Job Discussion Forums

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Let's say one had a bachelor's degree from a U.S. university in, say, journalism.
What would be the pathway to becoming a teacher in an international school, assuming one were currently working in the U.S. in a non-teaching role?
Thanks in advance for any replies.

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

In a real international school you will need to be a qualified teacher and offer some experience post qualification. Salaries are excellent though hours may be long.

There are lots of schools in China that call themselves 'international', or have the word somewhere in their name, but which are nothing of the sort.

If a school offers you a teaching job based on your present qualifications and teaching experience (I'm assuming from your post that you weren't previously a teacher) then you can be pretty darn sure it is NOT an international school.

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"What would be the pathway to becoming a teacher in an international school, assuming one were currently working in the U.S. in a non-teaching role?" -- Zero

You would need to go back to college to obtain a teaching degree (B.Ed., M.A.T., etc.), which, depending on your prior coursework and the requirements of your program, could take you anywhere from one to four years. During or after this course of study you would need to participate in a period of supervised practice teaching. After meeting all of the requirements of the competent jurisdiction for licenture, you would then need to work for a reasonable period of time, say two years. Thereafter, you should be in a good position to apply to international schools for available jobs. Of course, there may be some K-12 schools which might employ unaccredited teachers, but these will be fewer in number, and the salaries on offer may not be significantly different than what you could get at some of the better-paying language mills in China.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

A lot of U.S. states have an "alternative certification" route that appears not to require an education degree. Does anyone know anything about that path?

Also, if the two-year experience criteria hard-and-fast, or somewhat flexible?

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"A lot of U.S. states have an 'alternative certification' route that appears not to require an education degree. Does anyone know anything about that path?" -- Zero

That was the "one year plus" I was referring to above (typically at least twelve months, rather than one academic year). Obviously, though, there are individual variations in such programs.

"Also, is the two-year experience criteria hard-and-fast, or somewhat flexible?" -- Zero

That was a general figure. Check the online job ads and see how accurate it is. There's no way to know whether the experience required is flexible or not without making some serious inquiries.

kungfucowboy83 · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 479

the higher end the school the more they pay and the higher qualifications they can demand. it seems that many will accept people without teaching certificates as long as their degree is related. but you will have a hard time getting those 30-40+ thousand rmb a month jobs without a certification. second and third tier schools will often pay 10K-20ishK (depending on the city) and have much more relaxed standards. but expect a 40ish hour a week work load (20-25 classes plus grading, office time, parents meetings, supervision ect) also for the esl teachers expect lots of competition. (not as much in math if you have a good background)