy Courchesne]

You'll find difference among international schools and countries out there, but here is my girlfriend's experience. She is a licensed K-6 Ontario teacher.

[Voyeur]

Thanks for the info.

As for my question on working hours, I wasn't really asking about the official school hours, office hours, or even contact hours. Rather I was asking about the total workload when not on holiday. The public school teachers I know in Ontario often work like dogs when not on Holiday. It is all the other things that add up--dealing with parents, paper work, grading, extracurriculars, etc.

I'm not kidding when I say that I have seen even experienced, veteran Canadian teachers put in 60+ hour work weeks on a regular basis when you factor in everything they have to do. I'm curious if it is like this overseas.

[Guy Courchesne]

My GF certainly does put in the hours...nowhere near 60 a week, but there are busy spurts grading papers, prepping courses, meeting parents, etc.