No matter how nervous you may be at the overseas teaching job fair, you should be just as concerned about interviewing schools to see whether or not they match up to your qualifications. Remember, you’re signing up to spend two years in a foreign country; while this is certainly a thrilling experience, it also presents many challenges. You want to make sure that in the face of major cultural transitions, you have a supportive work environment.
Consider contacting schools prior to the job fair to get some of this information. You’ll go into the job fair feeling more confident about which schools you’ll want to target, and you’ll be able to spend more time discussing your own assets!
1. What kinds of curricular resources do you provide for teachers? Particularly if the international school is relatively young, they might still be in the curriculum building process, so make sure funds are available to purchase resources if they don’t already exist. Ask about the school library and whether or not there’s a curriculum coordinator—both are good indicators of commitment to curricular growth.
2. What after-school or committee requirements do teachers have in addition to their regular classroom duties? Small schools can easily fall into the trap of spreading teachers fairly thin in order to keep the school running well. In addition to your classroom teaching duties, how many committees will you be asked to serve on? Are you required to run a certain number of after-school activities? These obligations can add substantial responsibility to your regular teaching day.
3. How long do teachers tend to stay at your school? Most international schools require a two-year minimum contract, but if a substantial portion of the staff chooses to extend their contract, you can probably assume the school is a good place to work.
4. How is your salary determined? Unlike public schools, international schools rarely have a set salary scale or “step system” in place. That means your starting salary could be determined by a variety of factors, and the more aware you are of how the school determines payment, the more capable you are of negotiating a fair salary.
5. What resources do you provide to help teachers transition to their new environment? Does the school provide housing, or offer advice on how to find reasonable housing? Do they offer language classes to help you communicate effectively in the new country? Do they provide mentorship for new teachers, as well as handbooks and advice about adjusting to this new school and culture?
6. What are the biggest challenges at your school, and what are you most proud of? Every school has its advantages and drawbacks, and it’s important to have an administrator who can speak honestly about these issues. Moreover, you can match your own priorities with the challenges and points of pride at this particular school.
