International Teaching Jobs

Becoming a teacher can be an incredibly rewarding job. It can also be an incredibly frustrating career choice. Not all schools are created equal. A third grade teacher at one school may be enjoying a relaxed, supportive and nurturing professional environment with the ability to teach the curriculum in  a manner they feel is best for the children. Another third grade teacher may be face with a hostile and stressful environment where there are not enough funds to teach in the manner they would prefer. While both of these teachers chose the career for similar reasons and truly want to make a difference in children’s lives, their circumstances affect how they perform their job and how much satisfaction they may take home from it. Teaching at a private school can give a teacher a more rewarding career.

photo credit: archer10 (Dennis)

One of the main differences between teaching at a public school vs. a private school is the materials you may have. Not only can there be a difference in the quality of the material, but also the quantity of the material. Teachers in a private school have the ability to choose the textbooks and other learning materials for their classrooms. They also have some say over the content, topics and skills they feel should be taught. Public school teachers are often working with too few text books and not enough materials for their classroom. Private school teachers do not have this problem.

Behaviour of the students is also a consideration. While it can be said that not all public school students are poorly behaved and not all private school students are perfectly behaved, there is a difference in the overall behaviour of the student body as a whole. Studies show that the occurrences of students threatening and/or assaulting teachers in public schools are approximately three times more than in private schools. Teachers in a private school also have say over disciplinary policies.

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The overall environment at the school you teach at can be extremely important. The support of the other staff members, students and parents can make a huge difference in your satisfaction. Studies show that the support system in private schools is stronger than in public schools. Private school teachers report that the cooperation of the teaching staff is strong and the support of the administration is consistent. There is also considerably more support from the parents of the students. There is a strong sense of purpose among those professionals involved in a private school.

Private school teachers report being happier and more satisfied with their jobs than most public school teachers. In recent studies, public school teachers were more likely to retire as soon as they could or would leave teaching if another opportunity became available while private school teachers would continue to teach as long as they could. Private school teachers are also more likely to feel that they are making a difference in their student’s lives than public school teachers. Overall, teaching jobs in private schools are proven to be less stressful and more rewarding.

photo credit: Rex Pe

Not all teachers work in classrooms within schools. There is an increasing need for online teachers. More and more facilities are offering online courses in a wide variety of subjects. Some of these courses offer online support and guidance while others offer a full time teacher for virtual learning. There is also an increasing need for online tutors. While local people may be looking for online tutors for themselves or their children, it is often more of an international endeavour. People from different countries may be looking for someone to tutor themselves or their children in language. Who better to teach Spanish than someone who lives in Spain and speaks it fulltime.

photo credit: familymwr

Teaching online is very different from teaching in a classroom setting. Quite often there are no live discussions and no face to face interaction. This can be challenging in some cases and can also be time consuming. Messaging back and forth between student and teacher takes longer than a simple face to face conversation. When you are working with a student in a different country, communication can also be challenging or confusing in written form. You are not able to read facial expressions through messaging either.

Online teaching comes with its own set of pros and cons. Some of the positives of online teaching are flexibility in hours and location and the opportunity to work with people from all over the world. Online teachers often are able to make their own hours. Depending on the number of hours you are required or choose to teach, you may still be able to hold another full time job and use this income as a supplement to your existing income. If you take a job teaching an online course for a college or university in a different area than where you live, you do not have the hassle of relocating to the area where the school is located since you can work from your home.

photo credit: seantoyer

Online teaching also has its negative points. Online courses typically come with a very strict curriculum. Online teachers have to stick to this curriculum and do not have as much flexibility in what or how they teach. Online teaching also takes away the teachers ability to use educational materials. Many teachers do not like the impersonality of online teaching. They prefer hands on, face to face teaching. Another drawback is that because online teaching is still fairly new, online teachers often do not get the same pay or respect as traditional teachers.

To become an online teacher you must still have the required education and credentials. In order to teach at a high school level you still require a bachelor’s degree and teaching certification from an accredited university. If you want to teach at a college level, you will need your master’s degree and you will require a doctorate to teach at a university level.

Decide what you want from your teaching career and carefully weigh the pros and cons of both traditional teaching and online teaching. While online teaching can be a positive experience, it is not for everyone. If you truly want to teach online, there are several websites that offer postings of available positions. Some colleges and universities will fill these positions from their existing faculty but many will post the positions and welcome applications from everyone.

photo credit: familymwr

Accepting a teaching job overseas can be a rewarding and enriching opportunity. Some people choose to teach in one location overseas for a long period of time. This gives them the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and forge bonds with their students and others in the community. Others teach in one location for two years and then move on to another location etc. This is great for teachers who want to stay in one location enough to make a difference but also want to experience several cultures. Finally, some teachers will take a year off their local positions to teach overseas or use their summer vacations to teach overseas for a couple of months.

photo credit: Claire L. Evans

Accepting a teaching job overseas comes with advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are many. There are several positions in many different countries to choose from. Many of these positions not only offer tax free income but also come with benefits. Class sizes overseas are typically smaller than the class sizes here at home. You will get to experience many different cultures and languages as well as get the opportunity to see beautiful countries. Many of these positions offer housing or housing allowances as well as relocation expenses. Some also offer annual or semi-annual home leave so that you can visit your families and friends.

There are also drawbacks to teaching overseas. Depending on the country you choose to teach in, you may have to try to blend in with your surroundings. Some countries are not as safe as others and appearing to be an outsider can be dangerous. Those positions that offer housing should be carefully researched.  Not all housing is equal and you should know what is being offered. Be sure you understand what the school day is like and how the school is run. It can be very different from what you are used to at home. If you use an organization that organizes world travel jobs, there are often fees that the employers are required to pay. If you break your contract for any reason, you may be required to pay these fees.

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

If you are seriously interested in an overseas teaching job, there are several websites dedicated to posting available positions. If you are already a teacher, there may be opportunities through your school board as well. Programs like Amnesty International also have positions available and advertised.

Decide what you are looking for in an overseas teaching job before searching listings. Decide if you want to go for a few months or several years. Figure out if you want to stay in one location or teach in a variety of locations. Learn what the necessary documentation is and if you require any shots prior to leaving. Be sure you carefully understand the housing offered and the requirements of the job. Expect to have positive enriching experiences but also expect there to be some bumps in the road.