Job Discussion Forums

kitzilla · Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Posts: 11

Hi everyone, I am currently looking for a job in an IB school and am quite uncertain about my eligibility to teach Literature with the Diploma Programme. Here is a summary of my qualifications and experience to date:

-Graduated with a BA(Hons) in English Literature
-CELTA certified
-worked for more than 5 years as a private tutor to foreign students (in between also covering teachers in A Level English)
-did a 7-month internship in two high schools where I taught Abi English, IB Literature and ESL

I intend to join the job fairs (undecided whether ISS or Search is better) so I would like feedback with regard to my chances of employment there. It would be my first job fair!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I would say you have a good chance though candidates with a teaching license and 2 years full time experience are given preference.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Yes, absolutely. Go for it.

tttompatz · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:18 pm Post subject:

I know this sounds like a strange idea...

http://www.ibo.org /// and start applying to the schools in the countries you want.

ASK if your qualifications are acceptable enough and they will let you know.

Do be aware that requirements vary widely. In schools in less popular places your qualifications may be adequate. In popular destinations you may be competing with people who have far superior qualifications BA/B.Ed (double undergrads), BA/M.Ed and years of experience so your chances will drop accordingly.

.

rayman · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 427

Without meaning to sound too harsh, I think your opportunities would be very limited. It seems you don't have qualifications for or actual working experience in a K-12 setting. I would actually be surprised if Search Associates would take you on.

That said, anything's possible. So called international schools that cater only for local students tend to drop their standards. These schools are a dime a dozen. If you're interested in IB teaching as a career though, I'd suggest getting your teaching credentials. Then the world is your oyster.

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

You won't know until you apply. You've got nothing to lose by applying

Asurai · Joined: 22 Oct 2011 Posts: 11

I would also say limited opportunities, not so much for lack of relevant experiences or length (they usually ask for 2years) but because you do not have a teacher cert/Bed.If you are planning to teach at Int schools then you should get a teacher cert if you want to have good job offers.

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

I'd say your odds are conversely related to the quality of the school: the better the school, the more stringent their requirements. You may not want to work for a school without a good reputation.

Check out InternationalSchoolsReview.com. PM me if you'd to borrow my userID and password.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I was offered an EFL position at an IB school back in 2007. I have never taken an education course. I have a masters in photography, bachelors in literature. I taught photography at the college level for 7 years. I taught at the other levels on and off for several years, ie. substitute teaching, residencies, workshops etc. etc.
The offer came in DF. I turned it down.

fladude · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 432

Your odds of getting hired are much better in country. If a school is going to hire someone at distance they will probably only invest in certified candidates. That said, there are some shady schools out there who would hire you even at distance, even though you aren't certified, but would you want to work there????

The other option, and probably more realistic alternative, would be to apply in country. Your odds of finding something go up considerably then. However, they will most likely hire you as a local hire, which personally I could not live off of, but some people do. I don't think top tier schools would hire you even then, unless someone quit mid-year and they just really needed a teacher fast (which certainly happens), but there are tons of tier-two schools out there which hire all sorts of people. Again though pay and benefits are usually lower.

I would advise getting your cert before you embark on this journey, but to each his own.

littlelauren86 · Joined: 20 Sep 2011 Posts: 94 Location: Korea

I'll echo what others have already said and will say that you should get certified.

I don't think your CELTA is relevant, provided that (from my understanding) it's a certificate about teaching English as a Foreign Language to adults. For the jobs you're looking at, you'd be teaching Lit (not EFL) to children. Also, upper tier international schools look down on ESL and substitute experience (as in, they don't count as experience). So, beware that some schools will see this: Not Certified + No Experience. Just so you know. Some IB schools in particular will also be exclusive because for accreditation-related reasons, they need their teachers to be certified.

I'll also echo that I'll be surprised if Search takes you on without being certified -- they seem to be pretty strict on certification status (unless say, you want to teach a hard science and you're an established scientist or something). ISS is like search, but more exclusive, focusing on mainly top tier international schools. You should be well qualified before attending an ISS fair.

That said, I think your best bet is to get hired locally, or when a school needs someone fast. I think you can get a job, just that you might be aiming a little too high. Anyway, you can always apply of course. You never know until you try.