Interested in teaching abroad but worried about being so far away?

Teaching abroad is a fantastic opportunity to explore the world, teach well-behaved students and earn a generous and often tax-free salary. But it is not all a bed of roses, there are some drawbacks. One major drawback is being so far away from family if something goes wrong. However, this concern should not stop you from moving your teaching career abroad. There are some steps you can take to manage the distance.

Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, you can manage the distance by choosing where to work. By this, I mean you should look into cities where you can get to and from on direct flights that are scheduled at least several days each week. You can use any internet travel website to find this information, I usually use Expedia.com. With direct flights you will get home more quickly and not have to worry about making connecting flights. If you cannot get a direct flight to the city/town where your family is located, make sure you can get a direct flight to a city in your home country that has regular connecting flights to your hometown or ultimate destination.

With so many planes flying every day to destinations all over the world, moving your teaching career abroad should not cause you anymore concern than moving your career across the country. You can get back home in a matter of hours, depending on where you choose to work.

Facing a financial crisis? then move your teaching career abroad

Are you facing a personal financial crisis that seems endless and unsolvable? Find a teaching job abroad and go from the bottom of the financial food chain to the top.

When you are struggling to make ends meet a radical change in your life is called for. It is a fact that teachers are not well paid, but international teachers working in international schools receive good salaries and most positions come with an expatriate benefits package.

An expatriate package for an international teacher can include a yearly flight home, housing, utility contribution, health insurance (with pre-existing conditions covered), retirement contribution, contract completion bonus, and more. All of this adds up to money you do not have to spend from your salary.

Currently I save fifty percent of my salary without breaking a sweat or doing without the things I love. I know I save half because I am paid 50% in the local currency and 50% in US dollars. I do not touch the US dollar portion of my salary except to send it home. Can you save half of your salary right now?

Living in a developing country while earning an excellent salary for a developed country means that your money goes much further. In many developing countries things like groceries, household help, transportation, utilities, etc. are much more affordable than at home in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. You can maintain a high standard of living using only a fraction of your salary and have disposable income to save, pay of debt or travel.

If teaching in a developing country does not appeal to you, you can take this opportunity to teach in Europe or the UK where you will be paid in a currency that is holding its value well in the global financial meltdown of 07-08. What European and British schools do not offer in expatriate benefits is compensated with the strength of the Euro and the Pound.

With current technology it is easy to manage your financial life over the internet using secure websites provided by your financial institution. Sending money between countries is as easy as pressing a button or completing a form at your local bank. You can even use Skype to call your bank’s customer service desk at home for next to nothing.

In addition to relieving your financial burden, securing a teaching position overseas will enable you to explore new cultures, teach children who are eager to learn and provide an excellent private education for your children.

Overseas American Schools and Overseas British Schools

Overseas American schools and overseas British schools are usually international schools that run American or British curriculae but are hosted in a foreign country.

International teachers applying to international schools can work in either British or American international schools without having trained in those countries. If you have experience in these curriculae it can be easier to get hired abroad, but it is not usually a requirement.

One thing that teachers should check before submitting their resume to an international school is how the school has labelled the year levels. A school following the American system will be K-12. This means that a British teacher will need to 'translate' their experience from year levels to grade levels - and vice versa.

The general rule is that British schools run from Reception through to Year 13 and American schools run from Kindergarten through to Grade 12.

British teachers subtract '1' and call it a 'grade'.

American teachers add '1' and call it a 'year'.

Non-Teaching Partner/Spouse

Teaching abroad can be a great experience for you if you're the one teaching, but it can be a bit less fantastic if you are a non-teaching spouse or partner unable to find a job in your new location.

Sometimes it is possible for an international school to employ a partner or spouse with no teaching qualifications when the host country's employment laws allow this. However, some countries require teachers to have a teaching qualification as well as a degree, and other countries require all foreign employees at an international school be teachers. The rules change from country to country.

It is also possible for non-teaching partners and spouses to secure employment outside the international school. If you and your partner/spouse are considering this option, it is important to confirm how the working visa situation works in your new host country... before you enter that country! If you end up on a non-working dependent visa it can be very difficult to convert it to a working visa later.

Teaching Abroad with a non-Teaching Partner/Spouse

Teaching Abroad with a Dependent Spouse vs. Teaching Couple Abroad

You may not realise but there can be a big difference between teaching abroad with a dependent spouse and being a teaching couple abroad.

A teaching couple is where both partners are teachers working for the school. A dependent spouse is where one of the partners is not a teacher and not working at the school.

Some international schools have a two level system of benefits. One for single teachers and one for teaching couples, which leads to the question... where do teachers with dependents fit in?

Some schools do not offer any extra housing allowance for teachers with dependents, which means that even if you have a 4 person family, unless you are a teaching couple, you will receive the same housing allowance as a single teacher.

This can have a devestating effect on your finances, it is essential that you make sure you clarify with your new employer exactly how their benefits stack up for your dependents.

On the other hand, some international schools have a three tier system of benefits. They add a in-between level for teachers with dependents. Which means, you will not be doing as well as teaching couples, but you'll be given some added funds to find accomodation that fits the size of your family.

Teaching English Abroad in International Schools

There are many opportunities for teaching English abroad that are open to anybody who is able to speak English fluently. Whether you have a teaching degree or a certificate in English language teaching you can find work almost anywhere in the world.

International schools are elementary, middle and high schools for expatriate children whose families live abroad. There are international schools that offer an American curriculum, those that offer a British curriculum and many more. The language of instruction in most international schools is English but many of the students have English as a second or third language, and so most international schools have teachers who support these students by teaching them English language.

Teaching English abroad in international schools can be done with the same qualifications that are required for teaching in a private language school however you will be competing with people who have teaching diplomas. With over 4000 international schools worldwide, there are many positions vacant every year.

Teaching in an international school often offers better pay and more benefits than teaching in a private language school. Some benefits you are likely to receive teaching in an international school are annual flights, accommodation allowance, medical insurance and, free tuition for your children in the school.

International schools follow the regular school year, so you will only be teaching for around 200 days, and you will be paid for your vacation time, unlike private language school where you will receive 3-4 weeks holiday in a 12 month contract.

Teaching English Abroad in Private Language Schools

Teaching positions in private language schools are easy to secure. English language tuition is a growth business in many areas of the world, in particular in Eastern Europe and throughout Asia.

In order to teach English in a private language school you need to be able to speak English fluently and have a certificate from either Trinity or RSA CELTA. These courses are around 4 weeks long and can even be completed online.

For some countries you will need to have a Bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible for a work permit. You need to check this out if you do not have one because you could end up working abroad illegally.

Working at a private language school can be rewarding as you learn about the local culture from your students and see the progress they make. You are likely to have a combination of classes with 12-20 students and private lessons where you teach only one or two students.

In Asia you can land an English teaching contract at any time, but in Europe most teaching contracts are from the beginning of autumn in September through to the beginning of summer in June or July.

Halfway through the recruiting season...

It has been a very successful international school recruiting season for both myself and my readers, and it's only half over.

I have received about a dozen emails from people telling me that they've found teaching jobs abroad in exciting places.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your emails and congratulate you on your success!

Teaching Overseas - Preparing for the move

Teaching Overseas involves moving your entire family to another country and this can be very stressful.

The first step is to get the shipping companies (get at least two quotes) in to do a survey of your shipping requirements.

This making an appointment with a representative of the shipping company to come to your house. You then take them around your house and show them what you're taking with you. They'll want to look inside all your cupboards and drawers to help them estimate the volume of your shipment.

The agent should then talk to you about how your belongings will be packed, what items are prohibited, how long it will take to get your shipment after it's been packed (this is an estimate only) and what documentation they need you to complete.

Remember the shipping companies know that they are bidding for your business. Don't hide the fact that you're contacting a couple of different companies. They'll tell you why they are the best and you can factor this into your decision.

It is a good idea to get the shipping quotes done early so that you have lots of time to make a decision and negotiate with the shipper over the volume of your shipment if you turn out to be over your allowance.

Also, if you want them to come in and pack up on a day to suit you, then book the shipping company early to avoid disappointment because someone else got in first!

Packing up and shipping out to an overseas teaching job can be a stressful time, but remember how exciting it is too!

Teaching Overseas - What to take...

Securing your teaching job overseas is the first step in your journey. Next comes the packing and moving part. The logistics of moving abroad are particular to where you are moving from and where you are moving to but there are some things you need to decide regardless of these specifics.

One of the things you need to do is check the climate where you are going and make decisions about what clothing you are going to take and what you are going to leave behind.

People laughed at me when I brought all my winter clothing to Bangkok, but I can tell you they aren't laughing now. I've been lending out items of my winter wardrobe fairly consistently to people who left all of their stuff in storage.

You don't need to take a bunch of 'out of climate' clothes with you, but it's a good idea to take a selection because you will be travelling for both pleasure and for professional development and you may well end up in countries where the climate is different to the area you're moving to.

International Teaching Jobs

International Teaching Job Fairs can be stressful but they are one of the most efficient ways to land yourself a teaching job abroad.

Find out more about how to successfully land your own teaching job abroad by attending an International Teaching Job Fair here...

Recruiting Timeline for International Teachers and International Schools

This is a report I published in 2006 about the international school recruiting timeline. It's a timeless article with great information for any first-time teacher looking for a teaching job abroad. Download your copy of this two page report now!

Cover Letters for International Teaching Couples

Recently Ilja posted a comment on one of my blogposts asking a question about applying for overseas teaching jobs as a teaching couple. Here's the comment:

Hi Kelly,
Thanks for all your information.
A question about teaching couples: when we send our application in, would you recommend we send TWO separate cover letters, or do we combine it into one letter with two resumes attached?
My husband and I are divided on this one so I am very curious about what you think.(Ps, have downloaded your book, it is great!)
Regards,Ilja

I thought I'd answer this question for everyone...

When you are applying to international schools as a teaching couple you send one cover letter to the recruiter - but you may have several versions of your cover letter prepared ready to send.

Even applying as a single teacher I usually have a couple of cover letters prepared because I like to hedge my bets and apply for any position that looks interesting in either of my teaching subjects.

My recommendation for teaching couples is that you prepare at least two cover letters. One should emphasise the teaching qualifications of one member of the couple, and the other will emphasise the other member's. You may have a third that places equal emphasis on both.

The reality is that you may not find an international school advertising suitable positions for both of you. So you can use your first two cover letters to apply to these schools. You should always apply to these schools because you don't know what kind of internal openings they may have that your partner could be suitable for! Or what may come up later...

If you do come across a school that has suitable vacancies for both of you, you send a cover letter that covers both of you equally.

Sending two cover letters is an invitation to the recruiter to read neither, it is too much like work!

Sending a single cover letter shows that you are a duo who can work together well.

Check out the detailed advice for what to include in your cover letter on pages 48 through 50 of The Complete Guide to Securing a Job at an International School

5 Top Tips for Your Overseas Teaching Contract

Here’s how to make the right choices to protect yourself when signing an employment contract for a teaching job abroad.

* Make sure that you receive a contract which states in writing all the employment conditions and benefits you and the recruiter agreed upon during the interview. Do not accept a verbal assurance because there is no come-back if the recruiter does not deliver. If the contract you receive misses out some part of the conditions and benefits you thought you had agreed upon, send it back to have them added.

* Make sure that you have a copy of your overseas teaching contract that it is signed by both yourself and the school’s representative.

* Keep a copy of your contract handy so that you can refer to the conditions written down whenever you have a question about your rights.

* Talk to people at the international teaching job fair (if you are attending one), to establish the school’s reputation as an employer. While you are checking out the international school’s reputation, check out the administration staff’s reputation too. Sometimes a great school can be destroyed by a bad administrator.

* Find out about employment laws in the school’s host country and how they affect your employment contract. When you sign an overseas teaching contract you are not signing away your rights for the duration of the contract and it is important to remember this. You do not become an indentured servant. Most countries have employment laws covering how many days notice you must give your employer in order to leave legally.

Overseas Teaching Contracts

Is An Overseas Teacher An Indentured Servant?

You may be holding back form seriously seeking an overseas teaching contract because you are afraid of getting trapped abroad. This rarely happens. When teaching abroad you will be expected to sign an employment contract covering 1-2 years and in return you will receive a plethora of benefits and the unique experiences the come with working abroad. But this does not mean you are powerless to end the contract early if some unexpected catastrophe should occur.

Breaking your contract (leaving the school before the contractual period runs out) should only be done as a last resort because it can seriously hinder your efforts to land another teaching job abroad. The community of international teachers is a very small one and word will spread if you break your contract without a good reason.

Most international school directors are reasonable people who are experienced international teachers and recognise that there are occasionally circumstances that force you to break contract.

Such circumstances may include:

* A critical change in the political situation in the host country which changes the level of safety for foreign workers.

* The health status of a close relative at home or one of your dependents changes and you need to go home.

In these circumstances your best course of action is to approach the school’s director and discuss your options. By approaching the director and negotiating a timeline for your departure you will preserve your reputation as a good employee and receive a good reference. Most likely you will be expected to work out a period of notice in line with the country’s employment laws and you are likely to lose your bonus and repatriation benefits.

Where is the Best Place to Teach Overseas

Each country has a culture and charm of its own. When choosing where the best place to teach overseas is for you, you may want to consider what effect living in a particular country will have on your lifestyle.

Domestic Help
Teachers with children will find that living in a country which has a lower cost of living than at home will discover that the lower cost of living carries across into the cost of child care too, particularly in home child care.

When you teach abroad you can choose to live and work in a country where you will be able to afford a nanny. Many international teachers with children employ nannies, especially in South East Asia where the cost of living is very low, and as a consequence, local salaries are low too.

Where is the Best Place to Teach Overseas

Where is the best place to teach overseas? It is hard to decide where to go when you look at the scope of unique and exciting experiences that are available in the different regions around the world.

Leisure Activities
Choosing the best place to teach overseas may be tied up in the kinds of things you like to do outside of work. You can continue many of your favorite leisure activities while you teach overseas, or take up new ones. Many international teachers move to regions that allow them to indulge themselves in this way.

If you ski, then Europe and Korea are options you may consider. You can teach in Vienna for example and take a train to the slopes for the weekend.

Divers tend to look for international schools in Thailand or the Philippines. Thailand currently has many more international schools than the Philippines, so you are more likely to find a teaching job there.

Because most international schools are situated in urban or suburban areas, there is usually a wealth of activities you can take part in. While living in Bangkok I have attended Indian musical evenings organized by the Indian Embassy, attended numerous balls, learnt how to ride a horse and taken numerous dancing lessons in many different styles. My colleagues are more adventurous than I, they run in marathons, compete in triathlons, mountain bike, dive, play golf, and the list goes on.

To find out if you will be able to continue your hobbies in different countries you can search on the internet or check out the ‘activities’ section of the relevant Lonely Planet Guide.

Where is the Best Place to Teach Overseas

International School Recruiting Fair Tips

If you're just starting out as an international teacher - here are some tips to help you at you first international school recruiting fair...

You need to be picky about where you go and teach overseas, but you don't really need to be picky regarding which international schools you interview with because practice makes perfect.

If you can get interviews with schools that you're not sure you're interested in, do so, then go along for the interview practice. One result of this is that you could find out a school you really didn't think was your cup of tea turns out to be perfect for you!

Another result of using this interview strategy is if one of these schools that aren't on your hit list the only school that offers you a contract (and I'm sure this won't be the case) then working for a slightly undesirable school for a year or two will at least get your foot in the door of international teaching and make it easier to geta great job next time around.

One last thing... in preparation for the international teaching job fair I attended in Bangkok this month, I took a friend out to lunch and quizzed her about interview questions. I was going for the same kind of job that she currently does in my school. I found that it really helped me get my head around what I wanted to say at the interviews. And a good idea of what recruiters were looking to hear from me!

International School Recruiting Fair Tips

Networking Tips for International Teaching Job Fairs

The sign up session is the most important part of the fair because this is where you convince recruiters to interview you - but it's also a dynamite opportunity to network and find out information from other international teachers.

Networking at a teacher recruitment fair is really easy because we all have something in common. Maybe you are like me, I'm not comfortable talking to strangers, but I have no trouble at job fairs.

I think you'll find that if you screw up the courage to say something simple like "Hi, what position are you interested in?" when you're standing in the lines at the sign up session you'll see what I mean.

Teachers love to talk, just give them an opportunity and you'll be networking your way through the job fair.

Networking opportunities can be found in the candidates lounge, in the corridors while you're waiting for an interview appointment, in the lifts on the way to an interview appointment and if you lurk around the candidates mailboxes you'll find a steady flow of overseas teachers too.

Networking Tips for International Teaching Job Fairs

"Wow" International School Recruiters at Overseas Teaching Job Fairs

New technique guarantees you 'wow' international school recruiters at overseas teaching job fair signup sessions!

I developed this technique only recently and tested it at the recent Search international school recruiting fair I attended. It definitely got the attention of recruiters and helped me stand out from the crowd!

At the fair I was offered FOUR overseas teaching contracts and had a hard time deciding where to go. It was a great validation of my job hunting strategies!

I've made a video about why this simple, one-page flyer is such a powerful addition to your job fair strategy and given you step by step instructions so that you can make one of your own - and I'm going to be giving it away!

Teachers who buy my Guide will receive this video for FREE!

"Wow" International School Recruiters at Overseas Teaching Job Fairs

Benefits of Signing up with an International Teaching Job Fair Organisation

The benefits of signing up with an international teaching job fair organisation may not be immediately apparent and you may balk at the cost of registration and the cost of attending the fair itself (transport, accomodation, time off work), but the benefits can often far outweigh the cost...

1. Often the schools who are invited to attend an international school recruiting fair are pre-selected by the fair organiser. You can often feel somewhat reassured that the schools have been vetted prior to your interview and subsequent hiring.

2. Many international teaching job fair organisers require schools to complete a questionnaire that will give you information that you may not find on their website and it's not appropriate to ask about at interview - the benefits package for example, or the number of local students in the school. The information in this questionnaire is usually made accessible to candidates through an online database, so international teachers can search for countries or vacancies they are interested in. You can access this information and contact schools that interest you, without having to actually attend the job fair.

Access to this information can give you an edge over other candidates because you will know more about the school and can contact recruiters with prior knowledge.

3. When you attend the job fair you will have access to people who are already teaching overseas and may know about teaching at the very schools which interest you. Take the time to talk to the other candidates, find out where they are from and where they are going. You'll be amazed at what you can learn about the different international schools.

Learn more about international teaching job fair organisers...

The job fair organisers also vet the overseas teacher candidates. If you aren't accepted to attend a job fair it does not mean you are not a desirable candidate. There are alternative job hunting strategies you can use to find a teaching job abroad.

Learn how you can land your own teaching job abroad using my proven strategies and job hunting techniques.

Salary and Overseas Teaching Contracts

One thing to watch out for when you are signing an overseas teaching contract is that you are going to be paid for a full 12 months in the year, rather than the 10 months you'll be working.

Getting paid for only 10 months of your year teaching is not a common practice in international schools but it does happen and it could have devastating result on your family's fincances if you are not prepared.

Your overseas teaching contract should clearly state how much you will be paid, when you will be paid, the period of the contract that you will be paid for and who is responsible for any local taxes.

For more details on what benefits you should also have outlined in your contract, and the questions you need to ask to establish the real value of any benefits offered get The Complete Guide to Securing a Job at an International School!

Salary and Overseas Teaching Contracts

Teaching Overseas Using your Moving Allowance to Relocate your Family Pet

When you are looking for a teaching job overseas, you will quickly realise that many schools offer a moving allowance as a benefit. These moving allowances can often be quite generous. If you are thinking of using your moving allowance to move you pet abroad with you it is important that you check this with the international school first. Some schools will not allow you to use your moving allowance to relocate your pet and it is better to check this out prior to making arrangements.

Teaching Overseas Using your Moving Allowance to Relocate your Family Pet

Can You Teach at an International School if You Are Over 55? 60? 65?

I found a very informative article online this week about teaching overseas for the experienced teacher. There seems to be more and more age discrimination apparent in the teaching profession and people are either moving overseas to escape it... or moving home!

It's difficult to know what effect your age will have on your job hunt, but you can make some pretty good judgements of where to try and find a job with this information, check it out!

How Old Is Too Old to Teach Overseas?

In addition to the article on teaching overseas for people nearing retirement age you will find a chart that lists ages in relation to employment for international schools - divided up into regions, countries and schools!

Can You Teach at an International School if You Are Over 55

Teaching Jobs Overseas for Married and Non Married Couples

Teaching couples are very popular with international school recruiters for many reasons but the main one is that couples can often work out cheaper to hire in the long run.

Whether you are married or not you can look for jobs as a teaching couple, most schools do not discriminate against couples who do not have a marriage certificate. An obvious exception is schools in the Middle East. It is very difficult for non-married couples to land jobs in international schools in the Middle East, where governments’ regulations stipulate that couples seeking working visas produce a marriage certificate.

You may be able to find a way around this problem but it is unlikely that international school recruiters recruiting for schools in the Middle East are going to find non-married teaching couples an attractive employment prospect when compared to married ones. If you are in this situation, your best bet is to concentrate your job hunt on other regions in the world.

Teaching Jobs Overseas for Married and Non Married Couples

Teaching Jobs Overseas for Couples

When looking for a teaching job abroad as a couple, there are several options open to you:

You can look for suitable teaching vacancies in international schools that will suit both you and your partner’s teaching skills. This will involve finding schools that have vacancies for both of you, a task that is easier at the beginning of the recruiting season because schools have yet to fill their vacancies. Generally speaking December through to March is the best time for teaching couples to look for overseas teaching positions together in the same school. Teaching couples are hot employment prospects at this time because hiring a teaching couple has an impact on the benefits schools have to pay.

Alternatively, you and your partner can look for teaching vacancies in international schools in the same cities. A number of teaching couples are lucky enough to find teaching jobs abroad in different schools in the same city. If you have not taught in the same school as your partner or spouse before, you may find this a better option for you.

The most efficient method to find teaching jobs in different international schools in the same city is to attend an international teaching job fair. At an international teaching job fair you will find many school s from around the globe in the one location, all looking for teachers to fill their vacancies. Often you will find a number of recruiters from the same city at a job fair and it is possible to schedule interviews with each of them individually.

At most job fairs you will also be able to see international school recruiters give presentations about their school and the working in the community. This can help you make an informed decision about whether a school, city or country will be a good fit for you and your family.

Teaching Jobs Overseas for Couples