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International schools?

 
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krfleetwood



Joined: 06 Jul 2011
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:57 am    Post subject: International schools? Reply with quote

Hi everyone! I've just decided that I would like to live and teach in another country, and I'm just beginning the process. I've been amazed at how much information is out there, but it's a little overwhelming at the same time.

Here's my deal:
I'm 32, live in Atlanta, Ga, and I've been teaching 1st grade (6&7 year olds) for 6 years. I have a masters degree in education. I would like to teach in another country (Argentina, Indonesia, and Thailand are on my radar for now). I think I would like to continue teaching young children, but I would be open to other things as well, such as teaching English to adults.

Here are my questions:
Are International Schools the best way for me to go?

Do people who do a TEFL course do that because they don't have a teaching degree, or is that something I should look into as well?

When people talk about doing a TEFL course in the country where they would like to work/live, and then getting a job after, are they ending up at local schools usually?

Any info on any of these topics would be great. Thanks!!!!
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tttompatz



Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:13 am    Post subject: Re: International schools? Reply with quote

krfleetwood wrote:
Hi everyone! I've just decided that I would like to live and teach in another country, and I'm just beginning the process. I've been amazed at how much information is out there, but it's a little overwhelming at the same time.

Here's my deal:
I'm 32, live in Atlanta, Ga, and I've been teaching 1st grade (6&7 year olds) for 6 years. I have a masters degree in education. I would like to teach in another country (Argentina, Indonesia, and Thailand are on my radar for now). I think I would like to continue teaching young children, but I would be open to other things as well, such as teaching English to adults.

Here are my questions:
Are International Schools the best way for me to go?

Do people who do a TEFL course do that because they don't have a teaching degree, or is that something I should look into as well?

When people talk about doing a TEFL course in the country where they would like to work/live, and then getting a job after, are they ending up at local schools usually?

Any info on any of these topics would be great. Thanks!!!!


You are talking about 2 different career paths:

i) If you want to teach ESL then a TEFL course of some kind would be good (but not absolutely necessary). Get a few books or grab an on-line course to brush up on the details since you already have 6 years in the trenches.

ii) If you want to teach in English then international schools are the way to go.

If you are looking at international schools then places like:
http://www.ibo.org/ and
http://www.tes.co.uk/ (look for their international job listings OUTSIDE of Europe)

as well as job fairs are places to look.

If you want to get into EFL (at least in SE Asia) then places like:
Dave's ESL Cafe http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/ or
MOD EDIT
would be places to look.

Again, look for teaching jobs (k-12) rather than EFL jobs (pay is about double). There are lots of opportunities for k-6 teachers all over Asia.

.
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krfleetwood



Joined: 06 Jul 2011
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for your quick reply!
So, you confirmed what I was thinking- those are 2 different career paths. I'm not necessarily sure I want to go the route of International schools. To clarify- the EFL jobs would pay about double? Also, if I want to go that route, where would I be teaching? Still in schools?
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AGoodStory



Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
To clarify- the EFL jobs would pay about double?


Other way around! Smile
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BadBeagleBad



Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

krfleetwood wrote:
Thanks for your quick reply!
So, you confirmed what I was thinking- those are 2 different career paths. I'm not necessarily sure I want to go the route of International schools. To clarify- the EFL jobs would pay about double? Also, if I want to go that route, where would I be teaching? Still in schools?


No, the international schools pay a lot more, and are usually more stable than ESL schools. Also, having done both myself, let me tell you they are very different methods of teaching. You might be able to get a job with the credentials you have now, in fact, you very likely can. But as to whether you can DO the job once you have it, and well, without further training is a whole other thing.
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denise



Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

krfleetwood wrote:
Thanks for your quick reply!
So, you confirmed what I was thinking- those are 2 different career paths. I'm not necessarily sure I want to go the route of International schools. To clarify- the EFL jobs would pay about double? Also, if I want to go that route, where would I be teaching? Still in schools?


If you go the EFL route, then in many countries you would likely end up teaching anywhere but schools... language academies, doing in-house or on-site (where you travel to companies' worksites) classes; universities; businesses; and maybe some school work.

Generally, though, aside from top-tier university jobs in the higher-paying countries, international schools really are some of the best in terms of salary, benefits, etc.

d
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krfleetwood



Joined: 06 Jul 2011
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks everyone for the info so far!!

BadBeagleBad- What do you mean when you say:

But as to whether you can DO the job once you have it, and well, without further training is a whole other thing.

Do you mean teaching English at these schools? or just teaching in general? You say you've taught at both- what makes the international schools challenging?

Thanks for your insight![/quote]
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krfleetwood



Joined: 06 Jul 2011
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks everyone for the info so far!!

BadBeagleBad- What do you mean when you say:

But as to whether you can DO the job once you have it, and well, without further training is a whole other thing.

Do you mean teaching English at these schools? or just teaching in general? You say you've taught at both- what makes the international schools challenging?

Thanks for your insight!
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tttompatz



Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines

PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

krfleetwood wrote:
Thanks for your quick reply!
So, you confirmed what I was thinking- th