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.