Job Discussion Forums

[HLJHLJ]

Outside of the UK, and the official British schools, they won't even be aware of the difference between the different types of PGCE or what QTS means. (Which is why many international schools also accept the PGCEi).

However, do you actually feel prepared to be a school teacher without additional training?

I'd suggest you look at international schools with IB programmes. They are often preparing their students for study at international universities and good science teachers are hard to find.

[In the heat of the moment]

Doesn't cost you anything to apply! Write up your CV and a light introductory letter which non-native speakers will understand, the recruiter may be proficient but the school's HR department may not, and start sending it out to job adverts. As said above, what schools 'require' and what they'll actually accept can be quite different. Also put your details on teaching websites (Google 'TEFL teaching overseas', 'TESOL jobs', 'EFL vacancies' etc and you'll see there are thousands of jobs out there - the world is a lot bigger marketplace than England - and schools will be happy you applied with.

Before, during and after the interviews research, research, research. My first priority is always the job and school (pay, hours, class sizes, good or bad reputation online), second is the city (climate, pollution, international airport), third is the country (any security issues, natural disasters). China is a good place to start as they're generally nice to laowai but pollution can be horrific, Korea is cleaner although with fewer positions open (60 million compared to 1,400 million population), Japan is for those seriously struck by yellow fever as pay is low and you have to fund your own flights.

I wonder if the person who said China would 'de-skill' has ever been there, of course there are good and bad jobs everywhere.