Job Discussion Forums

[Marinx]

Could someone explain what an "international school" is? Are they private schools with well off kids and/or adults? Can they be K-12 and/or university level?

I've gathered that public university positions are generally: low hours, good pay, accommodations provided and well suited to first time EFL teachers.

While for international schools you need better qualifications and that translates to better pay.

I'm starting the OnTesol 120 hour online course soon and once that is complete I will be attending my alma mater for the practicum portion. Once both parts are complete I will convert them into a TESL Canada certificate which is equivalent to a CELTA.

Thanks for reading!

[Non Sequitur]

Two types really.
First type is an entrepreneur trying to cash in on student/parent vanity.
Second type i.e.true internationals have at least in part, expat students. Many teach the International Baccalaureate so expats have some continuity if they move from country to country.
True internationals also expect career teachers with home country registration.
I have heard that less qualified teachers with specialist skills - maths, science can get these jobs.
Pay is about 4 or 5 times what an FT would get at a bog standard uni/vocational job.

[Marinx]

[cdchristy]

Besides those already listed, or at least a sub-category----Some schools in China focus on wealthier students who plan to go abroad. These schools sometimes use 'international' in their name. In terms of degrees and certification, their requirements are a little above the univ. and a little below the expat schools. They want quality teachers who are strong in academic English and/or subjects including Math, Science, and Business. These schools may pay as much as 3-4 times a university.
Also, I would add that required qualifications for a given type of teaching position may be somewhat lower as you start moving away from the coast and cities like Shanghai and Beijing where schools have more talent available.

[getbehindthemule]

There are some big schools （K-12） in Shanghai that have different departments. They may have an IB department, an 'International' dept and several local (public) depts managed by the IS.
If you have a degree, TEFL and 2 years experience you will be able to get a position with one of these schools. The IB dept will require licensed teachers for the most part for obvious reasons (but I do know of unlicensed teachers who have had success).
This is the type of school that I would look at as the package is good (decent salary, housing allowance, health insurance, airfare allowance, fully paid hols, etc.)

[nimadecaomei]

I teach AP now, but have a PGCE. It is true international can mean anything. All they have to do is add it to the name. I would look into what the previous poster said.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

[Non Sequitur]

I was offered a position at an international college two years ago. No licensure was required. I have two advanced degrees.

I think home country registration/licensure can get waived if you can teach a 'hard-to-staff' subject. Maths and science come to mind.

[theoriginalprankster]

I'm teaching at what could be at best called a "3rd/4th tier" international school.

99% of the students are Chinese, their English levels are hopeless, they're rich and spoilt (they will see the light with me teaching them), and some are probably going to make it into overseas universities by the skin on their teeth.

The management/administration is hopeless, the principal doesn't even speak English (I probably communicate better with the guards), the pay is just ok, not great, and it's in the middle of nowhere.

Interesting, although depressing to see this kind of shambolic setup call itself an international school, but hopefully it will look good on the CV when I move on in 6/12 months.

[Non Sequitur]

[getbehindthemule]

[kev20]

I think some of you guys are a tad harsh on international schools here. Yes, they are vain but so are private schools and boarding schools in every country. I think the fact that they don't have foreign pupils is not really a big issue. I mean how could they have foreign pupils? Apart from the very few foreigners working in China who could afford these schools, or the foreign teachers' children, nobody based in another country is going to entertain the notion of sending their kid to study in China.

The schools should be judged on whether they offer a better education, better teachers and a better future for the students. I think the vast majority of these schools offer these things, partly because public schools are so entrenched in mediocrity and catering for the ordinary. But the point is in these schools you generally have students from good backgrounds, smaller classes and a better environment for education.

To be honest, many of the private schools in the UK and Ireland have gone backwards in terms of the quality of education in recent years as they chase foreign students. The introduction of non-native English speakers to these schools as the norm has definitely made it a more difficult task for teachers and has impacted quality.

[Non Sequitur]

In places like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou the children of diplomats would be a sizable catchment for international schools. Add to that expat business families and well you work it out.
The 'true' internationals need trained and certificated teachers to attract the parents' interest.
I doubt that these certificated teachers would want to teach at an all-Chinese student school. How would that look on their CV? These people intend to return home and take up where they left off to go to China.
It's not what we think but what the school management/owners think. Sure they can fray the certification thing around the edges (hard to staff special subjects) but do too much and parents will turn off.

[Kalkstein]

[getbehindthemule]