The World is Full of Opportunities... Especially if you're living my life!

Does that sound arrogant? I certainly didn't mean to be, but I am teaching overseas and think everyone else who has teaching credentials should be doing the same. Even if that does mean increased competition for my next international teaching position!

It's Easter this weekend, and I've got the next 10 days off. Yep, that's right! No going into school for me until Tuesday 17th! I'm spending 5 days of my vacation learning traditional Thai massage at a school here in Bangkok. It's a fantastic experience that I probably wouldn't have if I wasn't living and teaching here in Bangkok.

I was talking to my colleague and massage classmate, Maggie while we were having lunch today and it occurred to me just how many opportunities have come my way because I'm an global nomad.

Since I've been teaching overseas I've had the opportunity to:

act in open university television programmes
act in a commercial
escort groups to ski resorts - and ski for free!
escort groups on excursions around the UK and see more of the country - and get paid!
travel to Paris for a weekend for a jolly
visit Cadbury World for 'professional development'

These were just the things I thought of while I was sitting having lunch with Maggie. When I think of the opportunities I've had and taken advantage of during my career teaching abroad, I am reminded what a good move it was for me to make.

Is a move you're thinking of making? Stop thinking and start doing!

Teach Overseas

A Quick and Dirty Guide To International Schools For Teachers Seeking Overseas Employment #3

Military Schools

A US Department of Defense school is a school that is attached to a military base abroad. The Department of Defense is responsible for providing education for school aged dependents of all military and civilian employees who are required to live abroad in order to carry out their jobs.

There are over 100 US Department of Defense schools in Europe, and at when I was researching this post there are 210 schools located around the world in 12 countries. The children of military personnel can also be found in American schools abroad in countries where there is no Department of Defense school available.

The British Equivalent is Service Children’s Education (SCE) Schools which number only 27 schools world wide with the majority of them situated in Cyprus and Germany. SCE schools are designed to give the students the same kind of education they would receive if living in the UK and attending school there. So teachers in these schools will be governed by the National Curriculum and examination boards of the UK.

The good, the bad and the ugly of taking on a teaching job abroad in a Military School…

The Good, well it's easy to evaluate the package being offered because you will be employed on a contract similar to one offered to teachers from either the US or the UK, it's a national job so you'll get a national contract. And you're salary is going to be pegged to a value in either US dollars or Sterling. If you are working for the SCE you will be employed on a British teaching contract, with a few extras.

The Bad is that you're going to have to pay TAX! You will have to pay national taxes. One of the benefits that comes with teaching at an international school is that you can pay less tax or work in a tax free environment. When you work for a overseas military school you will be employed ‘in’ the country whose military the school serves.

The Ugly is that you're going to miss out of the best things about teaching overseas. You’ll be teaching American or British students the relevant curriculum. You will miss out on experiencing a true multi-cultural classroom and all the benefits of teaching international children.

Teaching Overseas

A Quick and Dirty Guide To International Schools For Teachers Seeking Overseas Employment #2

English Speaking ‘International’ Schools

Some schools do not do a very good job of being an international school, rather they should be called English Speaking Schools. In fact, many schools springing up in the Middle East do call themselves just that because most of the students are local, for example the Dubai English Speaking School.

The majority of the student body at an international school should hold passports from outside the school’s host country. If the majority of the student body is local to the host country, then surely that negates it being an ‘international’ school?

Many international schools put a limit on the proportion of students that can come from the host country. These schools often have a waiting list for local students because wealthy local parents want their children to have a superior education.

The good, the bad and the ugly of teaching overseas at an English Speaking ‘International’ School…

The Good is that, as with privately owned and operated international schools, there are a lot of them around, all looking for teachers who want to teach overseas.

The Bad is that instead of enjoying a multi-cultural classroom with students that are enthusiastic and all have different experiences to bring to class discussions. You will probably be teaching wealthy children who possibly have no concept of what it is like to have to do things like chores and who may not have any concept of the real world.

The Ugly is that you will be teaching a class full of students who will share a common language that you don’t understand, mono-lingual classes being taught subject specific content in a language that isn’t their own can be a real struggle. You are not going moving your teaching career overseas to work harder than you do at home!

Teaching Overseas

A Quick and Dirty Guide To International Schools For Teachers Seeking Overseas Employment #1

Private International Schools

Private international schools are essentially businesses with directors who are focussed on making a profit. There is a considerable amount of money to be made in providing private education in areas where the supply is less than demanded. This is the Economic law of supply and demand. For teachers wanting to teach overseas, private international schools can be a mixed bag of good and bad features.

Many wealthy parents are demanding English language education for their children, and that has lead to the propagation of international schools. This is a particular feature of the Middle East and Asia, where new schools are starting up each year. The year I was looking for my current position teaching abroad there were a total of 5 new schools starting up in Dubai.

The good, the bad and the ugly of teaching overseas at private international schools…

The Good is that they are plentiful. There are a large number of private international schools for teachers to choose from.

The Bad is that while it is possible to balance good educational practice with the desire to make substantial profits, it is unlikely that in a knock down fight between the two that the goal of educating the students well will win. Teaching overseas should not involve you being required to ignore or go against your teaching philosophy.

The Ugly is that you know when a school’s continued survival, and consequently profit making potential, is dependent upon tuition money from students, how likely do you think it is that the school will expel students that are negatively affecting the learning of others?

Teaching Overseas

April's Newsletter is Ready to Go to Press!

This month's newsletter has information to assist you in choosing a school that will offer your children an excellent education, as well as a being a good professional move for yourself.

It also has my second installment on Podcasting to Enhance Teaching and Learning, along with some other great advice about keeping your personal information secure on the internet.

As I've been talking about making podcasts to enhance your teaching and learning, I decided to make one to promote this month's newsletter. It's the most basic kind you can make, it hasn't got any bells and whistles, and it shows you how easy it is to do. This one took me less than 20 minutes to record, edit and upload!

April's TeachOverseas.info Newsletter