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robertokun
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 199
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 Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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JZer, I wonder what your degree is in? A credential will get you into international schools (but most that I've looked at want two years of teaching experience first at home) but depending on your subject area and schools' individual needs there might not be that much opportunity there.
If you become a licensed French teacher or a gym teacher or whatever, it's probably not going to do you that much good having the credential just to get into an international school where either they don't teach that or a native teacher teaches it.
The credential is tricky, too, because if you don't use it (e.g. you get it and then head overseas again, your credential might be in trouble. I don't know the state that you're from, but in my state when you have an initial teaching certificate (what everyone gets at first) you need to use it to gain points to convert it into a regular certificate (tenured teacher one, basically) and I'm not sure if or how international school teaching factors into the equation.
If you don't gain points, you've got to go back to school to take more classes and earn points back and stuff. It's kind of a complicated process and I might not have all the facts completely straight, but it's something you might want to consider and definitely look into with your state board of education. If you like teaching public school and want some job security in the future, it would obviously give you the opportunity to teach in the U.S.
Be careful with international schools, too. Although they may portray a prestigious image, the conditions are not always that good and the mountains of money that it takes to send your kids there rarely makes it to teacher's pockets.
I'm also interested in people's opinions of the M.A. I thought that was the gold standard and your ticket to pretty much any good TESOL job you want in the world, including qualifying you for the university level back home.
Anyways, cheers for asking the right questions at the right time. I'm sure you'll figure it out. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer, I wonder what your degree is in? A credential will get you into international schools (but most that I've looked at want two years of teaching experience first at home) but depending on your subject area and schools' individual needs there might not be that much opportunity there. |
That is why I hope to get certified in elementary education with an ESL endorsement. There are many elementary schools. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| JZer, I wonder what your degree is in? A credential will get you into international schools (but most that I've looked at want two years of teaching experience first at home) but depending on your subject area and schools' individual needs there might not be that much opportunity there. |
Unless I cannot get into the program, I will try to get into an Alternative Certification program. Thus I will begin teaching immediately. Furthermore I can just attend international job fairs every year until I find the job I want. I can just continue to teach at the school I am working at until I find a good opportunity abroad as a professional teacher.
Last edited by JZer on Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:59 am; edited 1 time in total |
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robertokun
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 199
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| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:15 am Post subject: |
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| That's an excellent plan. Good luck. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:20 am Post subject: |
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| robertokun wrote: |
| That's an excellent plan. Good luck. |
Anyways, I hope it works out. I will apply to international schools as well as apply to teach in New Zealand. I believe there are opportunities for people with a teacher's license from their home country to teach in New Zealand. |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| Quote: |
| JZer, I wonder what your degree is in? A credential will get you into international schools (but most that I've looked at want two years of teaching experience first at home) but depending on your subject area and schools' individual needs there might not be that much opportunity there. |
That is why I hope to get certified in elementary education with an ESL endorsement. There are many elementary schools. |
I'm going a similar route through Texas Teachers with a goal of getting into international schools after getting some stateside government indoctrination center (public school) experience. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm going a similar route through Texas Teachers with a goal of getting into international schools after getting some stateside government indoctrination center (public school) experience. |
I will apply to every state if I have to! |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I'm going a similar route through Texas Teachers with a goal of getting into international schools after getting some stateside government indoctrination center (public school) experience. |
I will apply to every state if I have to! |
Since not every state's requirements are the same, you'll want to look at each one carefully to see if it meets your needs. My home state of New York isn't particularly big on alternative certification but there are a couple of places in the state that have them (New York City and Rochester among them). West Virginia, Kentucky and (I think) New Mexico all require a three-year committment from you once you obtain certification. Trying to get an e-mail response out of Florida is like trying to pull teeth. |
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Molson
Joined: 01 May 2009
Posts: 137
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:53 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
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| Also, about Germany, even if you get a license, it might be hard to get a job if you're an American, because of visa issues. |
Maybe but I don't think that international schools have a problem getting visas for teachers. |
No they don't. In Europe they can get you a visa if you are from the US. The thing is, if you apply to a "last minute" opening, they usually cannot do it fast enough.
One thing you should be very aware of about Germany: HIGH TAXES.
Bonn International School: Pays about 50,000 (think Euros). 42% taxes...gives you no housing allowance, no housing.
Frankfurt International School: Pays 52-60k US, 43% tax rate, no housing allowance, no housing.
The cost of living is the same as the US or Canada, but the salary really isn't as great as you can make 10+yrs teaching in NA. If you aren't doing it for the experience, money is better elsewhere.
Europe is expensive as hell due to their high taxes. Some countries provide housing (Switzerland) and IMO that is the key. I see myself at some point probably wanting to give Switzerland a try. Not for the money but for the experience of it. |
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JosephP
Joined: 13 May 2003
Posts: 445
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| Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:15 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| I will apply to international schools as well as apply to teach in New Zealand. I believe there are opportunities for people with a teacher's license from their home country to teach in New Zealand. |
If you are looking to teach primary in Christchurch, as they say in New Jersey, fuhgeddiboutit! Get your secondary certification. Check out teachnz.govt.nz for some helpful pointers. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:15 am Post subject: |
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| If you are looking to teach primary in Christchurch, as they say in New Jersey, fuhgeddiboutit! Get your secondary certification. Check out teachnz.govt.nz for some helpful pointers. |
Thanks,
How about in other areas of New Zealand? Can one find a job as a primary teacher? |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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Bonn International School: Pays about 50,000 (think Euros). 42% taxes...gives you no housing allowance, no housing.
Frankfurt International School: Pays 52-60k US, 43% tax rate, no housing allowance, no housing. |
Taxes in the US are over 25 percent. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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Primary teachers - currently vacancies are greatest in Auckland where an increasing population is placing pressure on all teaching sectors. Primary teachers with a minimum of three years relevant teaching experience are now listed on Immigration New Zealand's Immediate Skill Shortage list for work permits or residency.
It looks like there may be opportunities in Auckland. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:02 am Post subject: |
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Bonn International School: Pays about 50,000 (think Euros). 42% taxes...gives you no housing allowance, no housing.
Frankfurt International School: Pays 52-60k US, 43% tax rate, no housing allowance, no housing. |
The reality is that the income tax in Germany is only about 10 percent higher than in the US or Canada. |
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JosephP
Joined: 13 May 2003
Posts: 445
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| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
It looks like there may be opportunities in Auckland. |
Auckland, eh? The public transport is utter crap and expensive to boot. The roading system isn't all that flash. Get used to sitting in traffic burning up your expensive petrol.
Auckland's housing is expensive relative to income. Try to get a place with all day sun or get used to living with fuzzy green walls.
Consumer goods? Hmm...New Zealand gets the stuff that is rejected as too cheap and tatty for Wal-Mart.
Crime? Yeah, Auckland has all the ills of most western urban cities - gang wars, graffiti, liquor store hold-ups, all the usual.
Don't let my negativity put you off though. There are heaps off positives about New Zealand. The thing is that New Zealand just doesn't do cities very well. Maybe look further afield to the provinces. |
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