Job Discussion Forums

marisak33 · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 6

I am searching for any information I can get. I have no idea where to start to look. I figure this is the best place. I used this site a lot before I left to teach English in Japan. Here's my story: I have my undergraduate BA in History from a university in the USA. I live in the USA now. I taught English in Japan for 2 years. I want to get my Masters in Education and teach at an international grade school or high school. Hopefully in Europe somewhere. I would like to teach ESL or History (or both). I am looking for any sort of links or information about where to earn my Masters Degree in Education abroad. I've also heard that it's best to get trained to teach International Baccalaureate. I also have not found out how or where I can train to do that Sad

I don't want to do this in the USA! I've heard of Universities that pay for it as long as you teach for them during the 2 years. This would be my preference. But I'm not finding ANYTHING on the internet. The only school I've heard of that does this type of thing is Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. Any other ideas?

natsume · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 409 Location: Chongqing, China

You may want to peruse the forums here:
http://www.internationalschoolsreview.com/

I currently teach in Japan, and I also am seriously considering the international schools route. My research has lead me to the conclusion that the best preparation for a long term career is home country certification and experience. I plan to return to California in either 2010 or 2011 specifically for the purpose of earning an MA/Credential and hopefully getting a couple years experience that isn't inner city - the job market is TERRIFYING. I am very willing to go rural, if that is what it takes. Basically, it will require a few years of dues paying. For me, that is the reality.

There may be other ways, but the industry standard for top-tier ISs is exactly home country credential/2 years experience. If you really want to work in Europe, there may be no way around it, although I am not 100% sure about that, so you need to keep doing your own research.

I am sorry that this is not the most helpful reply, but I also have been mulling this over for about a year, and of course, ideally, I would love to be able to do my schooling abroad as well. For what I want, it just is not going to work that way.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I don't know of any European university that would pay for your MA in return for a teachimg commitment. They all want (relatively) big bucks for the MA!

(I have lived and worked in 5 different European countries over the past 12 years, researched MA possibilities 6 hears ago, compled an MA from a British uni, and work now at a Dutch uni, with partner universities all over Europe and Asia). I really think what you're seeking, if I understand correctly (subsidised MA) is going to be very hard to find!!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

marisak33 · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 6

Thank you everyone for your great information. I understand that I may have to face the fact and stick it out in the USA for another 15 months to earn my Teaching License. I have applied already to a great program in MN which allows me to do my 15weeks student teaching somewhere abroad. It's an excellent program. But my heart is not here and I'm dying to leave again. This program will cost me up to $30,000. With that said, I would be willing to go to a University abroad that I would have to pay for, as long as there is some sort of loan program. I'm feeling a bit discouraged, but I'm not willing to give up! Thanks again for the links and continue to throw ideas at me if anything comes up!

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

As some have suggested already, what you really need to become an international schools teacher is QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). You don't need a Masters to get QTS, in fact most Masters programmes (certainly outside the US) DON"T give you QTS. To become a qualified teacher in the UK, most do a PGCE after they get their degree. In Oz or here in HK, you take a PGDE - basically the same. Either way it takes a year of f/t study followed by a year or two doing the job - then you're in a position to get into the IS sector. You could do your PGCE/PGDE in any country which offers good training - but you will have to pay of course.

sojourner · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 3:06 am Post subject:

Marisak,

Take note of Marco's suggestion of doing your teacher training in a country other than the US. If you do a search of the Australian universities, you would find that teacher training programmes (eg Grad.Dip. Education) are (probably) considerably cheaper than equivalent courses in the US. Also, I believe that people studying in Australia on a student's visa are allowed to work up to 20 hours pw during term (more during vacation time ? - not sure).

With the Australian system, as Marco suggested, you might be expected to have 1 or 2 years post-training teaching experience before you obtain QTS status. Maybe, after completing one's formal teacher training, it might be possible to obtain, say, a working holiday visa, in order to enable that person to remain in Australia to fulfill the teaching experience requirement. Or, the state teacher registration authorities MIGHT allow you to teach o'seas, and then to submit a report from the head of the school where you'll be working at - it'll be worth looking into.

Also, you'll find that MA programmes in History, etc, are cheaper in Aust than in the US. Also, a number of unis in Aust have quite good distance education/online courses in the humanities - something you might want to consider if you plan to spend a lot of time travelling (and teaching) in various countries !

Peter

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Just to clarify a bit, I'm not sure you need to do a year or two post PGDE teaching to get QTS, but you certainly won't be considered by any proper international school until you have one or two years' post-qualification experience. As Peter points out, a PGCE or PGDE in th UK, Oz or wherever might cost a lot less than doing the equivalent in the US.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

quote="sojourner"]Take note of Marco's suggestion of doing your teacher training in a country other than the US. If you do a search of the Australian universities, you would find that teacher training programmes (eg Grad.Dip. Education) are (probably) considerably cheaper than equivalent courses in the US. [/quote]
While they might be cheaper, it might be more difficult to get loans, but try IEFC.