Job Discussion Forums

[Alvi]

I have looked everywhere on this board and other boards and couldn't find any information on this topic. If its there, then I apologize and please point me in the right direction.

Does anyone here have experience teaching at a "American" or "British" international school? As in have you taught math, biology, chemistry, social studies, or elementary education? If so, how has this experience been for you? Also, what type of subjects seem to be needed the most(ie; chemistry, reading, literature, physics, etc.)?

Thanks for your help.

[FrenchLieutenant'sWoman]

When you say "american" and "british" do you mean instead of IBO?

Do you have a degree and a teaching certification? If so you'll probably end up teaching what you're qualified to! If you're coming at this from the point of not having a degree yet then science teachers are always in demand in my limited experience!

A British school abroad will expect you to have British QTS, an American school will expect you to have an American teaching certification. IBO schools don't really care as long as you're qualified to teach somewhere in the world!

[Alvi]

[tttompatz]

[ksam]

[FrenchLieutenant'sWoman]

IBO schools are what people tend to call 'international schools'. They offer at least the IB diploma and usually MYP and PYP. There's a lot of EAL support work in those schools, they're usually English speaking and not affiliated to a particular country's curriculum. Students come from all kinds of backgrounds and often they move around a lot! Some start in their teens speaking barely any English. There are other international schools but I personally wouldn't work for an 'International School of Somewhere' which wasn't an IBO world or partner school, or at the very least working towards it.

There are exceptions to the national curriculum point obviously - one bilingual school I worked in offered the IB diploma but delivered the country's national curriculum to age 15/16.

British/American schools follow the British/American curriculum in the same way French or German international schools follow their national curriculum. They're primarily, but not exclusively, designed for citizens of those countries living abroad so a British school will follow EYFS, then KS1,2,3 whilst offering prep for the 11+ or CE (a lot of children go to boarding school in the UK at 11 from abroad) and offer GCSEs or A-levels.

I think you'll only find social studies openings in the American schools abroad but if you don't limit yourself to American/British schools you should find a fair amount of EAL work too.

Edit : if you're serious about meaning places like the Korean International School (which is probably IBO) then don't refer to themas an American or British school. ISs are fiercely proud of being international, diverse and outside any national affiliation.

[Alvi]

[FrenchLieutenant'sWoman]

I'm just sceptical about the statement that they follow an American curriculum! Western focused, yes. American, no. National differences tend to be on the humanities side and geography, history etc certainly have no national bias in my experience.

They do follow the Western school year but that's like saying they follow the British, German or Canadian year. It's not solely American.

Just a word if warning if you're serious about it to really respect that international diversity and be prepared to incorporate it into your teaching. American and British schools are something entirely different on both a curricular level and in their ethos.

FWIW as a primary level teacher I didn't have trouble finding a job independently both as a class teacher and doing EAL. As an elementary teacher you will probably need to do a fair amount of research on the PYP though and get used to working with units if enquiry. Research it before you decide - it doesn't suit everyone.

[ksam]

[Alvi]

[Chancellor]

PYP is the IBO acronym for Primary Years Programme. For more information, visit the International Baccalaureate Organisation website at www.ibo.org.

IBO schools are, I think, more genuinely "international" than schools that simply use an American, Canadian, Aussie, or Brit curriculum.