As the back-to-school season quickly approaches, most teachers are preparing to head back into the classroom. Others are bound for far-flung corners of the world. Teaching abroad can be an adventure, but it can also be a stressful experience if you don't have the right resources to guide you.
Qualifications
Most schools require at least a Bachelor's degree (although, in many cases, a Master's degree is preferred) and at least two to three years of teaching experience and an active teaching certificate.
Finding the Perfect Job
Unless you have an idea of a specific school – or region – where you'd like to teach, it's best to use a recruitment agency or attend an international schools job fair. International Schools Services (ISS) and Search Associates are two of the largest recruitment agencies. Each year, these organizations hold recruitment fairs at locations around the world which are attended by some of the world's biggest and most prestigious international schools. You can also register with the organizations' placement services. Information about their placement services and recruitment fairs can be found on the ISS and Search Associates web sites.
The Fulbright Teacher Exchange is a unique opportunity to experience teaching in an international setting without completely uprooting your life. Fulbright teachers “trade places” with teachers from schools in other countries for one year. To qualify for the program, you must be currently employed in a full-time teaching or administrative position.
Another option for U.S. citizens is to teach at a Department of Defense school. The Department of Defense recruits teachers for positions at schools on U.S. military bases, both at home and abroad. Schools follow the American curriculum.
Organizations for International Teachers
Once you've found that dream job in London or Tokyo or Buenos Aires, there are several organizations that can help support you through continuing education and professional development opportunities, as well as facilitate social and professional networking with other teachers and schools.
Founded in 1965, the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) is the largest organization of international schools in Europe, with over 400 member schools from around the world. ECIS regularly hosts conferences and events throughout the school year and offers a certificate in international teaching and an international master's degree program. This year's annual teachers' conference will be held in Nice, France from November 19-23. The administrators' conference will take place April 16-19 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Similar organizations in Europe include the Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA), the Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS), and the Swiss Group of International Schools (SGIS), with conferences for the 2008-2009 school year scheduled in Bucharest, Madrid, and Zurich, respectively.
Organizations for non-European schools include the Association of American Schools in South America (AASSA), Association of Colombian-Caribbean American Schools (ACCAS), Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS), Latin American Tri-Association, National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS), Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA), and the South Asia International Schools Association (SAISA).
Teaching abroad can be a challenging and rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. With the right amount of planning and preparation, you can take your career to a new level.
