Job Discussion Forums

pbnjny · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hi! I graduated university with a BA in Education and Communication. I'm certified Elementary Education (Pre-K to 5th Grade) and Special Education (Pre-K to 12th Grade). I have two years of teaching experience and I really want to teach abroad in South America, China or Europe. DO I NEED TO GET CERTIFIED TO TEACH ABROAD? If not, can you recommend any sites that do not require this certification?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!!!

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

If you are a certificated teacher; i.e, graduated with an Education Degree and hold a teaching licence/certificate from a state or province you should be qualified to teach public school any where and college/university esl almost everywhere. The ESL standards are changing internationally with many countries wanting trained teachers rather than TEFL cert instructors.

For jobs for teachers internationally check out

http://www.educationcanada.com/

or

http://www.smartbrief.com/ascd/

Both advertise jobs for trained teachers both in North America and internationally.

China has several model schools using North American Curricula.

Certainly try Maple Bear who operate around the world (Paris, Istanbul, Korea, India, Bangladesh) but have a very big system in Brazil.

http://www.maplebear.ca/maplebear

Good luck

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

Try going to an intl school recruiting fair. With being a qualifiede teacher and experience, you should have your pick of jobs.

pbnjny · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Thank you both for posting websites!! I've checked them all out and they were very helpful starting this Job Find Process Smile

Do you think these International Teachers are looking for candidates now? I'm trying to find a job fair in NJ/NY but I might be too late...

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

pbnjny,

Give them a try! Although the recruiting process has started it will continue til 'opening day'. Earlier the better!

pbnjny · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

I noticed that many of these International Schools are contracted for a minimum of 2 years...are there other programs out there for certified teachers that are for the summertime or maybe less than a year?

PS- Thanks for all the encouragement! I'm really want to follow through with this Smile

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

Many jobs are taken, but there are probably a few left, see if there are any job fairs coming up. Another tip, because it's close to the beginning of the school year, you might have more room to negotiate.

keitepai · Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Istanbul

Hi,
Re International school contracts, most are for 1-2 years but you may pick up a maternity leave or similar for 3-6 months.

Also, there are teachers that decide not to go at the last minute then as Nature Girl said you have more bargaining power.
Just keep looking. Smile

pbnjny · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

What's the difference between an International School and the ESL schools? Am I qualified to teach ESL without a TEFL certificate?

keitepai · Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Istanbul

Hi,

International schools offer K-12 education with varying curriculum ie PYP, British. They recruit qualified native English speaking teachers with Educational university degrees. 2 years plus experience in their home country is desirable. The salary and conditions tend to be better than language schools, at least in Istanbul. They are private and fee paying sometimes you strike a non profit one if you are lucky.

You could apply for an ESL position within an international school without TEFL but I think TEFL is a useful qualification to have anyway. You would have more chance of getting a classroom teaching position with your qualification and experience.

Language schools concentrate on English language teaching more specifically. I dont really have the knowledge of them to be more specific.

You can look on websites such as www.tes.com for international schools currently recruiting. Smile

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

keitepai · Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Istanbul

Thanks Nature girl! Embarassed

My school employed from overseas for a maternity leave......guess there was nobody here at the time Smile

Chancellor · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:23 pm Post subject:

pbnjny · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

When you mentioned "negotiations" how much would a teacher with 2 years experience going on 3 years make teaching abroad? In the US we receive salaries from the district based on experience that is non-negotiable.

pbnjny · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Just wanted to thank EVERYONE for all of your help/feedback...I honestly would not have been able to get this idea running without you!!

The sites listed above are great and I just wanted to post some sites I've found through my research...hope this can help someone in the future Smile

USNEI: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/international/edlite-teachoverseas-geninfo.html
Dept of Defense: http://www.dodea.edu/home/index.cfm
TESOL: http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/index.asp
International Bacc Org (IBO): https://ibo.org
World Wide Schools: http://www.english-schools.org/index.htm