Job Discussion Forums

Klamm · Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 121

A question that may or may not have been broached before. I took a look and couldn't find anything.

What are the general quals needed to get a job an International School? I'm a US citizen with a BA English. What else do I need? Is it possible to do it via distance learning (the validity of distance learning is perhaps a different thread. It would be nice to get a straight answer on it, though.).

Much appreciated...

K.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

There's a whole range of opportunities for U.S. citizens such as yourself to teach in international schools in foreign countries. However, most require state teaching credentials (at least a BA in Education degree) + at least 2 years of teaching experience. Check out these sites for more information:

http://www.aft.org/international/TeachingOpportunities/#Teaching%20Opportunities%20Abroad

http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/c6776.htm

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Basically, English-only tea chers are the exception at international schools; you should diversify so that you can teach other subjects as well.
Specialise in sciences if you are strong in them, or acquire a second tongue so you can teach a foreign language such as Spanish or French.

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 12:08 pm Post subject:

I was talking to someone who was an mandarin teacher at a international school in shanghai teaching an English (GCSE and A-level) system. Basically you needed the same that you do to teach in England. The pay was great though. Something like RMB30000 a month and a free apartment.

Even the Chinese Teachers Earned RMB15000 a month here though and she was complaining she didnt get paid the same as the English!! She should try surviving on the RMB4000 a month i'm after!! lol Laughing

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

www.state.gov/m/a/os
www.acsi.org
www.moveandstay.com
http://www.internationaleducationmedia.com
http://www.independentschools.com

Here are some sites with international schools.

Ludwig · Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 12:34 am Post subject:

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Ludvig,
you seem to have a sketchy idea of what is going on in HK! Since when do French, German or other international schools hire native speakers only? They are not as backward as anglophone societies are! The Alliance francaise, for example, used to have native Arab-speaking French teachers, the Goethe Institut in the Arts Centre used to have a Briton teaching German, and the Swiss-German International School on the Peak has a variety of non-native-speaking German and French teachers.
I had opportunities both in Hong Kong and in the mainland to teach any language I am perfectly familiar with - French, German, included!
There decidedly is no demand for Afrikaans right now!

Ludwig · Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 4:24 pm Post subject:

'Roger', praat jy Afrikaans, man? Ek is gebore in Suid Afrika. God seen Afrika.

"O bring my trug na die ou Transvaal, daar waar my Sarie woon.
Daar onder in die mielies by die groen doringboom, daar woon my Sarie Marais".

Praat jy Oranjerivierafrikaans?

Maar weer ter sake.

Maybe it was a tad too strong to say 'only'; the examples you cite are certainly valid.

However, Ek is allesbehalwe "sketchy". Een poniekoerant s�, (SCMP) "Native speakers [of French] only need apply".

As regards your demand for Afrikaans comment; nee, inderdaad. 'Roger', noem my gerus Ludwig, nee 'Ludvig'. (Ek het in Holland, Engeland, en Duitsland studeer, weet jy, en die meeste mense dink in elk geval Ek is Engels.) I did once actually see an advertisement for an Afrikaans speaker, for, I think I recall, Berlitz. I guess it was a 'one-off' with a businessman. But yes, you are right: 'n Naald in 'n hooimied soek, so to speak.

zorro · Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 4:30 pm Post subject:

you can teach esl in international schools, but you'd have to either be extremely lucky to get a job or know someone on the inside. nepotism usually works the best though.