Are you looking for adventure? Hoping to become a global educator? Wish to achieve personal strength? Simply wanting to escape reality? Do you think overseas teaching jobs are the answer? Everybody has their own opinion about teachers who head off to another country to work instead of working in their own country. But it’s those who’ve done it who can really give the answer. Here are just two of the teachers who have practiced teaching overseas:
“I’ve had teaching jobs in europe, Borneo, Jakarta, Brunei and Qatar,” says Mary Van Der Heijden who is presently Vice Principal of United World College in South East Asia. Based on what I’ve seen, I think a number of British teachers have not yet realised the availability of significant educational opportunities that are available around the world.” Everywhere I have been, I have maintained connections. I’ve left every country with at least one very strong friendship and a number of good colleagues, all who have kept in touch. That friendship and comradeship grows with you over the years and can be incredibly powerful in work and social conditions. This has definitely opened up doors to new opportunities that are more than I could ever have imagined. Both my daughters have been exposed to the world and they can talk to anyone, at any level. They also have friends from different corners of the globe.”
As for Dominic Crompton, it never occurred to him to take a teaching job overseas. “Sarah (Dominic’s wife, also teaching primary at the time) yearned to go and I decided to go along! She knew what she wanted far more than I did. I thought it was VSO or nothing.
We were able to get teaching jobs in Bogota, Colombia, at the Colegio Anglo Colombiano School. As soon as we arrived, we understood the importance of having the right outlook. We were amongst a lot of young teachers from many countries including Australia and New Zealand, but they all had a great approach to teaching, really positive attitudes and open minds. Working with the various teachers was an incredible lesson for both of us. The New Zealand systems greatly impressed me. I was amazed that a country so small could be so innovative and dynamic. Add this to the reality that the Kiwi teachers had remarkable knowledge. We were forced to consider the relevance of what we were teaching because we had to think about what was right for the school curriculum. Working as a team; sharing information, teaching skills and different perspectives was an amazing opportunity and really encouraged you to be innovative.”
Just like what both Mary and Dominic experienced, many international schools offer a fast-track to career development in addition to competitive salaries and accommodation as part of the offered package. But it isn’t just young, ambitious teachers who are taking up foreign posts. “More and more experienced teachers, including those from areas where multiple schools are closing and those on sabbatical, those taking early retirement and those with young families are grabbing the opportunity of travelling the world this way.”
The procedures for interview differ from one school to another school. Certain schools will fly you out to the school for an interview. Other schools will request the recruitment consultant that they are working with (such as TIC) to interview you personally for them. A week of interviews in London may be arranged by some schools. Time constraints and distance may make certain schools interview the applicant over the telephone.
Tags: overseas teaching jobs, teaching jobs abroad, teaching jobs in Europe